Comments on: Victory Gardens Exposed

By: Mary Ann

Mary Ann — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:12:37 +0000

Thanks for the great post. Will keep reading those history books.

By: mss @ Zanthan Gardens

mss @ Zanthan Gardens — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:32:35 +0000

This is a really great review of what sounds like a fascinating book. I like learning more than the “sound bite” history I’m getting of Victory Gardens right now.

I’m all for planting vegetable gardens (herbs and fruits, too). I think there’s lots of reasons growing vegetables (especially in vacant lots in the cities, for example) is healthy–physically, emotionally, and psychologically. I feel a little sad that a large group of people don’t think about growing some of their own food until they are in and economic pinch. But, hey. Maybe the economy will bring them to gardening’s door, and the joy of it will make them stay for a lifetime.

By: akimble

akimble — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:07:35 +0000

Thanks for the tip on the book. I too am expanding my garden. I love getting my children involved. We’ve started a bunch of seeds indoors and my 4 yr old son checks the sprouts everyday. Organic Tomatoes have become so expensive. Now they are plentiful right out our back door. I am hoping to work with my neighbors this year to share our harvests. As you may know, Victory Gardens have been around since the 1800s. England has a long history of Victory Gardens.
Keep up the research!

By: Julie

Julie — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:13:29 +0000

Wonderful post. Thanks for this, I’m going to have to look up that book. I’ve often wondered why people turned to grass lawns after the war. I thought it was a status symbol. Unfortunately, too many people still want grass lawns.

This year I’m greatly expanding my heirloom vegetables. I’m looking forward to it!

By: The Ethicurean: Chew the right thing. » Blog Archive » Waiting is the harvest part

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:42:27 +0000

[...] historically given people a sense of self-sufficiency and satisfaction, even when the government tried to discourage such populist efforts, and I think that given the state of the economy, we will see many more [...]

By: Oldnovice

Oldnovice — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:13:12 +0000

Economics had nothing to do with my decision since between soil amendments, seeds, water, tools and fertilizer, it really is not less expensive to grow your own.

Hah! Same here. Just unearthed my sweet-potato bed today. The leaves were turning yellow and I lifted them a bit to feel big bulges beneath the newspaper I’d used to keep mosture in. Didn’t dig down, because as I did, the potatoes became smaller. Don’t know if they’ll grow more leaves or not, but felt it important to get what I could out of the bed before the local critters got to it. 8 potatoes from the top.

By: Gina

Gina — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:19:56 +0000

Interesting the way we “remember” history, isn’t it? I am going to have to read this book!

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 02:46:05 +0000

How very very curious! The mind bogges. (Watch: *boggle*. That was my mind.)

Thank you for sharing this!

By: Martha/All the Dirt on Gardening

Martha/All the Dirt on Gardening — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 02:43:29 +0000

What a great post. I’m so glad you read the book and let us in on it.

I started veggie gardening after retirement because I wanted to try my hand at providing healthy food for our table. Economics had nothing to do with my decision since between soil amendments, seeds, water, tools and fertilizer, it really is not less expensive to grow your own.

The idea that Victory Gardens would be unpatriotic seems bizarre.
And! I didn’t know Freedom Gardens was the new name for wartime gardening.

Martha in Muskogee OK zone 7

By: Leasmom

Leasmom — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:24:59 +0000

Victory Gardens are now called Freedom Gardens. It is amazing how with the economy going asunder, everyone is turning back to controlling their food supply…Its good to learn the history of things, to give you a foundation for your work. It does connect you to people of the past…