"Victory gardens," once a wartime necessity, now a TikTok trend

Salon - Apr 1st, 2025

As grocery prices soar and economic uncertainty prevails, Americans are turning to 'victory gardens' for inspiration, drawing from wartime practices to counteract modern challenges. This resurgence is fueled by social media influencers and platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where the hashtag #victorygarden is gaining traction. Unlike the government-led initiatives of World Wars I and II, today's movement is grassroots, aimed at overcoming domestic issues like government dysfunction and the breakdown of food supply chains. Influencers like Kendall Brown and Christine Terramane are leading the charge, using their platforms to share gardening tips and promote self-sufficiency.

This modern gardening movement not only offers a practical solution to high food prices but also serves as an act of political resistance against perceived government inefficiency. The trend is particularly popular among younger generations, with 69.2% of Gen Z and 51% of Gen Y planning to invest more time and money in gardening. The gardens, dubbed 'Seeds of Rebellion' by some, symbolize a broader desire for control and self-reliance. This trend is reminiscent of the sourdough craze during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting a societal push towards tangible, empowering actions in uncertain times.

Gardening Tik Tok Social Media Instagram Political Resistance Economic Uncertainty Victory Gardens Kendall Brown Christine Terramane Food Supply

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RATING

6.0

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides an engaging and timely exploration of the resurgence of victory gardens, connecting historical practices to modern trends on social media. It effectively highlights the motivations behind the movement, such as economic concerns and political resistance. However, the article's accuracy and source quality are limited by a reliance on anecdotal evidence and a lack of detailed verification for some claims. The narrative is clear and accessible, though it would benefit from a more balanced presentation of perspectives and greater transparency regarding the sources and methodology. Overall, the article successfully captures the reader's interest and addresses topics of public relevance, but it could be strengthened by incorporating more diverse sources and evidence.

Accuracy

The article provides a generally accurate historical context of victory gardens, citing their origins during World War I and their resurgence during World War II. It correctly attributes the initiative to Charles Lathrop Pack and President Woodrow Wilson's promotion of food production. However, the claims about the current trend of victory gardens on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram require further verification, particularly the statistics from Axiom's 2025 Garden Outlook Study and the specific motivations of participants. The article's assertion that gardening is viewed as an act of political resistance needs additional evidence to support its prevalence.

Balance

The article presents a predominantly positive view of the resurgence of victory gardens, focusing on their benefits and the motivations behind them. It highlights perspectives from individuals who see gardening as a form of political resistance and a way to combat dissatisfaction with government and corporate practices. However, it lacks a balanced exploration of potential downsides or criticisms of the movement, such as the feasibility of widespread adoption or the effectiveness of gardening as a form of resistance. Including counterarguments or alternative viewpoints would enhance the article's balance.

Clarity

The article is well-written and easy to follow, with a logical structure that guides the reader through the historical context and current trends of victory gardens. It uses clear language and provides engaging anecdotes from individuals involved in the movement. The tone is neutral and informative, making the content accessible to a general audience. However, some sections could benefit from additional context or clarification, particularly regarding the motivations and impact of the modern movement.

Source quality

The article references historical sources such as the World War I Museum and Memorial, lending credibility to its historical claims. However, it relies heavily on anecdotal evidence from social media influencers like Kendall Brown and Christine Terramane without providing corroborating data from independent studies or expert opinions. The lack of diverse and authoritative sources, particularly regarding current trends and motivations, weakens the overall source quality.

Transparency

The article does not explicitly disclose its sources for the statistical data or the methodology behind the claims about current gardening trends. It mentions the Axiom's 2025 Garden Outlook Study but does not provide details about the study's scope, sample size, or methodology. Transparency could be improved by clarifying the basis for its claims and any potential conflicts of interest, particularly in relation to the social media influencers cited.