GARDENS: At one time, planting a vegetable garden wasn’t just a hobby — it was an act of patriotism.
After reading our recent column on gardens during World War I, Mahlon Davenport of Port Allegany called to talk about victory gardens during World War II.
Starting a home or community garden meant there were resources to be used for military personnel overseas.
“It supplied a lot of food during the Second World War through those victory gardens,” said Mahlon. “And when the war was over, the interesting part was everybody stopped growing food, then there was a shortage of food.”
He noted that community plots developed back then that were similar to those by castles in feudal times.
While there isn’t a food shortage in America, there are definitely other reasons to plant vegetables at home.
“The average item of food travels 1,500 miles before it’s consumed,” Mahlon said, noting that it would save quite a bit of energy if more people had a home garden.
He said people can even grown small plants such as beans, tomatoes or peppers in tubs or other containers on their porch — a healthy alternative to salty canned foods.
Mahlon and his wife love to make homemade tomato soup, cooked with homegrown or sometimes store-bought tomatoes, then seasoned.
He talked about “one-foot gardens,” which he said are meant to be raised beds that are only big enough to grow veggies for one or two people.
“The idea is to have it small enough that they can take care of it,” he explained.
For anyone interested in learning more about gardening, or just interested in meeting others with green thumbs, Mahlon said there is a garden club in Port Allegany. He’s treasurer.
There’s a club in Smethport, too, he noted.
The Port Allegany Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month starting in March, and members hold nine meetings and a dinner each year. Each meeting has a speaker or program of some type.
Meetings offer a “little gossip and a little friendship,” and there’s a snack, too, said Mahlon.
People can meet the garden club at the annual town-wide yard sale in Port Allegany, usually held in May, when the club sells donated houseplants. The money raised is used to plant flowers in the borough near spots such as the library or the town square.
Anyone interested invited to call Mahlon at 642-2464. The next meeting will be on Tuesday.
“Working with the soil is really rewarding and relaxing,” said Mahlon. “You get into the fresh air and sunshine.
