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A Food Revolution in the Making |
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by Michael Pollan
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From the Huffington Post
 Last month, First Lady Michelle Obama broke ground for a new
vegetable garden on the South lawn of the White House. It's the first
time food will be grown at the President's residence since Eleanor
Roosevelt planted her Victory Garden during World War II. Back then, as
part of the war effort, the government rationed many foods and the
shortage of labor and transportation fuel made it difficult for farmers
to harvest and deliver fruits and vegetables to market. The First
Lady's Victory Garden set an example for the entire nation: they too
could produce their own fruits and vegetables. Nearly 20 million
Americans answered the call. They planted gardens in backyards, empty
lots, and even on city rooftops. Neighbors pooled their resources,
planted different types of produce, and formed cooperatives – all in
the name of patriotism.
By the time the war ended, home gardeners were producing 40
percent of the United States' produce. They aided the war effort by
creating local food networks that provided much needed produce in their
own communities, but their effect on the social fabric of the nation
was greater still. Urban and suburban farmers were considered morale
boosters who had found a great sense of empowerment through their own
dedication to a common cause.
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