Victory Garden Posters Offer A Glimpse Back In Time

Victory Garden Posters Offer A Glimpse Back In Time For Americans who grew up in the first half of the 20th century, war-inspired communal gardens were a common sight. These so-called “Victory Gardens” helped define an era, and surviving posters offer a window into that time.  Contrary to popular belief, America’s communal gardening movement began during WWI. Much credit goes to Charles Lathrop Pack, a wealthy businessman and forestry expert who founded the National War Garden Commission in 1917. At the time, the U.S. was preparing to enter the Great War, and the food supply was already a concern. Citizens were encouraged to grow fruits and vegetables in yards, vacant lots, parks, school grounds, and other underused public spaces. Originally intended to ease shortages in Europe, the food soon fed local mouths as well. Because pesticides, gardening tools, and fertilizers were scarce, the War Garden movement emphasized shared, practical growing spaces rather than private, resource-intensive gardens. Those who couldn’t garden were urged to help preserve produce for others. Pack helped publish several propaganda posters and instructional pamphlets for War Gardens. Many of these pamphlets featured cartoons poking fun at the mishaps of inexperienced gardeners. Runaway chickens, digging dogs, and post-vacation weeds were all fair game. Other cartoons offered a more direct link to the war. Some compared fighting insects to battling the enemy and pesticides to “trench gas.”  Along with detailed growing tips, many posters featured patriotic slogans such as “Uncle Sam wants you!” Columbia, an allegorical figure representing the United States, was also popular and often depicted walking along rows of soil, scattering seeds from a basket. These posters remain collectible today and can sell for nearly $300. After the war, gardens became Victory Gardens. The term became so popular that it was adopted during WWII as part of a grassroots effort to rekindle patriotism across generations. Surprising as it may seem now, the federal government was initially skeptical of Victory Gardens and favored greater investment in large-scale agriculture. Still, the health, recreational and morale-boosting benefits of community gardens helped them surge in popularity again. Their output was substantial. By 1944, an estimated 18 to 20 million U.S. families were growing up to 40% of America’s produce. After WWII, Victory Gardens fell out of favor. Many first-time gardeners discovered the decidedly unromantic reality of growing food and wanted to distance themselves from wartime hardships. Likewise, postwar America saw a housing boom, with large suburban backyards that made communal gardens unnecessary.  Even so, at least two Victory Gardens have remained in continuous production since WWII. These are the Fenway Victory Gardens in Boston and the Dowling Victory Garden in Minneapolis. Each inspires guests and gardeners alike with the potential power of collective action.

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