• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Retro Housewife Goes Green

A retro housewife in the modern world.

  • Start Here
    • About
    • Retro Homemaking – Readers’ Favorites
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Homemaking
    • Cleaning
    • Frugal
    • Organization
    • Decorating
    • Crafting
    • Green Living
    • Holidays
  • Cooking
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Recipes
      • Appetizer
      • Breakfast
      • Main Course
      • Side Dish
      • Dessert
      • Drinks
  • Inspiration
    • Family Life
    • Marriage
    • Fashion
    • Self-Care
    • Time Management
    • Health & Fitness

Why We Need to Bring Back Victory Gardens

This post may contain affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.

April 14, 2021 By Lisa Sharp Leave a Comment

Victory gardens helped during a time of need for more food and it’s time we bring them back. It’s a great way to help your finances and the environment. Coupons.com is a big fan of gardens as well and is sponsoring this post.

retro housewife gardening with text how to start your own victory garden and why you should

What is a Victory Garden?

While home vegetable gardens are now fairly uncommon it was once seen as a patriotic act to have a home garden.

Just weeks before the United States entered World War I, Charles Lathrop Pack organized the National War Garden Commission to encourage Americans to start their own victory gardens.

It allowed more of America’s food to be exported to Europe to help our allies that faced severe food storage.

Citizens not only started gardens in their backyards but also on any idle land that could be used. This included schools, company grounds, parks, and more.

Shortly after the United States entered into the Second World War, victory gardens began to make a comeback.

Food was once again was needed overseas and these gardens again helped keep food on American tables while helping our allies.

Even First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt started a victory garden on the White House lawn.

Although the government’s encouragement of victory gardens ended with World War II we are seeing a comeback of victory gardens because they still offer many benefits.

Growing your own food can save you money and is great for the environment. Plus fresh food is always the best.

Victory Garden Tips

A bouquet of yellow bright garden flowers in a steel bucket and garden tools on a wooden background

I looked through my collection of vintage magazines from the 1940s and 1950s and other resources to find some gardening tips from true retro housewives and retro garden experts. I found some good ones.

  • When possible, prepare your garden in the fall. This will help give you a good headstart before it’s time to plant.
  • Use a plot that has at least 6 hours of full sun, drains quickly, has topsoil at least seven inches deep, and no hedge or tree roots to compete with the vegetables. 
  • Prepare your garden with good compost. (Learn How to Compost)
  • No garden is too small. You can start a garden anywhere, even on a small patio with a few pots.
  • All gardens should be well planned. Do your research. 
  • It’s easier to start small and add more later.
  • Soil is ready for planting when it holds its shape when pressed but easily crumbles.
  • Fences are critical for keeping out veggie-loving animals.
  • Look for varieties of vegetables that are resistant to common disease in your area.
  • Add crushed eggshells to your garden to add calcium to the soil.
  • If you have children, let them have a small garden of their own. This will help teach them the joy of gardening and why it’s important. 
  • And of course, have a plan to preserve and store your yield so you can enjoy your hard work all year long.

While I don’t currently have a vegetable garden it is something I have had at times and would like to have again. It’s such a great way to reduce your family’s food costs and encourage more eating of healthy foods.

One thing I do even without a vegetable garden is compost. It’s a great way to reduce food waste and improve your soil, even if you only grow flowers and other non-edible plants. You can click here to learn how to compost.

Get a Free Garden Planner

garden planner preview

A good plan is of course essential for a good victory garden. Many articles from WWII talk about planning out your garden and staying organized. 

Notebooks were likely used by many to plan their gardens but now you can use a garden planner instead. And you can even get one for free which helps keep your victory garden frugal.

Simply fill out the form below and you will get your free printable garden planner sent to your inbox. You can print as many pages as you’d like and skip any that aren’t useful for your garden. The planner is undated so you’ll be able to use it year after year. 

More Gardening Resources

A bouquet of yellow bright garden flowers in a steel bucket and garden tools on a wooden background

How to Start a Garden on a Budget

Sharing is caring!

Filed Under: Frugal, 1950s Housewife Tips, Green Living, Homemaking Tagged With: gardening

Previous Post: « 12 Vintage Easter Dessert Recipes to Try This Year
Next Post: Green Tips from 1950s Housewives »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

photo of Lisa

Welcome to my blog! My name is Lisa and I'm the Retro Housewife trying to live a greener life. I share my love of all things vintage, homemaking and green living here on the blog. To read more, click here.

mail button Facebook button Instagram button Pinterest button Twitter button

Featured Posts

white laundry on clothesline

How to Fix Problems When Line-Drying Clothes

natural makeup in makeup bag

Honest Juice Beauty Makeup Review

black and white photo of retro housewife standing at vintage stove

Retro Housewife Must-Haves

pink and white towels on clothesline

Eco-Friendly Housewife Must-Haves

woman wearing pink cleaning gloves steam cleaning a mattress

How to Clean a Mattress

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 · Niche Theme

Copyright © 2023 · Retro Housewife Goes Green