Food Preparedness

It is May. Along with warmer weather, comes an opportunity to start a garden. In the 1940s, Victory Gardens were a big part of the war effort. Patriotism was measured by the food you grew and shared with family and friends.

“As part of the war effort, the government rationed foods like sugar, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, coffee, meat and canned goods. Labor and transportation shortages made it hard to harvest and move fruits and vegetables to market. So, the government turned to its citizens and encouraged them to plant "Victory Gardens." They wanted individuals to provide their own fruits and vegetables.

Nearly 20 million Americans answered the call. They planted gardens in backyards, empty lots and even city rooftops. Neighbors pooled their resources, planted different kinds of foods and formed cooperatives, all in the name of patriotism.” https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/crops_02.html

Today, gardening has again become very popular, particularly among young people (https://www.pressherald.com/2017/04/26/millennials-love-gardening/). For reasons such as sustainability, health, knowing where their food comes from, carbon sequestration, economics, providing a welcoming ecosystem for wildlife, bees and other organisms, and less grass to cut, young people are growing their own fruits, vegetables and herbs.

In the world of being prepared, gardens or soil-filled pots or small containers on a windowsill are all relevant ways to help yourself and others. No matter what size and quantity, growing your own food can help provide sustenance in emergency situations such as when a shelter-in-place order is issued. And, when the garden is not producing, excess produce can be stored in a freezer or canned.

Growing a garden in 2019 may not be geared towards helping out in times of war but it may go a long way in helping keep you and the planet healthy in these times.