During times of war and economic depression, gardening has helped Americans overcome adversity. World War I brought Liberty Gardens, and wheatless and meatless days. In World War II, we saw the Victory Gardens, which produced 40 percent of domestic fruits and vegetables. During the Great Depression, a number of national programs encouraged gardening as part of the overall relief effort.

During wartime, competing transportation needs — moving materiel and troops, instead of food — have provided one impetus for Americans to produce and consume locally. Today's rising fuel costs should certainly provide an impetus for us to produce and consume more on the local level. Some World War II historians can demonstrate a connection between local food efforts and higher consumption of produce, indicating that there may be benefits to national gardening efforts that extend beyond patriotism and improve our dietary practices. By choosing local whenever possible, every citizen is a patriot.

During both world wars, food was vital to national security. To protect our country, Uncle Sam called on Americans to garden, and they did, in record numbers. Urbanites lacking easy access to soil were trained in the latest gardening techniques and encouraged to find creative places to cultivate food. School-supervised gardening programs actively engaged millions of youth, who in turn contributed to meaningful food production for their families, their communities and their nation. Gardening was used as a tool to increase civic participation. Patriotism and a sense of collective purpose spurred millions of Americans to become "soldiers of the soil."

Different battle at home: hunger

Today, we fight a war thousands of miles from our shores, but we also face a different kind of battle on the home front: skyrocketing food prices. Rising food and fuel prices (which are linked) threaten the economic stability of many American families. Food banks report that their shelves are empty and many Americans face hunger.

Historically, nations that cannot keep the food supply cheap and abundant face civil unrest. This has certainly been the case in America, which experienced food riots during the Civil War, the Panic of 1893, and the Great Depression. One has only to read today's newspaper to learn of the food riots that are occurring in other countries, such as Haiti, Bangladesh and Egypt. The problem of rising food costs will only grow more acute worldwide. There will be impacts domestically, as certain nations become politically destabilized as a result of the growing unrest. Food is an issue of national security.

Our past provides important lessons on how to meet the challenge of rising food costs. We believe that the federal government should immediately allocate Homeland Security funds to promote school, home and community gardening efforts on a nationwide basis. There is a precedent for this: In World War I, President Wilson allocated War Department monies to fund a national youth gardening effort, the United States School Garden Army. The government also supported the Liberty Garden campaign, a voluntary program that mobilized millions of Americans. Uncle Sam said, "Garden!" and Americans picked up their hoes.

Voluntary programs work

A primary goal of these programs was to produce and consume more locally in order to meet larger national needs. Voluntary programs do work. The phenomenal success of the Liberty and Victory Garden campaigns in both world wars proves this. Government partnered with private organizations to provide leadership, encouragement and education; ordinary citizens responded magnificently to the call.

Right now, we all have the power to make a difference. Suggest that your school or community develop a garden, and volunteer to help with the effort. Find a spot of earth, or a container and plant something edible. Ask questions about where your food comes from and buy from local farmers and producers whenever possible.

Take some time to get to know local food producers by visiting a farmers market. And, most importantly, write to your elected officials. Encourage them to support healthy food systems projects in your community, especially those that emphasize school, home and community gardening. This will help to reduce the economic burden food costs have placed on many families, and benefit us all in numerous other ways.

Record voter registration indicates that Americans are hungry for civic engagement. This hunger to make a difference in civic life could easily translate into the renewal of a successful national gardening movement. When asked, Americans have always responded to the call to serve their nation. They will again. It's time to garden.

— Daniel J. Desmond is a University of California Cooperative Extension Advisor and Food and Society Policy Fellow emeritus. Rose Hayden-Smith, a current Food and Society Policy Fellow, and a University of California Cooperative Extension Advisor, is also a doctoral candidate in U.S. history at the University of California Santa Barbara.