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While doing research for an upcoming video, I came across an article talking about Victory Gardens. I have never heard of this before so I decided to dive deeper into it. What I learned was really intriguing, and didn’t realize it played such a role in history. I decided at that moment that this information should be shared.
[Image source: https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/crops_02.html]
Back during World War I and World War II, many Americans were shipped overseas to aid in the war front. In order to help with food pressure, the government implemented the idea of Victory Gardens. The thought process behind Victory Gardens were for people at the home front to show their patriotic support by contributing to the war effort. Not everyone could be deployed, but you could still do your part as a citizen by feeding the troops.
[Image source: http://www.sarahsundin.com/victory-gardens-in-world-war-ii/]
While Victory Gardens were utilized during both wars, the events I will be talking about took place during WWII. Nearly 20 million Americans answered the call of duty to feed the nation. Victory Gardens were planted everywhere. People stared plowing their yards, neighbors yards, and even nearby parks. Rooftops and empty lots were also utilized to create gardens. Those who lacked a yard of their own would help volunteer at local farms and garden nurseries.
[Image source: http://facetoface.org/the-victory-garden-campaign/]
A very successful example of the public getting involved is the San Francisco’s victory program. When the program began, over 400 plots of 20’ x 20’ gardens were assigned to 400 families in only three days! Magazines would print articles to help encourage and give instructions on how to grow and preserve produce. By the end of the program, over 800 gardens were planted in Golden Gate Park.
[Image source: http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=San_Francisco%27s_Victory_Gardens]
The results of the Victory Gardens was massively successful. Over 20 million gardens were planted. Over 9 million tons of fruit and vegetables were produced from community and home plots alone. The success was even seen outside of just plant produce. Pressure cookers, used for canning process, seen a 377% increase in products sold in only one year.
Funny enough, after WWII ended, so did the promotion of Victory Gardens. With the war over many citizens didn’t replant their gardens during the following spring. This brought about some unexpected food shortages as the agriculture industry wasn’t prepared for the massive slowdown of millions of tons of food that the Victory Gardens produced.
[Image source: https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/2016/03/14/victory-gardens-bloom-across-the-1940s-city/]
I was completely blown away by this idea. But what surprised me the most was just how successful it was. What are you thoughts on Victory Gardens? Do you think it was a good idea? Do you think the government should bring programs like this back? Please let me know in the comment section down below.
Informational sources:
https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/crops_02.html
http://www.futurefarmers.com/victorygardens/history.html
http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=San_Francisco%27s_Victory_Gardens
