Digging for Victory: Land Girls and Food Shortages in WWII

Digging for Victory: Land Girls Food Shortages in WWII

Rising food prices and a growing scarcity of grocery items can be tough on any family, but if you add in the hardships and stresses of wartime, the task of trying to get food and prepare meals can seem unachievable. However, we can look to history, especially to the Land Girls of the Women’s Land Army of the United Kingdom, to give us inspiration that we can take actions that improve the lives of our families and our nations.

These conversational vodcasts are available to the Kitchen Pioneers who have joined my YouTube membership community—The Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy.

Discovering Land Girls at Our Community Library

Our local community library has a magazine exchange section where patrons can donate used magazines, as well as pick up periodicals that other folks have provided. Finding food publications are always a treat, and my sweet husband recently found a BBC History Magazine with a cover article about Digging for Victory. I knew this was going to be a fascinating article to read!

In my latest Kitchen Pioneers video, I talk about the “Dig for Victory: Britain’s WW2 war on hunger” article from the magazine that’s also available online. The British government encouraged everyone to grow their own food, not only to feed their families but to help keep their nation from starvation as well.

British Land Girls tended to farms and gardens across the United Kingdom as their husbands, brothers, and sons fought for freedom during WWII. American ladies also created Victory Gardens in the United States during the war.

Stretch Your Food and Don’t Waste

My mom talked about her experiences during the Great Depression in the United States and during wartime when America joined the Allies against the Axis powers. I often think about what she had to do without and how she worked to find and grow food. Her family used to have an apple tree, and the fruit it provided was one of many small streams of food that helped to stave off hunger.

Don’t waste. My mom always taught me not to waste food, especially since it was not always easy to come by. Find ways to stretch your food and use every last bit of it. These are lessons I share in two of my recent public videos.

Creating a Kitchen Victory Garden

You can be part of the Land Girls or guys at your own home by growing a kitchen garden (or a Victory Garden!) that will give you another stream of food for healthy meals made with real food. I show you how I created my kitchen garden, from planting to harvesting, in the following videos.

Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy

My comprehensive vodcasts are exclusively available to members of the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy, who we call Kitchen Pioneers. You can learn more about my optional YouTube membership community, including members-only videos and exclusive perks.

This membership community is optional. I’m still publishing my weekly detailed instructional cooking videos on my public YouTube channel that you can watch for free. (Thanks so much for being a Sweet Friend and subscriber!)

More Kitchen Pioneer Videos

As a Kitchen Pioneer member, your YouTube video comments include a special badge next to your YouTube username. You’re always welcome to post questions and comments on my videos, and I’m happy to reply.

Catch up on some of the videos in our membership community that you may not have seen:

• Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy video playlist (Optional Membership Community)

Here are a few of my recent member videos:

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Favorite Kitchen Supplies

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• Mockmill Grain Mill and Whole Grains (including Einkorn, Emmer, and Spelt)

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• Masontops Fermentation Kit

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