Victory Gardens emerged in the First and Second World Wars. The gardens were important for several reasons. First of all, having more people grow things, particularly in urban areas, increases food security, especially during a crisis. Perhaps just as importantly, Victory Gardens helped people cope with fear, uncertainty and loneliness. Research has repeatedly shown that being around plants positively affects our well-being. But if you’ve ever walked in a forest, or stopped to smell a rose, you know that already. We are now into our generation's own war - against COVID-19. It's time for us to plant our own Victory Gardens.
Let’s start with some underlying principles of this blog:
1. Simplicity: If you’ve never had a garden or grown anything before, this is for you. If you would rather be out for a walk or cycling on a Sunday than spending the whole day in your garden, great! Our goal is to get as many people as possible to grow things as easily and efficiently as possible. If you want to make gardening a passionate pursuit, delving into the world of botany and horticulture, (horticulture = garden; agriculture = field) we’ll point you in the right direction, such as the excellent U of S Master Gardener program. But relax. For our purposes, we won’t need to study the phenomenon of photosynthesis; you won’t be given any in-depth lessons on genus and species. All you need is the commitment to nurture a living thing – a plant. You might be surprised at how rewarding that experience can be.
2. Clarity: “Ask ten expert gardeners the same question, and you’ll get ten different answers.” That, of course, is an exaggeration. But it does point out the fact that you can get diverse and sometimes conflicting information from a variety of sources. Sometimes the conflict arises simply because the authors live in different parts of the world; what works in San Diego doesn't always make sense in Saskatoon. Our recommendations will be based on the best conclusions we have come to, after extensive reading and the ton of mistakes we’ve made as gardeners, related to the Saskatoon environment. Are there other answers or alternatives? No doubt, but we're not going to explore them here. We will be clear and focused in our directions, because we want them to be easy to follow. This is not a forum for debate, although such forums are certainly valuable and essential. We want you to join us as gardening enthusiasts, not gardening experts. In time, you might form your own opinions and find your own "best way." As long as we all end up with a home-grown ripe red tomato in our hand, that's all that matters.
3. Certainty: We want you to be confident. You can grow things. There is no such thing as an inherent ability to grow plants, no elusive “green thumb.” After all, there used to be a time when everyone had to participate in growing food for their village, and they did. We want to build your confidence, your feeling of certainty that you’re doing it right. You’ll also understand that failure is par for the course in horticulture. Think of it as the best way to learn. Some plants emit millions of seeds annually so that at least one of their species reaches maturity. Thankfully, your odds are much better!
So let’s get going. On to Blog 2: Raised Beds....
