In May 1917, President Woodrow Wilson wrote an open letter to the public published in The Garden Magazine. Here is an excerpt:
Every one who creates or cultivates a garden helps, and helps greatly, to solve the problem of feeding the nations… every housewife who practices strict economy puts herself in the ranks of those who serve the nation. This is the time for America to correct her unpardonable fault of wastefulness and extravagance…. Without abundant food, alike for armies and peoples now at war, the whole great enterprise upon which we have embarked will break down and fail.
This was addressed to the public just after the US entered World War II. Perhaps they were considered “The Greatest Generation” not because they fought a war, but because they, temporarily at least, turned away from the curse of greed and excess. Having too much is not a blessing and we have managed it poorly. President Wilson’s words still have merit today – maybe even more so.
Veggies
My apologies… that should have said “just after the US entered World War I, not World War II.