by Wesley Harris
The world was at war. Resources of all kinds were being diverted to support national war efforts. Countries asked their citizens to help in every way that they could.
People dutifully funded the war by purchasing bonds, they conserved raw materials, they recycled, they rallied behind the troops, they helped their neighbors, they gave their lives, and they planted “Gardens for Victory.”
Victory Gardens came in every shape and size. Governments and corporations promoted this call for self-reliance. People in all areas, rural and urban alike, worked the soil to raise food for their families, friends, and neighbors. Victory gardening enabled more supplies to be shipped to our troops around the world.
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. So, the government turned to its citizens and encouraged them to plant “Victory Gardens.” They wanted individuals to provide their own fruits and vegetables.
Farm families, of course, had been planting gardens and preserving produce for generations. Now, their urban cousins got into the act. Nearly 20 million Americans planted gardens in backyards, empty lots and even city rooftops. Neighbors pooled their resources, planted different kinds of foods and formed cooperatives. Students tended gardens at their schools.
Magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post and Life printed stories about victory gardens, and women’s magazines gave instructions on how to grow and preserve garden produce. Families were encouraged to can their own vegetables to save commercial canned goods for the troops. In 1943, families bought 315,000 pressure cookers (used in the process of canning), compared to 66,000 in 1942. The government and businesses urged people to make gardening a family and community effort.
The result of victory gardening? The US Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 20 million victory gardens were planted, producing nine to ten million tons of food, an amount equal to all commercial production of fresh vegetables.
It was a way for individuals to do their part on the home front.
These concepts are very foreign to us in our post-war, global economy. For years we have been bombarded by marketing messages of consumerism, reliance on others, and have experienced nearly constant economic growth. A whole generation of young people know it no other way. As our population ages, we are losing the experiences and knowledge of the Great Depression and WW II from
Spring planting time is upon us and anyone can grow a victory garden. Many delicious vegetables are easy to grow in Louisiana soil. Whether you have a large backyard or just room for a few pots, make this the year you enjoy homegrown, fresh food. A few pennies of seeds will produce more food than your family can eat.
Help is readily available. Check out the Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide at http://www.lsuagcenter.com. It contains an excellent guide on when to plant, how deep to place seeds, and how to space plants. The LSU AgCenter county agent in your parish can answer your questions. Among the easiest vegetables to grow in full sunshine are peas, beans, squash, and okra. Some vegetables require more space like corn, cantaloupes, and watermelons. Some leafy green vegetables like cabbage, mustard, and spinach prefer the cooler fall months and don’t do so well in the summer.
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