What will you do with your surplus of veggies?

There are 800 million people who go to bed hungry. While some Moms are forced to choose between utilities and food, the global economic crisis is stressing the supplies of food banks at precisely the moment when the food is needed the most. In 2007, the number of undernourished people in the world increased by 75 million. We can expect that number to rise.

I'm busy spreading the word. Through my newspaper column, my blog, and my badge that's making its way across the blogsphere, I'm trying to get everyone to do what they can to help feed the hungry.

While the recession reverberates through our economy, ultimately reaching our dinner tables,
backyard gardens are a great way to squeeze more nutrition out of our food budgets. At the same time, there are 800 million people who go to bed hungry. While some Moms are forced to choose between utilities and food, the global economic crisis is stressing the supplies of food banks at precisely the moment when the food is needed the most. The solution is simple: Plant a garden, and give what you grow to your local food banks. With gardens, there’s always a surplus of something.

The term Victory Garden has its roots in our effort to give our soldiers nutrients that would ultimately help them win World War I. The government earmarked funds for a national school garden program. A steady supply of vegetables would keep food costs down and save the War Department money. Our great grandmothers created backyard “Victory Gardens” to feed our nation as the Great Depression reverberated across the land. Eleanor Roosevelt even planted a Victory Garden at Pennsylvania Avenue. By 1943, nearly 40 percent of the fresh fruits and vegetables consumed stateside were grown in gardens at schools,parks, rooftops and backyards. Careful preservation allowed us to export our harvests to our allies. I want to join the ranks of my great matron ancestors and help feed the world. Even Michelle Obama finds this an important task.

Today, the average tomato travels 1,500 miles and requires 400 gallons of gas to arrive at your table — this must change too if we are to remain a sustainable planet.

We are Midwest Parents. We live among lush soil that feeds the nation its corn, its tomatoes and its beans. We can help feed the world.

The Burpee Seed company donated their Burpee’s Money Garden, seeds packs.
The bloggers that have spread the word include Shelly at This Eclectic Life, Joyce, Kirsten, Africankelli, Amy at Gift of Green, the Australian goddess mom, Mothergoosemouse and so many more I have yet to meet. Each day the list of bloggers spreading the word grows. My e-mail is filled with notes from gardeners, mostly women, across the world, willing to share those extra zucchinis.

As my inbox swells, I also hope the foodbanks do too. Every six seconds a child dies because he or she is hungry.

While there are many similarities between The Recession and The Depression, one common thread of both crises is the feeling of powerlessness. The Victory Gardens planted during World War I were one practical way families cut their food budget, and shared their crops. Harvesting crops also boosted morale. We only need to read Ruth Krauss’s book The Carrot Seed, one time to feel the victory of the child who learns that “it did come up,” to see how gardening feeds the souls of children. Growing food preserves our world.

Grab this badge, the code is below, to spread the word:

Code for the small badge: [a title="givewhatyougrow by susiejpics, on Flickr" href="http://www.susiej.com/index.php/give-what-you-grow/"][img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3282964326_3525b137da.jpg" alt="givewhatyougrow" width="166" height="161" /][/a]

(Replace these [ ] with these <> to make the button appear.)