War Gardens, Victory Gardens or Pandemic Gardens: The History Behind Why People Grow Plants in Hard Times

Gardening is already a popular hobby, but the pandemic has revived an interest in growing plants. Many of us plant parents turned to gardening to keep busy, improve our mental health, and even grow food as we were forced to spend more time at home. Similar to this occurrence is the Victory Gardens of the past. In this episode, Maggie Stuckey joins us to review the history of Victory Gardens and their surprising role in society throughout the last hundred years. We also explore why people are so drawn to plants in tough times!

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] War Gardens, Victory Gardens, or Pandemic Gardens
• [05:30] Maggie shares an excerpt from her book about gardening as a manifestation of hope
• [08:07] Growing up in rural South Carolina where farming and vegetable gardens were prominent
• [10:46] How Maggie’s book on container gardening became a go-to gardening resource, challenging the belief that vegetables couldn't be grown in containers
• [13:46] Drawing parallels between the current gardening movement and past Victory Gardens
• [14:13] Where can you find trusted products for gardening, such as potting mix, garden soil, and fertilizer?
• [16:18] Where can you listen to enchanting wind chimes and choose from various colors, sizes, and sounds?
• [20:47] What is the history of Victory gardens?
• [26:45] Community gardens during World War II in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis
• [27:50] The concept and history behind community gardens
• [29:40] What motivates people to start gardens during challenging times like war, pandemics, or personal struggles?
• [33:22] The therapeutic nature of gardening and how it simplifies life and reconnects people with nature
• [36:36] The importance of in-person human interactions and actions
• [37:18] What are common mistakes made by new gardeners and why do they occur?
• [44:16] Why did Maggie include edible flowers in her book?
• [47:40] What should beginner gardeners grow in three containers for a successful first garden experience?
• [50:26] Heartwarming stories in Maggie's book and the one that warmed her heart the most
• [53:55] Where can you find Maggie’s book, The Container Victory Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Your Own Groceries?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Territorial Seed Company Kitchen Counter Collection
• Hydroponic planter
• Maggie Stuckey’s book The Container Victory Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Your Own Groceries

For Maggie's recommendations on best container gardening plants,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Espoma Organic

Set your garden up for success with the right products! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar powered plant, zero waste manufacturing and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Wind River Chimes

Bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home with chimes. Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition for your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

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