The pic of the Armenian cucumber... Whoa!

After much thought and research on this topic, I have found many sites promoting the "new" victory garden ideal.
What would people think of an association that would form one large system ( if you will) that one person acn go to ( on-line) and find all that is needed?
No dues required. This site coud not only have all of the history behind Liberty and victory gardens but also show various forms on of the how to grow and show exanples of any where fronm a small back yard system (potager style) to larger scale designs. We could begin by having backers such as various seed companies as well as sell shirts and hats, etc. Bumper stickers and the like. any suggestions??
Anyone for or against? you can contact me at jffmail@aol.com.

I think this garden forum already acts as such a thing now. Just my opinion, but when you start getting sponsors involved, it doesn't take long before the site is more about all the marketing and less about the gardening.

I'm sure that if anyone wanted to provide more research on victory gardens that this thread would welcome it.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread, not only because I love the idea of promoting victory gardens but also the hilarious commentary about Ms. Victory's hat/dress and her impressive makeover! I also noticed that the OP and early commentators from last year had the foresight to get the thought going last year, when prices were just inching and not yet skyrocketing like they have been this year.

I'm convinced that city streets should be lined with lemon trees, lavender, basil and other herbs, and that blueberry bushes and artichokes should border buildings. Growing up, my family had tons of houseplants, but we were city-people and didn't go beyond that. I ventured beyond houseplants five years and this is my fourth year of heirloom tomatoes, first of beans, peas and Swiss Chard, and a bunch of herbs. Once you taste your own garden-fresh vegetables, there is no going back. I am also fortunate to work in Napa, where my colleagues and friends in Napa and Sonoma all grow their own vegetables and fruit trees have been providing the most amazing apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums this summer. I haven't bought produce all summer, but during other times of the year when our gardens aren't so productive, I still can't stand supermarket fruits and vegetables (to the point that I walk to my local supermarket only for cereal, yogurt, and such staples, and walk farther to the farmers market and green grocer for fresh produce).

Perhaps you've heard, but the city of San Francisco recently turned its City Hall Plaza lawn into a victory garden. I'm not affiliated with the project but I do feel like an unofficial spokesperson because I absolutely love the idea. The garden is in conjunction with Slow Food Nation, an event during Labor Day weekend that's spawned from the Slow Food movement and the idea that food should be good, clean, and fair. There is social and environmental ideology behind it (hey, it's San Francisco!). That may inspire some people and it may also turn some people off, but let's remember that the goal is to encourage people to think about where their food comes from, to show them that it's possible to grow food with a plot of land in the middle of a city, and to harvest the produce and provide it to local food banks that are struggling to feed families that have fallen on hard times. I encourage everyone to take up the discussion of getting your cities and towns involved! Your enthusiasm and sense of humor is contagious!

Here's some more info
http://slowfoodnation.org/blog/category/victory-garden/

http://www.sfvictorygardens.org/cityhall.html

I'm with the rest of you in feeling that this is a great idea. I've been growing vegetables on part of my two acres for awhile now with some disappointments and some successes. Our growing climate here is far different than most of you have and it presents many challenges. High heat and winds of the summer destroy many things, and do I dare mention the multitude of hungry bugs? It's quite a challenge but it can be rewarding.

One thing I've noticed about the influx of city people moving to this (Once) rural town is their attitude towards living a country lifestyle. Having a garden or a few chickens is out of the question as they immediately start cementing-over everything, and installing solid fences with security lights all over the place. I don't mean to sound negative, but convincing them that using some of their space to grow a vegetable garden would benefit them is almost out of the question. Having a garden is work, (as you all know), and many people from the city are not willing to do it. Instead, they would rather opt for using their spare time by hooking-up their boat or toy hauler to their motorhome and going camping somewhere. Now I don't mean that everyone from the big city has that mindset, but a lot of them do. I know because I've witnessed it through the years living here.

I would love to see more and more people take an interest in this idea, and learn how this can really benefit them in many ways. We're having a meeting tonight at the County Extension Office regarding growing fruit and vegetables for re-sale. A horticulture specialist from UNLV will be there giving instruction on all aspects. It will be interesting to see how many show-up.

BTW...I read in earlier posts in this thread about how "gonefishn" is being missed, did something happen to him? Several years ago Bill and I used to email each other all the time but somehow we drifted apart and haven't written in awhile. I hope he's okay.

Greg
Nevada

Greg, loved your post. Please let us know how that meeting at the County Ext. Office went.

I live in the city limits, but our home lots are fairly large. I have neighbors who, despite large yards, don't do a thing with growing vegetables. They have a few perennials which they whack at once a year and curse the fact that they have to mow. Two of my neighbors tell me that I'm "lucky" to be able to grow my own vegetables. They wouldn't lift a finger to dig in the dirt to save their own lives. I've even offered to teach them how. I used to share my veggies, but not any more. I freeze and can for myself and my grown kids.

Well, I live in an area that was semi-rural when I was little, now is suburbanized into an affluent suburb.

I guess, if they won't shovel their own snow, cut their own grass, do their own laundry, scoop the dog poo in the backyard, we really can't expect them to grow a garden, can we? Too much work for them.

American culture is all about "fun, fun, fun" -- seeing the latest movie, going to every concert, sporting event, recreational shopping, etc. I think that gardening is too slow for many people.

To be fair, a lot of people are restricted by association rules, etc., and aren't ALLOWED to garden very much. This is especially true in condos, etc. My cousin lives in a doublewide mobil home in a park, it's actually quite nice. She's a very dedicated gardener. One of the restrictions is she can't plant anything which bears fruit of any kind, because it might be messy. She's managed, through creative use of things like lattice and shrubs, to hide some mini-dwarf fruit trees and tomato plants, and the management just leaves her alone as long as no one complains.

If things got really, really bad in this country, with millions of homeless, bread lines, etc., back like in the 1930's, perhaps horticulture would come back into more favor.

Dennis
SE Michingan.

PS, I've done my part, over 50 fruit trees, about half an acre in vegetable gardens, lots of berries, small fruits, etc.

Sadly, gonefishin has passed away. I attached the link below for you to read.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gonefishin, you out there?

aulani wrote:

"Greg, loved your post. Please let us know how that meeting at the County Ext. Office went."

Well more people showed-up than I thought there would be, (15), and It was very interesting and informative. The horticulturist from UNLV was actually there on a fact finding mission in that he was trying to see how many people were interested in growing produce for sale to chefs at the high class restaurants in Las Vegas. He stated that the chefs are steering away from organic and opting for "Locally Grown - FRESH" produce to use in their menus, and paying "Top Dollar." For example, he was telling us about a lady that raises a particular breed of chicken that lays green eggs that the chefs want. When he asked the lady how much she would charge them for a dozen she stated that she normally gets $2.00 per doz. but that she would sell them to the chefs for $6.00 per doz. When he spoke to this particular chef about it he said that he would take all she could provide. He said that he had been paying $12.00 per doz. from a farm in Cal. He went on to say that the chefs are screaming for duck eggs as well. The are also paying a premium for quality produce that's raised locally.

Now this guy is no snake oil salesman at all. He's the head horticulturist at UNLV, and part of his job is to put growers in touch with buyers, in this case the local chefs. He said that you do not need massive amounts of land to grow on, and that 1/4 of an acre would be profitable. Well I've got a lot more than that so it's tempting.

Wow, not a bad turnout. Greg, this sounds like a great opportunity in the making. I had read not long ago where chefs in New York City were demanding the same thing, locally grown produce. Of course it tastes better. We already knew that, didn't we? I hope you get a chance to get involved. Those ducks and chicken eggs sound like a great idea too. Good luck to you.

Here are some photos of the victory garden planted in San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza. The garden was planted in July and is part of Slow Food Nation (as opposed to fast food nation), a festival going on this weekend in SF. This garden is producing about 100 pounds of food weekly. I took most of these photos late around 5pm, when the main festival's farmers market and gourmet market had closed down already. Earlier in the afternoon there were A TON of people at the victory garden, and even at the end of the day, people continued to stream into the area. There were a lot of vegetable gardening veterans there but also many who have never seen an entire tomato plant or squash plant or Ruby Red Chard. People sat and took in the landscape of nature's bounty in the middle of this urban space, with buildings and concrete all around. I sat on a straw bale as the sun began to descend, feeling like I do when I walk into my backyard and visit my tomatoes, beans, and Chard, like everything is good in the world. I did a lot of people-watching too, and I think many who have never grown edibles before got to experience that same feeling today in SF. I hope it stirs something within them and convince many who visited to grow their own food!

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f57/wenderyeh/Slow%20Food%20Nation%202008%20Victory%20Garden/DSC_0353.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f57/wenderyeh/Slow%20Food%20Nation%202008%20Victory%20Garden/DSC_0370.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f57/wenderyeh/Slow%20Food%20Nation%202008%20Victory%20Garden/DSC_0364.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f57/wenderyeh/Slow%20Food%20Nation%202008%20Victory%20Garden/DSC_0376.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f57/wenderyeh/Slow%20Food%20Nation%202008%20Victory%20Garden/DSC_0379.jpg

oops, sorry, trying the picture thing again (see my thoughts in previous post)...

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I'm so glad this thread keeps getting revived. Greg, it sounds like you had some good luck with county extension. Wenderina, I love the pics. I got a kick out of the big box of Black Gold in the middle of City Hall Commons.

I have baaad memories about helping my mom out at the community garden. Too many trips carrying out milk jugs of water. I was maybe 5-10 at the time. She was a stay at home mom so maybe she had more time than money then.

She later went on to work at a nursery but then went on to an office job. At one point she had up to 100 houseplants at a time. Or I think that is the number she mentioned. When she got to that many she would start killing some from neglect or would give them away.

My parents now can't manage to take care of the lawn/garden in their large property and I think Mom is down to 10-20 container plants. Neither one of my parents liked the idea of growing food as I'm promoting my new hobby. They did say they'd take a packet of bunching onions because leeks are so expensive and they like leek soup.

I think the book about the $84 tomato had some points. The one tomato and half a green pepper I've eaten so far has cost more than that. And I'm not a tomato connoisseur so I probably wouldn't appreciate it.

Unless you have someone guiding you (more than just on these forums) it is easy to spend far more money than necessary on equipment. I wish I'd figured out the pickle bucket self-watering container concept earlier. There is a good supply at the cafeteria at work.

I'm the sort of person that overanalyzes trying to get things perfect. Like mixing my own soil. And then listening to the various opinions on here and trying to figure out how to get pine fines. I've gotten pretty confused at times from contradictory opinions.

I guess finding someone who is local and knows the cheap tactics for apartment gardening would have helped.

I wish I'd tried the windowsill lettuce earlier and tried letting eggplant sprout outside rather than seedlings on a windowsill. Tomatoes and peppers seemed quite happy to sprout outside.

I totaly think so.
I am trying to help others in my city (Denver area) set up patio victory gardens.

It would be awesome if people all over the country were helping those who don't know much about gardening set up gardens.
Http://ALocalLife.com

Here is a link that might be useful: Local Victory Gardens

So, this thread got bumped up, eh? Well, things certainly haven't improved any on the economic front since last summer, have they? Most days, the news is strictly doom and gloom, layoffs, bank failures, bailouts, etc.

So, it's time and again to get out there, plant those gardens, encourage others to do so, and share the wealth of produce.

I had a conversation with one of my sisters, who is feeling the economic squeeze in their business, with escallating costs and declining sales. I've shared a LOT of produce with her and her family in the last year. She told me how much it really helped them out. Made me feel really good.

Of course, it's certainly not in the best interest of American agribusiness to have a nation of people who grow a lot of their own food. But, boo hoo, think of how much healthier, better fed, and better nourished our population could be if every household were able to produce 20% of its food in the form of high-quality fresh produce.

And, the other side of this is -- we need to encourage people to eat fresh produce. Alas, I had a lot of things go bad last summer, tried giving it away to neighbors and friends, such as lettuce, kohlrabi, summer squash, etc. While some people were happy to get it, too many made odd faces and said "I don't really like that" or "We don't cook" or "We don't eat many vegetables." Frankly, I know the habits of some of these people too well, and I often see some of them carrying in the McDonald's bags and Pizza Hut boxes almost every night to feed themselves and their kids. What a shame.

Make 2009 a year of real Victory! Plant a BIG, BIG GARDEN!

Dennis
SE Michigan

And yes, for the record, mine is going to grow yet again -- some more lawn will die in April, as soon as it's time to get out the tiller, black plastic, etc.

I think it is and so does kitrchen gardeners international. They've started a campaign to persuade President obama to plant a victory garden on the white house lawn. You can read more about the idea and sign the pettition at
Eattheview.org

Here is a link that might be useful: Eat THE VIEW

I would like to ask everyone to contact their local PBS station and ask to have them start showing the old "Victory Garden" tv series. The new ones they are showing don't seem to have enough content on food production and I think they should get back to the original show's purpose.
I watched the show in the 70's, 80's, and some of the 90's, but now it's been taken over by foreigners that mostly promote growing ornamental plants. They may be trying to make us forget how to grow our own food, and thus eventually we will be starved out of existence.LOL
Just kidding.
Although I would really enjoy seeing a good vegetable gardening show come back to the airways.

I've just started to take up vegetable gardening and LOVE it! Living in Phoenix, we'll see how well I do...
I'm all for our Pres planting a victory garden and will sign the petition. I'm also going to contact PBS because that's a great idea, too. People, we've become a sick, undernourished nation. I've searched for a local community garden that I can volunteer at once a week but can't find anything recurring... What a shame. Until the word gets spread a little further, I'll continue with my garden, expanding slowly, and take any excess veggies to a food bank.

We raise peppers, tomatoes and herbs already, just increasing it to many more vegetables this year. Reading the news of drought in CA I know what the prices will be in the midwest this summer if I don't grow my own. Our yard is not big enough for all we want to grow but a community plot is offering spaces that we will get one of those as well so we can grow more. It's long past time for gardens but a lot of people live in apartments or other situations where they aren't allowed to rasie vegetables.

Our community garden has a record number of people wanting a plot. We've been in existence for three years and suddenly we've been noticed. I love it though and have plans to help teach all these novice gardens how to grow veggies in the hot Texas climate. Nothing like the look on a new gardeners face when they pull their first radish to bring back old memories to an experienced gardener.

I just know it's going to be a great gardening year.

I have been fortunate that growing up we always had a garden and mostly everyone around us did. To me having a garden just seems right.

Every year I have tons of extra plants left after we finish planting our garden. So we end up giving them away to friends and family. I have never had anyone report back to me and say that they did not enjoy the vegetables from the plants I gave them. Even people that you would not expect to ever plant a garden or grow any kind of vegetables would report back to be about how excited they were to pick their first tomatoes that they ate in their daily salad, and how good they tasted.

When my sister-in-law moved into her new apartment I gave her a potted tomato plant as a house-warming gift. I picked out a size pot that I figured would fit just perfectly on their balcony. Her and her daughter loved it! Every time I would talk to them her daughter would have to tell me how the tomato plant was doing and how many tomatoes she has picked so far. Whenever we went over their apartment she would pull me out on the balcony to show me how it was doing.

Most of my husbandÂs family live in the city and do not have much room for a garden. We tell everyone that if they come over and help us plant and weed we will pay them in vegetables. During the summer no one comes over to visit without leaving with a big box of vegetables. We get a lot more visitors during the summer than winter. I wonder why that could be?

I think that no mater what the economic situation is it is always a good time for a victory garden of course now even more important then ever. Maybe by giving vegetable plants to people who have never grown their own food and having friends and family help out in our own garden they will realize how rewarding it is to garden and they too will decide to have their own garden if not right now maybe in the future. Our garden grows bigger every year and as the garden grows bigger so does my excitement.

If you know anyone who does not have a garden, give them just one plant and you might be surprised when they get hooked.

Posted this on site pertaing to earthtainers here but you folks may also be interested.

Well finished building 12 tainerÂs 31 gallon size. Will finish adding soil this week and plant some of them this weekend.

1. Using "Jungle Mix" from LoweÂs 3 cu ft size it takes 1.5 bags per tainer.

2. Installed Earthbox Automatic watering system.

3. Mounted the tainers on a 24 foot flat bed trailer.

1. Others that can may be interested to doing the tainers on trailers.
2. Late frost forecast, hail storms, bad weather just hook up and put in garage
3. Trailers that are not highway serviceable are cheap .Bald tires so so bearings ect.
4. Less stooping and bending.
5. May be fewer bug problems since elevated (slugs, sow bugs ect.)
6. Too Hot mid summer move to some shade.

I am also trying some of the tainers with mylar and some with black plastic mulch covers.

I would be glad to post photos of my setup if someone would respond how to attach photos.

Happy Gardening

Big Alan

I have lots of room for a garden(5 acres), but we are having a drought here in CA. I am worried about being able to keep everything watered. I had planned to double my 30'x50' garden, bought lots of seed, I'm not sure what I should do. We use drip & soaker hoses and lots of mulch. With a 165' well, I am really worried about our water situation. Should I go ahead & plant and pray or save the seeds for another year? We are feeding 2 granddaughters, a single daughter, a single son, my hubby and I plus several neighbors love our veggies.

Time for a 'Victory Garden'? No. That implies people growing food temporarily...people need to radically change their lifestyles long term. Growing your own food is a huge step in the right direction.

canuckistani
You got that one right. I definitely agree with you on that one.

The way this country is headed, growing your own food seems like a necessity that needs to be learned ASAP. I can't wait until a tomato costs 10 dollars a lb

One of the things I love most about moving out to the "boonies" is the room to garden. When we lived in the city we were so crammed in that we were always feeling claustrophobic. Still, we always planted a couple of tomato plants. Now we freeze, can and share. Not only the cost of food, but anymore, the safety of food is really questionable. Not to mention - taste! (And if you see my first post on this topic up near the top and wonder -- yep, we still have those chickens!!)

Maybe not a "victory" garden, but I started my first one this year more as a depression/economy garden.

The First Lady's getting in on it. I saw this in the news the other day:

White House Kitchen Garden

Here is a link that might be useful: Dig on 4 Victory

THANK YOU to whomever bumped this thread to the top. I just finished reading the entire thing. Like many of you, we garden. It's just what we do. I live in a smallish town on a little 1/3 of an acre. We squish in veg where ever we can. Last year, we grew green beans on a trellis attached to the front of our house - looked lovely, like an English cottage with ivy. This year will be more of the same except MORE. One of the saddest days in winter is when we pop that last jar of homemade tomato soup open.

Many of you mentioned how friends and neighbors will gladly accept the gift of your garden produce, but will not put forth the efforts themselves. I just wanted you to know that I am trying to spread the word in a different way. I teach pre-school part time. And we start lots of veggies from seed in the classroom and when they are about five inches high, send them home. The kids are four. They are excited and determined to see that their gardens are taken care of. I read them books about plants and seeds and show them the magic of roots growing down in the soil. They are captivated and they are enthusiastic. When I started it, not one kid in my class knew popcorn came from plants. They all thought it came in microwave bags. Well, we planted popcorn. And it grew. I guess the point in all of my rambling is that I am trying to start them young and teach them. Oh sure, many of the parents will let the plants die, but some? Some may just take an old container and buy a bag of soil. Maybe a few will turn over a patch of yard for the kid and spend some time gardening with her. And maybe, just maybe, they will realize that it's not just about work, it's about health, it's about quality time together, and yes, it's about fun. I'm trying to spread the word.

My suggestion is that we don't wait for a national movement to get under way. Earth Day is coming up. Why not try to give the gift of a tomato in a container to some neighbors and friends, or a little garden on your window kind of thing with some herbs or lettuce? Just a thought... maybe, like one poster said, this needs to be grassroots. Maybe instead of telling, we need to show. Maybe instead of giving the final product, we can give one plant... just one. And maybe, just maybe, that will lead to two plants. Just a thought.

PAM

Kudos to the Obamas for "getting it." What a wonderful way to set an example for the nation! I hear they are also installing 2 beehives, which is a nice addition to an already great idea. Just awesome.

My only hope is that they do it right... not just a patch of grass tilled into the soil and converted to garden space, but a real, and PERMANENT garden. Let's put some masons and landscapers to work by making it look beautiful - stone walls perhaps, and stone pathways and beds, and make it look attractive, maybe in the parterre style, with the clipped boxwood edging, arches, arbors, and all that jazz. Make it permanent, so that the next administration won't be tempted to turn it back into grass again. It's the White House for crying out loud - let's make it a garden that all of us can be proud of!

-Diggity

I wouldn't mind seeing the vegetable garden evolve. But to start out with masons, landscapers and a big budget hardly makes it an example the average family can follow.

I think it's a great idea that everyone can do. I live in an apartment with a small cement patio and I've got a beautiful container garden of fruits and veggies. I've got a dwarf lemon, a fuji apple and a gravenstein apple in huge containers, some blueberries, a couple tomatoes, and I've got parsley, edamame and some peppers sprouting inside. I'm thinking of doing some upside-down cucumbers hanging from the balcony above me too.

You don't need a lot of space or even a bunch of money, just a bit of sun and you're good to go!

Thought that this might be interesting to some.
Scan of a 1943 Burpee catalog showing what was in there $5 Victory Garden seed package.


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Cool! It's nice to see some varieties in there that I'm growing myself this year!

Here is a link that might be useful: Dig on 4 Victory

there = their :(
Just is what it is Mate. One can not look forward without looking back.

Great thread! Has there been more interest in growing food in your local?

Here the seeds and things like berry plants and fruit trees seem to be selling quicker than last year.

Posted by pnbrown z6.5 MA (My Page) on Wed, Aug 1, 07 at 7:22Asking that question here is a bit like preaching to the choir, ain't it?
But heck yes, it's time!

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Yep, maybe the veg gardeners should send this thread over to the flower growers that don't like to grow food?

Although I'm trying a few flowers this year...edible ones only so I can add to my salads. If I can't eat it, I wont grow it!

Hey, all, the thread lives on, because it's more relavant today than when it was started two years ago and added to last summer.

I have the luxury of having more land than the average suburban homeowner, about 2.2 acres. Most of my space and interest has been devoted to edible crops, but I certainly have my fair share of ornamentals as well. By percentage, probably around 10% of the funds I spend each year on seeds and plants goes to those that are strictly ornamental, and of course, some things fall into the grey zone, such as crabapple trees -- ornamental, yes, but you can make jelly as well.

But, it's important to remember to feed the soul as well, and flowers do that, especially in tough times. I think it would be good thing to cheer people up not only with gifts of food, but with a nice cut bouquet or floral arrangement as well.

Dennis
SE Michigan

Began moving my perennial flowers under the fruit trees, I figure if we're not going to have rain again this year then when I water the fruit trees I will keep my perennials alive, too. Yesterday we built a raised bed for a new blueberry; 4'x4'...each corner has a crinum and the rest of the bed was filled with walking onions.

Gotta have my flowers for the hummingbirds/butterflies; great stress relievers.

Peggy

I enjoy the flowers on my fruit trees, but that is about it. Limited on time, space and $$, so use it where it can feed me.

But if one has excess time, space and resources - flowers are a nice addition to one's life.

The gal in Agway yesterday said that more people than ever are growing their own stuff this year; they've evidently seen a boom in the seed-starting stuff.

What I hope doesn't happen, though, is that people don't give up if things don't produce well. There is so much impatience in the world, that if you don't take the time to understand gardening, it may not work at first. It took me a LONG time to figure out what little I do know, and even though I can do a 'basic' veggie garden, I'm doing more homework than ever this year to really make it work tenfold vs. previous years.

However, my other (flower) gardening has been very much trial & error, but I persist because I WANT to.

I hope that the typical lazy 21st-century American can put that aside and make a concerted effort to get back to the basics, even if they've never learned it.

I thought the dress could lose the straps and I plucked her eyes a little!

I also am joining in, I was chatting on this web site and trading seeds here in 1999 but I quit gardening (except herbs) but now im back! potatoes, onions, lettuces are all under way way and I am excited to get the dirt under my fingers again!

I wish I could get that many seeds for $5 now. I spent over $50 over the winter and still don't have that much stuff.

garbird, don;t forget about inflation. $5 in 1943 is equivalent to about $63 today. The cumulative inflation rate is well over 1000%. Still, I'm not sure you could buy all that seed for $63. We spend alot on hybrid seed, but maybe if it was all open-pollinated, you could buy that much. Great thread. Here's a link to a fun inflation calculator for anyone interested in that sort of thing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Inflation Rate Calculator

I love to encourage people to grow veggies because I love to do it myself. Sometimes when my shoulder or back gets sore its a love/hate relationship. However, I still enjoy eating unique vegetables that can't be found in stores. I would like to make one point, having grown up on a dairy farm it's nice to have people consuming your product. There are vegetable farms and many of them are family farms that rely on us eating their products so that they can make a living. I believe that it's good to keep life in a balance. Where would my family have if everyone had decided to go out and buy a cow to milk.

It took me a long time, but today I contacted my local PBS station WKPC.They are part of KET (Kentucky Educational Television). I asked about the archives for the older Victory Garden shows, and if they are available on dvd. He is checking for a contact info for the archives department. I would love to see them start showing these shows again. It would be great for newer gardeners to see those episodes.
Now that HGTV has started cancelling all their gardening programs there is not much to choose from. I guess the next generation of programing will be some kind of gardening reality crap, like "Gardening Idol" or something.
Garbird

* Posted by keepitlow 7 (My Page) on
Thu, Mar 26, 09 at 11:49

Great thread! Has there been more interest in growing food in your local?

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Absolutely! And interest in vegetable gardening is expanding into new demographic segment. I live in a Houston suburb and have recently started a meetup group dedicated to vegetable gardening. The group has been acquiring several new members a week and vast majority are people in their 20s and 30s who are just starting out. There is talk about bringing a farmers' market to our town and about establishment of a community garden. Change in people's attitudes is palpable.

I live in the Hudson Valley of NY and thanks to a little
nudge from my daughter in law, we started our own Victory Garden. You see my son is a US Marine and is overseas right now. His wife is staying with us and thought it would be nice to have a garden that celebrated my son's service to America. Hence a "Victory Garden".
Our garden is 32ft x 32ft and we hope to keep it as organic as possible. We spent most of today tranplanting seedlings to the garden that we had started indoors.
The piece of yard we decided to use for the garden proved to be a challenge. It was overgrown with wild roses and all kinds of weeds and rocks. It took us about 4 weekends to get it ready for planting. You can see a you tube slide show of our progress to date by clicking the attached link.
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Here is a link that might be useful: The Ramaglia's victory garden