The History & Resurgence of Victory Gardens
20. July 2017
2017 is the centennial of the Victory Garden. While many of us have heard this term before, some may not be overly familiar with what it really means. So let’s all take a brief history lesson on the Victory Garden. And after strolling down Memory Lane, you may find yourself longing to start your own Victory Garden. So we'll help you get started by highlighting our most popular gardening posts at the end of this article. So keep reading!
- how, when, where, and what to grow
- how to ward off unwanted insect infestations
- how to preserve surplus crops through canning and/or drying
The end of WWII saw the push for Victory Gardens come to a close, once again. But in recent years there has been an uptick in the resurgence of them. The War Gardens in public parks from the early 20th century were reborn as Community Gardens. Neighbors can feel an increased sense of community and stewardship of the land. Along with this rebirth of a shared gardening experience came the resurgence of saving and sharing seeds. Seed saving maintains the best tasting heirloom produce for the dinner table.
Print our FREE Printable Seed Saver Packets and start saving seeds today!
Label your canned goods victoriously with our Garden for Victory canning labels
FUN FACT: In June of 1917, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Herbert Hoover to head the US Food Administration. It was tasked with managing America’s food reserves. Hoover urged the US people to produce more, consume less, and live simply. Propaganda posters for this effort read “Feed a Fighter: Eat only what you need. Waste Nothing, that he and his family may have enough.” Due in large part to Hoover’s actions, America avoided mandatory rationing during the first World War. This decrease in consumption came to be known as “Hooverizing”.
Add Waste Not Want Not canning labels to your victory garden food jars
Shop our entire Victory Garden Canning Label Collection.
If you want to start your own Victory Garden, we have plenty of helpful resources on our blog. Read some of our most popular gardening posts to help ensure your garden is a success.
Learn how to make your own potting soil mix to save money. The right soil mix is needed to grow perfect carrots. Learn more on our blog post: Planting Carrots in Containers with Homemade Potting Soil Recipe
Do you have long, leggy, or crooked tomato seedlings? Learn how to plant them so they grow big and strong! Learn more on our blog post: Trench Planting Tomatoes for Epic Root Growth & Strong Plants & read all of our Tomato Growing Tips.
Want to grow a bumper crop of tomatoes? Who doesn’t? You might be surprised to learn that a simple tomato staking method will produce prolific tomato plants. Learn more on our blog post: Grow Prolific Tomatoes Using Japanese Rings Method.
If you had a banner year for tomatoes, you may want to repeat your good fortune the following season. There are three methods to saving tomato seeds, but for best results, you need to know the BEST method (spoiler, it can be a little stinky)! Learn more on our blog post: How to Save Tomato Seeds.
As anyone who’s watched Back to the Future knows, banana peels make terrific fuel. So why not add them as fuel for your garden! That’s right, compost those slimy banana peels and make your little green friends happy! Learn more on our blog post: Banana Peel Fertilizers for the Garden.
Think you have a brown thumb and that you can’t grow anything? Well, you’re in luck! Weeds are easy to grow, edible, and nutritious! If you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em! Learn more on our blog post: Using Dandelions for Food and Medicine
Have you tried growing squash and failed? Did your squash plants just wither up and die one day? Chances are, it wasn’t because you forgot to water them. A loathsome and almost undetectable foe was probably the culprit. And ya know what, he's a real jerk! Learn more on our blog post: Battling the Squash Vine Borer
Want to label your Victory Garden plants in style? Make your own plant markers using coat hangers and used canning lids. Learn more on our blog post: DIY Garden Markers with Canning Lids
If you're interested in vintage victory garden posters and history, take a look at our Victory Garden Pinterest Board.
Suggested Reading List:
- Grit magazine - “A History of Victory Gardens”
- Cultivating Victory: The Women's Land Army and the Victory Garden Movement by Cecilia Gowdy-Wygant
- Fruits of Victory: The Woman's Land Army of America in the Great War by Elaine F. Weiss
- Victory Gardens for Bees: A DIY Guide to Saving the Bees by Lori Weidenhammer
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