I was born and raised in a small village amid the hills and hollows of western Pennsylvania. Back then times were hard, jobs were few, money was scarce and everyone bought their groceries on credit from Tomlinson’s, the only store in the community.
What were plentiful were vegetable gardens. One could be found in practically every backyard. They provided a vital portion of a family’s food needs.
As did my father’s: He loved gardening and every season as he worked the garden, my brothers and I were there with him, doing what had to be done. And there was plenty that had to be done: Spading, cultivating, unending trips down to the creek refilling the watering can, and every evening, if there was any possibility of frost, placing a tin can over the newly planted tomato and pepper plants.
Then, little by little, as the plants grew, the grocery bills shrank. Tomatoes were eaten out of hand as snacks, lettuce was plucked just minutes before the salad was served and corn was picked only when the water in the pot began to boil.
When, after many years later, I had the opportunity to start a vegetable garden of my own those long-ago memories were my motivation.
This book attempts to reflect the purpose of all of those hard-times backyard gardens. That is: vegetable gardening, although it can be a source of great enjoyment, is in essence a serious matter, an important food source.
During World War II, for health and economic reasons, Americans were encouraged to establish what were called “Victory Gardens” to grow their own vegetables.
The public responded and it was estimated that those little gardens produced a remarkable 30 to 40 percent of the country’s food supply during that period.
That was a long time ago, but the rationale for such gardens is timeless and your backyard vegetable garden today can still contribute not only to your well-being but to the nation’s as well.