Time to bring back the Victory Garden

[julianna]

*bump*

I love this thread

Well, warm weather is either here or delayed, depending on where you are in the country, and thre has been an increase in the ammount of home vegetable gardening interest this season. Even people like me, who knew what to do and when but tended to grow mostly flowers have decided to re-instate the vegetable garden (also notably because my husband finally got a visa after 2 years of waiting and now he can mow my lawn, thus I can play in the garden).

I have come across more and more people lately who either say they want to have a victory garden (not usually in so many words, but the sentiment is identical) or at least think it is a good idea.

So far I have put in a variety of tomatoes, eggplant, squash (winter and summer), peas, watermellons, other melons, gourds, edible flowers, and cukes... with plans on putting in sunflowers, okra, beans, herbs, more tomatoes, etc. I found a woman at work who had a bunch of extra boards, dirt, manure and wire and was more than willing to drop it off at my place! I'm glad for teh unseasonably cool temps, as my new gardens to be finished this week aren't going to be much behind the one that has been in.

This summer/fall I plan on trying to grow 90%+ of our vegetable matter.

How is everyone else doing on their victory garden project?

[Lanna]

Originally Posted by julianna

How is everyone else doing on their victory garden project?

Our strawberries are loving the weather and that we didn't attempt to transplant them too late in the season (like last year, oops), I've got a bunch of bean and pea sprouts, some tiny baby asparagus shoots, and just most things in general starting to leaf out or bloom.

Except the tomatoes and peppers... that bed isn't tilled up yet, and the weather is still a bit wonky - I don't think my little transplants will do well if they're hit by random thunderstorms their first night in the ground. Haven't done the other warm weather stuff either - just don't have the energy right now.

peas, spinach, beets, lettuce are up - the pear trees are in their second year of growth and doing great. The first year on fruit trees grows the root system so watering with a gallon a day and seeing no change is disheartening but there is a world of change going on underground. The second year stretches out the limbs with a gallon a day - and I must say it's working. Next year will be fruit growth. The blueberries are in their second year as well and loaded with little flowers... as are the strawberries. All the wild raspberries(red and black) are on their way to being ready by the end of July. If my charentais melons work out - I'll be in heaven ! I can never get to the wild elderberries before the critters do. Oooolala I can't wait !

[gardencrazy]

I'm late to the game (or the thread as the case maybe), but better late than never. I was just talking to my husband yesterday about the Victory Gardens during WWII. Why isn't our government doing more (or anything) to promote this idea? It's exercise, fresh air, and fruits & veggies. All those things your Mom tried to encourage when you were a kid. If the government could encourage it in FDR's time, why not now? They are encouraging farmers to grow corn for ethanol. Why not give away corn seed to the home gardeners. A little gimmicky, I'll admit, but it's better than what they're doing now (which is nothing.)

[bluelacedredhead]

This thread got me wondering what in fact, the American Government encouraged folks to grow during WWII? (I quickly read through this thread and didn't see an answer to my question, but it's a long one, and I've not had enough coffee thus far today, so forgive if I'm being repetitive.)
So a quick google produced this!

http://www.earthlypursuits.com/Victo...dbook/VGHv.htm

I have that in my favorites... it has a vast wealth of information !

[gardencrazy]

What a great find Bluelace. I have it book marked now.

[julianna]

What a great link! I am so happy to hear what everyone is doing.

It is interesting that there was a lot more government encouragement for growing food during the WWII era. Could it be that socially we have distanced ourselves enough from agriculture that the govt isn't encouraging this anymore?

[reavilh]

Originally Posted by julianna

What a great link! I am so happy to hear what everyone is doing.

It is interesting that there was a lot more government encouragement for growing food during the WWII era. Could it be that socially we have distanced ourselves enough from agriculture that the govt isn't encouraging this anymore?

Con Agra and Cargills would rather us eat their food than our own!

[HOD]

Con = Against.
Agra = Agriculture.

ConAgra... You figure it out..


Hod