Vintage Photos: World War II ‘Victory Gardens’

Urban gardening may be popular now, but today's urban gardeners have nothing on their grandparents. During the World Wars, the United States government urged citizens to plant their own small vegetable gardens. It was a super positive spin on "We don't have enough war rations."

I don't know what people would do today if the government asked them to grow cabbage in their front yards, but people back them were ready. Around 20 million families planted victory gardens; they grew 40 percent of the country's vegetables by 1944.

Naturally, the government wanted to remember this successful project, so the Library of Congress kept a collection of photos. I happened upon them and I couldn't stop looking. I thought you might like to check them – and their captions – out too.

"Victory Gardens--for family and country. Hopscotch has been supplanted by a new and serious game for these Girl Scouts--it's called Plant the Victory Garden. Like thousands of other school-age youngsters, Pat Nelson, Doris Laclair and Barbara Redford, all of San Francisco, are enthusiastic participants in the nation-wide Food for Victory campaign. Doris seems to be jumping the gun slightly, but at this stage cookies are more palatable than embryonic cabbages."

"New York, New York. Children's school victory gardens on First Avenue between Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Streets."

"Arlington, Virginia. FSA (Farm Security Administration) trailer camp project for Negroes. Project occupant tending his victory garden."

"Join the United States school garden army - Enlist now."

"New York, New York. Victory gardening on the Charles Schwab estate."

"There's a feminine hand at the controls of many of America's activities these days. Like many other farm wives whose husbands are engaged in war work, Mrs. William Wood manages a 120 acre farm in Colona, Michigan, with little male assistance. With a crop of corn, tomatoes and rasberries to harvest, she still finds time to care for her own Victory garden and to attend a first-aid class. And for the scrap drive Mrs. Wood salvaged 1,600 pounds of outworn metal and rubber articles from the farm, and contributed them to her local collection agency."

"New York, New York. Children's school victory gardens on First Avenue between Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Streets."

"America's youngsters will take a hand in feeding the family this year. A worthwhile project for every member of the family. Victory Gardens, whether planted in the smallest backyard plot or in large acreages, will go a long way toward augmenting supplies of fruits and vegetables severely reduced by war demands."

"Plant a victory garden. Poster distributed by the Office of War Information to libraries, museums post offices. The original is 22 inches and is printed in full color. The poster was designed by Robert Gwathmey, mural artist. Copies are obtainable from Division of Public Inquiries, OWI, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C."

"Childersburg, Alabama. Cousa Court defense housing project. After work, Mr. and Mrs. Smith find time to work in their Victory garden behind their house."

"Washington, D.C. Vice President Henry A. Wallace in his victory garden."

"New York, New York. Children's school victory gardens on First Avenue between Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Streets."