PictureCanadian Second World War Poster. Click on image to learn more.
​During the First and Second World Wars, Canadians, Australians, Americans and British People planted Victory Gardens in public spaces, as well as out in their own yards. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, by 1944 there were 209, 200 Victory Gardens across the country! These gardens had two purposes:

#1. Provide food for families (relieving some of the pressure from the food supply chain)
#2. Improve morale of people on the home front

Ever since moving back to Waterdown I have wanted to have a little veggie patch, and I dug some beds near the end of the summer in August 2019. My colleague, Mr. Gourlay, grew up on a farm in the 11th Concession in Flamborough and now lives with his family in Bruce County. Now with the Covid-19 Pandemic, we have decided to model our gardens after the wartime Victory Gardens. Since we find ourselves in this new elearning world, both of us will document our progress in creating our gardens. Students (and their families) are welcome, and encouraged, to try and create their own Covictory gardens - make sure to send pictures and stories about your experiences (good and bad) as we fumble our way through this!

Sean Kearney's Blog:

​We are also very excited to be working with Mr. Sean Kearney, Manager of Education & Public Programs at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. ​As Mr. Kearney creates his own garden he explains how the project is linked it to the Commonwealth and American tradition of allotments and Victory Gardens.
Picture
Click on the image to go to Mr. Kearney's Blog

Covictory Gardens on Twitter:

Covictory Garden Project Vision:

​#1. Learn how to nurture a garden that produces fruit/vegetables
#2. Create gardens that are open to the neighbourhood (if someone needs something for their dinner they are welcome to it!)
#3. Build community through our gardens

Some points:
  • A Victory Garden can be as big, or modest, as you like. Mr. Tidridge's is only 7 1/2 feet X 7 feet (pretty small), while Mr. Gourlay's is 30 feet X 30 feet. However, a Covictory Garden can also be a patio or balcony garden.  Even if it is just a couple plants, the joy of nurturing them to produce fruit remains.
  • This is all trial and error - don't get frustrated. Gardening is all about connecting, and learning, from the land. There will be many lessons - failure is part of the learning!
  • Check out this information video created by the British Government during the Second World War. There are TONS of modern videos available online detailing all kinds of different Victory Gardens - check them out!
(above) The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia prepares a patch of land at Victoria's Government House for the creation of a "Victory Over Covid Garden"

Earth to Tables Legacies

This extraordinary project was shared with me during the summer that explores a number of important teachings related to our food, including land, language and sovereignty. This website will be a foundation of future "Covictory Garden Projects," as well as other courses I teach (click on the image to visit the sight):

Lieutenant Governor's Dedication Message to Covictory Gardeners

Introductions by Mr. Tidridge & Mr. Gourlay

Creating the Waterdown Covictory Garden - August 2019

Waterdown Covictory Garden

Mr. Gourlay plants some seedlings to grow indoors

The Longley Garden

Planting Seeds & Improving Soil, Tidridge Garden

Ms. Bishop plants seedlings for Earth Day, Bishop Garden

Mr. Gourlay builds borders for his raised beds

Mr. Tidridge reminds everyone to "harden" their seedlings

Mr. Gourlay installs his raised bed and does a Land Acknowledgement

Mr. Gourlay plants his raised beds
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Mr. Gourlay plants his massive 30 X 30 foot Covictory Garden
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Mr. Gourlay interviews his grandmother about her Second World War Victory Garden

Waterdown Covictory Gardener has a hungry visitor!

Defending the Garden from Chippies & Voles - The Great Purge of June 5th

​Our Garden Fairy's Castle
​(Waterdown Covictory Garden)

A Formosian Garden Tragedy
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Formosian Update

Waterdown Covictory Update

Formosian Mid-July Update

 

Liakakos Garden

​TJ's Green Garden

Hounsome Garden

​Beutt’s Covictory Garden (BCG)

The Donnelly DePot

Gartside Family Garden

Lisinski Garden

Pereira Garden

McCarles Family Garden Box

Croft Family Garden

Dalla Terra

Palomino Ranch Garden

Mircea Family Garden

Lettuce Beat COVID Garden

MacLeod Family Garden

Wright Family Garden

Rahimpour Family

WIB Garden