What is a Victory Garden and Why You Should Grow One

A victory garden is a term coined during World War I and II. It is a garden planted during a time of war to boost the war effort and decrease pressure on the food supply. In the 21st century however the term "victory garden" is more a resistance to big agriculture rather than to boost the war effort. This article will discuss why you should plant a victory garden and other ways you can grow food to feed your family and strengthen community and neighborhood ties.

The following are several reasons you may want to start a victory garden:

Independence

Growing your own food can help you achieve independence over grocery stores and pesticide laden food. Why go for the inferior product when you can grow your own for a fraction of the price? Starting a victory garden is a big step in the direction of independence. It will also get you eating in season and appreciating the land that sustains each of us. don't forget the money, gas and other resources you will save by growing your own victory garden.

Sustainability and Health

Growing your own food is a sustainable practice. If we are better able to feed our families it strengthens not only family ties but community ties as well. Learning how to garden sustainably means using organic gardening methods and not using poisons to grow your food. Pesticide rates are at an all time high. It's no wonder so are our cancer rates as well. With no cure in site it makes sense to want to eat organic foods.

Community

Start your own victory garden and tell your neighbors about it! This will lead others to think about what you are doing and see for themselves the benefits of growing your own. Soon you will be inspiring your neighbors to follow suit.

Environment

As mentioned previously growing your own saves valuable resources. Food miles are miles in which your food travels to you. This takes a lot of resources such as manpower, fuel, road upkeep and more. Growing your own victory garden will have you soon less dependent on the middle man and in turn saving the earth's valuable resources. This won't solve all environmental problems but imagine if it was the norm once again to grow a family garden each year all across the USA!

Whether you plant a huge off grid garden or a small container garden there is something for everyone. In this day and age of fake processed foods and genetically modified foods it is a valuable skill to learn to grow your own food.