The Role of War Gardens

When it comes to feeding an army, it's up to the folks back home to do their part. During World War I and World War II, there was no Halliburton to feed America's troops. Instead, ordinary citizens of all ages expressed their patriotism through war gardens. These were called war gardens or victory gardens.

This movement began in March, 1917, a short time before the U.S. entered the war. The response was phenomenal. In 1917, Americans raised $520 million worth of garden produce in vacant lots, backyards, and unused land. All of this was needed to feed about four million American troops and millions of hungry people in Europe.

Following the armistice of November 11, 1918, food from these gardens was still needed by war-ravaged countries of Europe as they re-built. France and Belgium were in particular need of food aid. The inspiration for war gardens came from Charles Lathrop Pack. He helped establish the National War Garden Commission. The world famous plant breeder and horticulturist Luther Burbank was a member of the commission.

In a proclamation, President Woodrow Wilson said to Americans, "Everyone who creates or cultivates a garden helps...This is the time for America to correct her unpardonable fault of wastefulness and extravagance."

Throughout the country, people were urged to plant their backyards and all available public and private space into war gardens. Front lawns were converted to gardens. So were golf courses, and public parks. The Boston Common became a demonstration vegetable garden. Cities used vacant lots. New York City was truly blessed, for it had 186,000 vacant lots that were available for community war gardens. When they lacked garden plots, city gardeners used window boxes and other containers.

Military bases also had war gardens. At Camp Dix, there was a 400-acre plot. This produced five thousand bushels of potatoes in one year. In some cases, prisoners of war captured by American troops worked in America's war gardens.

In 1917 during the first year of the commission, there were over three million war gardens. To recruit gardeners to its cause, the commission promoted these projects through various means. Posters were posted in public places. The slogans included, "Sow the seeds of victory," "War gardens for victory," "War gardens victorious," and "Can the Kaiser."

The commission also printed and distributed free booklets and books on gardening, and food preservation. USDA helped with this effort. The press pitched in to help educate new gardeners and food preservers.

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