A Growing Movement

9 February 2013, by gj

“Everyone grew vegetables during the war.” my Mother told me one afternoon. “I remember my cousin Jack’s garden. He grew all kinds of unusual things like Swiss Chard, then he would trade that for more common things like tomatoes. He always made out better on the deals, too.”

Our front yard garden

That was almost 70 years ago, when growing a vegetable garden was considered a patriotic thing to do.
What has changed?

Supermarkets, television, cryovac packaging.
People used to raise chickens in their backyards too, now that isn’t allowed in many areas of this country.
Food was fresh and nutritious then, our produce today is almost void of flavor and nutrition, and often contains many chemical pesticides.

More and more people are turning to growing their own food again, but some are facing resistance.
A recent case in west Des Moines is a perfect example. Read about it here.

There is also something else that has changed since the days of the Victory gardens, that’s social media.
Just 1 day after Courtney Tompkins and Katie Ketelsen shared that link with fellow gardeners on Facebook, the story had received 807 shares & 40 comments. The next day the complaint was dropped.

Okay G. J., so it’s over, why are you telling me?
Here’s the reason- the next story may be in your town, or even your yard.
What will you do? I hope you will share it.

Gardeners stick together, and we won’t let vegetable gardens be stopped.
That’s just how we roll.

Find Courtney here at Pure Elements Organics, and Katie at Garden Grunt.
Stop by and tell them “Great Job!” for saving the right to have front yard edible gardens where they live.
Here’s to Iowa.

Categories: gardening people, places & things

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