The US Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 20 million victory gardens were planted. Fruit and vegetables harvested in these home and community plots was estimated to be 9-10 million tons, an amount equal to all commercial production of fresh vegetables. So, the program made a difference.I can't help but see the similarities between now and then. So I guess it really is true..."the more things change, the more they stay the same".
In my state the Governor recently announced the 2011 budget, which contains cuts to many social programs for the homeless and disadvantaged. There's a big "to do" in the local media the past couple of days over these and other cuts. I would imagine that similar proposals are being floated by governors in States throughout the country. I suspect Mayors and County Commissions are making plans as well to cut budgets where ever possible.
Certainly, some of the social service providers will feel the cuts deeply as they shuffle and re-shuffle their local activities based on these reductions in aid from the tax payers. I feel for them. I do. There are people that depend on these types of programs. Without delving into the politics of it all and re-hashing many of the same issues and arguments beaten and re-beaten with the proverbial dead horse by the political candidates and pundits on the cable and radio talk shows, I'll pose the obvious question:
Why not take a page from the 1940s and start a new movement toward Victory?
For Kelly Holthus and others, 'it was a great moral thing'.
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