October 22, 2010

• Rally for a Victory Garden Revival.......

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  Victory Gardens                   

   In 1943, 20 million gardens were producing 9 – 10 tons of food.

   

  
  

   

  In March of 1917, Charles Lathrop Pack organized the National War Garden Commission and launched the war garden campaign, entitled “Victory Gardens”.  This was an attempt to alleviate pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort.  By the end of World War I, there were over five million gardens and foodstuff production exceeding $1.2 billion.

  This movement continued into World War II, as part of the war effort, the government rationed foods like sugar, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, coffee, meat and canned goods. Labor and transportation shortages made it hard to harvest and move fruits and vegetables to market.

  American citizens were encouraged to plant “Victory, or War gardens to provide their own fruits and vegetable. It was stressed that the produce from their gardens would help to lower the price of vegetables needed by the US War Department to feed the troops, thus saving money that could be spent elsewhere on the military: "Our food is fighting," one US poster read.

  
  

  Nearly 20 million Americans answered the call. Farm families had been planting gardens and providing produce for generations, they lead the pack for the many urban and suburban families who planted gardens in backyards, front lawns, parks, empty lots, and even city rooftops. Neighbors pooled their resources, planted different kinds of foods and formed cooperatives, all in the name of patriotism.  These gardens produced up to 40 percent of all the vegetable produce being consumed nationally.

  Through a campaign of posters, cartoons, press releases, and pamphlets the effort was “to arouse the patriots of America to the importance of putting all idle land to work, to teach them how to do it, and to educate them to conserve by canning and drying all food that they could not use while fresh”.

  The Saturday Evening Post, Life, and other Women's magazines became a driving force as well, encouraging the “Women’s Land Army” to make gardening a family and community effort.

  
  

  Other business benefited as well.  Did you know that in 1943, families bought 315,000 pressure cookers (used to can fruits and vegetables), compared to the 66,000 purchased in 1942.

  First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt even showed support for this civilian defense program, by allowing Diana Hopkins, 10 year old daughter of Harry Hopkins, an adviser to President Roosevelt to plant a demonstration “Victory Garden” in a flower bed south of the East Garden in the spring of 1943.  Although at first the Department of Agriculture objected to this, fearing that promoting this movement would hurt the food industry, they soon warmed up to the idea and promoted information themselves regarding gardening in public services booklets.  

  World War II ended and so did the government promotion of victory gardens.  Many people did not plant gardens the year of 1946, which caused the country to experience yet another food shortage.

  The “Victory Garden” not only provided Americans with 40 percent of its fresh produce, it also was a “morale booster.’  The gardeners could feel a since of accomplishment, empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown.  It also gave them independence for corporate food systems, community involvement and a real closeness to the natural environment.

   

  
  

  Over the last couple weeks I have learned of a bill that actually is being promoted to Congress.  It is the S.510, Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of the food supply.  I urge you to read the bill, call your congress people and request this bill be thrown out.  Why do this:

  1. This bill puts all US food and all US farms under homeland security and the department of defense in the event of contamination or ill defined emergency.
  2. It would end US sovereignty over its own food supply by assisting on compliant with the WTO thus threatening national security.
  3. It would remove the right to clean, store and own seed in the US, putting control of seed in the hands of Monsanto and other multi-national corporations, threatening US security.
  4. It begins the final destruction of what is left of the US economy.

  Then I implore you to join myself, through the Living Tree Company, to revitalize the “Women’s Land Army”, including both men and women of course, to promote once again “Victory Gardens”.  Our victory this time will be the victory of growing our own food, breathing new life into a previous, but yet vital part of our history, and living healthier, more productive life’s.

  You can support us in our efforts by making a simple donation to our cause.  With this money we can provide educational materials, support, seeds and more to many.

  Follow this link….”Women’s Land Army.”  

  Also if you own a company that contributes to the gardening practices and community please contact us and let’s find ways to work together.

  

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  • 3:58 pm
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