Victory Gardens are not new to the United States. The strains of World War I and World War II prompted politicians in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Germany to recommend Victory Gardens be planted by families and communities to help cope with the rationing of fuel and food.

Months ago, I planted potatoes in containers ... it's an annual tradition, as we don't live on a farm or an appreciable amount of property. It's more of a labor of love ... a lesson in sustainability ... gaining a small amount of control that relates to earlier times. Potatoes are easy to grow ... simple version:

1. Go to seed/feed store and purchase "seed" potatoes ... cut them up so that there is at least one "eye" on each piece.

2. Use large pots and add about 3 to 4 inches of broken bits of crockery or stones to bottom.

3. Add soil to about 4 inches above crockery bits or stones.

4. Push in potato pieces, cover with a more soil ... about 4 to 6 inches.

5. Water and watch ...

6. When potatoes sprout and as they grow, repeat adding soil process 2 or three times.

7. Then just water them until the vines yellow and die.

8. Harvest the potatoes ...

This procedure is great for small acreage home site or even apartments if you have a patio or deck.

Garden vegetables such as tomatoes and potatoes have been found to be deadly killers on a par with Venus fly traps, according to research.

_{By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent
Published: 2:42PM GMT 04 Dec 2009}

Botanists have discovered for the first time that the plants are carnivorous predators who kill insects in order to "self-fertilise" themselves.

New research shows that they capture and kill small insects with sticky hairs on their stems and then absorb nutrients through their roots when the animals decay and fall to the ground.

It is thought that the technique was developed in the wild in order to supplement the nutrients in poor quality soil – but even domestic varieties grown in your vegetable patch retain the ability.

The killer plants have been identified as among a host of species that are thought to have been overlooked by botanists and explorers searching the world's remotest regions for carnivorous species.

The number of carnivorous plants is thought to have been underestimated by up to 50 per cent and many of them have until now been regarded as among the most benign of plants.

Among them are species of petunia, ornamental tobacco plants, some varieties of potatoes and tomatoes, and shepherd's purse, a relative of cabbages.

Today I decided to take on the task of helping to revive and build some orphaned groups which had apparently lost their owners. Gardening Vine is one of these groups and I wanted to take a quick moment to announce it's revival and welcome anyone interested to join the group.

If you have a love of gardening or just a casual interest in the subject then this will be a group you certainly want to be in.

http://gardeningvine.newsvine.com/

Here's looking forward to spring and the start of a new growing season. :)