I remember my grandparents speak of difficult times as a young married couple beginning their new life in San Antonio, having moved off the respective farms of their parents back in the Fredericksburg/Cave Creek area. They would face what most of us just read about in history books, the Great Depression. They also experienced the shortages of rationed foods during World War II. As part of the war effort things like sugar, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, coffee, meat, and canned goods were rationed. They had ration stamps for such items, including gasoline.

Labor and transportation shortages made it hard to harvest and move fruits and vegetables to market. So, the government turned to its citizens and encouraged them to plant “Victory Gardens.” They wanted individuals to provide their own fruits and vegetables. And nearly 20 million Americans answered the call. They planted gardens in backyards, empty lots and even city rooftops. Neighbors pooled their resources, planted different kinds of goods and formed cooperatives, all in the name of patriotism. I would say of those days, and similar efforts today, they also practiced good Christian stewardship. Magazines like Saturday Evening Post and Life printed stories about victory gardens, and women’s magazines gave instructions on how to grow and preserve garden produce. (Some of us today have found valuable helps in publications like Hobby Farming and Mother Earth.) Families were encouraged to can their own vegetables and save commercial canned goods for the troops. What was the result of these efforts? The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 20 million victory gardens were planted. Fruit and vegetables harvested in these home and community plots was estimated to be 9-10 million tons, an amount equal to all commercial production of fresh vegetables.

Some years ago, I spent a couple of months studying in Germany. In the small town where I lived, I noticed that folks didn’t spend a lot of time mowing and manicuring their lawns. Instead of grass, their small yards were used for growing fruits, vegetables and beautiful flowers. There was this large piece of acreage that separated the residential area from the business and shops of town. Families in the community used it to also grow their vegetables.

Today, the scare of salmonella affecting things like spinach, lettuce, tomatoes and peppers, even peanut butter (what’s next?) and the concern over e-coli bacteria in meat, have people once again going back to growing their own. “Victory Gardens” are making a comeback with folks once again raising vegetables and fruits, learning about canning and preserving, and even raising a few animals for eggs, meat and milk. They are making a comeback in both the rural and urban areas, by people with a few acres or just a back yard. People are concerned about the healthiness and quality of what they eat. Rising fuel costs have also impacted the cost of groceries, in terms of their production and transportation. Farmers Markets in small towns are growing in their popularity. Be sure to check out your community’s and participate in some way. Persons who have raised more than what they need for personal use, have turned to selling their excess in such markets for extra income. Some folks make a portion of their harvest available to local food pantries to help the needy of their communities. Even at churches, you may find a table of fresh fruits and vegetables for sale, with the proceeds going toward that local food pantry or the ELCA’s World Hunger Appeal. What a wonderful stewardship opportunity to be practiced by the whole family! Consider this your invitation to start your preparations for a Victory Garden.