Victory Gardens: How Americans Grew Food During World War II

During World War II, food shortages and rationing changed everyday life across the United States.

To support the war effort, Americans were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens in backyards, rooftops, schoolyards, and vacant lots. These home and community gardens helped supplement food supplies, reduce pressure on commercial agriculture, and ensure that more food could be sent overseas to support Allied troops.

By the mid-1940s, Victory Gardens produced nearly 40 percent of the vegetables consumed in the United States.

This short video explores how Victory Gardens became a defining feature of life on the WWII home front - and why their legacy of self-reliance and community action still resonates today.