Victory Garden renaissance
Back in 1941, the US Office of Civil Defense and Department of Agriculture initiated the Victory Garden project. World War II was being fought and resources were scarce.
A rather brilliant scheme to increase resources out of no where… no additional government investment, no industrial creation or expansion.
Compare this solution to the “duct tape your windows” solution of more recent times. hmmm.
The program was rolled out and in the span of two years, 20 million Victory Gardens were created in front and back yards, public parks and City Hall lands across the nation.
The result: an astounding 41% of the countries food was produced by individuals who grew a garden “for defense”.
It was a different form of “patriotism”. Rather than “sacrificing”, it was about cultivating. Rather than destruction, it was about production.
People were given a reason to grow a garden – “help your country, support the War effort”. But instead of having to give something up, they actually got something – good food at a lower cost.
Over time, lawns became a symbol of the good life… vegetable seeds yielded to grass seed.
Far fewer of us “learned” gardening as kids. And we grew up and haven’t taught our children to garden.
Many of us haven’t learned to cook either.
We’ve become further and further separated from the circle of food.
But that’s changing.
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