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Diggin’ Deep(er) to Move Us All Forward:

Toward a Nationwide

Victory Garden Revival

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The Victory Garden (VG) Movement

Began in WWI, as part of war effortInitially overseen by the National War Garden

CommissionOver 3 million gardens were created across the

country, in all settingsFirst “war garden” was at Camp Dix, New

JerseyOver 400 acres to serve 48,000 troops

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Promoting the Concept Nationwide

Image source: National Archives; images are in public domain.

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WWI-Era VG Quotes

“Food waste is the enemy, food thrift the battle cry, and food conservation the weapon. The call to arms is urgent and involves every household in America…”

- Charles L. Pack, Pres.Nat. War Garden Commission

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WWI-Era VG Quotes

“Everyone who creates or cultivates a garden helps…This is the time for America to correct her unpardonable fault of wastefulness and extravagance.”

- Pres. Woodrow Wilson

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WWII-Era VG Movement

Promoted by the Government, the project targeted urban and rural areasSmall home and community gardens allowed for: food

from larger farms to be sent to troops; supplement of civilian rations; less fuel for food transport

At the end of the war, VGs accounted for est. 40% of total US produce

As with WWI, gardens came in all shapes and sizes, private and community

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WWII-Era VG/Food Propaganda

Image source: New Hampshire State Library; images are in public domain.

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After WWII…

With the troops at home, commercial gardens could return to producing solely for the public

Economic prosperity meant that many gardens were abandonedA few original gardens still exist (Fenway in Boston)In Chicago, Peterson Garden is being “revived”

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Recent, Relevant Developments

Several web sites, blogs, articles and op-ed pieces have popped up nationwide promoting the idea of a VG revival

The Smithsonian recently recreated a VG in Washington based on a 1940s pamphlet

The city of San Francisco has launched a community-wide VG effort; other major cities are interested

Sources: The Associated Press; Smithsonian web site

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Impetuses behind a VG Revival

General interest in gardening as a hobbyConcerns about climate change, fuel/food

scarcity, national security,economic challenges, locavore/slow food movements

The Internet as a means of promoting the basic idea as viable again

Practical, healthy and…fun!

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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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YOU Can Promote the VG Revival:

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

movement.Consider creating groups (Meet Up) or incorporating VG

projects into existing organizational effortsEncourage local/regional/national leaders and

media to promote the idea.Encourage schools to incorporate VG material

and concepts into curriculum.

Slideshow courtesy of

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