Although only one of my more ancient degrees is in history, my sole
paternal uncle left the farm for the North Atlantic in WWII. As I recall
from my reading in millartary history & conversations with him, the
food-relatred mission of the convoys related to: a . need for
petrochemical inputs for food/fiber production, esp for civillian pop.
(there, petro inputs brings us back towards sustainable ag issues), & b.
big-time stockpiling (food & other materials) for millitary purposes.
I don't think most folks would argue that there are a variety of personal
benefits (nutritional, fitness/health, psychoemotional) associated with
personal/family gardening. But as J.Haskett points out, economics
("cost-effectiveness") MAY not (always) be among those benefits...
Bo Yerxa
On Tue, 22 Aug 1995 jhaskett@asrr.arsusda.gov wrote:
>
>
> On Tue, 22 Aug 1995, Margaret Merrill wrote:
>
> > However, I would be willing to bet that if we went into the
> > literature put out by USDA and others about the Victory gardens
> > of WWI and WWII we would find the figures to answer this
> > question.
>
> The point about WWII is indeed interesting. Food self sufficiency
> is, in part, what the battle of the Atlantic was all about. England
> had brought in the "Victory Gardens" in yards and parks, and had
> its existing agricutltural system, and of course rationing. The Nazi
> submarine campaign was, in part an effort to starve England into
> submission. Thus convoys remained critical because it became evident that
> even with these food growing measures the amount of food produced
> domestically would be inadeqaute by itself and starvation would set in.
>
> Jonathan Haskett