CantonRep.com staff writer
Worries about health and the economy have more people turning to their backyards for food.
A successful garden takes much work, caring and some knowledge, experts say.
“There is more interest in vegetable gardens similar to the victory gardens,” said Fred Hanacek, a master gardener who volunteers Tuesday mornings at the Ohio State University Extension Service office in Massillon. He answers gardening questions and provides information to those who call in.
“Because of the economy, they are being called recession gardens.”
Another reason for the rising popularity? People want to know where their food is coming from.
“In addition to saving on groceries, there has been a movement to organic gardening, leading to more vegetable gardens being planted and enjoyed,” said Hanacek’s wife, Marielies.
“Recent salmonella scares have made growing your own vegetables more desirable. Not only that, but when you grow your own, the vegetables are fresher.”
WHAT TO GROW
So what can you grow in Stark County’s clay-based dirt?
Hanacek said a variety of vegetables grow here, including lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green and snap beans, beets, radishes and peppers. Sweet corn also grows great, but it takes more space than the other plants, Hanacek said.
The Hanaceks already have started their vegetable garden in cold-frame beds, where they have planted spinach, celery, rosemary and lettuce. Cold frames are used for tempering or hardening plants to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
There is no quick and easy way to have a garden, said the master gardener. “You just can’t wave a magic wand over an area and expect to have a garden.”
Richard Downin of Plain Township knows that’s true.
“It takes a lot of work, especially in the beginning, when starting a garden,” he said, noting he has been gardening off and on for the past 25 to 30 years.
“I have built my soil up over the years with grass clippings and leaves. I mulch up the leaves and put them over my garden area, and I add some lime every couple years. It isn’t that expensive, because I have a bagger on my mower so I keep the grass clippings every year and add that to my mulched leaves.
READY TO PLANT
“If you do the work in the fall, the ground is ready for planting in the spring,” he said. “What I do is I put a heavy coat of clippings and mulch on in September or October, then take my tiller and work it under. If you leave the leaves on top, the ground won’t dry out.”
He also adds the lime in the fall to help break down the soil. Of course, he said, once he plants his crop in the spring, he keeps them watered until they start blooming, then he lets nature take its course.
“I plant about 15 tomato plants and about six pepper plants,” he said. He either freezes or cans his vegetables so he has them all year long. His preference are celebrity tomatoes and block peppers. “They grow pretty well for me.”
See the show
The Repository and the Building Industry Association of Stark County’s Home and Garden Show kicks off today at noon and will continue through Sunday at the Stark County Fairgrounds at 401 Wertz Ave. NW in Canton. Admission is $7 at the door. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free.
Visitors will be able to purchase plants from landscapers. Old Carolina Barbecue Co. will be the featured food vendor and the Home Appliance Co. booth will provide soup for a donation to benefit the Canton Ex-Newsboys Association.
Featured landscapers will include Slaughter Landscaping, Classico Landscaping, Andy’s Lawn Care, Miller’s Green House, Green Acres Lawn & Landscaping, Rock Hill Landscaping, Foraker Landscaping, Brothers Grimm Landscape & Design and Anthony Petitti Garden Center & Landscape.
Hours are noon to 8 p.m. tonight, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Stark County Fairgrounds.
A Victory garden poster from World War II. With the United States in a recession, more and more people are looking for ways to spend less money and get a better bargain at the same time. In a time where prices are higher, 'recession gardens' are becoming increasingly popular, echoing the victory gardens which were planted during World War I and World War II which helped to reduce the stress and pressure of food shortages.

"There is more interest in vegetable gardens similar to the victory gardens. Because of the economy, they are being called recession gardens," said a master gardener who volunteers at Ohio State University's Extension Service office, Fred Hanacek.

The new fad recently caught on in Iowa where families have began to plant the recession gardens to save money in the produce sections of supermarkets, especially organic fruits and vegetables. Public News Service quotes the National Gardening Association (NGA) as saying that they expect a nearly 20% increase in personal home garden across the U.S.. Some of the increase is also due to people wanting to know what goes onto their vegetables and in their foods.

"I do believe you'll find there's an extra expense in actually producing your own food, but the food quality you get is far better than what you can purchase in a store," said Beverly Bernhard a veteran gardener from Iowa.

The new trend has also gotten the attention of U.S. president Barack Obama who recently stated that he plans to plant a vegetable garden at the White House. It will be the first vegetable garden to be planted at the White House in over 20 years. The last time a garden of this kind was planted at the White House was in World War II when Eleanor Roosevelt planted her Victory Garden. In 1800, former U.S. president John Adams is reported to have planted the first White House garden. Andrew Jackson went a bit further, building a greenhouse.

Michelle Obama, the First Lady of the United States, broke ground on the new garden with the fifth grade class at Bancroft Elementary located in Washington, D.C. on March 20. The garden, which will be 1,100 square feet and an 'L' shape, will be located on the White House's South Lawn and the Obamas plan to grow over 55 varieties of vegetables.

"Let’s hear it for vegetables. Let’s hear it for fruits," yelled Mrs. Obama as they broke ground on the garden. "I’ve been able to have my kids eat so many different things that they would have never touched if we had bought them at a store," she added. Mrs. Obama also said that it will be the entire family's responsibility to maintain the garden, including the U.S. president.

Many vegetables grow easily, without having to do a lot of work to maintain them. Some examples are lettuce and zucchini. The NGA says at least 9 million Americans will grow vegetable gardens for the first time ever in 2009. An estimated 43 million Americans will plant their own personal vegetable gardens this year.