American Gardener: Victory Gardens

In light of the recent social distancing measures put in place to counteract the spread of COVID-19, many families are finding comfort, purpose, and sustenance in vegetable gardening at home. Whether it’s planting seeds in containers on the patio or building out raised beds in backyards, growing fresh food to eat is a powerful act that strengthens the health of our local communities. With all this in mind, we’re re-sharing a past post that delves into the history of WWII-era victory gardens to highlight the similarities of hope and resilience during trying times.

From the Archives

Between 1941 and 1945, posters like the ones above dotted the American landscape, encouraging citizens to support the war by planting a vegetable garden at home. First planted in 1917 during WWI, victory gardens became especially important during WWII, when a combination of rationing, transportation shortages, and the need for canned goods to feed overseas troops meant that Americans had to find new ways to put food on the table. While alleviating the pressure on the nation’s food supply, the gardens also provided a morale boost to citizens by letting them contribute to the war effort. At the height of the movement, more than 20 million gardens were planted in backyards, at schools, and even on city rooftops. The campaign was a stunning success--in 1944, an estimated 40 percent of all vegetables grown in the US came from victory gardens. Similar efforts took root in the UK and Canada, with related initiatives that encouraged canning homegrown vegetables. America’s most famous victory gardener was First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who planted her own plot at the White House.

Visit The Container Garden Shop for the tools, containers, seeds, and soil you’d need to start your own vegetable gardens. We'd love to see your progress! Share your home and garden projects with us on Instagram by tagging your snapshots with #terrainathome. See you there!