Plan Your Weekend: Gardening in Tough Times

Posted in Exhibitions on July 10 2009, by Plant Talk

Jane Dorfman is Reference Librarian/Exhibitions Coordinator in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library.

Garden trends come and go, but the edible garden, despite its changing names, has been a stable feature in American life.

This summer, in conjunction with The Edible Garden summer-long exhibitions, the LuEsther T. Mertz Library presents a display featuring the “war” or “victory” garden, the movement inspired during the years of World War I (1917–18) and World War II (1941–45) when vegetable gardening became an act of patriotism as well as practicality. Citizens were encouraged to grow, can, and store crops to ensure self-sufficiency at home and to keep the nation’s distribution of food focused on our troops and allies.

On display are brochures, photos, nursery seed catalogs, a musical score, and archival items that narrate and depict the Victory Garden movement that spanned the nation and, with government, business and community support, proved to be successful. One poster circa 1944 features Mickey Mouse pitching the Green Thumb Contest sponsored by the National Victory Garden Institute. From 1942 is a musical score, Swing that Hoe and Watch Your Garden Grow, by William Eben Tourjee.

The exhibit also highlights The New York Botanical Garden’s significant contribution to the national cause during the years of the Second World War, including images of the Garden’s own Victory Garden.

For more Edible Garden events and weekend activities, click here.