1943 was the first time San Franciscan's planted a Victory Garden in the Civic Center Plaza. It was part of a nation-wide movement to grow food stateside because most food supplies were shipped to the soldiers overseas. Backyard vegetable gardens provided forty one percent of all vegetables consumed in the nation. Fifty-five years later, with help from the arts community, the Civic Center Plaza became the epicenter of a new Victory Garden campaign. Started in 2008, the focus of this new campaign is local food and slow food. Local and slow are really interchangeable terms when it comes to food; the idea is grow nutritious, organic food as close as possible to the consumer.
The Victory Garden staff in San Francisco installed fifteen backyard vegetable gardens for residents who entered and won a contest. Now, an online registry provides urban gardeners with a forum to discuss their trials and tribulations. The staff would like to create a network of small community supported agriculture (CSA) groups throughout the city. They provide setup services for groups and individuals in the city.
While growing vegetables requires a commitment, it is not the complex exercise central valley farmers undertake when they plant 100 acres of tomatoes. People are often pleasantly surprised with what they can do with healthy soil, water, seeds, and patience. Anyone that has tasted fresh picked fruit or vegetables knows the benefits!
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Other Tags: Water, Energy Use, Transportation, Pesticide Use, Open Space, Community Health.
Pic - google images
