feed the hungry:

Share your memories of or read about the tremendous success of the War Garden and Victory Garden campaigns during World Wars I & II. (The War Garden Victorious - 1919.) and the new International Victory Garden Movement.  Learn about A Garden in Every School program, community gardens and community supported agriculture (CSAs).

Hunger can and must be stopped.
 

e-mail:

International Victory Garden Movement -
a branch of the Anne and Max Bailey Centre for Human Rights and Cultural Diversity - is a clearinghouse to promote and fund worldwide solutions to the problems of food insecurity in our cities.

"In the spirit of the Second World War Victory Gardeners who united to help win the war, this site and its international core of food security activists and supporters will attempt to share, harness and publicize the creative efforts of hundreds of thousands of activists, urban gardeners and organizations who are united to win the war against hunger, poverty and urban malnutrition."

PLANT “FREEDOM GARDENS”

            In response to the tragedy of September 11^th, America the Beautiful Fund is providing grants of 100 – 1,000 packets of seed to plant Freedom Gardens all across America. 

              "For 21 years America the Beautiful Fund has distributed seed to grow food for the hungry, to teach environmental stewardship and to beautify America’s streets, parks, schools and places of worship. Today, we call upon Americans to plant the “seeds that grow hope” in memorium. We ask you to seek a place in your community where those who have perished will be remembered always. A place to reflect on the events of September 11^th, a place to celebrate our freedom and all the ways we express it.  If you would like to plant a Freedom Garden," follow this link to America the Beautiful Fund's website.

Historical:

War Gardens (World War I) - 1917

The United States government strongly encouraged everyone to plant a garden to provide their own  food so that food, transportation and other resources could be freed up for the war effort. The National War Garden Commission was formed to provide "systematic education of the people" to develop "latent resources of food supply."

"The sole aim of the National War Garden Commission was to arouse the patriots of America to the importance of putting all idle land to work, to teach them how to do it, and to educate them to conserve by canning and drying all food they could not use while fresh. The idea of the "city farmer" came into being." The War Garden Victorious by Charles Lathrop Pack - 1919

Victory Gardens (World War II)

The Victory Gardens of World War II continued the amazing success of the War Gardens of World War I. Not all of the books and pamphlets about the Victory Gardens have passed into the public domain and must be researched individually for copyright. In addition to the information published by the government, many companies published how-to booklets for their employees and community. I will add these items as copyright permissions allow.

WORLD SEED FUND

Abundant Life Seed Foundation's World Seed Fund

"donates open-pollinated (non-hybrid) seeds around the world to people who need them. A one-time gift of open-
pollinated seeds is different from a gift of money or even hybrid seeds, because open-pollinated seeds can be grown and then saved and replanted, traded and distributed to others. This helps a community feed itself perpetually, rather than creating a community dependent on outside aid."

millennium gardens

New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service Promotes Millennium Gardens in New Mexico

a garden in every school

The National Gardening Association  (NGA)

Gardening with Kids (NGA)

see also Gardening with Kids for books

Click on the kidsgardening.com tab of the NGA menu for resources and information for A Garden In Every School program. This program seems to me to be one of the best ideas to ever be rediscovered. (I have a book copyrighted in 1913 titled School and Home Gardens by W.H.D. Meier. School gardens also played a large part in the incredible success of the War and Victory Gardens.)
     When gardening is fully integrated into the curriculum children can learn science, math, communication, economics, social studies, geography and home economics in addition to learning responsibility and cooperation. When the food is used in their cafeteria, kids can learn about nutrition and just how good "real" food" can be. A garden in every school would go a long way towards feeding a man for a lifetime.

Searching for "a garden in every school" on any search engine will point you to many other resources.

Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR)

The Garden Writers Association of America (GWAA) and Home & Garden Television (HGTV) sponsor Plant a Row for the Hungry, a communications campaign encouraging garden communities to donate fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers to food banks and/or soup kitchens in need.
 

RED, WHITE AND BLUE PATRIOTIC GARDEN

Plant a patriot vegetable garden and give the food to your local food bank.

red, white and blue potatoes
red, white and blue corn
strawberries, blueberries and white peaches
red tomatoes, white corn, blue squash
red beans, white onions, blue corn
watermelon, white grapes, borage

Other ideas? e-mail

COMMUNITY GARDENS

How to get started and links to community garden programs by state - information from the American Community Gardening Association.

URBAN AGRICULTURE

City Farmer "promotes urban food production and environmental conservation" and has a wealth of information and links. Their goal reminds me a lot of the the war and victory gardens.

Backyard Conservation
Horticulture Solutions Series
Eco-region map
Landscape and Nursery
Garden InfoGraphic Pointers
Home and Garden Tips
Gardening, Fruit Production, Landscaping
National Arboretum
Home and Garden Information Center Organic Vegetable Gardening
Home Horticulture
Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Hort Corner
USDA Vegetable Laboratory
 

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA)

Community Supported Agriculture is a mutually supportive partnership where you purchase a share of the harvest from a local food grower who provides you with fresh farm produce throughout the growing season. Shares are bought in advance of the growing season to provide the funds to grow the food.

Find a CSA near you at the Robyn Van En Center for CSA Resources

SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE

Help preserve our biodiversity. Exchange seeds with others.

"Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization that is saving "heirloom" (handed-down) garden seeds from extinction.  SSE's 8,000 members grow and distribute heirloom varieties of vegetables, fruits, grains, SSE's main focus is on heirloom varieties that gardeners and farmers brought to North America when their families immigrated, and traditional varieties grown by Native Americans, Mennonites and Amish. Since SSE was founded in 1975, our members have distributed an estimated 750,000 samples of endangered seeds not available through catalogs and often on the verge of extinction. SSE has always been the leader of the heirloom seed movement, and the diligent efforts of our members are making rare heirloom varieties available to gardeners everywhere."