The following sites were selected for their usefulness in informing readers about Victory Gardens past, present and…most importantly…future. This is by no means a compendium of all the VG sites out there…just a simple overview of some of the most relevant, insightful ones.
Leading Victory Garden Sites/Proponents:
Victory Grower
Managed by leading VG proponent/master gardener/historian Rose Hayden-Smith, this informative site (and blog!) provide an overview of how the concept has changed over time and showcases historic models, shares some good public policy examples, and features select recent press coverage. Much of the material is geared toward California (Hayden-Smith is affiliated with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources), but her work is relevant elsewhere. In fact, it’s possible you’ve seen her name (and that of Roger Doiron–see Kitchen Gardeners International link below) in recent news articles.
Revive the Victory Garden
The web master advocates VGs as a solution for global warming and includes a useful calculation to help readers better understand the costs (fuel, pollution) for fuel transport. Also includes great links to seed suppliers and other online resources that will help new gardeners determine what/when to plant.
Kitchen Gardeners International
There are lots of great gardening sites out there, but Kitchen Gardeners International–a Maine-based non-profit is run by leading VG proponent Roger Doiron–is especially relevant here. The group offers a sense of community and connection for new and established gardeners around the world!
FreedomGardeners.org
Beautifully designed California site run by a Pasadena family who has been blogging (Path to Freedom) about their home garden for several years. The web site is new-ish, but the family running it has created a robust, thriving garden in just a few years on which they subsist. They use the term “freedom garden” rather than “Victory Garden,” but the intention is the same. They aspire to sow freedom gardens around the world…a lovely idea. Check out their “Resources” section…they offer a terrific collection of downloadable “Digital Propaganda” selection for your site/blog, etc. See also (video): “Life (Mostly) Off the Grid” (New York Times Magazine, 19 April 2008).
The Dinner Garden
This award-winning, Texas-based non-profit provides free seed to gardeners nationwide. They’ve also partnered with WorldFoodGarden.org to provide information and resources to new gardeners.
Victory Garden
Sponsored by The Sankofa Foundation, this site showcases Victory Gardens past and present, all with an eye to promoting the concept in the nation’s African-American community.
Casaubon’s Book (SharonAstyk.com)
This site/blog is managed by another leading VG proponent Sharon Astyk, based in New York, who has two forthcoming books related to peak oil, climate change and economic instability. See especially her 10 February 2008 (“It’s Time for a New Victory Garden“) post for inspiration.
Edible Estates
The brainchild of architect Fritz Haeg, this program showcases several regional home gardens commissioned to illustrate just how much food can be grown…beautifully, artfully…at home.
Michael Pollan
The prolific journalist best known for his books, The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, makes a very nice (albeit indirect) case for a VG revival in a recent The New York Times Magazine piece (“Why Bother,” 20 April 2008).
Contemporary Victory Garden Art:
The Victory Garden of Tomorrow
One West Coast’s artist take on the future of Victory Garden posters.
