Episode description

Gardening is already a popular hobby, but the pandemic has revived an interest in growing plants. Many of us plant parents turned to gardening to keep busy, improve our mental health, and even grow food as we were forced to spend more time at home. Similar to this occurrence is the Victory Gardens of the past. In this episode, Maggie Stuckey joins us to review the history of Victory Gardens and their surprising role in society throughout the last hundred years. We also explore why people are so drawn to plants in tough times!

• [00:00] War Gardens, Victory Gardens, or Pandemic Gardens
• [05:30] Maggie shares an excerpt from her book about gardening as a manifestation of hope
• [08:07] Growing up in rural South Carolina where farming and vegetable gardens were prominent
• [10:46] How Maggie’s book on container gardening became a go-to gardening resource, challenging the belief that vegetables couldn't be grown in containers
• [13:46] Drawing parallels between the current gardening movement and past Victory Gardens
• [14:13] Where can you find trusted products for gardening, such as potting mix, garden soil, and fertilizer?
• [16:18] Where can you listen to enchanting wind chimes and choose from various colors, sizes, and sounds?
• [20:47] What is the history of Victory gardens?
• [26:45] Community gardens during World War II in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis
• [27:50] The concept and history behind community gardens
• [29:40] What motivates people to start gardens during challenging times like war, pandemics, or personal struggles?
• [33:22] The therapeutic nature of gardening and how it simplifies life and reconnects people with nature
• [36:36] The importance of in-person human interactions and actions
• [37:18] What are common mistakes made by new gardeners and why do they occur?
• [44:16] Why did Maggie include edible flowers in her book?
• [47:40] What should beginner gardeners grow in three containers for a successful first garden experience?
• [50:26] Heartwarming stories in Maggie's book and the one that warmed her heart the most
• [53:55] Where can you find Maggie’s book, The Container Victory Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Your Own Groceries?

• Territorial Seed Company Kitchen Counter Collection
• Hydroponic planter
• Maggie Stuckey’s book The Container Victory Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Your Own Groceries

check out the full show notes and blog here!

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