SPCS Talks vol. 10 | The Biodiversity Victory Gardens Project

Home gardeners planted victory gardens to combat food shortages during World War II. (Archive photo from the Library of Congress)

In 2023, Betsy Peterson applied for a Landscape Architecture Foundation Fellowship to undertake research on biodiversity gardens after learning about the victory gardens of World War II. During the war, US and UK citizens were urged to grow their own food at home in “victory gardens” to alleviate strain on the national food system. Information was disseminated widely through radio, pamphlets, posters, in-person events, and more. The movement was extremely successful, with 40% of American produce in 1944 grown by home farmers.

Is there a way to replicate that level of mobilization and cooperation to tackle the existential crisis of biodiversity decline? Peterson believes the key lies in wide dissemination of accessible knowledge. She spent her yearlong fellowship researching the state of public awareness and action of insect biodiversity, finding above all else that local habitat knowledge is often available but inaccessible, tucked away in books or academic research.

The BVG Project aims to share knowledge as well as take action to promote and monitor biodiversity. Gardens like this one provide nourishment and habitats for native flora and fauna. (Graphic and photo provided by Betsy Peterson)

To tackle this issue, Peterson founded the Biodiversity Victory Gardens Project. Now in its early stages, the project aims to produce posters with easy-to-understand guides to plant species and colors favored by various organisms. If simple instructions are available for home gardeners, it makes it easier for them to implement wildlife-friendly plants in their gardens. Collective action, especially for something as important as species richness, is something we can all get behind.

Attend our SPCS Talk to learn more about Peterson’s research, her work on the Biodiversity Victory Gardens Project, and about the importance of every person to supporting local species. Whether you work with landscapes professionally or have just a few potted plants at home, there are ways for all of us to make our corner of the world a bit more friendly for our non-human neighbors. 

Even urban areas can be habitats for native wildlife with the right approach. (Photo provided by Betsy Peterson)

• Individuals and property owners seeking ways to align their properties with SDGs while keeping design in mind.
• City officials or urban planners looking for inspiration for net-positive green spaces.
• Local government employees seeking case studies for collective eco-positive action through gardening with attention to place.

• This program will be conducted in English. (There are plans to provide either real-time interpretation or display automatic translation text, but please note that not all talks may be covered.)
• We reserve the right to change this program with no prior notice.