Survival Gardens, better known as Victory Gardens, were necessary during World Wars I and II when many young farmers were called to serve during the war and as a result food production decreased globally.
Citizens were asked by the government to supply for themselves in an effort to prevent food shortages and help keep food costs low for export to U.S. soldiers. Many American families learned the basics of sustainability in an effort to support their country.
Fast-forward 40 years and we reach the peak of consumerism and waste during the 1980’s; a time when convenience items and ”bigger is better” were staples in the typical American home. Gone were the days of getting your hands dirty and connecting with the earth.
Victory Garden
Tack on another 30 years and Americans are facing a new World War, only this one isn’t a foreign enemy with a face and a gun; it’s the economic crisis, global climate change, dwindling energy resources, failing health systems and unregulated food manufacturing.
Yet, through the bleak and darkness of this modern chaos; a ray of light has punched through, and it is growing quicker with each passing day. A movement by many American Preppers returning to the earth; blazing a trail to food sustainability and survival – the return of the Victory Garden.
Some families have taken it upon themselves to prep a Survival Garden; where at least 60% of the food and energy consumed is produced by the home and its family using sustainable resources.
For other families, it is simply growing a few tomato or pepper plants on the back porch, maybe a few fresh herbs in the kitchen. All doing their part to reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle.
Whether in a home or in an apartment people are getting creative about supplementing their food budgets with better quality, home grown products, while at the same time reducing their carbon footprint, relieving stress, reducing their dependency on big business and factory farming and increasing their health.