History of Community Gardens
A Brief History of Community Gardening in America
Early Community Gardens: 1890s
While gardening and farming has been a part of American culture since the country's foundation, documented community gardens began to gain popularity in the 1890s, as a way to confront social problems the country was experiencing, such as economic depression, war, and industrial growth.
Image: Children's Garden Plot at DeWitt Clinton Park, 1909
Vacant Lot Garden Program: 1900s
In response to the economic depression of 1893, Mayor Hazen Pingree of Detroit, Michigan, began the first "vacant lot" gardening program to introduce fresh produce to Detroit's urban community. These vacant lots soon became known as "Pingree's Potato Patches," and the program became so successful it was implemented in other cities, ranging from Boston to San Francisco.
Image: Detroit Mayor Hazen Pingree, Fourth From Left poses with Gardeners, 1896
School Gardens Gain Popularity: 1900s
As the American economy improved and less urban communities relied on community gardens for fresh produce, school gardens became a popular way to engage children living in urban environments with nature and improve physical and mental health. School gardens also provided a way for cities to improve their appearance and provide green space for residents.
Image: Girls work in Wainwright Garden, Philadelphia, 1911
World War I and Community Gardens: 1917-1919
By 1917, Americans had entered WWI and the need for community gardening shifted to fit the needs of wartime. Europeans were experiencing a food shortage, which increased the need for food exports from the United States, and community gardens - or "Wartime Gardens" - became a way to fit that need. Community gardening was now considered a patriotic act. The U.S. Federal Government garnered support for gardening with posters such as the one shown here.
Image: Bureau of Education, Department of Interior poster for War Garden, 1918
American Great Depression: 1929-1941
As the U.S. experienced in the Great Depression, community gardens, often referred to as "Thrift Gardens" or "Subsistence Gardens," and these gardens were created to meet the needs of hungry citizens. Created through partnerships of municipalities and community organizations, these gardens were a direct response to the United State's economic crisis.
Image: Pamphlet describing Detroit Thrift Gardens, 1931
World War II and Community Gardens 1941-1945
After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States entered WWII. Americans began a gardening program, known as "Victory Gardens" in which they grew produce to increase health, recreation, and boost moral. According to the Smithsonian Gardens website, "Reports estimate that by 1944, between 18-20 million families with victory gardens were providing 40 percent of the vegetables in America." Rather than a shared community garden space, Victory Gardens were often located in individual's backyards or side lots.
Image: A citizen working on Sunday morning in his Victory Garden, Oswego, New York, 1943.
Suburban Gardening: 1950s-1960s
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, most gardening took place in individual gardens. As suburban communities gained popularity with American homeowners, most gardeners worked in their own backyards. Throughout this time, gardening shifted from a patriotic duty to a hobby. While community gardening still took place, it was less prevalent than previous decades in American history.
Image: 1955 January Cover of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine
Community Gardening Revitalization: 1970s
Community gardening in America experienced a revitalization in the 1970s, with the creation of organizations such as the American Community Garden Association, Green Guerrillas, and Philadelphia Green. Community gardens were reintroduced to urban areas less as a means of food production and more as a way to introduce green space and healthy living options for residents in industrial areas, especially in response to growing gas prices and poor urban conditions.
Image: Liz Christy, founder of Green Guerrillas, in front of Bowery-Houston Garden in New York City
Smithsonian Gardens - Community of Gardens
The Smithsonian Institute History of Gardening
All information used on the "History" page came from the Smithsonian Garden website. The Smithsonian Gardens - Community of Gardens is a wonderful website that presents the history and current day challenges and joys of gardening in America. The website hosts an interactive map of gardens across the United States. I encourage you to visit the website to learn more about community gardening!
About the "Community of Gardens": Whether you’re an avid gardener or just enjoy taking in the sights and sounds of a local public garden, we all have memories and experiences shaped by the gardens and green spaces around us. Since the time of the “founding gardeners,” gardeners and gardens have played an important role in shaping American culture. Today, amidst a renewed interest in greening our communities and our own backyards, gardens continue to help us understand the American experience. Community of Gardens, a digital archive hosted by Smithsonian Gardens in partnership with our Archives of American Gardens, is a project designed to preserve our diverse garden heritage.