Thursday, March 3, 2011

Victory Gardens

      As part of the war effort, the government rationed foods like sugar, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, coffee, meat and canned goods. Labor and transport shortages made it hard to harvest and move fruits and vegetables to the market. So the government turned to its citizens and encouraged them to plant “Victory Gardens” to provide their own fruits and vegetables. Nearly 20 million Americans answered the call. They Planted gardens in the backyards, empty lots and even city rooftops. Neighbors pooled their resources and planted different kinds of foods and formed cooperatives. Farm families, of course had been planting gardens and preserving produce for generations. Now, their urban cousins got into the act too. The government and businesses urged people to make gardening a family and community effort. People responded all in the name of patriotism to do their part on the home front. Women magazines gave instructions on how to grow and preserve produce. Families were encouraged to can their own fruits and vegetables to save commercial canned goods for the troops. By 1945 victory gardens accounted for about 40 percent of all vegetables consumed in the U.S.