“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~Margaret Mead

Victory Gardens were a concept started during the W.W. II era as a means to help with the food shortages created from the war. Nearly 20 million Americans grew Victory Gardens during this period producing up to 40% of all that was consumed.

It’s time to bring back the Victory Gardens for multiple reasons, we can all make a difference.

“Today our food travels an average of 1500 miles from farm to table. The process of planting, fertilizing, processing, packaging, and transporting our food uses a great deal of energy and contributes to the cause of global warming.

“Planting a Victory Garden to fight global warming would reduce the amount of pollution your food contributes to global warming. Instead of traveling many miles from farm to table, your food would travel from your own garden to your table.

“Our current economic situation is other good reason to start a Victory Garden. Every time that food is shipped from the farm to the store and your table, gasoline is used. As gasoline prices rise, food costs rise.” ~ From: Revive the Victory Garden

Growing a garden offers many health benefits as well. Because of the long distance our food travels before reaching the stores and the time and procedures involved in processing and shipping, much of our food has lost its vital energy. Fresh grown and picked fruits and vegetables are full of vibrant energy which we absorb into our bodies, providing a higher nutritional value and goodness as well. If grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers, we are able to eliminate some of the toxic chemicals that enter our bodies through our food.

Taking the time to grow our own gardens is not only satisfying but reduces stress as well, just the connection with nature provides that. It really doesn’t take that much. Fruit, vegetable and herb plants can be grown in containers or mixed in with other plantings. Take the time to watch the following video… it’s amazing what CAN be accomplished!

HOMEGROWN REVOLUTION – Radical Change Taking Root

Like Victory Gardens of yesteryear, start your own homegrown revolution, grow your own food in your back or front yard — for more information visit the urban homesteaders at PathtoFreedom.com

Here are some great gardening resources:

• Richters Herbs: Offering a huge selection of Herb Plants, Seeds, More!
• Gardens Alive!
• Click here to order a Free Nature Hills Nursery Catalog
• Gardener’s Supply Company
• Herbkits.com- Indoor Herb Growing Kits
• Burgess Seed & Plant Co.
• Gurney’s Seed and Nursery

Here are some links to organic resources on the internet. It’s a starting point for more information and associations on organic farming and sustainable agriculture.

• ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
  Managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service. It provides information and other technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States.
• Organic Consumers Association
  Our website, publications, research, and campaign staff provide an important service for hundreds of thousands of consumers and community activists every month. Our media team provides background information, interviews, and story ideas to television and radio producers and journalists on a daily basis – from national television networks to the alternative press.
• The Organic Center
  To generate credible, peer reviewed scientific information and communicate the verifiable benefits of organic farming and products to society.
• Eatwild: The Clearinghouse for Information about Pasture-Based Farming
  Eatwild.com features comprehensive, up-to-date, accurate information about grass-fed and organic beef, pork, lamb, bison, dairy products, and poultry. It also features the country’s most extensive list of suppliers of pasture-raised products.
• Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA)
  A resource for organic dairy farmers, organic milk producers
  and consumers interested in organic dairy farming and products. Among the information offered: organic dairy news, northeast events, farmer classifieds, business directory, guidance on transitioning to organic, grazing management and soil health.
• NorthEast Organic Network (NEON)
  An innovative consortium of farmers, researchers, extension educators and grassroots nonprofits working together to improve organic farmers’ access to research and technical support.
• The Organic Trade Association (OTA)
  OTA is a membership-based association that encompasses all sectors of the organic industry, from farm to retail. OTA represents the industry’s interests to regulators, policymakers, the media and the public.
• Save Our Seed 
  A free certified organic seed sourcing service.
• Organic Farming Research Foundation
  To sponsor research related to organic farming;
  To disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems; and
  To educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues.
• USDA National Organic Program
  The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards.
• Organic Trade Association
  OTA’s mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy.
• Rodale Institute / New Farm