Due to our response to the coronavirus, the Fed has announced that we may soon be looking at 32% unemployment. So, we better start growing our own food! Fortunately, the Greatest Generation showed us what to do.

We've Had Public Community Gardens Before

During World Wars I and II, the government encouraged planting gardens at private residences and public parks. This was to reduce pressure on the public food supply. President Woodrow Wilson said "Food will win the war," and directed the War Department to launch the United States School Garden Army. The gardens were called Victory Gardens.

Why We Need to Do It

A government task force has recently announced that the Coronavirus may cause some food shortages. So, since president Trump has called this a war, let's get busy protecting ourselves from future pandemics by growing our food as a community!

Thankfully, in some cities, a new movement has been slowly taking hold—the Urban Food Forest Movement—and the time is ripe for it to blast off across America. City governments need to pass emergency ordinances designating park space for food growing, with the space organized by designated local committees. In fact, Detroit has already started a similar project called a Sustainable Urban Agrihood.

Where Should These Gardens Be Planted?

Aside from your backyard or balcony, parks can be used to grow community gardens. Parks already have the advantage of "knowing the land's history." That means, if you know there has never been industrial use on the land, minimum soil testing is required. To start a local match-making thread to match owners of property willing to let someone grow food on it with people who want a garden, but have no space for it, use a neighborhood posting service like NextDoor.com.

The coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity for a long overdue change in the fragile supply chain that makes large parts of our population hostage to the social chaos that can arise from mismanagement in the financial sector. People used to respond with blank stares or smug smiles when you'd talk about prepping, self-sufficiency, and food growing—not anymore! Now they are paying attention.