COLLEGE STATION, Texas, April 7 (UPI) -- Memories of Victory Gardens during World War II and the nation's growing concern with food safety are contributing to a renewed interest in vegetable gardening this spring, a Texas expert said Monday.
Doug Welsh, Texas Cooperative Extension horticulture specialist, believes wartime nostalgia, potential food safety threats, and concern about growing healthy food are driving an upswing in home gardening.
A survey conducted by the Garden Writers Association found recently that people plan to spend as much or more than previous years on home gardening this season. More than 40 percent plan to spend more for vegetable and fruit plants, the survey said.
Welsh said nostalgia is no doubt a factor with older gardeners who remember the Victory Gardens. When much of the nation's resources were devoted to fighting World War II, 20 million Americans planted their own gardens and produced 40 percent of the nation's produce.
"I deal with Master Gardeners who are 50 to 65 or older and they very much remember the Victory Gardens," Welsh said. "Many of them grew up eating out of those gardens."
Some of the reasons for today's gardening interest are different. Americans are concerned about potential terrorist threats to the food supply and some just want to put in their own gardens to grow organic vegetables and fruits.
"I think people in general are more conscious of what they eat and where it comes from and the potential chemical use on it," said Welsh, who also coordinates Master Gardening programs across Texas at Texas A&M University.
"The best way to get organic produce is to grow it yourself so I think a lot of people are responding and there is an upturn in vegetable interest."
There are about 60,000 Master Gardeners in the nation. Land-grant universities manage the programs to train volunteers who go into the communities to teach gardening skills.
Interest in home gardening peaked in the late '70s and early '80s and was in a decline until recent years when baby boomers began to take up the hobby again, Welsh said. Since 9/11, interest has been picking up even more.
Welsh said home gardening may also be attractive to more Americans because it provides a form of quiet therapy and escape.
"This weekend I planted green beans, and I certainly feel better for it," he said, with a chuckle. "I'll have fresh green beans that I grew with my children and there will be no pesticides used on them and I know where they came from. I think that's a comfort to a lot of people."
(Reported by Phil Magers in Dallas)
