Victory Garden? How about Victory Sill?
During WWI and WWII, as our country sent troops to Europe, the United States government urged citizens to plant gardens in every available patch of soil. Food shortages were a real issue in those days with ration stamps or cards being given out for commodities that were in short supply. George Washington Carver coined the phrase, Victory Gardens, for the fruits, vegetables, and herbs grown by private citizens to supplement their rations and, basically, help with the war effort by reducing the demand on the national supply. More than that, though, victory gardens also served as a powerful morale booster.
When you grow your own produce, you’re rewarded with food, of course, but in addition to that, you get the satisfaction of having contributed to the greater good. During wartime, Presidents Wilson and Roosevelt called it a patriotic duty to garden, and promoted victory gardens as a way to help win the war.
These days, we’re in a different kind of war, and amid fears of food shortages during the coronavirus pandemic, there is a burgeoning movement towards growing your own food once again. Some of this is purely practical. Social distancing orders have forced us to think more carefully about grocery runs because of the risk of exposure to the coronavirus. In some cases, it’s also financial as more and more of us face uncertain financial futures.
Or maybe it’s that after quarantine baking, whipped coffee, and virtual parties, we’re looking for another micro-trend to keep us occupied.
Enter, victory sills.
If you’re like me, you’re cooking a lot more. I’m also always looking for ways to live more eco-friendly, and food waste plays a really big part in this. Without access to a lot of outdoor space, hydroponic gardening makes a lot of sense. Cut off the bottom of that green onion, place it in a glass of water, and set it on your windowsill. Before you know it, you’ll have a fresh supply of green onion for your saimin.
Looking after your windowsill garden requires consistency and care, but the private joy of watching something grow is truly priceless, and maybe that’s something we need right now along with a sense of purpose.
Those of you who are gardening pros already know the satisfaction of growing your own, but if you’re a newbie like me and want to get started on your own window garden, click on the link below, and don’t forget to check out #scrapgarden hashtag on Instagram for more inspiration.
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