It's time to share with you my Big Idea. It got all stirred up again inside me last week when I wrote about how the Dogwood Festival wouldn't be at Piedmont Park in Atlanta this year because of the drought, and the only other time it hasn't been there in its 72-year-history was during World War II.
The mention of World War II took me right back to what got me going six years ago on gardening in the first place (me, someone who doesn't like to hover who thought gardening would be nothing but work, work, work!) The day after 9/11/01, I walked aimlessly around my local Publix wondering if our food supply would be hit by terrorists. I thought for sure it wouldn't be long before our government asked us to plant Victory Gardens in order to increase food security, just as two million Americans planted Victory Gardens during WWII so that manufactured food could be sent to the troops overseas.
Our issues are different today. Yes, food security against terrorism is critical but we also have reduced food security due to the continual incidence of tainted food from factory farms and feedlots. We're fighting the war on obesity. GMOs. Reliance on petroleum-based transportation and products such as fertilizers. Health-impairment from pesticides and other toxicities. A shocking drop-off, in just one generation, of what's called "earth skills," or the ability to sustain our own lives in nature. Even the lack of preparedness of children in science and math, skills that are central to jobs in emerging technologies and our changing global marketplace. Why are our politicians not talking about these things? Why doesn't anyone realize that the health of the food we eat is central to our lives? Why don't we demand more? Why don't we take back the power of our own destinies, one seed at a time?
And so, again, I am only one person. But I have waited six years. And my government is not encouraging anyone to plant Victory Gardens, even though we all wanted to do something six years ago. We all wanted to feel as if our small efforts could make a difference. We all wanted to work together rather than descend into this downward spiral of negativity and divisiveness that makes up the discourse of today's political environment in my country. And it has nagged at me for so long that I no longer have a choice in this matter. I must now take action.
I ask you to join me in planting a Victory Garden (if you are already a gardener, be a "Companion Planter" and encourage a new gardener through advice, seedlings and other get-started help). Start with your soil now, in January (or when it is workable in your climate--our Southern Hemisphere friends are able to dig right in!). Then start with herbs when it is time to plant (because they are easy and the taste of success, both literally and figuratively, is a powerful motivator!). And let's declare victory over our food supply, once and for all.
The FoodShed Planet Victory Garden Drive
Goal (for without a goal there is no compass on the journey): TWO MILLION NEW GARDENS PLANTED IN 2008. Backyard gardens, community gardens, school gardens, windowsill gardens--they all count. Anywhere on our FoodShed Planet.
Challenge: DESIGN a new Victory Garden poster! Are you a school teacher? Have your class take a stab at it! How about your work buddies? Your neighbors? Have a Victory Garden poster party! Send your designs (size limit: 8.5" by 11") to FoodShed Planet, P.O. Box 88043, Atlanta, GA, 30356, USA. No deadline. Select artwork featured on FoodShed Planet! (The photo featured above is a government-issued design from way back when.)
Sponsor Opportunity: Are you an organic seed or sustainable garden supply company? Would you be willing to offer a 20% or more discount to new gardeners in order to grow your customer base and do good? Promote your business as a sponsor of the FoodShed Planet Victory Garden Drive! Please post a comment or email me at freshbakedcopy@mindspring.com if you are interested!
Add your name in the Comments section below after you plant your garden (first name, screen name, whatever you want) and we will join hands and hoes across our FoodShed Planet. And, together, we will declare victory. If you have a garden blog or start one, add a link to it as well so we can all learn from each other. Check out Kitchen Gardeners International for more backyard gardens around the world (including right near you!) than you can imagine. Start today with a couple of windowsill pots of herbs and you will have taken the first step forward!
Please pass this on to anyone you know who might be interested (including media contacts). And then to those who you think won't. Because on 9/10/01, I wasn't interested. And here I am now.
42 comments:
Last year, I planted my very first garden, with the same idea in mind. (I used the goal matrix at www.43things.com and labeled it as "Plant my own version of a victory garden: grow my own vegetables and herbs".) It was a great deal of fun, but not all that productive.
I'll be doubling the size (which isn't much, considering I'm going from a 4'x8' bed to an 8'x8' bed, as I live in a rented townhouse with little space), but also adding a bakers rack on my front patio filled with pots,a series of window boxes hanging from the balcony with something vine-like, and placing the tomato plants in tomato-bag hanging baskets. The bed will be raised, and I'll be adding composted manure in with my garden soil and the workable compost I'll have after this winter, and If I can swing it, I'll also build some boxes to grow root vegetables in sawdust.
My crops I'm less sure of. Definitely tomato (with the intention of putting up cans and cans of crushed and diced varieties), zucchini, a variety of beans, and herbs. Maybe peppers. I need to weigh it out with my CSA membership, as I get lots of greens and root vegetables from the farm (where I have a working share). I'm still very, very new, and growing in Zone 5 -- I'll join this challenge and read along for any tips that are possible.
Firstly, where do you suggest we go to purchase good quality, organic seeds/seedlings? Catalogue ordering? Web ordering? Are those things that local farms might sell?
Lissa: My suggestions? Grow heirloom organics--things you can't find (or are hard to find) in the supermarket and that maybe even your CSA doesn't include. Purple carrots. A wide variety of herbs. Pretty lettuces. Also, think "workhorse" in the garden--lettuces, spinach, tatsoi, herbs etc. that allow you to "cut and come again" as opposed to peppers and tomatoes and watermelons that take months to grow. It is far more rewarding (to me) to see ther esults of my labor on my dinner plate on a daily basis!
As for seeds, I continue to like Seeds of Change (even though I had so many ordering problems last year with them! I already ordered something this year and had no trouble. I also had a very nice conversation with Emily at the farm in New Mexico. And finally, I truly loved the long-titled book, Seeds of Change:The Living Treasure : The Passionate Story of the Growing Movement to Restore Biodiversity and Revolutionize the Way We Think About Food)which was written by Seeds of Change founder Ken Ausubel (who also founded the Bioneers and has a book about that, too).
The farmers with whom I talk rave about Johnny's Seeds, although I haven't tried them yet.
Also, see if there is a seed-saving group near you. Seeds saved and planted over a few years adapt to your particular microclimate (which, by the way, is one of the reasons why forcing farmers in developing countries to buy GM seeds each year robs them of this opportunity for sustainability).
Hi Pattie,
A friend just sent me a link to Seed Savers . . . http://www.seedsavers.org/
She orders heirloom seedlings each year for her garden and loves them!
pattie,
seems like i'm the lame one on this site, but here goes. i'm not a gardener, organic or otherwise, but i want to be. i need help.
do you suggest starting with growing herbs in pots to ease into it?
where do you suggest i learn about soil preparation and everything else involved?
nesgadol
David: Here's what I did. This whole process takes about two hours, from store to sore!
I made a 3 x 5 foot mound with maybe ten 40-pound bags of topsoil. (I didn't even bother trying to improve the hard red clay I already had. I then worked in a couple bags of manure. Looked like a grave. I then planted onion sets around the edge of this and lettuce transplants in the middle. Fine, get the onions and lettuce at Home Depot just to get going, but also plant a few rows of organic heirloom seeds. In Atlanta, go to Hastings Garden Center in Brookhaven for Seeds of Change seeds if you don't want to wait for an online order.
Put a stick in every corner, cover the bed with thick plastic on nights that dip below 50 degrees (hold plastic down with a rock) and then check back and we'll go from there.
Oh, and designate a part of your patch for herbs. Start with rosemary here in Atlanta. It grows all year, and is very happy right now. Just one plant. It grows very large.
Well, I'm not a new gardener but I do expand every year. For those that don't want to support Monsanto you need to be careful who you order seeds from. Many seed companies sell Monsanto seeds but they aren't labelled as such. The companies I know that are safe are Baker's Creek, Southern Exposure and Seed Savers Exchange. I have read that even Seeds for Change has some ties to Monsanto but I will admit to not being sure about that. Not supporting Monsanto in anyway is extremely important to me so all my seeds this year are coming from Southern Exposure. If you are in the south (which I'm not really) you should check them out.
What a fabulous idea! Last year at this time I had never grown anything from seed. Now we eat about 75% of our food from the garden. Even in the winter.
I just found your blog by way of Angie's post (Children of the Corn) about both our gardening challenges.
My Growing Challenge begins with just growing one more edible plant than you did last year. With the option to change the rules if that is not enough of a challenge! So far the challenge has inspired 19 people. Hopefully more will sign up as the winter recedes and planting time begins in the north.
I'm so glad I found your blog - we seem to have a lot in common! I'll add you to my Links/Blogroll.
I'm on it. we just trimmed some trees last weekend so a corner of my garden will get more sunlight. we need all we can get living in the pacific northwest.
Welcome Melinda--great site! Check her sutff out, gang! Christy, let's find out more about Seeds of Change and Monsanto. I'm with ya' on that. Dmoms, I like that visual of literally cearing out the branches so the light can get in. Makes a nice metaphor for life. ANd back to David--yes, if you want to just start with some potted herbs on your windowsill, yes, yes, yes. Do it today and wham, you're now a gardener. But if you're anything like me, you'll start eating herbs like vegetables and the pots just won't be enough :)
I'm in! Call me a companion planter, as I already have a garden, but I'm running a series called "So you want to garden?" that will be appearing at my blog Eat Close to Home as the season progresses. (It's currently in draft form on a private blog...)
Folks here might also be interested to see the Victory Pantry Notebook my grandmother made in her high school home ec class. How many quarts of beans should you can per person? She's got the numbers...
Lets do it Pattie. Our seedsavers group is steadily growing and I feel like mother of the flock - hoping none will stray and trying to keep them all together through the water restrictions. A lady that runs the garden section of our local hardware shop told me that, despite all the water problems, vegetable growing has increased many-fold this summer. People everywhere are having their own, quiet revolution.This time around we will have victory WITHOUT the government !
Hi Pattie,
Found you through Melinda's Growing Challenge and glad that I did, nice blog.
Since my garden didn't exist before November last year I hope it can be counted as new.
If so I am one more toward your 2 million.
Kind Regards
Belinda
I hope you beat your target!
I can't plant yet (too cold and too dark), but I've stocked up on thrifted gardening books, soil, pots, and inspiration and, as soon as possible, will have first a windowsill and then later a patio garden.
I'm in!
Thanks for putting out the call! I was already thinking of my little plot in terms of a victory garden...
I planted a small spot last year - just a few plants in a bare spot in the lawn where a tree had been cut down.
This year I intend to attempt to produce most of our food. I plated 5 fruit trees last year, and am following the pruning recommendations for small-space/high-yield orcharding.
I'm also planning for the arrival of 2 chickens in the spring.
I guess all this makes me a companion planter. I'm in Michigan, so I'l be cold-sowing this weekend.
Pattie, you are getting kudos all over the blogosphere for your Victory Garden drive. I already have my front-yard food garden, but I will support this project any way I can.
Ed: Whoa, I didn't know that! Where?! ANd thanks for your support! Take five!
Not sure where we're going, but we're on our way!
This will be my second year growing in Georgia (Alpharetta). This year I will be growing a larger variety of plants. Since I live in a townhouse I am really limited on space so I plant rather intensively. A list of everything that I plan to grow can be found on my tumblelog http://www.slowlyturninggreen.com/post/22865599
Almost all of my seeds are from Seeds of Change. This month I have already started my kale, broccoli and spinach; constructed a compost pile; and setup a rain barrel.
This year I will be giving any extra seedlings to my neighbors and helping them as needed to grow them.
We have a two-year old garden in our backyard in Pittsburgh, but I don't know if I can call it organic. I bought organic soil last year and used no chemicals or pesticides in it that I know of, so maybe it is.
Some questions:
1) The ground is hard as a rock here and will be for a while, but when is the soonest I can plant seedlings?
2) I have seen some articles about composting food scraps and such at home (I cook at home 4-5 days a week, so have plenty of food scraps), but any suggestions on how best to do this? I have seen indoor cans like garbage cans but allegedly for composting. Do these work?
3) We had a terrible problem with weeds last year. Any suggestions, beyond frequent pruning, for how to handle them without chemicals?
4) Finally, we have a healthy deer population here to say the least. For whatever reason, they have mostly left our garden alone, but we have had some rabbit issues. Tips for keeping out the nibblers?
Thanks. This is a great idea. I'll spread the word best I can.
Ed at The Slow Cook (www.the slowcook.blogspot.com) has great composting videos that you wil porbably find really helpful. My big recommendation re: composting? Make sure you have a secure bin if you are adding food scraps--otherwise, say hello to rats and otehr rodents! I, personally, sort of covet that "tumbler composting bin" you see advertised in gardening catalogs.
As for rabbits, I find that if I have lots of red or crimson clover growing, the rabbits totally leave the lettuces alone. That clover must be delicious!
As for weeds, I've taken to eating them! Find out what edible weeds are growing in your garden and you might be in for a wonderful surprise! Chickweed and lamb's quarters are rock stars in my garden!
Sounds like your garden IS organic. Not sure when you can plant--anyone out there who's from Pittsburgh who can help? My soil is already workable here, so I'm no help at all.
Hi Pattie, Count me in and I will attempt to Take Five. This year I am doubling my raised beds square footage and embarking on beekeeping. Planting here in Alaska won't occur for awhile, but I am anxious!
I am have been gardening for several years so I'll add mine as a companion garden. We just bought a house last year though so we are expanding it more each year and hoping to add fruit trees and bushes this year.
I also talked my parent's into starting a garden which I will help them with, and talked my friend into planting a few things in her yard as well.
fillipelli- I am in Ohio. You can usually start with cold hardy plants between mid february and March 1st. To get them in early you might want to cover your garden area with dark plastic as the soil will warm faster. For summer plants, it is usually arround mother's day.
Ohh I also wanted to add that Seed savers exchange is a great company. They have some amazing heirloom seeds.
Please count me in! I attempted a container garden a couple years ago that didn't do all too well. This year I have big plans for my extremem limited space (apartment/townhouse). Right now I have started some seed that is overtaking my kitchen counters. I think it is great what you are doing! ~Terra
Please count me in! I am a brand new gardener. I have very limited space as I am in an apartment/ townhouse but want to make the absolute most of it! As of right now I have started seeds that are all over my kitchen counters. I live in the Mojave desert in Southern California. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! What you are doing is awesome!
~Terra
Hey, folks - anyone planning their first garden might want to try the drag-and-drop garden planner! It's perfect for a 4'x4' bed - just drag the plants onto the squares and click "grow garden" (or pick a certain month). It'll show you approximately when to plant (assuming you live in zone 5-6) and what to expect from your plants size-wise.
http://eatclosetohome.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/drag-and-drop-garden-planner/
I'm at the very beginning of this year's garden--dreaming big! I'd love to join you all.
Started my plants in the basement already (peas, lettuces, radishes, tomatoes) and am eagerly looking forward to the growing season.
Wonderful hobby, and great way to put food on the table.
Hi
We have a garden, but going to change where it is as was only temporary
Glad I have found your blog.
It sure is a BUZZ to pick something for dinner!
Love Leanne New Zealand
Hi Pattie,
My husband and I are planning our garden in western Massachusetts. We're new gardeners, though Charles had some thriving plants in containers last year: peppers, onions, and even corn! They were just for fun, and resulted in only a few edible results.
I'm so relieved at the support from other bloggers, and am learning a lot by following links on Foodshed Planet, Elements in Time, and other blogs.
Up here in Zone 5, we've started a dozen herbs from seed and have plans for garden standards such as tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, lettuces, and peppers. We use seeds from Baker's Creek and Heirloom Seeds. We compost, and have even started vermicomposting.
I'm looking forward to following other participants' progress!
Please count me in, not only am I expanding the amount of food that I am growing in my own garden. I am helping five different families start there own vegetable gardens with my extra tomatoes, cucumber, and eggplant.
I am starting my first garden ever. I would love to join
I am planting my very first, all-on-my-own veggie garden this year.
I am joining the Victory Garden Drive because I believe that the more food secure we are, the better.
I'm a little aprehensive, but then I tell myself that I will never become a confident gardener if I don't try, right?
Planting my first veggie garden this year. Tomatoes are in and will probably also do green beans and some herbs.
This is my third year gardening and we are really having a time. (New location.) It's important to me not to give up. Our garden takes up a good third of our back yard and I've got plants everywhere. The neighbors are curious and asking lots of questions. I hope to inspire others!
We joined the growing challenge this year and our main goal is to getinto permaculture and grow organic. we live in Australia and there is a growing movement here too - so many of our family and friends have seen the beginnings of our garden and got inspired to start their own. Hooray!
Our blog is 'www.cwmgochchronicles.blogspot.com
Drop in sometime!
Nathalie
Hi, Nathalie! Welcome! I love connecting with folks like you in Australia because our seasons are flipped and together we can try to keep the world whole!
this year we not only started a 1200 sq/ft garden, but we started a garden club (justice gardens) at our church wherein a portion of our fruits/veggies goes to feed the homeless in our community. this is a different kind of war we are fighting with this victory garden but still, we fight together!
here is a link to our church gardening blog
cvgardening.blogspot.com
& a link to the justice gardens blog
justicegardens.wordpress.com/
I've been an organic gardener for over twenty years. Actually organic is the only way I've ever gardened. I've gardened from Savannah Georgia to Germany and learned all kinds of lessons in between. Now I find myself in South Carolina and still growing. This year I'm teaching classes to folks who have never had a garden and those who have never grown organicly. I'm also working on starting a community garden in an area that is much depressed. The goal is to teach people they don't have to depend on corporate farms, oil prices and big box stores for healthy quality food. Victory gardens have been much on my mind these past months and now I've found your web site. I'm not alone!! Go Patti!
Hello Friends,
I want to start a community garden in my town. I want to have three components to my living resource center. A garden, a Heifer International global village and a University Center where people could learn and change insight. Does anyone know of any good grant sites for this? Thanks.cj
Hi, I have started a Victory Gardens Social Network to discuss produce gardening at home, have a place to connect with others of like mind, increase home gardens and share harvest pics. Please check it out at http://victorygardens.ning.com
It's brand new, so there ain't much there till y'all come around and start talking!
I'm currently trying to start a community victory garden as I feel that it would be more helpful to the community than just giving out food thru the food bank. I have to give a presentation to the camber of commerce to get them on board plus find a site. Does any one have any ideas or helpful suggestions. If so my email is carolgardner624@yahoo.com Thanks
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