During a trip to Boston in 2015, Jim and I visited the Fenway Victory Gardens, the oldest surviving victory gardens in the United States. They were established in 1942 in response to the urging of President Franklin D. Roosevelt for families and communities to plant vegetable and fruit gardens as part of the war effort.

The World War I victory garden concept was revived during World War II to help provide fresh, nutritious food for American families. By 1944, victory gardens provided about 40 percent of all vegetables grown in the United States. After 1946, food rationing ended and victory gardens were abandoned. Tin was no longer needed to manufacture munitions, and food-processing plants reopened. Fresh, homegrown vegetables and fruit were devalued for the convenience of canned food.

In 2020, we are faced with a disease crisis that leaves us quarantined in our homes. We are faced with frustrating shortages of some food and household items. Most grocery chains are working dilig...