Plant a Victory Garden

Victory Gardens are the rage again, now that the Obamas have planted a 1,100 square foot vegetable garden at the White House, from which they are making their own salads and serving honorable guests. Yes, the local food movement is going national. Popularized in the early 20th century, victory gardens planted by citizens across the United States in the 1940s resulted in producing 30-40 percent of the nation's vegetables by the end of WWII.

Back in the day, the patriotic thing to do was to plant a victory garden in your yard and grow your own food. This was required because farmers were under strain to produce food for Britain and Russia. Raising your own food was considered to be a great way to help the war effort.

Today? It should still be considered patriotic to install a victory garden. Perhaps it would symbolize our victory over our addiction to coal? Or maybe slowing global climate change? Some people have even called it a victory over the recession.

No matter what your reason for planting a home garden, everyone can agree that food just tastes better when its extra fresh! Whether you raise your plants from seeds, or install young sprouts to tend later, it is amazing how therapeutic it is to get your hands dirty. And, unlike children, you can raise your vegetables and see them off to their successful future in just a few short months. Accomplishment, with a capital "A!"

No matter your underlying reasons for wanting to harvest the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor, the truth is that victory gardening is making a huge comeback. So much so that some companies are running out of seeds!

Other than the huge marketing success that the Obama's vegetable garden must have on the industry, why are people planting now? There are three main reasons:

1. Cost - saving money is easy when you harvest food from your own hard work. A few seeds or seedlings can yield much more food for a lot less money than when you buy the fully-grown versions at the store.

2. Safety - with food borne illnesses and pandemics on the rise, people want to know what is in the stuff they eat. Not to mention concerns about pesticides that may be applied to commercial farms. Growing your own is one way to eat safely.

3. Environment - when you consider the cost in fuel and money that it takes to transport vegetables thousands of miles to the grocery store, it makes sense to save by home-grown gardens. Even Farmer's Markets may seem like a waste of fuel when you can walk a few steps to your own backyard garden for your food.

The New York Times and First Lady Obama had this to say about the new Presidential garden:

While the organic garden will provide food for the first family’s meals and formal dinners, its most important role, Mrs. Obama said, will be to educate children about healthful, locally grown fruit and vegetables at a time when obesity and diabetes have become a national concern.

“My hope,” the first lady said in an interview in her East Wing office, “is that through children, they will begin to educate their families and that will, in turn, begin to educate our communities.”

To be considered "local food," your groceries must have traveled no more than 100 miles. Of course, this is important considering the fossil fuels required and CO2 emissions required to transport much of the food we eat.

Going "local" is relatively easy during spring and summer months when Farmer's Markets are regularly on the calendar. Since we can all live in a more sustainable manner, it helps to go over the qualities of local food. Not so surprisingly, the local food market was born at the same time as the insurgence of interest in farmers' markets and the rise of Victory Gardens in the early 20th century.

As noted on Wikipedia:

"The concept is often related to the slogan "Think globally, act locally'', common in green politics. Those supporting development of a local food economy consider that since food is needed by everyone, everywhere, every day, a small change in the way it is produced and marketed will have a great effect on individual's health, the ecosystem and preservation of cultural diversity. activists in the movement claim that shopping decisions favoring local food consumption directly affects the well-being of people, improve local economies and may be more ecologically sound."

Local food networks are also known as "community-based agriculture" or "localist agriculture." They are included as one, of several, agrifood systems. Not surprisingly, however, the definition of "local" can vary, depending on your locale (which is part of the reason for the 100-mile boundary). Some people regard the state of Texas as being "local" even though it is larger than some European countries.

Of course, if you are growing your own food on your property or in a community garden, there should be no question as to whether you are part of the local food movement.

Its probably easier than you think to grow your own garden. All you need is a relatively small patch of land, or even some containers if you have a patio or deck:

Things you’ll need to grow your own garden include seeds (or seedlings), enriched soil, manure or other feed, a trowel, rake and shovel. To mark your little plants, get some popsicle sticks and write in black ink (or, staple the seed packet on the front). Also required for larger areas is some 2X4 lumber planks to define the plot.

The best thing to do is to make your own markers using Popsicle sticks (either write on them directly or place the seed packet over the top). Press into the ground near the crops you will be growing.

Before planting, be sure to clear out rocks or other debris. Spread some potting soil and mix into existing soil about 6 inches deep. Next, you'll need to mark rows for your plantings.

Be sure to follow directions on the seed packets - or seedlings - regarding planting depth. Spread manure over the top. Water thoroughly and continue at least once a day until well-established.

Within 2-4 weeks, you can harvest your own food. Now, that is a big Victory in my book!