In 1917, a U. S. commission was organized to encourage Americans to contribute to the European war effort by planting and storing their own fruits and vegetables in parks, backyards and vacant lots so that crops from farms could be exported to our allies. Shortly thereafter, our country joined the war, and promotion of the War Garden movement spread quickly through women’s clubs and civic associations, which provided suggestions for crops and directions for planting and protecting vegetables. Even children were enlisted as “soldiers of the soil.” Within a year over five million new gardens had been created.
Victory Gardens poster
Although the program ended at the end of the WWI, victory gardens reemerged during WWII, and by 1944 over 20 million families were planting victory gardens. After food rationing was signed into law in 1942, an estimated 40 percent of vegetables that were eaten by civilians were being produced in victory gardens until the end of WWII. Throughout both world wars, Victory Gardens succeeded in boosting morale and patriotism and helped preserve the distribution of food to our soldiers.
The Fenway Victory Gardens in Boston were established in 1942 and are the oldest surviving victory garden in the country.
During World War II, forty Ipswich townspeople met at the Ipswich High School to establish a campaign to educate and encourage growing food in home gardens. A fair was held at the Town Hall with exhibits of fruits, flowers, and handicrafts. Spurred on by the threat of stricter rationing, people attended the Victory Garden lectures and formed committees that specialized in various aspects of vegetable gardening and preserving.
This house formerly at 16 Elm St. in Ipswich is featured at the Smithsonian Museum.
In 1942 as Mary Scott on Elm Street waited for word from their sons Roy and Arthur on the Front, Mary planted a victory garden and preserved vegetables in the kitchen. The house she and her husband lived in, formerly 16 Elm Street, is now the largest item on display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, but her Victory Garden became a parking lot for the Ipswich Police Station.
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The Ipswich House at the Smithsonian was a joint effort of the Smithsonian and the National Board of Realtors. As Ipswich Realtors Dottie Levesque and I were there for the Ipswich House opening. At that time the Smithsonian had actually planted a victory garden on the grounds of the Smithsonian commemorating the garden planted at the house on Elm St. when the last occupants were still there during WWII. I have no idea whether or not they continued to plant the garden.
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Yes, I had mine as a school kid in Mars Hill, ME. Eons later I had a nice garden in South Hamilton, MA.
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From garden to parking lot — too bad.
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I recall a TV show in the 1970s called “The Victory Garden.” That concept helped me establish the practices I continued for many years including having a compost bin in my ravine area (hidden from sight.)
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Every real gardener has a compost pile of some sort.
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