During both World Wars, America’s agricultural production became a powerful military tool. During World War I, a severe food crisis emerged in Europe as agricultural workers were recruited into military service and farms were transformed into battlefields. As a result, the burden of feeding millions of starving people fell to the United States.
In March of 1917, just weeks before the United States entered the war, Charles Lathrop Pack organized the National War Garden Commission to encourage Americans to contribute to the war effort by planting, fertilizing, harvesting and storing their own fruits and vegetables so that more food could be exported to our allies. Citizens were urged to utilize all idle land that was not already engaged in agricultural production, including school and company grounds, parks, backyards and any vacant lots. Promoted through propaganda posters advocating that civilians “Sow the seeds of victory” by planting their own vegetables, the war garden movement was spread by mouth through numerous women’s clubs, civic associations and the chambers of commerce, which actively encouraged participation in the campaign.
Amateur gardeners were provided with instructions on how, when and where to sow, and were offered suggestions as to the best crops to plant, along with tips on preventing disease and insect infestations. After the events of fall 2001, a new trend in flower gardening emerged, that of planting perennial gardens with a patriotic theme. Thi.
