From 1917 to 1935, the First and Second World Wars spurred people on to grow food in what became known as Victory Gardens. The objectives were to improve food security, reduce dependence on food transportation systems badly impacted by gas shortages, and to inspire community resilience. When faced war, people leapt to the challenge of growing their own food.
The pandemic affected us in a similar way. The challenges of supply chain issues, food shortages and isolation led to a remarkable increase in home food production. There was a 24% increase in urban gardens and an almost 20% increase in young people who joined the home food production brigades.
In these difficult times we again face the impacts of war such as increasing gas prices, fertilizer shortages and the resulting significant rises in grocery prices. So, perhaps it’s time to revisit the idea of the Victory Garden. Anything we grow at home reduces reliance on commercial food systems, reduces waste, builds self-sufficiency, and improves the quality of food we eat. If you can preserve what you grow, even better!
Inspirations from the Victory Garden
Look for opportunities to grow something edible: This might sound easy, but it does take rethinking conventions. Some home gardens are very large and glorious. Some, like the potager gardens of France, are small and useful kitchen gardens generally filled with perennial herbs. But a tiny garden could be on a windowsill, a balcony, or a deck. Rather than thinking about large pots of flowers on the deck, how about planting edibles. Dwarf cherry tomatoes, herbs, leafy greens, dwarf peppers and staked peas can be just as lovely as traditional flowerpots.
Flower gardens don’t have to be reserved for flowers alone. Every garden is a chance to grow something edible. For flowers, try nasturtium, calendula, violas, and pansies (untreated of course). Pop perennial herbs into rock gardens or any garden like sage, lavender, lemon balm, hyssop anise, bergamot, tarragon, and mint. Bonus: Your garden looks beautiful; the flowers adorn summer dishes and herbs will dry easily at the end of the season.
Rethink your property: If you have some property, large or small, rethink where you could grow food. Consider planting a dwarf pear or apple tree. Need a shrub? How about planting currants, blackberries, raspberries, or hazelnuts? Possibly an elderflower shrub for both the flowers and berries? Nothing like an elderflower cordial on a hot summer day.
The Victory Garden as an idea to build resilience, provide high quality nutrition and reduce reliance on commercial food systems seems as relevant today as it did during World War I and II. Embrace the opportunities to re-envision where food can be grown. For inspiration, visit Fiddlehead Nursery (edible perennials) north of Kimberley and the David Suzuki Foundation website “living green”.
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