TheHistoryofWarGardens
TheHistoryBehindit...
WhatareWarGardens?
AgricultureandsuccessfulfoodproductionhasbeenacriticaltoolinbothWorldWarIandWorldWarII.
Duringbothwars,Americanswereurgedtogrowtheirownfoodinordertoallowthecommercialfarmersto
producefoodforourtroopsandtofreeupourtransportationsystemsforwareffortsinsteadoffood
shipmentsfornon-militaryuse.
WorldWarI
InAugustof1917PresidentWoodrowWilsoncreatedtheU.S.FoodAdministration,withamissionto:
• Assureadequatefoodsupply,distribution,andconservationoffoodduringthewar,
• Facilitatetransportationoffoodandpreventmonopoliesandhoarding,and
• Maintaingovernmentalpoweroverfoodsbyusingvoluntaryagreementsandalicensingsystem.
HerbertHooverwasrecruitedtoleadthenewadministration.Hestronglybelieved
thattheAmericanpeoplewouldbewillingtosacrificeinordertosupportthewar
efforts.Hesetanexamplebyrefusingtoacceptasalaryforhisnewposition.
Hooverstartedabigmediacampaignandproclaimed“Foodwillwinthewar.”
CitizenswereencouragedtoplanttheirownLibertyGardensthroughanextensive
campaignofpropagandaposters.Educationonplanting,cropdisease,andsafe
canningprocedureswasprovidedthroughlocalCooperativeExtensionoffices.
Anotherprogram,theUnitedStatesSchoolGardenArmy,wasledbytheFederal
BureauofEducation.Itprovidedagricultureeducationintheschoolsand
encouragedschoolgardens,aswellasindividualgardenswiththeirstudent“soldiers
ofthesoil.”BytheendofWWI,morethan5.2millionnewgardenswereplanted,
generatinganestimated1.45millionquartsofcannedfruitsandvegetables.
Didyouknow?
ThenameLibertyGardenwaschangedtoVictoryGardenaftertheArmistice.ThenameVictoryGardenwas
usedagaininWWIItopromotehomeagriculturetosupportwarefforts.
Sources
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TheHistoryChannel:www.history.com/news/hungry-history/americas-patriotic-victory-gardens
TheNationalArchivesandRecordsAdministration:www.archives.gov/education/lessons/sow-seeds/
TheNationalArchivesandRecordsAdministration:https://catalog.archives.gov/id/512498
TheVirginiaHistoricalSociety:www.vahistorical.org/collections-and-resources/virginia-history-explorer/victorygardens
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