What is a backyard or Victory Garden?  During World War I and World War II, the United States government asked its citizens to plant gardens in order to support the war effort. Millions of people planted gardens. In 1943, Americans planted over 20 million Victory Gardens, and the harvest accounted for nearly a third of all the vegetables consumed in the country that year. Emphasis was placed on making gardening a family or community effort - not a drudgery, but a  productive pastime, and a national duty.

Victory Garden World War I

Why plant a victory garden? Today food travels an average of 1500 miles from farm to table. The process of planting, fertilizing, processing, packaging, and transporting wastes energy and  can contribute to global warming. 

What could I grow in a Victory Garden?  Grow what you want to eat. Here are some suggestions: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, collard, corn cucumber, garlic, kale, lettuce, melons, mustard greens, okra, onions, peppers, peas, pumpkins, spinach, squash, tomatoes turnips, watermelon and herbs.

Planting a Victory Garden can help fight global warming by reducing the amount of pollution your food contributes to global warming. Instead of traveling many miles from farm to table, your food would travel from your own garden to your table. Our current economic situation is another good reason to start a Victory Garden. Every time that food is shipped from the farm to the store and then to your table, gasoline is used. As gasoline prices rise, food costs rise. 

How can my actions make a difference? I’m only one person. Each one of us may only be one person. However, we each have an impact on the environment and can make changes to reduce our impact. 

I have no backyard, what can I do?* You can combine vegetable plants with flowers in your front yard. You can plant containers on your porch, patio or balcony and can grow sprouts indoors.   Community gardens are springing up all around or check with a neighbor or friend who is unable to garden and possibly they would let you garden their yard, in exchange for some produce.  

*If these options are not available, you can also choose to purchase foods which are grown close to home by visiting your local farmer’s market or joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). If local foods are not available to you, choose foods which use fewer chemical pesticides - such as organics, foods that are in season or have minimal packaging.

If you have any questions regarding this newsletter or any other topic, join me for my radio show heard in Dallas/Fort Worth on Saturday at 11am and across the country on Sunday from 8 - 11am (CST).  Radio.

For shopping, here's an easy way to purchase great natural organic products.  Click here Health & Nutrition and Gardening. To learn more on living a Natural Organic lifestyle, go to DirtDoctor.com.

Naturally yours,

Howard Garrett
The Dirt Doctor
 

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