Moulton Farm Encourages People to Rediscover Victory Gardens

Published Date

MEREDITH — Say "Victory Garden" to people and some will think of the PBS television show that inspires home gardeners and cooks. Others will remember the effort during the Second World War to encourage people to grow as much of their own food as possible. Ask John Moulton and he'll say it's something more people should be doing.
"Do we need Victory Gardens now? Absolutely!" says the owner of Moulton Farm in Meredith. "So many people have become disconnected from their food. That's had major effects on our health, economy and the environment in our own country as well as around the world. Each year I meet children and adults who have never grown a vegetable and know very little about where their food comes from or how it is raised."
To the farmer who was an educator for years, that needs to change. "Even if you aren't going to grow a large amount food, I think everyone should plant a vegetable garden at least once," states Moulton. "It's an opportunity to connect with nature, your family and your food. In our increasingly technological world we're losing touch with something that was of ultimate importance to our ancestors."
To help people reconnect with their food, Moulton Farm will be offering a series workshops and events as well as plants and products for beginning gardeners and more experienced gardeners. "The farm staff grows food for a living and because we love doing it," comments Moulton. "We're here to give advice and share our experience. That's part of what makes us different."
The first in the farm's "Good Gardening Workshops" will be held on Saturday, March 16 from 10 am to noon. Moulton will discuss soil care, something he says is the secret to good harvests. "If you care for your soil, it will feed you for years to come," he explains. "If you don't, you're going to have issues with disease and poor harvests." The workshop is free and will include a behind the scenes tour of what's happening in the greenhouses at the farm.
The second "Good Gardening Workshop" will be held on Saturday April 20 from 10 am to noon. Called "Variety Selection for a Victorious Harvest", it is free and will feature Moulton discussing the pros and cons of various varieties of vegetable plants and seeds. The workshop will include a preview of the different varieties of plants, including heirloom vegetables, which will be available from the farm's greenhouses a little later in the planting season.
The farm is also offering a "Plant 'N Grow" package that Moulton designed for both beginning vegetable gardeners and more experienced gardeners. In addition to plants, seeds and soil amendments, the package includes a detailed gardening plan that maximizes the amount of vegetables a person can grow in just 400 square feet. The deadline for signing up for the package is May 1.
To receive information Moulton encourages people to visit the farm's website and Facebook page as well as sign up for their newsletter at moultonfarm.com.