Gardening has long been a hobby that appealed to people’s desire to connect with nature. It’s a way to release stress and anxiety, hone your green thumb and cultivate your own food.
Many Americans turned to gardening during quarantine as a way to pass the time. It was an activity that offered a sense of purpose and community and an escape from the confinement of an increasingly urban lifestyle.
The Great Depression
During the Great Depression, many people were struggling with unemployment, low incomes, and financial hardship. This crisis began with the stock market crash of 1929 and spread across the globe.
In the United States, factories closed, mills and mines were abandoned, homes were foreclosed on, and people lost their jobs. As a result, the economy shrank to a third of its previous level. The stock market plunged, and the value of currency plummeted.
The recession also forced families to reduce their spending. In many cases, they cut back on food, clothing, and household expenses. Families that could not afford to pay their taxes often lost their homes and farms.
Farmers were better able to weather the storm than city dwellers. They often had large gardens that they could grow their own food in, and livestock to raise for meat and milk.
This allowed them to save money by growing their own foods and cutting out expensive food items from their diets. Relief gardening was a successful way to keep people fed during the Great Depression.
Gardening also helped to improve air quality, which was especially important during quarantine. It was also a simple and low-cost way to add color and liveliness to homes, and it offered an outlet for creativity during long days at home.
Another way that gardening was beneficial during the Great Depression was by providing a source of employment for the unemployed. The government created a program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which employed millions of Americans in a variety of jobs.
The WPA worked to stimulate the economy through public works projects and job training programs. It also helped to alleviate poverty by redistributing food and supplies to those in need.
In addition to this, many people found that gardening allowed them to be self-reliant and gave them a sense of belonging in their community. It also helped to reduce their dependence on others, thereby eliminating the possibility of laziness and a lack of responsibility.
World War II
World War II, which lasted from 1939 to 1945, was a global conflict that pitted the Axis powers–Germany, Italy, and Japan–and their Allies against each other. The war was a watershed in 20th-century geopolitics and marked a decisive shift in power.
While no single event can be traced as the origin of World War II, it began with the onset of the Great Depression in 1929 and its impact on German society. The German government responded to the recession by remilitarizing areas previously under French rule and by redefining Germany’s borders in violation of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.
Hitler’s rise to power and the escalating military conquest of Europe was driven by the deep resentment among the German people over the emasculating Treaty of Versailles. As a result, the Germans developed a policy of armed conquest that included the expansion of their navy and the establishment of the Luftwaffe.
In June 1941, the Germans launched an invasion of the Soviet Union in direct violation of the pact signed between the two countries in August 1939. In addition, Finland joined the Axis alliance in June 1941 to seek redress for its defeat during the winter war of 1939-1940.
Throughout the summer and fall of 1941, the Germans advanced rapidly across the Baltic states (including Finland), taking Leningrad, Smolensk, Kiev, and Rostov. In response, Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3 at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm, respectively.
As the Germans continued to advance, the Allies launched an assault that would take Allied troops into the heart of Nazi-occupied Europe. By the end of 1943, the Allies had occupied all of Europe except for Poland, which was retaken in the fall of 1944.
The victory gardens that were planted during the war served as a reminder of the importance of food security for families and as an outlet for stress, especially for older people who were under long home quarantine. The gardens also helped to provide Americans with fresh produce during a time when most people were issued ration books, which contained stamps for meat, sugar, and cooking oil.
The Cold War
The Cold War, a global conflict between the world’s two superpowers, was a major turning point in world history. It was characterized by an aggressive arms race, proxy wars, and ideological bids for dominance.
The United States and the Soviet Union were rivals, primarily because of their differing political and economic beliefs. They also strove to gain control over their respective territories by force, despite the fact that they were technically at peace.
Throughout the Cold War, both sides attempted to fight the other through a series of military proxy wars, known as the Arms Race and the Space Race. Each side wanted to demonstrate its technological and scientific superiority.
One of the most recognizable examples of this strategy was the development of the atomic bomb. The Soviets successfully tested their first atomic bomb in 1949, but the United States soon caught up and began building nuclear bombs of their own.
This strategy resulted in an arms race that ultimately led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Cold War lasted for four decades, and it was a time of intense tension between both nations.
In the late 1970s, however, the Soviet economy started to falter and people began to realize that the old Communist Party system was ill-suited to their needs. The USSR was still a strong military power, but it had a small economy and had failed to catch up with the industrial democracies in terms of wealth and technology.
The USSR was also a longtime rival, and the growing threat of Soviet influence in Europe had many Americans worried about whether it would eventually lead to a permanent Soviet domination. By the 1980s, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev had begun a series of reforms to reduce the influence of the old Communist Party.
But the end of Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe, and in the Soviet Union itself, wasn’t enough to halt the conflict. The Berlin Wall was destroyed in 1989, and the Communist Party fell from power in 1991.
For those who were unable to leave their homes, gardening provided something to do, and even helped improve air quality. This made it easier to stay occupied during quarantine. Gardening was an affordable and flexible way to stay occupied, and it also offered a sense of personal accomplishment.
The Covid-19 Pandemic
People turned to gardening during quarantine because they wanted to relieve stress, connect with others, and grow their own food. This was especially true for older people who were under prolonged home quarantine.
Gardening also gave people a way to stay physically active, and the physical activity could help prevent COVID-19 symptoms such as cough and fatigue. Additionally, gardening was a social activity that allowed people to bond with others who had similar interests, which was important for people suffering from mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety.
A survey of people who had been confined to their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Santiago, Chile, found that many were turning to gardening because they hoped to get better from the disease. They were also interested in learning about different crops that they could plant in their gardens and how to make them grow.
Some also turned to gardening because they thought it was a good way to exercise and get fresh air. This was particularly important for those with chronic conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.
The COVID-19 virus spreads through droplets that land on surfaces and are touched by the hands. But the virus can also be spread from person to person through direct contact.
Researchers have discovered a new viral variant that is causing an increase in COVID-19 cases worldwide. This variant, called B.1.1.7, has eight mutations in its spike protein, which helps the virus enter human cells.
These mutations help the virus spread faster than other versions. They also cause the virus to have a higher rate of resistance to many antiviral medications. This variant is now spreading in Europe, North America and other countries.
One group of people who are most at risk for developing serious illness from the COVID-19 virus is pregnant women. These people have a much greater risk for severe infection and complications such as preterm birth (delivering the baby before 37 weeks) and other poor pregnancy outcomes.
However, other people who were vaccinated against the virus and who have a good immune system are less likely to develop severe disease from the virus. The CDC recommends that everyone get the COVID-19 vaccine. If you are unsure about whether or not you need to be vaccinated, ask your doctor.
