21 March 2009

Bringing Back the Garden

Fall 2008
Panna.org

During World War II, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at the urging of Eleanor Roosevelt, encouraged citizens to plant “Victory Gardens” around their homes and neighbors cooperated to turn vacant lots into community cropland. In 1943, 20 million U.S. gardeners produced eight million tons of food. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park became the home to 250 gardens producing fresh, local food for city residents.
Read more here

5 comments:

  1. It is so amazing to read about community gardens and encouraging people to set up their own gardens. As an organic gardener, I have my own flower beds, veggie, and fruit produce growing as well as rain boxes purchased from Aqua Barrel in Frederick. Besides having bird houses, food for all types of small animals, I am hoping to get an apiary and a fish pond in my very small city dwelling backyard. Perhaps that is something to wait until I get a bigger backyard. Nonetheless, the joy of gardening is really a beautiful and calming thing, and not to forget the joy of seeing things grow in front of you, and know that you did it, not some obscure farm, but you... I would not trade that for anything in the world. Dina

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  2. I'm inspired. I had the best garden when I lived in the Northwest. I loved getting my hands in the earth. It's been a long time since I've done that. I've moved to a different state - a concrete jungle. Sigh. But I do have a little patch in back that is untended. I may give it another try. Your photo above moved my spirit. Earth is calling....

    ~ LaRonda

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  3. wow, anonymous, your garden sounds very lively. Laronda, yeah give that little patch a chance to grow some vegetables and herbs.

    I came home to Plankton in a big surprise today. I learned that one of the Planktonites reclaimed the untended property between the back wall of the next door neighbor's garage and our fence after checking with the property map. That untended spot belongs to us and not to the next door neighbor as we originally thought so. She and some Planktonites took down the fence and moved our garden spot to that untended area. Now we have much more room in the backyard without having the old garden spot taking over the space like before. It'll be interesting to see how the new garden turns out.

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  4. My advice -

    plant a lot of produce yet also plant a lot of butterfly and bee friendly flowers, shrubs, and other plants. We are lacking in those wonderful pollinators big time. A combo of produce and flowering garden is not only gorgeous but beneficial to all those that are involved. SUnflowers are a big hit with birds and bees. Dina

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  5. Thanks, Dina! I'll pass your advice to the Gardener of Plankton. I would like to have bumble bees and butterflies hanging out as we, the Planktonites and friends, frolic around the garden. :)

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