Cultivons Notre Potager

Cultivons Notre Potager - French School Children Series

WWI French series of conservation posters, all designed by school children in support of the war effort: "Cultivate your kitchen gardens"

by Louisette Jaeger

1917

I like it cute and French.

Au revoir et salut,

Avantgardner

The Girl on the Land

YWCA The Girl on the Land. Serves the Nations Need. Y.W.C.A. Land Service Committee.

Showing four young women carring tools and a basket of produce, and leading a team of horses.

by Edward Penfield

c. 1917

WWI

Food Comes First

1942

As head of the U. S. Food Administration, Hoover, given the authority by Wilson, became a "food dictator." The Lever Act had given the president power to regulate the distribution, export, import, purchase, and storage of food. Wilson passed that power on to Hoover. To succeed, Hoover designed an effort that would appeal to the American sense of volunteerism and avoid coercion. In designing the program, he adopted a federal approach, combining centralized power and decentralized power. He oversaw federal corporations and national trade associations; he sought cooperation of local buyers and sellers. Through it all he called for patriotism and sacrifices that would increase production and decrease food consumption. "Food," Hoover and the administration proclaimed, "will win the war."

"All men are equal before fish"
Avantgardner

"Thank You so Much American Soldier for Wasting Food -- Help Tojo Win War"

"Thank You so Much American Soldier for Wasting Food -- Help Tojo Win War" (1941-1945)

Hideki Tojo is one of the more intriguing characters of World War II. Ironically, he's one of the duller ones.

He ran Japan frmo October 18, 1941, to July 18, 1944, as Premier. Before that, he was the War Minister, and a professional soldier. As Prime Minister, he combined the functions of the Ministries of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Education, Commerce and Industry, Munitions, and War, and even Chief of the Army General Staff, starting in February 1944. His irritated subordinates called him "Emperor Tojo," but not to his face, because he ruled through Kwantung Army cronies and the ferocious military police, the Kempei Tai, which could arrest a person for "thought crime."

Let Your Fruit Trees Save Sugar

Let Your Fruit Trees Save Sugar

World War I Poster, 1917-1919
R.M. Brinkerhoff, Artist

The U.S. (P)reserves of soldiering jars of jams and jellies are on march beneath the proud gaze of Mrs. Patriot's Fruit Tree while Mrs. Waster's Fruit Tree stares helplessly down at the rotting and wasted fruit at her feet.

Helplessly Rotting
and Wasted fruit at her feet
Avantgardning ku

Food is Ammunition

WW1 US Food Administration Poster by J. Sheridan, reminding Americans that food conservation was essential to the war effort

by J. E. Sheridan

c. 1918

Herbert Hoover, former head of the Belgian Relief Organization, lobbied for and won the job of administrator of the Food Administration. Hoover had made clear to President Wilson that a single, authoritative administrator should head the effort, not a board. This, he believed, would ensure an effective federal organization. He further insisted that he accept no salary. Taking no pay, he argued, would give him the moral authority he needed to ask the American people to sacrifice to support the war effort. As he later wrote in his memoirs, his job was to ask people to "Go back to simple food, simple clothes, simple pleasures. Pray hard, work hard, sleep hard and play hard. Do it all courageously and cheerfully."

Just What the Hoover Food Control Means; Article from New York Times, 1917.

Join the School Army Garden

Join the School Army Garden

Vintage WWI poster for school gardens

WWI Food Administration poster; Uncle Sam as the Pied Piper leading young children to join the School Garden Army

by Maginel Wright Enright (sister of Frank Lloyd Wright)

1919

“Every boy and every girl… should be a producer…Production is the first principle in education. The growing of plants and animals should therefore become an integral part of the school program. Such is the aim of the U.S. School Garden Army.” With these words, the federal Bureau of Education (BOE) launched the United States School
Garden Army (USSGA) during World War I.

Raised 'em Myself

US School Garden - Raised 'em Myself

Issued by the U.S. School Garden Army Bureau of Education, Department of Interior

Horatio Alger type school boy showing the vegetables grown in his school garden. Rare.

WWI

c. 1918

The United States School Garden Army (USSGA) was created in 1917 as a way to encourage gardening among school children. By encouraging children to garden, the U.S. government hoped that a food crisis might be averted, and that America's food system might become more locally-oriented and sustainable. The USSGA was funded by the War Deparment; food was, and still is, an issue of national security. By Armistice Day, several million children had answered the nation's call to service, enlisting as "Soldiers of the Soil."

Liberty Sowing the Seeds of Victory

Liberty Sowing the Seeds of Victory. Write for Free Books to National War Garden Commission, Washington D.C. Charles Lathrop Pack, President, P.S. Ridsdale, Secretar

DuMond, Frank Vincent, 1865-1951, creator, artist

WWI

1917

The Lever Act of 1917 represents both the normal working of American government and the extraordinary circumstances of World War I. The process of creating the Lever Act certainly followed the "legislative dance" outlined in the Constitution and congressional custom. Entries in the indexes to the New York Times for 1917 testify to the accepted but various interests of members of Congress in supporting or opposing the legislation; other entries show the range of lobbyists interested in supporting or opposing the bill. In this, the legislative dance seemed typically American: proposed legislation, support or opposition from special interest groups, legislative revision, and congressional hearings. In August 1917, the dance ended. Congress passed the Food and Fuel Control Act (40 Stat. 276), also known as the Lever Act.

Food Will Win the War

Food Will Win the War
Issued by the United States Food Administration

The United States Food Administration appeals to new immigrants, urging them to do their part in food conservation for their country.

by C. E. Chambers

WWI

c. 1917

US School Garden

US School Garden - Helping Hoover
Printed by the American Litho Company in New York for the U.S. School Garden Army Bureau of Education, Department of Interior

Original WW 1US Food administration poster: sweetly naive image of school children growing vegetables in response to Hoover's declaration that "food will win the war."

WWI
c. 1918

Grow Your Own

This 1943 cartoon shows a patriotic householder.

Mangez Moins de Viande

Mangez Moins de Viande
French School Children Series

WWI French series of conservation posters, all designed by school children in support of the war effort: "eat less meat to save out livestock"

by Marthe Picard

1915

...Three Years and Still No Crop

We'll Make Our Own Victory Garden, Boys!

Synopsis:

Donald is trying his best to establish a victory garden but the crows are giving him a hard time.

Comments:
During World War 2 it was common for families in many countries - especially occupied ones - to grow vegetables wherever they could find a suitable strip of land. This was done in an attempt to be at least partly self-sufficient in greens. In the USA these gardens were commonly known as Victory Gardens.

Other stories:
During the first half of the war Barks was employed in the Disney Studios where he - foremost as a story director - contributed to several films carrying war themes. Some of the released animated shorts were Donald Gets Drafted and The Vanishing Private. Furthermore, Barks worked on shelved films such as Madame XX and Donald's Tank. All 4 films are from 1942 and more details can be seen Here.

Plan for Small Garden

Raise More Food for Defense

50 more Chickens, Two more Milk Cows, another Brood Sow

Avantgardner

1943 Golden Gate Park. Over 200 gardens.

1943 Victory Garden in Front of San Francisco's City Hall

San Francisco's city hall 1943 vs. 2008

Garden Guides

12 monthly Guides published in 1945 by the Ministry of Agriculture at their wartime base at the Berri Court Hotel, in Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire. As far as is known, this is the only complete series available. It surprising that these leaflets are so scarce. Click Here to Visit