victory garden workshop 1

8/8/2019 Victory Garden Workshop 1

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VICTORY GARDENSREVIVING PAST: VICTORY GARDENS BECOME ATHING OF THE PRESENT

Sustainable Yards Series


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Victory Gardens

According to scholar Amy Bentley,the term can be traced back to

England in the 1600s when Richard Gardner produced a book

called Victory Garden, encouraging cities to provide for its citizenry

through gardens in anticipation of possible invasion by Spain.


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The Victory Garden (VG) Movement

Initially overseen by the NationalWar Garden Commission

Over 3 million gardens werecreated across the country, in allsettings

First war garden was at CampDix, New Jersey. Over 400 acresserved 48,000 troops

Victory Gardens began during World War I as partof the war effort.


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Promoting the Concept Nationwide


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WWI-Era VG Quotes

F ood waste is the enemy, food thrift the battle cry, and food conservation the weapon. Thecall to arms is urgent and involves every household in

America

- Charles L. Pack, Pres.

Nat. War GardenCommission


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WWI-Era VG Quotes

Everyone who creates or culti v ates a garden helpsThis

is the time for America to correcther unpardonable fault of wastefulness and extra v agance.

- Pres. Woodrow Wilson


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WWII-Era VG Movement

Promoted by the Government, theproject targeted urban and ruralareas

Small home and community gardens allowed for:food from larger farms to be sent to troops;supplement of civilian rations; less fuel for food transport

As with WWI, gardens came in all

shapes and sizes, private andcommunity


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WWII-Era VG/Food Propaganda


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Production

By 1944, nerly 20 millionAmericans were growingVictory gardens

These gardens produced up to

40% of all the vegetable producebeing consumed nationally.

Bassett, Thomas J.

Reaping on the Margins: A Century of CommunityGardening in America. Landscape, 1981 v25 n2 . 1-8.


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War Food Administration

The War Food Administration created a NationalVictory Garden Program, which set five main goals.

1. lessen demand on commercial vegetable supplies and thus make

more available to the Armed Forces and lend-lease programs.2. reduce demand on strategic materials used in food processing and

canning3. ease the burden on railroads transporting war munitions by releasing

produce carriers4. maintain the vitality and morale of Americans on the home frontthrough the production of nutritious vegetables outdoors

5. preserve fruit and vegetables for future use when shortages mightbecome worse


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After WWII

With the troops at home, commercial gardens couldreturn to producing solely for the publicEconomic prosperity meant that many gardens wereabandoned

A few original gardens still exist (Fenway in Boston)


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Your Victory Garden

There are many ways to grow a victorygarden of your own.

Container gardensRaised bedsEuropean Style Gardens

Edible LandscapesPermacultureVertical Gardens


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Recent, Relevant Developments

Several web sites, blogs, articles and op-ed pieceshave popped up nationwide promoting the idea of aVG revivalThe Smithsonian recently recreated a VG inWashington based on a 1940s pamphletThe city of San Francisco has launched a community-

wide VG effort; other major cities are interestedSources: The Associated Press; Smithsonian web site


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Impetuses behind a VG Revival

Concerns about climate change, fuel/food scarcity,national security,economic challenges, locavore/slowfood movements

General interest in gardening as a hobby

Practical, healthy andfun!


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YOU Can Promote the VG Revival:

Grow a garden in a plot or in a pot !Educate yourself and others on the history of themovement.

Consider creating groups (Meet Up) or incorporating VGprojects into existing organizational efforts

Encourage local/regional/national leaders andmedia to promote the idea.

Encourage schools to incorporate VG material andconcepts into curriculum.


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Hidden VG Benefits

VGs can:Foster self-reliancePromote healthy eating

Especially when organic practices are usedEncourage physical activityCultivate communityNurture wildlife

Including bees, which are strugglingIncrease overall well-being


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Great Resources Just A Click Away!

www.revivevictorygarden.orgwww.futurefarmers.com/victorygardens/www.victorygardendrive.blogspot.comwww.kitchengardeners.org/www.squarefootgardening.com/www.gardens.si.edu/horticulture/gardens/nmah/victory.htmwww.fenwayvictorygardens.com

victory garden workshop 1

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