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‘Victory Gardens’ back to stay among non-farmers?

By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Victory Gardens were popular in the 1940s as Americans tried to help the war effort by growing their own fruits and vegetables. Many Victory Gardens ended with the war, but recent monetary worries have led to a resurgence in the concept of home-based gardens, said Ricky D. Kemery, Allen County Purdue University horticulture extension educator.

“With the tough economic times, there’s been a trend toward getting back to basics,” he said. “There’s a lot more interest in growing food because of the times and because of concerns about food safety, with all the different scares.”

The government asked Americans to grow food in home gardens during World War II because there were shortages of some foods, Kemery added.

“People grew an incredible amount of vegetables in those years,” he said. “It’s an example of how Americans pull together in times of crisis. It solved a lot of problems with food shortages. People used every sort of space available.”

Gardening is always ranked first or second in lists of leisure activities in the United States, but last year, vegetable gardening became the most popular form, replacing flowers, Kemery said.
“People want to save money and know where their food is coming from, and that it’s safe,” he said. “They’re getting back to the basics and trying to eat healthy.”

While people of every age have an interest in vegetable and fruit home gardens, some of the most recent interest has come from those in their twenties and thirties who haven’t traditionally gardened, he said.

“Especially for those in their thirties, there seems to be a real interest in getting back to the earth,” Kemery said. “They’re interested in environmental issues. They’re cooking more, so they’d like to be able to grow their own salad greens, gourmet vegetables and herbs. They’re trying to save money.”

Kemery will be offering free seminars in March and April in Allen County for those interested in learning about starting and managing a home-based garden. Victory Gardens will also be the subject of seminars during the 2009 Fort Wayne Home and Garden Show, Feb. 26-March 1.

“People may be interested in getting back to the Victory Garden concept, but they’re not really sure how to start,” he said. “It can cost you a lot of money, but it also cannot, and we’re going to show them how to do it without it costing them a lot of money.”
For those who either don’t have a lot of space, or who want to start slowly, Kemery recommends container gardens. “You may only have a balcony at an apartment, but you can still get started. Just be sure the container has good drainage.”

Starting smaller is the best approach, said Gary Carnes, an advanced master gardener.

“Most people think you need a big amount of land, like a quarter of an acre somewhere,” he said. “But you don’t. To get started I recommend a much smaller plot, say six feet by eight feet, or 8-by-10. But start small because you may decide this is not for me. You can always make it bigger.”

Whether you’re using a container garden or planting in the ground, take the time to pick the right location that takes into consideration such things as sunlight and drainage, Carnes said. Another option for getting started is raised-bed gardening because a bed may be constructed for very little money, Kemery said.

The perimeter may be constructed of bricks, cinder blocks or stones, and if soil is bought in bulk, a basic raised bed garden can be done for less than $50, he said.

“They’re easier, much more efficient and cost effective and it’s easier to deal with critters eating things in the garden,” Kemery said.

In northern Indiana, the two most cost-efficient crops to grow are tomatoes and peppers. He also recommends starting with cool season vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli and radishes, and later planting the warm season vegetables such as tomatoes and squash.

“The more crops you can grow, the more cost-effective it gets,” he said. “The idea is to be as efficient and cost-effective as you can be in your gardening.”

Increased interest in organic foods has also led to the popularity of home gardens, Kemery said. “This is the new part of Victory Gardens,” he said. “This way, you know if pesticides have been used. You know your food hasn’t been exposed to pathogens and pesticides.”

The interest in organic foods is also reminiscent of the era of Victory Gardens, Carnes believes.

“They didn’t use pesticides in Victory Gardens,” he said. “They were organic gardeners, if you think about it. This is an example of turning back to our past. A lot of good came out of the old Victory Gardens.”

Kemery’s free seminars are March 30 at the Allen County Public Library’s Aboite branch; April 1 at the Dupont branch; and April 16 at the Georgetown branch. For more information on these sessions, and on the Fort Wayne Home and Garden Show presentations, call the Allen County extension office at 260-481-6826, option 3.
Carnes will be presenting a six-part series on Victory Gardens in March and April at the First Wayne Street United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne. For information, contact Connie at the church, 260-422-4681.

2/25/2009