What we’re “pushing” in exopermaculture is, in part, to see and feel and be in our world in a manner that works for everyone. And that includes, first of all, growing enough local food so that no one goes hungry! I mean, duh!

Whether we work together or separately in this horticultural return to the living Earth, it’s extremely important to get started. And, if it helps us to think that we are again on a “war footing” — this time against the corporate state that would keep us all in a matrix prison and throw away the key; this time against our stubborn habits of laziness, selfishness, fear of lack of skill or experience or time or energy, need for distractions and addictions while ignoring or denying the ecocidal cliff just ahead — then so be it! Whatever our ironclad or residual resistance to this crucial new/old direction, let us “fight” this new “war” by reviving ancient skills seeded into our DNA of how to survive — and possibly even thrive! — in a world that no longer supports the mindless consumption of superficial throw-away “goods” but instead requires us to gear down and focus on primal needs. 

Yes. Let us surrender our resistance to the Earth Mother. Let us re-ignite the vigorous flush of Victory, not by destroying an arbitrary Other, but by nurturing Nature’s abundance. 

What Is a Victory Garden?

Victory gardens were vegetable gardens planted during t [both] world wars to ensure an adequate food supply for civilians and troops. Government agencies, private foundations, businesses, schools, and seed companies all worked together to provide land, instruction, and seeds for individuals and communities to grow food.

From California to Florida, Americans plowed backyards, vacant lots, parks, baseball fields, and schoolyards to set out gardens. Children and adults fertilized, planted, weeded, and watered in order to harvest an abundance of vegetables.

Colorful posters and regular feature articles in newspapers and magazines helped to get the word out and encouraged people to stick with it. The goal was to produce enough fresh vegetables through the summer for the immediate family and neighbors. Any excess produce was canned and preserved for the winter and early spring until next year’s victory garden produce was ripe.

Throughout the World War II years, millions of victory gardens in all shapes and sizes–from window boxes to community plots–produced abundant food for the folks at home. While the gardens themselves are now gone, posters, seed packets and catalogs, booklets, photos and films, newspaper articles and diaries, and people’s memories still remain to tell us the story of victory gardens.