I was researching the history of canning a few months ago and stumbled upon an article about Victory Gardens and have been fascinated by them and their history ever sense.

What are Victory Gardens?

During WWI and WWII, there was a shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables in the United States. The US Department of Agriculture started a campaign encouraging people, specifically women, to do their patriotic duty during the war and plant Victory Gardens. Anywhere there was open space available, people were encouraged to grow food.

The US Department of Agriculture reported that nearly 40% of all vegetables consumed within the United States during WWII were grown in Victory Gardens.

The US Department of Agriculture also set up meetings and workshops throughout the United States to teach women the proper way to preserve their food - home canning. While the men were away at war, the women were gardening, canning, and taking care of the families at home.

Why Should We Plant Them Today?

As the cost of fuel rises, so are the costs of our fruits and vegetables. It is important for us to depend less on internationally grown produce and more on locally grown produce. Our farmers need our help in order for them to keep the farms running. It could lead to devastating results if our farms go under due to lack of funds.

Additionally, planting modern day Victory Gardens throughout the US will decrease our demand on international produce. It will decrease the amount of fuel (and impact on our planet) needed to bring food to our homes. And, it increases local commerce as we purchase the items we need to grow our gardens from our local merchants.

Gardening and Home Canning

Planting a garden is just the first step to decreasing the cost of produce in the US. The second step is to preserve those fresh fruits and vegetables through home canning.

Home canning was a process done for years by our parents and grandparents. Some of you may still do it today. But for many of us, it is a lost skill that we all need to learn.

Canning has many benefits. Not only does it save you money, the food is canned when it is at the peak of freshness and therefore when it is best tasting. There is nothing like eating home canned fruits, vegetables, soups, and jams.

Start your own Victory Garden this spring. Your taste buds and your wallet will thank you for it!