By Jason Gabak
The idea of victory gardens goes back at least to World War I.
It was in March of 1917 that Charles Lathrop Pack organized the U.S. National War Garden Commission and launched the war garden campaign.
Food production had fallen dramatically during World War I, especially in Europe, where agricultural labor had been recruited into military service and remaining farms were devastated by the conflict.
Pack and others conceived the idea that the supply of food could be greatly increased without the use of land and manpower already engaged in agriculture, and without the significant use of transportation facilities needed for the war effort.
President Woodrow Wilson is even quoted as saying “Food will win the war,” inspiring victory gardens to be cultivated in backyards, side lots and schools yard everywhere.
The campaign promoted the cultivation of available private and public lands, resulting in over five million gardens in the USA.
This was an idea that was taken up around the world and continued through World War II when food was often strictly rationed.
At this time governments encouraged people to plant gardens not only to bolster their food supply but also to enhance morale as it helped people feel empowered and gave everyone a feeling they are making a contribution to a larger cause.
During the World War II era, victory gardens were a common site, cultivated by many on the home front.
Eleanor Roosevelt even planted a garden on the White House lawn in 1943, setting a tradition of a garden at the White House.
These gardens were also inspired by iconic imagery, posters that encouraged everyone to do their part in the effort.
This imagery has been revived by the Syracuse Cultural Workers in the form of a poster inspired by the World War II era.
This caught the eye of Melissa Almeyda, deputy director of The Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation in Fayetteville.
“We saw it and it fit well with what we do,” Almeyda said, noting other iconic images such as Rosie the Riveter are also available. “I was in the store and began to see that in some cases there wasn’t as much available and we thought this would be a great idea to encourage people to grow their own victory garden.”
Almeyda said at a time when people are contending with stress and worries around the coronavirus and many are at home, spending some time outside, in the backyard planting may be a welcome stress reliever and help people ensure their food supply.
“My real goal is to help encourage people to get more active. This is an opportunity to make a choice and to do something more positive for themselves and give people a feeling that this is something that can be in control of right now.,” she said.
The posters are available for $5.
Almeyda said as a nonprofit, all the money goes to cover the cost of the poster.
“My hope is people will put it up, maybe in their window or outside near their garden and it will help inspire people,” she said.
All posters are unframed and will be shipped rolled in a tube.
Almeyda said more information can be found on the matildajoslyngage.org website.
