Victory garden idea sprouts up in virus battle
NEW MILFORD — Victory gardens spotted the country 75 years ago as residents rallied to help their neighbors at a time when their communities most needed it.
This World War II idea is now being deployed again in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. New Milford is encouraging residents to plant victory gardens as a way to produce healthier food and address food instability concerns.
“It’s a way to get dense, nutritious vegetables at a lower cost,” Mayor Pete Bass said. “On top of that, you can
share with your neighbors and food pantries. It’s a true win-win for everyone.”
The idea came about during the town’s COVID-19 task force meetings months ago as part of a larger strategy to address food sustainability. Farms are also encouraged to increase their production to help supply the food pantries and will get some financial assistance from the new fund New Milford established.
New Milford Social Services reports visits to the food bank are up 30 percent, and the department receives 15 to 20 requests a day about basic needs, such as food, because more people are out of work.
Bass said they’ve heard of gardens in the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as Oregon, Washington and West Virginia.
“They’re kind of all over the place,” he said. “I haven’t heard of any in Connecticut, but that doesn’t mean they’re not around.”
The effort recently rolled out locally with the launch of the New Milford Victory Gardens Facebook page, which will offer updates and tips from the New Milford Garden Club, as well as help gardeners stay connected.
“I’m excited to kick this off and that the public is buying into it,” Bass said, adding he knows of about 14 gardens in town so far. He is also tilling the ground by his house to start a vegetable garden.
Some tips include types of vegetables that complement each other and growing vegetables in pots, showing those who don’t have backyards can also participate.
“The victory gardens are for front porch people, like me, to a farm,” said Diane Klaif, a member of the victory garden committee. “What we’re trying to accomplish is to get people not only interested in growing their own vegetables, but helping their neighbors and being gardeners for life.”
A questionnaire will be posted on the Facebook page soon, asking interested participants where they live and what they grow so the committee can keep track of the effort.
“If people can’t afford to buy their own plants, we will provide them the seeds or seedlings,” Klaif said.
Members of the victory garden committee have been working with garden centers around town to make sure there’s sufficient supply to meet demand. Some stores have already put more popular vegetables aside for the victory gardens.
Klaif said she thought it was a wonderful idea when Bass brought it to the garden club. She has grown flowers for a long time and is now foraying into vegetables as part of the effort. She and Carla Chagas, another garden club member, are propagating seedlings to give to people looking to start gardens.
Bob Gambino, a former mayor and a garden club member, also offered to analyze people’s soil and suggest nutrients.
Klaif said she hopes the gardens will allow people to have vegetables even if grocery stores run low.
“I’m hoping people will have adequate supplies to get them through this difficult time,” she said.
While she says it’s great to start their own gardens, it’s also important to continue to buy produce from local farms and farmers markets.
“It’s a great thing to do to grow your own, but it’s also important to support your local farmer,” she said.