Patriotic Gardening

Most of the gardens that are planted in Callaway County now of days are simply created to provide fresh produce during summer to the local communities. But did you know that at one time, it was each American’s patriotic duty to plant a “Victory Garden”?

During WWI, most of Europe’s agricultural workers had entered the military, resulting in millions of starving people. In order for the U.S. to provide relief, the National War Garden Commission was established to encourage Americans to grow, harvest, and preserve their own food so that the commercially grown food could be exported to those in need. Extension offices conducted classes and provided information in growing, preserving homegrown fruits and vegetables as well. Residents enlisted any idle land, including window boxes and entire front yards as Victory Gardens.  A whopping 5.2 million new garden plots had been created by 1918, but interest soon dropped after the war ended.

When WWII began, crops were again diverted to feed the overseas troops, and food rationing became necessary. Once again, the Victory Garden campaign came to the rescue by safeguarding against food shortages at home as well as providing unity and boosting morale. Patriotic posters declared to “Sow the Seeds of Victory,” and by 1944, these gardens produced 40% of all of the fresh produce consumed by the United States!

Hopefully, food rationing won’t become necessary again in the future, but it’s nice to grow our food when we can. Fresh or preserved, it’s a rewarding venture to know that we are still honoring our heritage by growing and keeping our own Victory Gardens in our own way.