Victory Gardens

Victory gardens were gardens that people grew in their own back yards, as well as in their local community parks in several different countries around the world during WWI. These gardens came about as a result of the extreme food shortage that had developed in Europe during the course of the war. Europe was suffering greatly due to the fact that many of the farmers were recruited into military service and their farmlands were turned into battlefields.

The demand for food fell mostly upon the shoulders of United States and in March 1917, The National War Garden Commission was developed in response to this crisis. The commission was organized by Charles Lathrop Pack, an American who, along with others proposed that food production could be greatly increased, simply by having people grow their own foods. By doing this, families would be self-sufficient and thus reduce the demand on the public food supply, which was desperately needed to feed the soldiers and parts of Europe. As a result of this effort, more than five million gardens were cultivated in the US alone by the end of the war.

Maryland and Cecil County participated fully in this effort as well. All citizens, including children were encouraged to contribute by growing their own food. Cecil County newspapers from the time show a variety of adds and articles dedicated to the cultivation of gardens, as well as the reduction of food waste and the need for substituting certain foods, such as corn for wheat in cooking. From competitions on which gardens could grow the best produce to the governor himself calling on the youth to do their part by tending to gardens, our county and state was fully committed to the effort. Our farmers were especially valuable during this time. One newspaper even mentioned that our governor put special emphasis on needing our farmers, as they were just as critical as our men fighting in the trenches.