In this age of increased emphasis on sustainability, food miles, good health, and, more recently, the downturn in economics, people have turned toward an old example to set a new standard in gardening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The victory garden is not a new idea. In fact, these gardens, also known as \u201cwar gardens,\u201d were planted at private residences and on public land (including prominent areas such as Boston Commons and Golden Gate Park) during the two World Wars to boost the public\u2019s food supply. They were considered a morale booster, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt even planted one on the White House grounds despite the objections of the Department of Agriculture. One historical account has victory gardens contributing to 41% of all the vegetable produce consumed in the nation. Using this example, there is a movement toward implementing the victory garden, both privately and publicly, going on all across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that the recognition of a looming environmental crisis has pervaded the public\u2019s consciousness, the effort to be more \u201cgreen\u201d to help combat the effects has become downright trendy in its popularity. But trendy isn\u2019t necessarily a bad thing if the efforts are really green. One issue is that of \u201cfood miles\u201d\u2013 how far food travels from ground to table, which includes not only the lengthy transportation but the total energy expended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, says Roger Doiron, founding director of Kitchen Gardeners International, people are concerned for their health and that of their families. There\u2019s an emphasis on organic produce, seasonal eating, and buying local, but the best way to know where your food is coming from is to grow it yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Certainly, the economic situation is contributing to this movement as well. Buying organic produce is expensive, even at a local farmer\u2019s market. Doiron, who has grown numerous vegetables, best illustrates this point. \u201cWe spent about $100 last year on seeds, and we\u2019ve converted that investment into over six months of organic vegetables for a family of five,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lastly, Vanessa Richins, a writer for website, Urban Garden Casual, thinks that victory gardens are growing in popularity due to a desire to return to simpler times as the reliance on technology increases and the current economic and environmental situations get tougher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The definition of a victory garden is loose. In order to grow one, all that\u2019s needed is the impetus. While yard space is ideal, if you\u2019re in an apartment or other building without access to a plot, vegetables can be grown in containers and still supplement your regular produce buying. Some cities offer community garden spaces to residents as well. Container gardening expert, Kerry Michaels, loves growing vegetables and feels you can grow almost anything you want depending on what makes sense for your region and the season. She also notes that contained herb gardens can make a beautiful centerpiece. \u201cPerfect for the center of the picnic table and then you can put it on your salad,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mary Ellen Chambers, a six-year gardener who had no prior experience to planting her first vegetable garden, came up with a novel way to procure some space. She and her husband live in a historic section of Baltimore, and their yard was almost entirely in shade rendering it less than ideal for growing veggies. However, the property next door was owned by an absentee landlord and the yard was perfectly sunny although quite unkempt. Chambers and the landlord made a deal: We\u2019ll care for your yard if you let us do what we want with it. She and her husband now grow a variety of vegetables, such as potatoes, leeks, asparagus, corn, artichokes, and squash. When they reap more than they can consume, they share the bounty with other members of the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond those options, though, there is one plot of land often ignored and it\u2019s prime gardening space. That is the front yard. Doiron thinks there is starting to be a trend more toward what\u2019s known as the \u201cedible landscape\u201d and that people are forgoing the perfectly manicured lawn and landscaping, once the jewel of suburban affluence, to use that space for fruits and vegetables. Doiron notes that in Europe, \u201cPeople put gardens in where the sun shines. For different cultural reasons, we tuck our gardens behind our houses.\u201d Doiron himself has a garden \u201csmack dab\u201d in the middle of the front lawn and says it\u2019s \u201cbeen really encouraging to see people\u2019s reactions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are several Web resources devoted to victory gardens if you\u2019re interested in learning more about this specific trend, but in terms of starting to grow your own vegetables, don\u2019t be afraid to seek out help from local gardening experts. If you have the land to garden, great, but if not, consider the container garden. Start modestly so you don\u2019t get overwhelmed. Doiron also suggests succession planting \u2013 planting seeds over a period of weeks so your harvest is extended over a number of weeks. Chambers feels that the work to maintain her large garden could be done in as little as a couple of hours a week, but she usually spends 10-12 hours a week as for her it\u2019s a peaceful retreat. \u201cIt\u2019s a form of meditation,\u201d she says. \u201cYou can get away with a lot less [time] and get a lot out of it.\u201d Also, learn good storage techniques so you can take advantage of your food for much longer. Doiron employs a variety of storage methods, and at the start of the New Year hadn\u2019t store shopped for produce since the previous May or June, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a9 CTW Features<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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