Victory Gardens, also called "war gardens" or "food gardens for defense", were gardens planted both at private residences and on public land during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. In addition to indirectly aiding the war effort these gardens were also considered a civil "morale booster" — in that gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown. These gardens produced up to 41 percent of all the vegetable produce that was consumed in the nation.
-City Bountiful: A Century of Community Gardening in America, Laura Lawson

Throughout the country people plowed front yards, lawns, back yards, flower gardens, and vacant lots to grow their own vegetables. Even public land was put to use, from the lawn at San Francisco City Hall to the Boston Commons to portions of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. San Francisco’s victory program became one of the best in the country. There were over 250 garden plots in Golden Gate Park.  Every park in the city had gardens and many vacant lots were used for growing vegetables.

Today’s political and social challenges are far different from when San Franciscans first created a victory garden at the Civic Center site in 1943. The war era victory gardens were a tangible way for San Francisco residents to participate in the most pressing issue of the time - supporting our country’s role in the world war. We feel the most pressing needs today are to respond to the social and ecological crisis that San Franciscans and all urban residents face – the challenge of creating more self reliant, ecologically sound, and socially just urban human habitat.  

1943 Golden Gate Park. Over 250 gardens.