Declare victory against lack of control over the quality of your food! Join hands and hoes across our FoodShed Planet to create and inspire new organic gardens. Goal: 2 MILLION new organic gardens in 2008! Spread the manure--and spread the word! (See original links at FoodShed Planet here and here).
For those who already have organic gardens, be a "Companion Planter" and TAKE FIVE! Five new organic gardeners under your wing, that is. Just give what you can offer. Hands-on help, if you have it to give and folks live near you. Or just online support, if you have a cyber-buddy who needs some advice and encouragement. Add the first names and locations of your Take Five Team here. And look for future Take Five Updates on FoodShed Planet.
Add links to your blogs, if you have one--or consider starting one if you don't--it can be like an online garden diary and will help others learn from your experiences.
And remember, if you've had a kindness shown to you, pass it on. Especially if it involves the garden.
NOTE: You do NOT have to sign in to post comments on this blog. Just write your comment and hit publish!
90 comments:
Here's our list so far:
Belinda (Victoria, Australia)
Denise, (Washington, USA)
David (Georgia, USA)
Lissa (New York, USA)
Liz (Georgia, USA)
Hi Pattie, I'm thrilled!
Lissa, Saratoga Springs, NY, USA
pattie,
i can't wait to get started
Ok, I'm game for this. I'll offer my companionship to five of my readers tomorrow. It's such a great idea, Pattie!
Thank you so much Pattie!
Liz, Elberton, Georgia, USA
www.naturesharmonyfarm.com
Hi Pattie,
Love this Challenge....
Belinda
Mt Dandenong, Victoria, Australia
http://belindas-simple-life.blogspot.com/
Sign me up, Pattie! I had planned to put in a garden anyway, but this motivates me even more! I haven't got my TAKE FIVE group yet, but I can keep you posted. :-)
Hi Pattie, here are my Five-
Amber, Buffalo,NY
Sarah-MI
Kris-Ohio
Ginnie-Illinois
Goatgirl-Gig Harbor, WA
I'm going to list them on my side bar and all have blogs if you're interest. Great Idea and Good Luck! :)
Woo hoo! I'm in. I'll search for 5 people to assist.
I'm in. I'd like to start either growing in containers or raised bed since we don't have a lot of space. I would love some help/advice if anyone is in this area.
L'Tanya (Durham, NC, USA)
Pattie-
My "five" are from Michigan, Boston, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. You'll notice my "five" are actually "six," and I'm still getting requests.
Hey, Matt...can I send a few folks your way? I think I can handle six, but if I get any more, I'd love to hook them up with a garden mentor who can guarantee them a little more personal attention. And L'Tanya is looking for a mentor, too...perhaps you two should get in touch!
Anyone else looking for a few more to fill out their five? Contact me at emily ~!at!~ drgndrop ~!dt!~ com...
Sign me up! I already have hens and a garden, but am expanding to two more raised beds and growing ark of taste items to boot.
Maureen (and Cody) in Oakland
Please count me in as well! I wouldn't go any other way than organic! Love your passion behind it all!
I am in...this year I am giving my extra seedlings to a few neighbors and will help them as needed.
Mike, Alpharetta, GA
http://www.slowlyturninggreen.com/
Count me in!
Kelly
http://herablehands.com
Ohhh can I join in?
I haven't got five yet but I will work on it asap!
I love the challenge, but I blanch at the term Victory. Victory Gardens were grown so we could do our bit for the war effort, but we don't want victory over Mother Nature. I like to think about HOPE GARDENS because I garden in the HOPES that I can do my bit to return Mother Earth to health.
"Hope is the thing with wings that perches in the soul" --Emily Dickenson. One of my favorite quotes. Whatever works for you, Pat! But join us
What a great idea. I am a total beginner (aside from herbs on my windowsill at university) so I don't know if I can 'take anyone under my wing', but I will put this on my blog and spread the word in the UK.
Hannah, Berkshire, UK
I am not experienced enough to help others yet... This will be my first year to grow an organic garden, but count me in to "Dig for Victory"
Karen
Washington D.C.
I found your blog the long way around, via Casaubon's Book, and will be joining the Victory Garden Drive!
A bit of a difference though, for the first few months.
I'm moving house, so won't be establishing my own home veggie plot just yet. Instead, I've taken it upon myself to plant food trees and native trees in public places near where I am currently living. Then when we buy our new home, the Victory Garden goes in!
So far I've planted over 20 trees, a whole swag of herbs, and some small food trees, and all are surviving despite the drought!
Here's to Victory!
Daharja: I love what you're doing--making the world better, in public spaces! That's fabulous. And Karen and Hamster, I have room for one more member on Team Pattie! Are either of you (or both?) interested? My team has email communications and we'll be sharing support and experince with each other as the team members put in and grow their first gardens.
Email me at freshbakedcopy@mindspring.com.
I'm so pleased to join this effort!
I am in! I don't have 5 yet but I am working on it!
Pattie, I'd be honored to serve the cause as a Companion Gardener and supplier of Farmer D Organics Biodynamic Blend Organic compost. To Victory!
Farmer D, Savannah, GA, USA
Stephanie in Minnesota
Hey Pattie,
I'm going to Take 3 rather than 5.... My 3 are: LimeSarah ( http://limesarah.wordpress.com/ ), Lori_StL and Alexia (2 non-bloggers). However, I have two informal non-bloggers to whom I regularly give advice via email. I believe they're too shy to make themselves public ; ).
The reason I'm only formally taking 3 is because I'm so busy with my Growing Challenge - it has been wildly successful!! Wahoo!
Currently we number 68 participants. I'd estimate that around 1/3 have never grown a garden before. So we can count at least 22 new gardens from the Challenge - so far!
Gardeners are signing up everyday, so I expect that number to continue to grow until late Spring.
Awesome, Melinda. I love the Mother Teresa quote: "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." Sounds like you're helping to do way more than that, but this is a quick reminder to folks that every one new garden is one wonderful, fabulous, earth-changing, life-changing new garden!
Oh, and Melinda--we still need to talk! I'll email you about next week.
Fantastic idea! I try and grow and preserve as much of our food as possible .When posting on forums my posting signature is---"THE WORLD NEEDS YOU TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD"
Huxter
I am thrilled to find this challenge! Count me in!
Pattie:
I just started my garden blog, so when I get five readers I will join the challenge and assist them any way I can!
I love call my gardening efforts a Victory Garden since I try to raise two extra veggie rows each year for local food banks - so I am waging a war on hunger!
Jeenah Trout
http://suburbanminifarmgrrrl.blogspot.com/
I'm so excited about this! A Victory Garden is a MUCH better use of my yard.
Just started a garden today with 4 new fruit trees and a berry bush or two planned to be planted this week, and I hope to start a raised bed, no till veggie patch in the back of my house.
I'll def. be blogging about these adventures.
I'm just starting my garden (complete with blog) this year, and I'm helping 2 of my friends start gardens this year as well. Count me in!
I'm in! This is my first full scale veggie garden in my new home! In the past, I have only grown flowers...very exciting!
I have no idea what I am doing, but I just reserved a community garden plot and I am going for it.
PS I am in Portland, Oregon.
Hi, everyone. Congrats on
"planting a seed" for your own food security! Come back and let us know whe you start blogs so we can follow along on your journey. And Hank, have fun. Just have fun wioth it.
I am SO thrilled to find out about this project! I have 2 friends working on gardens aleady, and will see about going for 3, thanks so much for 'planting this seed'!
Kyrstin (Portland, Oregon)
P.S. Hank, if you need a hand, advice, or whatever, I am in Portland as well :)
My email is bikeblender@gmail.com, BTW
~Kyrstin
Container gardening for years, I've signed up for a community garden plot, so I'm in. :) My mistakes will be logged here: http://gardenmisadventures.blogspot.com/ Just in case anyone needs some comic relief from time to time. :) See you all out gardening!
Count me in--I'll be trying a motley assortment of mostly herbs (but also peppers and tomatoes). Getting a late start, but so it goes!
Tes, Brooklyn, NY
Danyell Hawkins
Just outside Atlanta.
Here's hoping I can eat it before my dogs dig it up :)
I have no idea what I'm doing, but I bought a bunch of organic and heirloom seeds, some pots, a compost bin and I'm ready to dive in headfirst! My wonderful fiance is serving as my gardening mentor for the growing season. The pepper and tomato plants are already turning into strong little seedlings in our makeshift indoor greenhouse!
OK, is this still alive and well? I'm in and planting seeds in pots to get a start in a northern climate.
Plan on ripping out some lawn this year!
I'm in! Wendy from Atlanta. My first time gardening and I'm so excited!
Hi, this is great. I just launched a blog on a whim and am utterly thrilled to see others out here. Hurrah!!
Here's my newbie blog...very sad and short...but I'm working on it.
http://redwhiteandgrew.blogspot.com/
Pattie-I forgot to mention that I'm in Texas...for your count.
Also, I have a couple of questions:
1. Any chance there's a graphic designer who would
(pro bono) whip up a logo for the cause and make it available to those of supporting the cause? We could all credit the designer and link to her/his site as a thank you each time we post the image. Or is there something like that already? (I looked at other sites, but couldn't find one...then again, I'm a newbie with the cause)
2. Is there a email list or something for people participating? A way to stay connected after signing up? I know that the "Revive" site has a forum, but it seems like a "push-style" email interactive thing would be useful way to keep people up to date, kwim?
Anyway...email me if you want to. I'd like to help you as much as I feasibly can. I've got some grassroots organizing experience that needs an outlet...nothing like a national campaign, but I do have some transferrable knowledge and would really, really like to do something about this and help make it happen!
Pattie - got your message...and emailed you yesterday. Check your Junk file if you don't see anything...I use gmail which may be filtered on your own account.
Pattie, just wanted to let you know there are now 135 participants in The Growing Challenge! And counting! Who knew?!
And yes, we do still need to talk. I've moved, and I'm just beginning to settle into my new home (after just a week). We should talk soon!
Count us in!! We are also going to encourage our community to join in at our Farmer's Market this season! Julie
Rebecca(Bend,Oregon,USA)
OK, I'm in!
I've already started my new VG by eliminating the front lawn (most of it). The way I'm doing it, with cardboard, compost, straw, etc., means I can't do any serious planting in the new plot until next year, but I can get by this year with my existing beds. The rest has to 'cure' for a year.
I'll post photos.
I don't think of the 'victory' as being one over nature, but rather the hoped-for outcome of a battle with business as usual practices and thinking.
This is a great idea, and I will try to find five others either willing to do it, or already doing it.
Richard Homme (Cobourg, Canada)
I am in for a new victory garden this year! Our yard is so small that I thought I couldn't have a garden, but I am using square foot gardening to use literally every square inch and can't believe how much I can grow.
Am also co-growing a new garden with my mom and sister so count us for 2 new gardens.
This has been so life giving. So glad to have given it a try! http://42poppies.blogspot.com/
Welcome, all!
There has been lots of "blog talk" about a name change to Hope Garden or Liberty Garden, that some folks find Victory Garden not applicable. Victory Garden works for me, but then again, so does simply Food Garden. Call it whatever you want, but let's keep encouraging the planting of new food-growing gardens! That's the part that matters.
ok- i'm late getting on board here, but count me in! i've already started a community garden with some teenagers in my neighborhood and they are so excited! what a great challenge!
Just wanted to let you know that I too planted for victory this year; fingers crossing that the deer do not eat it all. Hopefully I will learn enough this year to be able to tentatively mentor someone next year.
The goal by end of summer is to homecook everything with my own two hands with only the ingredients from my own garden or from the farmer's market! Aiming high...
It's sad, but it's something! I never realized how little "full sun" I have. (Dang juniper trees!)
I'm in!
Already planted my raised beds and some beds along our fence... with any luck and some good weather this summer, I won't have to buy tomatoes or beans until this time next year, right before harvest (I am so grateful that my mom and grandmother taught me to can!) We've also torn up about 1000sf of lawn and put in some lovely wildflowers to attract those all important pollinators to our veggies. Just don't tell the groundhog living in the lot next door that we've got veggies.
Ruthie in VA
Yes, I have planted my "victory" garden.
Lisa
Welcome, all. Let's just keep it going! Swing by www.eattheview.org if you want some social marketing opportunities with fellow edible gardeners. I'm not near as handy as Roger at setting these things up!
I'm in Pattie and planning on starting a blog, kind of as a companion to my monthly "A Slice of the Green Life" articles and will be sure to reference this project.
Robin (Norcross, GA)
I started my Victory Garden this summer. I installed a raised bed and filled it with herbs and vegetables. Now I am starting to plant herbs in what was only an ornamental flower garden previously. I am looking for ways to grow food all around the yard. My blog, Joy's Victory Garden is the story of my garden. http://www.joysvictorygarden.blogspot.com. My goal is to pass on what I learn as I tell the story of my garden. I am new to gardening so I hope that my story will encourage others to start their own garden.
Sign me up! I'm moving from perennials to food -- it is all organic. Great idea! I really enjoy reading your blog.
Cheers,
Mary Ann
I love my organic garden!
Tanya Turner
Bridgewater, MA
USA
Hi! I just found your blog, but I've been working on a Victory garden this year, too! I'm learning to can for the first time, tomatoes and peaches in particular. I have a long way to go to be food-self-sufficient, but big plans for next season. We also have our first chickens this year.
signing up! My husband and I started our very first garden a couple months ago and we're going out to pick our very first homegrown, organic veggies today!
Bea Kunz
Tennessee-USA
Hi Pattie,
What a marvelous project.
I am helping my son to become a better gardener, he just retired from the US Navy) didn't spend a lot of time gardening over the years.
My lovely neighbor who is starting from zero level. And...I do a blog on all things green and growin.
My speciality is herbs, but we grow much of our food also.
I have in the past helped to promote a couple of school and community gardens.
Many will join in if we are willing to lead.
Thank you and many blessings for your green energy.
I am a flondering gardener who needs someone to offer advice. We are a large family so I need really need a sucessul garden. I am in zone 9 in CA. Anyone out there want to help me out? Leave a comment on my blog if you do.
Hi Pattie- I'm in since I already have a garden...I'll look for 5 more. I did get my Mom in Ohio to plant a HUGE garden this year---was just there to see her and it looks like it belongs in a magazine. She buried some dead fish before planting (maybe that's the secret??).
:) rockin' robin
YAY! Way to get something going Foodshed! Here is a petition urging our next leadership to re-campaign the Victory in the US:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/
letsbringbackthevictorygarden/
Prince Charles asked England to plant more Victory gardens yesterday, why shouldnt our leadershio do the same?
(pass it on!)
I was really late getting my garden in this year (family emergency). I ended up with four extra tomato plants (after I'd given away lots of extras earlier), so I've planted them outside my fence. When they start to bear fruit, I'll put a "free tomatoes - help yourself" sign out there.
~Sadge
I planted my first vegetables in nearly 10 years this summer when food prices started to climb, and I'm amazed at how well they're going. No tomatoes yet, but the plants are huge with lots of blossoms so I still have hope - but zucchini, eggplant, beans, and carrots are all doing great.
Then there are the apples. We planted two apple trees about 10 years back, and most years we don't have time to do much with them and a lot go to waste. Not this year. I've been up to my elbows in apples! Applesauce, apple butter, apple cake, and dried apples. I'd say the percentage of wasted apples (ones the worms or squirrels get to before I can) is down by about 80%; I'd be doing better, but I can only process them so fast!
So our "victory garden" is making a difference already. The real difference will come as we head into winter, and start to eat up the things I've packed away all summer. I'm working on encouraging friends who are involved in emergency preparedness to start looking at home gardening as an aspect of that as well, so I may actually manage to influence some other people to start gardens. Who'da thunk?
We're in! Well, actually we've been in for about a year and a half now... but it's not too late to join as new members!
Okay, we've lost count of who we've been teaching about VG's but we'll give you an idea:
Two of our neighbors have added at least one or two edibles to their back yard. We always teach that the most important thing is to start small and grow as you grow.
We both have co-workers who we have gotten to grow at least one of their favorite food items at home. Hanging baskets, widow sills, back yard, front yard... just start someplace!
We recently participated in the West Seattle Edible Garden Tour where we had about seventy visitors come through and ask us a LOT of detailed questions about VG's and how to get started. We even ran into a couple of them this weekend while we were out and about and they had been drawing up plans for their fall starts! It worked!! They were starting their first VG!!
So... not sure how many that is, but we definitely are the ones folks come to when it comes to small space VG's.
Thanks for the great site... Come visit ours and see just what you can do in a TINY space... once you see our Edible Jungle Paradise, there won't be any argument about not having enough space.
talk to you soon...
The Shibaguyz
Welcome, everyone! There's such great, positive energy here. Thanks! It is very inspiring. I had an Open Garden today (where I swing my garden gate open and the neighbor kids and their parents come by for a couple hours and dig, make, do, smell, be) and was so surpised about how much food I had to share. "It's like fishes and loaves, isn't it?" one friend said.
Hi! Sign me in too! I am from Sweden, but I hope it's alright. :)
I'm adding myself to the fray...I've had a small garden for 3 years now, and have spread the wealth this year by passing along some of my tomato seedlings to friends and family.
I am in NJ if anyone wants ot share experiences.
I have a teeny plot (less than four square metres) in Scotland. It's heavy clay soil and full of building rubble, but two years of composting are starting to have an effect. We've had sugar snap peas, masses of spinach and herbs so far this summer, and have tomatoes, salad, peas and beans on the way. The last few weeks have been rather cold and soggy but there's still hope! We also have some totally experimental butternut squash plants.
I'm planning to do winter planting for the first time this year: kale (mostly for the guinea pigs), calabrese and cabbage. Wish me luck!
I have a garden blog but it's sadly neglected (my digital camera died, and it's no fun gardenblogging without it). Fortunately the garden is not.
Renee, Yvonne and K--welcome! I love meeting folks from other countries, Yvonne and K. And K, kale is my very favorite! I eat it raw, chopped, with balsamic vinegar and some herbs (such as lemon balm). You have lucky pigs!
I'm in.
Heather Portland, Oregon
I'm planning on putting a sign in my front yard making some sort of statement...not sure what though :)
Richard dug up our entire front lawn and planted 1200 square feet of organic vegetables and flowers. Two months later, we are feasting on broccoli and beans, beets and sweet lettuce. We are giving away pounds of produce to our friends and families, and the whole neighborhood stops by to see our progress. Thanks for such a good idea!
Welcome, all! Spread the manure and spread the word! We're nowhere near 2 million gardens! Not sure it matters as long as we have MORE gardens than when we started, but let's see if we can squeeze a few more fall gardens in. You can also encourage folks to get a bed ready now for spring by planting cover crops for the winter--try crimson clover and hairy vetch!
Fall Greetings
My family and I have had a homestead garden and farm for the last 30 years and grow about 80% of our food. Last spring I had the inspiration to put up a web site and encourage people to start Victory Gardens. I looked on the web and realized many other people also had the same idea. As things on the farm slow down I am finally getting my web site close to viewing and would like to link in with Food Shed Planet. How did you do on your 2008 goal of 2 million and what is your 2009 goal. Lets work together and bring a Victory to our planet.
Got to go Time to milk the cow.
She'om the Garden Gnome
Our victory garden in East Atlanta is growing rapidly every season!
We're up for the challenge. Our specialty is potatoes and, here in Minnesota it will be a while before we can plant. Can't wait. Here is a place to share your gardening stories and photos if you wish:
http://www.best-potato-recipes.com/potato-gardening.html
Great article as for me. I'd like to read a bit more concerning this theme. Thanx for posting that data.
Joan Stepsen
Gadgets and gifts
Small Business owners are largely forgotten. Thats why I only focus on them. I have experience several members of my family file bankruptcy due to small business failures. I also I suffered through 2 destroyed businesses due to failure however, in my failings I have learned some of the secrets to success. (Who can say they know it all?)
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Ellen, Mike, Shakti and Natalie in Northridge (Los Angeles), CA, USA.
Since 2009: 4 vegetable beds, 7 new fruit trees, a lavender field on the former lawn, and herbs.
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