Throughout history, we have seen many reasons for failures in the supply chain when producing and shipping food crops. At the forefront of these historical losses, we have seen pest and disease outbreaks, weather fluctuations, poor growing practices, labor shortages, transportation disruptions, or the loss of growable land due to war. Today, many people find themselves worried about the rising price of groceries and a continued sense of uncertainty with the growing trade wars and tariff costs going into effect. How can you keep groceries affordable and accessible? Try growing your own victory garden. Victory gardens, also known as war gardens, have been a continued source of security for people around the world to maintain access to nutritious foods without relying on crop distributions.

Tariffs and Grocery Prices

Within the coming weeks, grocery prices are expected to increase in response to tariffs being placed on goods from China, Canada, and Mexico. According to data from previous years, up to 75% of vegetables imported to the United States are from these countries. Not only are tariffs affecting food items directly, but they will also affect production costs to farmers related to fertilizers and equipment that may affect food prices over time. So what can you do to access affordable fresh fruits and vegetables? Grow them at home! Whether you own your home or rent an apartment, you can grow your own food with the right supplies and knowledge.

“If tariffs are imposed, not only would the cost of food items that domestic producers import rise, but other input costs like fertilizer, farm equipment and ingredients that food producers use would be impacted.”

-- Fox Business

“Imports make up an increasing share of the fresh produce sold in the United States — around 60% of fruits and 40% of vegetables, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Trump has hit China with 20% higher tariffs than those already in force. That country, Mexico and Canada together produce over 75% of American vegetable imports.”

-- NBC News

What Are Victory Gardens?

The roots of victory gardens trace back to wartimes as a way for civilians to support troops and reduce the demand for commercially produced foods. Victory gardens were grown and encouraged throughout the United States and Europe, specifically England. Publications by the USDA from 1943 read, “There is now real need for civilians to relieve the burden on commercial food sources, transportation, and preservation by growing all food that is practical at home and preserving, storing, and using it over as much of the year as possible.” By growing their own food at home, civilians could help the war efforts of WWI and WWII by allowing commercially produced food to be sent to troops and communities who were unable to grow their own. This allowed communities to band together for the greater good and support each other in order to preserve affordable access to fresh, nutritious food.

“The seeds of victory insure the fruits of peace.”

-- War Gardening and Home Storage of Vegetables by the National War Garden Commission Washington, D.C.

A victory garden could take different forms depending on what your life looked like. If you had a home and some land, it might look like digging up a portion of grass for a vegetable garden plot. Others might turn the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the road into a garden space. Flower beds might be exchanged for leafy greens, herbs, or other edible plants. And in the case of those living in urban spaces, school and community growing spaces become more important than ever.

While the supply chain has allowed greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the seasons, the most cost-effective way of producing food has always resided at home. By growing your own food and preserving it for use throughout the year, you can ensure you and your family have a secure source of nutrient-rich food regardless of the changing political climate.

How to Grow Your Own Food in an Apartment

Without owning your own land, you may be wondering how you can ease the rising grocery prices. Whether you are renting or living in an urban setting, you can always grow in community gardens, containers, indoors, or from your kitchen counter.

Community Gardens

Community gardens are often available in urban settings. Most community gardens allow you to rent a growing space or donate your time caring for the shared garden in return for a share of the harvest. If you are interested in utilizing your community resources, we recommend contacting your local community center or public library to see if a community garden is available in your area.

Container Gardens

Container gardens are the best choice if you have access to a patio, balcony, or other small outdoor space with 8+ hours of sunlight. To start a container garden, you will first want to choose some growing containers. The key to a successful container garden is using a container that will hold enough soil and water for healthy growth. We recommend using a container that is at least 12 inches tall and 12 inches wide for growing vegetables. While smaller containers can be used for herbs and flowers, it is best to choose something on the larger side, as containers will dry much more quickly than in-ground gardens. This is because soil distributes available water across the available ground or container space. For greater growing success, consider using a high water retention soil mix that increases the amount of water stored in the soil while maintaining pore space for drainage, air, and root development.

Indoor Gardens

For those of you who don’t have access to an outdoor space with 8+ hours of sunlight, an indoor garden is likely your best option. The key to a successful indoor garden is to mimic the conditions a plant would experience outdoors. These include light, water, temperature, and nutrients. Be sure to select plants that you can meet the needs of. Generally, it is best to avoid fruiting plants that require some sort of pollination activity. These include squash, cucumbers, corn, and melons. Other fruiting plants are self-pollinating and can easily be grown indoors.

An indoor garden can be created by pairing containers with indoor grow lights. Just be sure to select full spectrum lights for healthy leaf and fruit development. Like container gardeners, you will want to utilize larger containers to accommodate healthy and strong root growth. Always use containers that are able to drain excess water. Growing in containers that lack drainage can lead to root rot, disease, and pests.

Plants and people prefer a similar temperature range. Usually, 65-80F will satisfy most vegetables and herbs. When growing from seed, consider using a heat mat for increased germination and root development. Once leaves begin to grow, a heat mat is no longer necessary. However, introducing a fan to your growing space may be helpful to help circulate the air, preventing mold and disease. Growing with a fan can also help stimulate stronger plants, as air movement can lead to stronger stems and root development.

Kitchen Gardening

While the term “kitchen garden” can be used to reference plants used for culinary purposes, it is also used to reference the growing of herbs, microgreens, and sprouts indoors. Sprouts and microgreens are some of the easiest crops to grow because they require little money, time, knowledge, and attention. Unlike mature fruits and vegetables, microgreens and sprouts are ready to harvest within days. Plus, they are denser with vital nutrients that are needed for a well-balanced diet compared to their mature harvest counterparts. If you are unsure of where to start on your gardening journey, try sprouts. It really is as simple as adding some seeds to a glass jar, soaking them, then rinsing and draining 2-3 times a day.

In a world that is filled with so much noise and worry, knowing where your food is going to come from doesn’t need to be added to the pile. Keep your food accessible and affordable with the return of victory gardens. From rural ranchland to urban cityscapes, you can take control of your pocketbook and food sources.