May 21, 2018//Washington DC//Americans who want to fight climate change and high food bills are being urged today to follow the World War II lead of their grandparents by planting a “Climate Victory Garden” in order to reduce carbon emissions while growing safe, healthy and less expensive food.
Green America today announced their new Climate Victory Gardens campaign. The campaign urges all Americans to plant a “Climate Victory Garden” in their backyard or community garden. Climate Victory Gardens include practices like no-till, cover crops, perennials, and composting that help to create healthy soils. The effort is aimed at mitigating carbon emissions and storing carbon in the soil while growing safe and healthy foods.
During the first and second World Wars, Americas rallied to feed their communities at home and support troops overseas by planting “Victory Gardens.” By 1944 nearly 20 million victory gardens produced eight million tons of food, equaling about 40 percent of the fresh fruits and vegetables consumed in the US at the time.
How realistic is it to assume 40 million Climate Victory Gardens can be started? According to the National Gardening Association, 35 percent of all households in America, or 42 million households, are growing food at home or in a community garden. In addition to new Victory Gardens, many of the of these existing gardens could adopt climate-sensitive practices.
“Americans want to take actions that have a direct impact on climate change,” said Todd Larsen, Green America’s executive co-director of consumer and corporate engagement. “They are also increasingly concerned about the chemicals on store-bought produce. Climate Victory Gardens gives us all a way to reduce our impact on the planet, while ensuring the food we feed our families is safe and nutritious.”
“Agriculture is currently a major contributor to climate change,” said Jes Walton, food campaigns specialist at Green America. “Climate Victory Gardens are a way for all Americans to change that, turning food into a practice that feeds the earth and reduces greenhouse gasses. The gardens are also a great way for all Americans to better understand where our food comes from and the importance of preserving healthy soils for generations to come.”
The U.S. must immediately sequester carbon from the atmosphere, putting back what has been released from the soil because of years of destructive industrial agricultural practices.
Industrial agriculture is one of the most carbon and water-intensive industries, and the massive chemicals used in industrial farms damages the soil, pollutes local communities, and put the consumers’ health at risk. Climate Victory Gardens are a campaign of Green America Re(store) It! Program that advocates for a regenerative agricultural system in the US that protects our soils and sequesters carbon, while eliminating toxic chemicals.
A recent study found that if the state of California alone planted gardens that nourish the soil and used compost for their gardens, it could meet 7 percent of California’s climate mitigation goals. On a national level, Climate Victory Gardens can be an important way for all Americans to help mitigate climate change, while growing healthy foods for their families.
All the resources they needed to get started are available here: https://greenamerica.org/climate-victory-gardens. Americans are asked to pledge their commitments here: https://greenamerica.org/climate-victory-gardens/commitment-grow-climate-victory-garden. Climate Victory Gardens across the U.S. are being mapped here: https://www.greenamerica.org/climate-victory-gardens-map.
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About the Groups
Green America is the nation's leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides economic strategies and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org
Media Contact: Max Karlin, for Green America, (703) 276-3255 or mkarlin@hastingsgroup.com.
