In the past decade there has been a shift in the backyards of America. The once lush lawns have been replaced, or at least reduced, to accommodate vegetable gardens. Increasingly, families see the benefit of cultivating their own food sources; a practice that isn't new, but hasn't been popular since the victory gardens of World War II.
In the 1940s and 1950s Americans embraced (some more wholeheartedly than others) the idea of home gardens. These gardens represented a shift in the way Americans thought about food and consumption in general. Lessing Rosenwald, then the chief of the Bureau of Industrial Conservation, asked all Americans to "change from an economy of waste--and this country has been notorious for waste--to an economy of conservation." At the height of the victory garden movement, approximately 30-40% of the country's vegetables were harvested from victory gardens.
Now, over 60 years later, the idea of the backyard garden is gaining recognition again as an important and tangible step towards fostering a more sustainable food supply. Increased awareness of the cost, both monetarily and environmentally, of food transport, distribution, cultivation, and even security has led a growing number of people to ditch the typical turf grass and plant a few rows of squash and carrots.
Approximately 25% of fossil fuel use and air pollution come from food-related processes (e.g., production, processing, transport) and 20% of all car trips are food-related, according to an article published in the Spring 2008 issue of Planning magazine. Sustainable food production can have a huge and lasting impact on our environmental quality, particularly for dense urban areas that have disproportionate air pollution impacts.
While backyard gardens may not be feasible for every household, especially in urban areas, community or neighborhood gardens are often a viable alternative. These gardens provide local food production options for apartment dwellers who would otherwise have no ability to grow their own food. In many cities, community gardens have replaced vacant or underutilized lots, improving neighborhood value and increasing usable greenspace. The Bountiful Cities Project (BCP) has taken this idea to heart. Located in Asheville, NC, they work to promote community gardens that produce organic food, but also enhance and engage the larger neighborhood and city. Organizations like BCP are beginning to spring up throughout the country, providing sustainably produced food and enhancing the public realm.
For more information see:
From Turfgrass to Tomatillos (Planning, August/September 2009)
The Planner's Role in the Urban Food System (Planning, Spring 2008)
Home-Front Ecology (Sierra, July/August 2007)
Bountiful Cities Project