War Gardens, Montague Free, New York, 1918

Twice in the 20th century Americans have responded to war conditions by turning to kitchen gardening. Victory Gardens were not initially a government response. Only after Americans pressed it to recognize their patriotic efforts at growing food did the government give its imprimatur to Victory Gardens.

The war gardens of World War I emerged from food shortages and consumers' fears of escalating food prices. Across the country, volunteer community garden projects encouraged rich and poor to grow their own food. War garden efforts were so successful that the National War Garden Community estimated that "the people of this country in 1917 produced a crop valued at $350 million in back yards, vacant lots and previously uncultivated land".