Here is an old idea in a new format. For those of us who were around in WWII the concept of the Victory Garden was in our face and in our yard. Growing your food was an activity “in the national interest” and in support of the war effort. Interesting how quickly after the war the idea of growing your own food became “old fashioned” and just picking up that TV dinner at the supermarket was the new mode of eating.
Maybe we are at another turning point and people are beginning to see the value in local foods, support of local agriculture, joining in community gardens, making purchases at farmers’ markets, assisting the development of community supported agriculture groups and so on.
This site has lots of great information on community gardening and a great map register of local community gardening efforts. Our Parent’s Place garden in Yarmouth is the first Canadian site on the register. Take a look by clicking on the logo below.
Click here to go to site
I well remember the Victory Gardens in the towns and cities. The smallest plot would be hand tilled and composted, planted and harvested. There was a lot of sharing and trading of food. I am so happy to see town and city community gardens being made.
We always had a big garden in Port Greville which my grandfather farmed and shared with us. We stored food in a earth cellar and put down many jars of produce. My dad hunted and provided rabbits, deer and moose meat.
My grandmother kept hens, and used to raise a pig. Extra was traded among neighbours. We got a barrell of sauerkraut every fall from our Lunenburg (Blandford) relatives, and there were lots of apple trees. I laugh at a 100 mile diet! Except for the sauerkraut, ours was a five mile diet. Dandelion greens were very welcome in the spring.