Poster by James Montgomery Flagg (1918), National War Garden Commission, Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Chances are that you have heard of the concept of a “Victory Garden.” Victory Gardens have a rich history, beginning with WWI and gaining popularity again in WWII, they were home and community gardens promoted by the National War Garden Commission to boost food production during times of war-related food shortages. At their peak, there were 20 million Victory Gardens in the US providing 40% of the nation’s produce. The Victory Garden re-emerged during the 2008 financial crisis to address food insecurity, rebranded as “recession gardens,” and again during the Covid Pandemic as a way to provide food and as a mental-health activity.
There’s no denying that food insecurity is a growing issue that has been made worse by our current political situation. Tariffs on Mexico, a major food-supplier to the US, will likely raise food prices. The Trump administration has cut $1.7 million in Dept of Agriculture aid that funded Food for Schools programs, which supplied locally grown Vermont produce to schools and childcare centers, food shelves and through grant-funded community supported agriculture shares (CSAs). The chances are high that you know a family or a farmer that depended on these programs. It is disappointing when governments fail to take care of our most vulnerable citizens, but we are not powerless and as a local community we can make a difference for our neighbors. The lessons learned by previous generations on how to weather the storm of difficulties at the Federal and global level through local actions are very relevant today. There are a number of actions that we can take to make our community stronger and more resilient.
Grow a Food Security Plot in Your Own Backyard
If you are planning on a home garden this year and have the space, dedicate a small section to growing extra produce for donation. Choose easy-to-grow and high-yield plants like tomatoes, zucchini, and beans to maximize your impact. Or grow a row of winter squash that store well. Donate your extra produce to organizations like the Woodstock Community Food Shelf, or gift a basket of fresh veggies to an elderly neighbor.
Don’t have the space for a garden? You can grow in containers, or look elsewhere for garden space. Sustainable Woodstock offers plots to local gardeners in our two community garden locations: Billings Farm and the King Farm. Gardeners pay a small sliding-scale fee to cover garden preparation and maintenance costs. Our gardens are organic and observe “no-till” or “minimal disturbance” gardening principles. For more information or to check plot availability, contact us at gardener@sustainablewoodstock.org. Other local towns offer garden plots; you can visit vtgardens.org/garden-directory to find a community garden near you.
Sustainable Woodstock also offers gardening resources. Since 2020 we have been distributing beginner Grow Your Own Garden Kits free of charge to individuals and families who want to produce their own food and increase long-term food security. Each free kit includes a complete set of seeds, seedlings and a beginner’s book on organic gardening. This program is open to families who would not otherwise be able to afford to garden. We encourage you to contact us at director@sustainablewoodstock.org for more information on this program.
Share Your Skills
If you have experience in gardening, food preservation, or cooking, consider sharing your knowledge with friends and neighbors. Offer to host an evening where you teach canning, or organize a community cooking club to make large-batch dinners together. Are you gifted at meal planning on a budget? Write up a weekly meal plan to share. Creating fun events to share your skills will empower others while strengthening our ties as a community.
Volunteer
Many local organizations rely on volunteers to help distribute food, maintain community gardens, or serve meals. Offer your time at a food bank, soup kitchen, or ask your CSA farm if they could use a volunteer. Try volunteering to help with a VeggieVanGo event. Even a few hours a month can make a significant difference in ensuring people have access to nutritious food. Sustainable Woodstock will be hosting an “Opening the Garden” volunteer day on May 16th where we will prepare our Billings Garden for the growing season ahead, including our food security plots that produce food for the food shelf. Contact director@sustainablewoodstock.org if you would like to come volunteer.
Donate Locally or purchase a CSA for someone in need
If you’re financially able, donate to the food bank, meal programs, or non-profits working to address food insecurity. Another impactful option is purchasing a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership for a family in need, giving them access to fresh, locally grown produce. You can donate directly to NOFA to support their farm-share program.
While acting locally is the most powerful action that we can take, that does not mean closing our eyes to what is happening at the federal level. Call your representatives, every day if you can, to tell them what actions you’d like them to take and what government services are important to you and your community.
What does victory look like in these times? A vision of victory could be connected and resilient communities, children with bellies full of fresh local food, and neighbors creating a strong safety network. That’s a victory that we have the power to create together.
Are you looking for help accessing seeds? The Upper Valley Seed Savers (UVSS) began providing local seeds for neighbors in need in 2020, when the pandemic caused a seed shortage and financial hardship. The Seed Savers are a group of gardeners and farmers who meet monthly to increase seed saving knowledge and create a local collection of seeds that would support a year-round food supply. UVSS can donate a limited quantity of seeds to families in need– visit http://uppervalleyseedsavers.pbworks.com/. UVSS is hosting a Seed Saving Workshop with Free Seeds and Supplies on April 19, 2025, from 1-3 pm at Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center. This will be a free, informative workshop on seed saving. This event is open to all. Members of UV Seed Savers will have seeds to share after the seed saving talk. Thanks to donations from Cedar Circle Farm, attendees will also receive free gardening supplies.
