Reviving the Victory Garden

Did you know that during WWII, President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed in a fireside chat that ‘victory gardens were of direct benefit in helping relieve manpower, transportation, and living costs as well as addressing the food problem.’ Victory gardens became patriotic and helped sustain the food supply in the difficult years during the war. Unfortunately, we have lost that fervor for growing our own food, relying rather on the produce readily available at local stores. Now with modern food production methods, our produce travels thousands of miles covered in plastic and has lost much of its flavor and nutritional value by the time it arrives home to our tables. Today we do not have a food supply problem but rather a food nutrient and energy problem.

As the owner of Good Energy Garden, my dream of bringing kitchen gardens to every backyard stems from the magical childhood memories of watching seeds develop into plants and plants grow into food. However, as an adult who developed an autoimmune disease, my reasons have shifted to include an urgency for improving the health benefit of our food. Our food no longer possesses the nutrients needed to sustain good energy and health at the cellular level. Dr. Casey Means, author of the book Good Energy, states, “As a nation, we are experiencing a health crisis which is a reflection of a destroyed ecosystem. The world we are living in is crushing the very way that our human body and our cells can transmit food energy to life energy and cell energy.”  I highly recommend reading her book. By adopting the Good Energy name for my garden consulting business, my hope is to educate gardeners as well as other consumers that growing our own food is not just about a few fresh tomatoes in the summertime; it is about long-term health.

The name of my business, Good Energy Garden, intentionally points to the need for gardeners, farmers and the greater food industry to provide healthier food through better supply chain delivery, healthier growing methods and elimination of chemicals. While Minnesota is a major food producer, the produce is still wrapped in plastic and sits in a warehouse waiting to be delivered to the store. The more local the better but there is nothing better than growing in your own backyard.

Growing a kitchen garden puts you in control of the health of the soil and plants. We teach you how to become the master gardener for producing the freshest nutrient dense food which you can eat within minutes of harvesting. Kitchen gardens could revive president Roosevelt’s ‘patriotic victory garden’ sentiment however this time the emphasis is on the health and wellness for you, your family and even your community.  The time is now to start planning your kitchen garden so come springtime you are ready. Contact me, Crystal Crocker, for a brief discovery call or consultation through my website at goodenergygarden.com.