When those U-boats did start attacking, food meant for British citizens literally sank beneath the waves and British citizens had to tighten their belts even more. However, just as the victory gardens program in America was hugely successful, Britain?s ?Dig for victory? program worked brilliantly as well, halving their need for food imports over the next six years. Now, fast forward to the modern day and let us compare modern crisis gardening movements in Britain and America once more. Here in America, we see pictures of Michelle Obama with gardening tools, surrounded by children as she helps turn a part of the White House lawn into a food garden. This is not a bad thing, as it helps break down the stigma against gardening labor that has grown mighty tall and thick in many American minds since the victory garden movement more than half a century ago. Yet it does little to help those who do not have access to land or who lack the knowledge and skills necessary to grown food on balconies or in pots. Yes, such information is available on the internet and there are community garden programs in many cities, but let us look at what Britain has recently done. According to the aforementioned Times article, the British National Trust has begun working with some of Britain?s largest land owners to offer free plots to English citizens who want to grow some of their own fruits and vegetables. That?s right, free. A website has been launched that does ?matchmaking? between people looking for allotments and the available plots, to determine a best fit and to provide volunteers who know about gardening to those who get allotments so they can get help starting out of the gate. Americans need this kind of land reform and direct help, swiftly. Let?s call our local and federal representatives and see what they have to say about enacting some laws and regulations that will help put much of the fallow ground in this country to a better use than waiting for development that may be long in coming.