As the Great Depression was ending in 1940-41, the US was attacked at Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The country quickly found itself plunged into World War II in 1942. Citizens were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens, which were typically backyard vegetable patches that would provide fresh produce for families so produce coming from larger farms could be used to feed troops. Here is a visual history of the 1940’s Victory Garden and some ideas that can still inspire us today:
The History Behind The 1940’s Victory Garden
World War II broke out in Europe in September 1939 but the United States was not directly involved. The US was still grappling with the economic hardships of the Great Depression, even in 1940. But wars are costly and eat up great amounts of resources. In June of 1940, when Paris fell to the Germans, England approached the US, requesting to buy desperately needed war supplies. By the time France surrendered the same month, the US was making defense preparations of its own. In December 1940 President Roosevelt delivered a radio address where he urged more aid to Britain, who were attempting to defend themselves against the Germans.
Food Desperately Needed
“Food for Defense” became a slogan on war posters that began appearing in 1941. Once the US declared war on December 8, 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor, agricultural production became a great concern for all. With our nation entering an existing shooting war, the need for food for our population, our troops, and to help supply allies increased rapidly.
Victory Garden Education Increases
While backyard gardening had been encouraged during WWI (1914-1918) and in 1941 as a way to help feed Britain, there was renewed vigor in 1942-43 after the US declared war. Victory Gardens were intended to increase local food production and help ease some of the food shortages caused by rationing.
What Was Rationed?
Almost as soon as war was declared, tires, cars, and gasoline were rationed. Sugar was the first food rationed in May 1942. Coffee, meat, bacon, butter, fats/cooking oils, cheese, canned fish, and canned milk were rationed in March 1943, along with 300 types of processed foods to save on tin can use. Because of the sugar ration, jams and jellies which require sugar to make were also rationed. So was dried fruit, simply because of increased demand and the fact it could easily be shipped and used by the military. Fresh milk, fresh eggs and honey were not rationed in the US but might be expensive. Keeping backyard chickens if possible became trendy. Most rationing ended in November 1945, with sugar being the only rationed item until that too finally ended in June 1947.
How Did Victory Gardens Help With Rationing?
The idea was that if people would produce and can a majority of their vegetables at home, it would free up factory-processed canned vegetables for the military. Sweet vegetables, like carrots and sugar beets, could be used in some recipes to replace rationed sugar. Home grown vegetables also filled out meals and were the foundation of meatless soups and pt pies that reduced consumption of rationed ingredients.
Government Encourages the Victory Garden
World War II posters seemed to pop up everywhere, encouraging citizens to “dig for victory” and plant a Victory Garden.
The People Respond
Patriotic duty swept through the cities and suburbs. Gardening tools, wheelbarrows, and large amounts of compost or fertile soil are needed to begin building backyard Victory Gardens.
Victory Gardens in the City
Citizens begin turning any patch of yard grass into well-tended victory gardens to help feed themselves. Many city dwellers dug up the entirety of their small fenced yards to help the war effort.
A Garden in Every Scrap of Space
No sunny spot was overlooked when it came to creating a small Victory Garden plot! City rules and ordinances were overlooked or suspended to allow vegetable growing in formerly limited spaces.
Sprawling Suburban Victory Gardens
With more yard space and room to grow, suburban Victory Gardens and Community Gardens sprang up. Families that may not have had a garden through the Great Depression were now driven by rationing to grow all they could, since canned produce was now expensive, rationed or simply unavailable.
Schools Begin Teaching Children to garden
Public and private educational institutions found it valuable to begin teaching children how to garden and grow their own food. If the school yard or ground had space, much of it was converted to victory gardens. Many of the children enjoyed gardening, which led to a life-long hobby. Today, many Americans still enjoy growing tomatoes and fresh vegetables because of our experiences with grandparents who fell in love with gardening during the Great Depression and WWII era.
Victory Gardening with Children
Most families involved their children in the victory gardening work. Producing enough to feed the family generally required help from everyone.
Preserving the Victory Garden Harvest
While the fresh produce coming from the backyard Victory Garden was nice during the summer months, the true goal of the Victory Garden push was to get families to bottle and can their own produce for year-long use. Reducing consumption of tin and steel was vital for the war efforts so home canning in glass jars was recommended.
Applying the Lessons of History Today
If there was a need for Victory Gardens again, what items, tools and skills would be valuable to have? What if an accompanying war or social upheaval caused material shortages and rationing at the same time? You may find it useful to already own fiberglass handled shovels, hoes, a stirrup hoe, wheel barrow, garden cart, metal watering can and heirloom seeds that can be saved year after year and still produce “purebred” vegetables. Seedling heat mats, trays and grow lights with stand for indoor seed starting may prove to be valuable and provide a small source of income if sold. Most people do not know how to start garden seeds. This is a skill worth learning! Lastly, the ability to start a garden fast with a knowledge of organic inputs and foliar feeds used to naturally fertilize growing plants would be vital. (Amazon afflinks)
Recalling what foods were rationed in the US and Britain (sugar, butter, meat, fats/cooking oils, cheese) would make it easier to dedicate pantry and freezer space to these valuable commodities.
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