Mrs McLaughlin's Garden, South Ft. George in 1914, Photo Courtesy, The Exploration Place

By Veronica Beltran

green thumbs

‘History has a way of repeating itself,’: Victory Gardens return, but this time not because of war

May 26, 2020 | 5:00 AM

PRINCE GEORGE—”History has a way of repeating itself,” said Assistant Curator at the Exploration Place, Chad Hellenius. Victory Gardens—they were popular during the First and Second World War’s, as a way to support the war effort and to boost morale across the country.

And in a way, they may be coming back, but this time not because of a war, but because of a global pandemic a.k.a, COVID-19.

Jos Van Hage, Owner of Art Knapp Plantland Home and Garden in Prince George, says that this spring they have seen “something out of the ordinary,” in regards to the influx of residents coming in to buy gardening supplies.

“What we saw—almost overnight a fifty per cent in increase in business.”—Jos Van Hage, Owner of Art Knapp Plantland Home and Garden

Van Hage says that the influx was so great there was a shortage of product for a while, however, that no longer is the case, with their shelves restocked.

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“What we are seeing is people who have never gardened before…become gardeners,” he told us in an over the phone interview. Hage believes that there are three reasons to the influx in gardening interest: First, people wanted something to do during the stay at home order that would get them outside. Second, He believes people began to realize how much we depend on other countries for food, sparking the idea to try and be more self sufficient. Third, people had the time to do it.

Clipping from the Fort George Herald, Courtesy of The Exploration Place.

Victory Garden’s also known as War Gardens were encouraged during the World War’s by the government and by media outlets as a form of pride to help out the nation, boost morale, and help in becoming somewhat self sufficient.

The media would often write reviews on gardens across town.

“Recipes for using leftovers, for preserving foods—canning became very popular.”—Chad Hellenius, Assistant Curator, The Exploration Place

And what comes with learning to grow your own crop? Learning how to preserve it so it won’t go to waste.

According to Hellenius, during World War Two, North America saw the highest rates of canning pressure cookers to be sold—the pressure cookers were used to help preserve food for the winter. Hellenius believes the resurgence in gardening is for several reasons including giving Prince George residents a positive hobby they can do, alone and with their family.

Both Van Hage and Hellenius agree that the act of gardening is relaxing and helps people take their mind off of things that may be stressing them out.

“When you start gardening, it’s a hobby that grows on you.”—Jos Van Hage, Owner of Art Knapp Plantland Home and Garden

While Van Hage doesn’t think that everyone who’s come into Art Knapp’s will stick with gardening, he does think a lot will; and mentions that there really isn’t anything better than a fresh vegetable right out of your garden.