Podcast 76: Victory Gardens Then and Now: Growing Food, Community, and Hope

What can Victory Gardens teach us today?

In this episode of Two Crones and a Microphone, we explore the remarkable history of Victory Gardens and the growing movement toward community gardening, food resilience, and heritage seeds.

From stories of grandparents who canned vegetables for winter to modern community gardens that donate fresh produce to local food banks, we discuss how growing food connects us to one another, to the earth, and to generations of wisdom.

Whether you garden on acres of land, in a raised bed, or with a few pots on a balcony, there's a place for you in this conversation.

Listen now and discover how a handful of seeds can grow into something much larger than a harvest.

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#CommunityGardening
#HeritageSeeds
#FoodSecurity
#GrowYourOwnFood
#CSA
#OrganicGardening
#GardenWisdom
#SustainableLiving

Transcript

Linda: Welcome to Two Crones and a Microphone. I am Linda.

Betty: I am Betty.

Sally: And I'm Sally.

We're so glad to have you here with us today as we take a deep dive into one of our favorite subjects: gardening, seeds, plants, and their inherent wisdom.

Today we're talking about Victory Gardens, community gardening, heritage seeds, and practical ways to start, expand, or continue your gardening journey. We'll explore some history, share personal stories, and discuss how gardens can strengthen both families and communities.

Betty: I love that notion of diving in because I think about diving into the earth with my hands when I'm gardening and really connecting to the energy of the soil.

Linda: Right now, there are always people facing food insecurity, and that's something many communities are working hard to address.

Right next door to my house is a community garden maintained by several gardeners. It's not a large space, but everything they grow is intended for our local food bank. People receiving assistance don't just receive canned and packaged foods; they also receive fresh produce.

What I love most is the spirit behind it. The gardeners are cheerful, welcoming, and always ready to invite others to help. If you stop to chat, they'll often ask if you'd like to jump in and weed or help harvest.

That spirit of community and caring for one another is one of the pillars of Two Crones and a Microphone.

Linda: Betty, I think you had an example of someone nearby who maintains what he calls a Victory Garden.

Betty: Yes. His name is Bob Hoffman, and he grows a large garden that he calls his Victory Garden. He gives away everything he grows.

It's a beautiful garden, lovingly tended, and Bob is simply one of those generous people who enjoys helping others.

We also have several organic farms and farmers' markets here in the Poconos. I know some of the farmers personally, and they're deeply committed to providing healthy food for the community.

Another example is our friend Melissa and her husband. Every year they create an incredible garden. Living where we do, they have to contend with bears, deer, and rabbits, so everything has to be enclosed and protected.

They preserve much of what they grow. They make tomato sauce, applesauce, pickles, and other canned goods. Both work full-time jobs, yet they still find time to garden and preserve food so they can eat from their harvest throughout the winter.

Sally: My favorite story about them involves their apple cider.

Their property includes old apple trees from when the land was a working farm. They found an antique hand-cranked apple press and use it every year to make cider.

It's a beautiful piece of equipment, decades old, still serving its original purpose.

They make fresh cider and even age some of it into hard cider. It's a wonderful example of old traditions continuing into modern life.

Betty: They also make incredible applesauce. I've been lucky enough to receive a few jars over the years.

Linda: Listening to these stories reminds me of my grandmother.

She had a huge garden at the bottom of a hill and worked in it every day throughout the growing season. Family legend says that after church on Sundays she would take off her good shoes, put on her garden boots, and head straight to the garden while still wearing her church clothes.

My parents carried that gardening tradition forward. I'm one of five children, and we all worked in the garden.

At the time, we didn't necessarily enjoy the work, but we certainly appreciated the results.

Every August, during the hottest days of the year, we helped with canning. There was no air conditioning, and it was a tremendous amount of labor.

But when winter arrived and we opened a jar of home-canned tomatoes, it was worth every bit of effort.

Betty: I never canned anything growing up. I grew up in Brooklyn, so gardening wasn't really part of my childhood.

But one day a friend brought over a bushel of peaches and taught me how to can them.

They were absolutely delicious.

It's labor-intensive, but the results are wonderful.

Sally: If listeners are interested in learning how to can, there are plenty of resources available today, including instructional videos online.

In today's economy, where food prices continue to rise, these skills are becoming increasingly valuable.

Linda: I also encourage people to look into agricultural extension programs offered through colleges and universities.

Many offer classes on gardening, food preservation, and Master Gardener training. These programs provide excellent information and also create opportunities to build community with others who share similar interests.

Sally: Community gardens are another wonderful option.

Many towns offer shared garden spaces where residents can rent or maintain small plots. They're a great way to meet like-minded people while growing food.

Another option is joining a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture program.

A CSA allows you to buy directly from local farmers and receive regular boxes of fresh produce. Sometimes those boxes include fruits, vegetables, cheeses, or other local products.

I've discovered vegetables through CSAs that I might never have tried otherwise.

Linda: Such as kohlrabi.

My grandparents grew kohlrabi in their city garden in Cleveland. We'd pull it from the ground, wipe off the dirt, and eat it fresh.

It's one of those older vegetables that many people don't know today, but it's nutritious, delicious, and naturally sweet.

Betty: We've mentioned Victory Gardens several times. Linda, could you give us a little history?

Linda: Absolutely.

Victory Gardens became popular during World War I and expanded dramatically during World War II.

The idea was simple: if families grew their own food, more commercially produced food could be directed toward the war effort.

In 1917, the National War Garden Commission launched a nationwide campaign encouraging citizens to cultivate both private and public land.

More than five million gardens were created.

During World War II, the effort expanded further. The government distributed seeds, planting guides, and canning instructions. Agricultural extension services helped gardeners learn the necessary skills.

At the peak of the program, approximately one-third of all vegetables consumed in the United States came from Victory Gardens.

By May 1943 there were roughly 18 million Victory Gardens across the country—12 million in cities and 6 million on farms.

That is an extraordinary achievement.

The slogan was:

"Grow your own. Can your own."

And many families did exactly that.

Sally: It's amazing to think about cities participating on that scale.

Linda: One of my favorite historical slogans was:

"War Gardens for Victory—Grow Vitamins at Your Kitchen Door."

I think that's a message that still resonates today.

Betty: My husband grew up on a farm, so gardening became part of our life after we married.

I've grown tomatoes in containers for years, though lately I've mostly focused on herbs indoors because wildlife is such a challenge where I live.

The herbs are thriving, though.

Sally: Wildlife definitely becomes part of the gardening equation.

Where we live, we've had to level ground, install fencing, and plan carefully around deer, bears, and rocky terrain.

Gardening involves practical considerations as well: sunlight, soil quality, drainage, underground utilities, and available space.

But that's part of the process and part of the fun.

This year we'll finally be putting in a garden at our current home, and we're excited to see what grows.

Betty: Speaking of gardening, we should mention sacred gardening.

I keep crystals among my herbs and intentionally work with the energy of the garden.

We've learned a great deal about sacred gardening practices from Oshana.

Sally: And subscribers to Two Crones and a Microphone receive our Sacred Gardening Guide.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter, where we share blogs, reflections, and practical resources throughout the year.

Linda: Before we finish, let's talk briefly about heritage seeds.

These are traditional, non-hybridized varieties that have often been passed down through generations.

Historically, gardeners saved seeds from one growing season to plant again the following year.

Many heritage varieties continue that tradition today.

There are excellent sources for heritage seeds, and many companies offer seed collections designed to help families grow a substantial amount of food in relatively small spaces.

One of my favorite examples is the Three Sisters planting method: corn, beans, and squash growing together in a mutually supportive relationship.

It's a beautiful example of wisdom found within nature itself.

Betty: And just for listeners unfamiliar with the term, GMO stands for genetically modified organism.

There are many viewpoints and ongoing discussions about GMO crops, hybridization, seed preservation, and agricultural productivity.

It's a complex topic that could easily become an entire episode of its own.

Sally: And with that, we've somehow reached the end of another rich conversation.

Our next gardening episode will feature an interview with our producer, Libby, who is an accomplished gardener herself.

We'll also be returning later this summer with another episode exploring unseen helpers in the garden.

Linda: Thank you for joining us.

Whether you're diving into soil, joining a community garden, saving seeds, or simply growing herbs on a windowsill, we hope you've found inspiration here today.

Go find your glimmer.

Betty: We're here to help you navigate the muddy waters of our times and offer a few paddles along the way.

Sally: And remember: you are always surrounded by beauty if you pause long enough to notice it.

As Oshana would say:

"Kadeshday. All is made beautiful."

Thank you for listening.

All: Bye-bye.