The USA Green Lady’s Blog

I have fond memories of going to my Grandmother’s home (I called her Mam-ma because she lived in the South) and spending Summer days in the backyard helping her in the garden.  She loved growing flowers and vegetables for the season.  I remember that she said that she originally started learning how to garden out of necessity.   She would mention to me what her “Victory Garden” use to look like in the 1940’s.  She said that she planted vegetables and fruit trees, so that she would be able to add something to the table.  Money was scarce and gardening was one way that she could help her family.

Today we are in he midst of an economic downturn and more and more people are thinking about turning their yards into something more functional such as a garden.  I spoke with a family of four recently who had told me of their concern that they were not bringing in enough money to pay all their bills.  They had applied for Foodstamps, but were turned down.  The husband had recently lost his job due to downsizing and was eager to work anywhere just to help make ends meet. The live in a prominent neighborhood and did not want their neighbors to know of their economic woes.  I quickly ascertained that their primary concern was to put good and healthy food on the table.  I suggested that they could utilize part of their backyard to start a garden.  The wife quickly dismissed the fact and said that her neighbors would laugh at them.  I then suggested container gardening or interspersing vegetable plants in their already landscaped backyard, so that it would be part of their esthetically pleasing plan.  She thought that was quite clever and is now reading a plethora of gardening books.

Another young couple that I spoke with this past week were also concerned about the economy and were taking steps to become more self sufficient.  They stated that they were already in process of figuring out what vegetable plants that were going to plant this Spring and were big fans of compost.  I told them that I was very pleased to hear that they were educating themselves on the benefits of growing their own Organic produce.  I told them that when you are the “Farmer” you have more intimate knowledge of your produce and can make a greater impact upon your diet.

Now is the time to go to you local library, gardening shop, research the internet and find your local food growing experts to think about ways that you can start your own garden.  I know that I am planning on tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, peas, green beans, eggplant, and squash.  What are you going to plant in your “Economic Victory Garden”?