WORLD WAR II - Victory Gardens

 

Planting a victory garden was part of the patriotic home effort. They could be a private garden at a home or sometimes they were planted in public parks or on school grounds because the more vegetables and fruits the U.S. could grow helped in having more for our soldiers.

Growing one's own food was a great way to supplement each family's food supply and it actually lowered the price of food bought by the War Department for the armed services.

Most people were growing and harvesting garden fare for the first time, so the Department of Agriculture got very involved in making this mission a success. They passed out brochures about planting, and when harvest came, they gave out free information on canning. Sometimes classes were held on food preservation.

One source reported that by May, 1943, there were over 18 million victory gardens in the United States. The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and even Germany were participating in the same campaigns.

School children were encouraged to participate so they could have their own gardens. Schools had communal gardens to keep on school grounds.

This was meant to be a big morale booster for the citizens at home - another way they could help the war effort and show their patriotism.

And remember, our first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, had a victory garden on the White House Lawn!

From The Crescent-News, April 17, 1945 -