THE HISTORY OF VICTORY GARDENS
What exactly is a victory garden?
Victory gardens came about during World War I, with a resurgence in World War II, as an effort to not only bolster the country's food supply during uncertain times, but also to boost morale. People used every little bit of space they had -- from backyards to fire escapes -- to plant their gardens. Tending to a victory garden helped lift spirits and bring communities together. The movement became so popular during World War II that it's estimated that 20 million victory garden growers produced about 8 million tons of food -- or roughly 40% of the nation's produce.
Our own city of Boston was home to 49 victory gardens, including one on the Boston Common and one in front of Trinity Church in Copley Square. The oldest surviving victory garden is the Fenway Victory Gardens, founded in 1942 in response to FDR's Food Rationing Program. The Fenway Victory Gardens are located in the historic Back Bay Fens, a public park designed in the late 1800s by Frederick Law Olmsted. Today, the Fenway Victory Gardens is made up of over 500 gardens that are tended by members from neighborhoods all over Boston.
Victory gardens came about during World War I, with a resurgence in World War II, as an effort to not only bolster the country's food supply during uncertain times, but also to boost morale. People used every little bit of space they had -- from backyards to fire escapes -- to plant their gardens. Tending to a victory garden helped lift spirits and bring communities together. The movement became so popular during World War II that it's estimated that 20 million victory garden growers produced about 8 million tons of food -- or roughly 40% of the nation's produce.
Our own city of Boston was home to 49 victory gardens, including one on the Boston Common and one in front of Trinity Church in Copley Square. The oldest surviving victory garden is the Fenway Victory Gardens, founded in 1942 in response to FDR's Food Rationing Program. The Fenway Victory Gardens are located in the historic Back Bay Fens, a public park designed in the late 1800s by Frederick Law Olmsted. Today, the Fenway Victory Gardens is made up of over 500 gardens that are tended by members from neighborhoods all over Boston.
