- Author: Chris M. Webb
The current resurgence in home and community gardens is similar to previous calls to garden in our country – most notably the victory garden movements of WWI and WWII. Using gardens and the food that comes from them, we can profoundly change our lives and our communities.
Both World War victory garden movements were extremely successful. The goals for WWI were covered in a previous post . While there were similar goals for WWII, some additional goals included:
- Improving health by gardening
- Proper storage and preservation of surplus
- Enabling families and institutions to save money on vegetables, so the money could be used for other necessities
- Gardens for urban dwellers
- Mobilizing and unifying Americans.
And as it had been in 1917, the American people pitched in together and went to work. The early 1940’s were also years of great food production by everyday people.
We are in the midst of a new cycle of a garden movement. While there are many reasons people are gardening today, there is a growing demand for food that is tasty, nutritious, and economically and environmentally sustainable. In 2009, there were 4 million new gardeners nationwide. We are even happier to report that the enthusiasm and planting continues!
To learn more, please see our previous posts on Victory Gardens and or contact our office .
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The current resurgence in home and community gardens is similar to previous calls to garden in our country – most notably the victory garden movements of WWI and WWII. Using gardens and the food that comes from them, we can profoundly change our lives and our communities.
Both World War victory garden movements were extremely successful. The goals for WWI were covered in a previous post. While there were similar goals for WWII, some additional goals included:
- Improving health by gardening
- Proper storage and preservation of surplus
- Enabling families and institutions to save money on vegetables, so the money could be used for other necessities
- Gardens for urban dwellers
- Mobilizing and unifying Americans.
And as it had been in 1917, the American people pitched in together and went to work. The early 1940’s were also years of great food production by everyday people. We are in the midst of a new cycle of a garden movement. While there are many reasons people are gardening today, there is a growing demand for food that is tasty, nutritious, and economically and environmentally sustainable. In 2009, there were 4 million new gardeners nationwide. We are even happier to report that the enthusiasm and planting continues!
To learn more, please see our previous posts on victory gardens, food policy and or contact our office.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Rose Hayden-Smith, Ventura County Cooperative Extension director and U.S. historian is passionate about the power and possibilities inherent in gardening. She uses her extensive knowledge of homefront war efforts to help influence public policy in regards to local food systems.
Earlier this year Dr. Hayden-Smith gave a lecture, Victory Gardens: Join the Garden Revolution, at the San Diego Natural History Museum about this topic. The presentation has been archived on our website. The presentation begins approximately six minutes into the video. In addition to the inspiring message, many sources for further reading and a way to connect to the movement are available towards the end.
More about the lecture.
At no point in our lifetimes has the interest in gardening, urban agriculture, and local food systems been so intense. It’s coming from all fronts—economic need, challenges presented by climate change, community-development needs, health and nutrition, food security, reconnecting youth with land, changing understandings of how we use space in urban areas, and a growing desire of Americans for civic engagement and participatory democracy. The past has the ability to inform the present. Review historical case studies, learn about current national policies and models, and discover the future work needed to sustain the Victory Garden model as part of the overall local food movement. Also, learn about urban agriculture and how the local food-systems movement is addressing a wide range of challenges facing Americans today.
Learn more about the victory gardens on our previous related posts.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Gardening is a powerful activity on many levels, effecting positive change to individuals and communities and integral to a number of pressing issues. Currently on a national level, multiple federal agencies are working towards using gardening as a way to strengthen individuals and communities across the country.
The top problems that can be addressed by gardening include:
- Food security/insecurity
- Food desert/access
- Community and youth development
- Community health/public health
- Social justice
- Green jobs/workforce development.
Tomorrow, July 15, Ventura County Public Health Community Gardens Project and collaborators will be celebrating the ground breaking of the Camino del Sol Community Garden in Oxnard. Residents are welcomed to attend and learn about gardening opportunities. Details and contact information can be found here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Did you know that victory gardens began with WWI? In 1917 the goals of the victory garden movement are surprisingly similar to what we are working towards today. The goals of the garden movement nearly 100 years ago were to:
- Reduce the food mile
- Teach youth about food systems
- Improve nutrition and health
- Mobilize and unify Americans around food conservation and production efforts, particularly gardening.
The victory garden movement of WWI was incredibly successful. In less than 18 months time the U.S. was exporting three times as much grain, meat and sugar as before the war.