I love these World War II era Victory Gardens posters.
They represent the ideal convergence of patriotism and artistry. The Work Progress Administration (WPA) hired artists to design these posters to help promote self-sufficiency and co-operative ideals on the home front as a part of the war effort.
Victory Gardens "cropped up" all over the country. At their peak, it is estimated that almost 20,000,000 gardens were growing, and that about 40 percent of all vegetables produced in the U.S. came from Victory Gardens. By the end of the Second World War, the Department of Agriculture estimated total home front production of over one million tons of vegetables valued at 85 million dollars.
Which is your favorite poster? Tell me why below:
5 comments:
Tommy Priest at 12:24am July 11
love 'em - check this one out:
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3g10000/3g10000/3g10600/3g10671v.jpg
Yet the official line today preaches consumerism, not self-sufficiency, to save the country from its current economic and societal ills... The American populace seems to be resisting, however, as is seen with increased savings rates and reduced consumer spending, and one can (perhaps too optimistically?) see signs that there is a grassroots re-education process that will see this generation rediscover the values promoted by these FANTASTIC posters. We can only hope so... Love the post!
Brilliant observation Anonymous...
"the official line today preaches consumerism, not self-sufficiency"
Consumption could work I suppose if americans were buying American-made products-but there are so few of these nowadays, and shoddy chinese products as well as well-made products from overseas swell the current account deficit to record levels...
Nonetheless, I share your optimism vis a vis the "rediscovery" of the values promoted by the posters. Slowly, people are changing their buying habits, and doing things for themselves.
Here's a good link for finding local farmers markets in your area:
http://www.localharvest.org/
very interesting blog. I like your entries very much and slideshows too! What a beautiful garden you have. Any problems with critters? Do you have a way to protect berries from the birds?
curious,
amy
I like the one that says 'be sure'- any idea where reprints of these victory garden posters can be purchased?
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