“Grow your own, can your own”: The role of Victory Gardens during times of war and economic hardships

As the American economy screeches to a halt and links in our food supply weaken, it is making many people wonder about the viability of depending on industry to supply us with our basic needs. Many people are considering planting a garden for the first time, are researching raising backyard chickens and learning to cook food from scratch. If anything, this global crisis has made people around the world realize, that this system isn't infallible and money cannot buy everything. It is not due from lack of production; our dairy farms and traditional farms are having to dump product due to the lack of ability to get it to market. Our country has the items we need and we have the ability to purchase and need to buy, but because of reasons beyond our control the buyer and seller are not able to do what we need to do to keep our normal economy rolling.

America was built on the backs of agriculture, the ranchers, farmers and homesteaders. Just a few short generations ago, most people lived on the family farm. Food, clothing, furniture everything you needed was provided within your community. By the time of the World Wars, that had begun to change in many areas of our country. People were moving to the city and becoming dependent on others to provide the necessities of life. During the Great War-World War I-as industries were being pulled into the war effort and rationing was being implemented, the experts of the time began promoting home and community gardening.For the full story, pick up a copy of the Mountain Home News or click on this link to subscribe to the newspaper's online edition.