D.I.Y.: Victory Garden in a Jar

Victory Garden in a Jar

Circa: 1940's

      I couldn't be more excited to be bringing you not only my first D.I.Y. project that is specifically designed for kids, BUT it is one of my all time favorite projects! This week at the museum we are gearing up for our first round of Summer History Week, which is such an exciting and fun time! Last year we introduced a new program about life in the 1940's and I created this project for our hands-on activity based on an idea created for Molly of the American Girl Collection. When I was a little girl I was obsessed with American Girl; Samantha was my favorite, and I still turn to my old books and magazines for inspiration to this day! For our first project we are making Victory Gardens that are perfect for summer! 

     During World War I and World II the government was forced to ration foods like sugar, milk, butter, cheese, coffee, meat and canned goods. In addition labor and transportation shortages made it hard to transport fruits and vegetables to market. Therefore, the citizens were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens to provide their own fruits and vegetables and ensure adequate food supply for civilians and troops! Over 20 million Americans planted gardens in their backyards, empty lots, baseball fields, rooftops and even school yards.  The gardens planted on school grounds actually used the produce in their school lunches!  During this time most people ate local produce grown in their very own communities, a trend that is growing in popularity today!

             Magazines of the day such as the Saturday Evening Post and Life began printing instructions and stories about victory gardens and tips on preserving their produce. Many different types of vegetables were grown such as tomatoes, beets, peas, carrots, and lettuce.With families beginning to can their own food it left more commercially canned goods available to the troops! In 1943 315,000 pressure cookers were purchased by families specifically for the purpose of canning! 

             Did it help? Well, the US Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 20 million victory gardens were planted and 9-10 million tons of fruits and vegetables were harvested which was an equivalent of all commercial production! As they say the past is never really past and today many people are beginning to shop locally for their fruits and vegetables or even grow and can their own! This is a wonderful way to get your little ones growing! 

Materials

-Pint mason jar with metal Lid

-Spoon

-Bowl

-1 cup gravel

-1-2 cups potting soil

-Water

-3-4 Herb seeds (Chives, Parsley, Basil, or my favorite Mint)

-Hammer and Nail

-Small Bowl

Directions

1. Place soil in bowl, add a little water and stir. You want your soil to be slightly damp.

2. Spoon your gavel into your mason jar.

3. Add your soil to the jar until it is approximately 1 inch deep.

4. Add your herb seeds and gently cover them with the soil.

5. With the help of an adult, hammer air holes into the top of your metal lid. Place the lid on top of your jar. 

6.  Place the jar in a sunny window or somewhere it will get full light.  Be sure to remove the lid once the greens begin just touching it.  Keep watering and placing in the sun.  Then enjoy and use in your favorite recipes.

Sources

American Girl 

Living History Farm -  http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/crops_02.html

Within these Walls - http://amhistory.si.edu/house/yourvisit/victorygarden.asp

National WW2 Museum - http://www.nationalww2museum.org/assets/pdfs/victory-garden-fact-sheet.pdf