Poised for a Comeback

During World War I and later in World War II, food shortages and difficult economic conditions spurred efforts that encouraged the public to grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs at home to help supplement traditional supplies. These gardens were known as war or victory gardens.

With hard times making a comeback, will we see a resurgence of such activites? If the following Financial Times report, "Seed Merchants Benefit from Urge to Dig Deep," is anything to go by, the answer is "yes."

Americans are turning in increasing numbers to their back yards to save money, with leading US seed merchants reporting a dramatic surge in early sales of carrots, tomato and pepper plant seeds.

George Ball, chairman of W. Atlee Burpee, which sells directly to gardeners and via retailers such as Home Depot, told the Financial Times that sales of vegetable seeds had grown 20-30 per cent this year.

The increase, he said, follows a similar jump in sales last year, and compares with previous annual growth levels of about 12 per cent.

Mr Ball said belt-tightening and economic concerns were the dominant factors driving demand, which had been stimulated last year by the high cost of petrol, and food safety concerns, following a scare over contaminated store-bought salad greens.

"Not only has demand not returned to normal but it has wildly increased," he said of the company's latest sales numbers. "It is just like a bonanza."

Richard Chamberlain, president of Harris Seeds, which supplies both commercial growers and gardeners, estimated that sales of seeds to gardeners were up by 50 per cent this year, with the company seeing a surge in first-time customers on its website.

"You'll be seeing people digging over their lawns and planting vegetables," he said.

Burpee has responded to the frugal mood by marketing a $10 multi-pack of vegetable seeds dubbed the "Money Garden", which includes seeds for tomatoes, peas, carrots, basil, peppers and sugar-snap peas.

It also commissioned research to demonstrate that the seeds could theoretically produce the equivalent of $650 of store-bought vegetables.

The boom in vegetable planting has already had a knock-on effect for other businesses. Bell's, part of Jarden, the homewares conglomerate, says sales of its preserving jars and lids increased 40 per cent last year.

Lowe's, the home improvement retailer, also suggested last year that strong sales of freezers partly reflected increased freezing of garden produce.

In an effort to catch the mood, Park Seeds, another leading seed company, is this year again selling a "Victory Garden" multi-seed pack, that also includes squash and beans, with its marketing recalling the victory gardens planted in the US and the UK during the second world war.

Burpee's marketing message for its Money Garden is more closely focused on the current crisis, saying that gardeners can "watch your assets grow before your eyes".

"Unlike any stock you ever bought, you can enjoy your returns sautéed, boiled, braised, broiled or served raw," exclaims the blurb.

Comments

[Gary J Toll]

Having read your columns, your first book (and just recieved When Giants Fall), I concur wholeheartedly about growing food. Out here in the desert a number of neighbors have gotten together and formed a "garden club" that deals with real life growing of various veg's and fruits, helping each other, and sharing our garden delights with each other. We all recognize the need now more than ever to provide for ourselves as best as we can. Your books and information is just as valuable toward this end also, and we thank you. Gary Near Death Valley

[Curt T]

Where can I obtain a copy of the poster.

[Michael Panzner]

I'm not sure about the poster. I got the picture from here: http://www.earthlypursuits.com/WarGarV/WarGardTitle.htm

[dearieme]

We grow our own Morello cherries. We bottle them in brandy and kirsch: that makes for a happy winter.

[Purple]

Also, it's rewarding - people should do it regardless. Tastes better.

[farang]

"During World War I and later in World War II, food shortages and difficult economic conditions spurred efforts that encouraged the public to grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs at home to help supplement traditional supplies."

Gee, almost like we are being readied for something.....like it is written in a strategy playbook somewhere on how to lead a county into war....you don't suppose this financial "crisis" was PLANNED and is being carried out by those that are now getting "bailed out", do ya? Gee, perish the thought. No, Bernanke the Fed expert on the last Depression didn't blame the Fed for intentionally causing it...oh,wait. Seems a certain segment of America isn't doing so bad: getting "bailout" for creating despair and pain, while paying themselves BONUSES for doing so. OY!

And with the push by the "You-Know-Who" controlled msm, Executive and Legislative branches to lead us into invading Iraq under false pretenses to serve their cause, and with their daily push to demonize Iran and Palestine with false innuendo and bald-faced lies, while sucking America dry for more weapons and financial support, perhaps we should be more worried about a coming WWIII then growing our own food. I see now they want us to GIVE them advanced Navy ships. GIVE them. Great idea, would they also like all of my Pension fund and Social Security in cash, or will a check do? I'll go dig a garden and plant food so I can send them more of my money: good idea.

You'll "save" more money by delivering newspapers then you will growing veggies, at most you would save a few hundred dollars a year, while working hours daily cultivating, tilling, buying seeds, planting, weeding, watering, fighting pests and harvesting. I guess some have nothing better to do.

Yes, it "tastes better", because the varieties homegrown aren't the "lasts on the shelf for weeks" type tomatos and carrots.

Better we start daily open markets, allowing community farmers to provide fresh, non-genetic modified veggies and meat for us, creating local jobs and a sense of belonging to a community. Maybe we'd turn off our TV sets, and actually DEBATE the direction our country is in with our neighbors, without propagandists editing, directing and framing the issues.

And maybe the ignorant, uneducated and easily duped American masses will spout wings and fly..............

[Jubilee Year]

Funny you mention it! I have already started by own Victory Garden, complete with blog to help others who are new to the process. ArizonaVictoryGarden.blogspot.com