THE GARDENS OF VICTORY
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Description:
'The Gardens of Victory' (:14) is a WW2 era film presented by ‘Better Homes and Garden Magazine’ (:18). It was created by the US Office of Civil Defense (:24) as a way to educate American civilians on the necessity of growing vegetable gardens. During the Second World War over 20 million Victory Gardens were planted in order to reduce reliance on commercial gardens so as to funnel food supplies to troops abroad. The ever popular magazine, "Better Homes and Garden" was launched in 1922 under the original title "Fruit Garden and Home". The name changed over in 1924. It is the fourth most widely circulated magazine in the US. This brief film was created for public use and presents a jovially patriotic advertisement for growth of home gardens for the war effort. Opening scenes show a supply yard full of food crates and covered vehicles for transport to Allied troops (:34). Fighting men scurry for the food line (:38). The need for conserving food supplies for army servicemen is discussed. An industry worker stuffs food into his mouth (:50). Food supplies for the home front in order to keep workers strong. A family crams around a dinner table. Mechanical farm equipment buzzes down crops for harvest (1:16). Scenes from abroad show US food supplies donated to various nations (1:39) as the US took responsibility as a global power. The line of food supplies is traced. A crumbled Allied vessel follows (2:10). A steam train delivers food supplies (2:13). The dome of the White House appears (2:39). An advertisement promotes planting Victory Gardens (2:46). A house wife plucks vegetables from her own Victory Garden (2:50). She sifts through the soil as the narrator discusses the composition of food soil (3:10). The symbol for the US Office of Civil Defense hangs on a door (3:29). A house wife flips through a Better Homes and Garden magazine issue (3:38). Magazine articles dictate seeds and nursery houses for consumer use (3:49). A female plucks a seed packet (3:53). The narrator explains the best method for planting seeds. In the spring, seeds are set into a grove in the dirt (3:58). Weeds are plucked (4:14). Enriched plant food is discussed (4:21). Pesticides are sprayed on (4:25) and crops are watered (4:29). The narrator mentions the need for vegetable gardens at home to relive commercial farms for service to troops aboard (4:40). A close shot follows of a gardening plan provided by governmental agencies (4:54). A book keeper in Iowa (5:25) organizes and plans for his own Victory Garden using a gardening guide (5:37). A fireman in Michigan heads for the store (5:45). A munitions manufacturer (5:54) admires his Victory Garden. A montage of Victory Gardens ensues; in yards of townhomes (6:17) and in community gardens (6:19). A school sponsored Victory Garden follows (6:25). A father tends to his garden after work (6:32). A mother plucks foods from the garden for the table (6:44). She washes a carrot under the faucet (7:03). It ends with a patriotic call for home gardens (7:31). A ‘V’ for victory is pictured built from farm raised crops (7:43). It was produced by Better Homes and Gardens (7:50).
Transcription
[Music] [Applause] of all the weapons United Nations are using to win this war food is among the most important food to keep our husky young fighting men fit food to give them the strength to battle for freedom but in addition to food that must go to the warrior at the front there must be food or the worker at home the man who makes the guns and ships and planes and tanks that will bring us the final Victory then there must be food for all the rest of us who are doing our part to win the war by keeping fit able and healthy so that we can work harder longer and better at whatever our daily tasks may be until this War Began we in America were blessed with an abundance of food our land was rich with all the treasures of vegetables fruits and Grain and meat that we could desire none of us needed to give a second thought to the possibility that there might be a SC scarcity of any food but today out of our abundance we must feed many Ms now half the Civilized world looks to America to save it from starvation and death with a never ceasing flow of food to plant that food to cultivate it Harvest it transport it across the nation and across the seas is a task that today taxes to the utmost our facilities of Manpower and transportation yet this vital flow of food for Freedom dare not must not be stopped in spite of sunken ships and trains that must carry steel oil coal and lumber instead of food in spite of every obstacle we must feed our fighting men our allies and ourselves if we are to win the war and write the peace this then is a challenge to every loyal American citizen what can we do to help win the war with food the answer to that challenge comes from Washington from the office of Civilian defense Victory Gardens that's the answer we can grow food for victory in our own backyards and even in vacant Lots where perhaps only weeds flourished before because so long as this this war lasts great quantities of food must be grown anywhere and everywhere we can find good soil to nourish the seeds good soil and sunshine to make them grow still it takes more than Earth and Sun to produce the right kind of victory garden it requires a knowledge of how to plan and tend it and a willingness to work it with interest and enthusiasm our Lord local office of Civilian defense can tell us much we need to know on how to plan a victory garden from Garden magazines and garden advertising we can get the advice of professional experts on how to derive the most from backyard planting and scores of seed and Nursery houses can supply us with other vital gardening information then each spring we can start our Gardens with good seeds plant them in Rich well till soil away from shadowing houses or trees out in the open where they can be warmed by life-giving sunshine and as our Gardens grow they must be regularly cared for Faithfully weeded from planting to harvest enriched perhaps with one of the magic plant Foods science has given us rigidly protected from insects and plant- killing disease and watered of course because mother Earth gets thirsty now and then yes for the duration at least it's our job to grow food for our own tables and free the nation's Farm produce for the men at the front and our allies across the seas millions of Americans have done are doing and will do just that Guided by one of the many plans that have been made available to governmental and private agencies they're finding out that it's not only easy to make a victory garden it's a great way to have fun and get plenty of healthful exercise they're discovering that The Closer they get to The Good Earth and the more they drink in fresh air and sunshine the more courage and strength they have to face today's wartime problems and meet them like true Americans here's a bookkeeper in Iowa he's been planning a victory garden for a long long time it'll be designed after one he found in a Gardening Guide and he can hardly wait for the time when he begins it because he's sure that he's going to have the finest backyard crop you ever saw here's a Michigan fireman he expects to grow enough vegetables to feed his whole family of five the entire summer and here's a busy manufacturer who makes Munitions and puts in his spare time admiring his garden that is he does when he isn't chasing the family dog away from his pet vegetables and so it is in every corner of America today millions of men and women are finding real joy in Victory gardening they're working in the backyards of village and city in the yards of tow houses and in community groups as well even the small frer doing their part in School sponsored Victory Gardens and because Dad can take care of the home victory garden after work there's no need for holding back Manpower from the fighting front and there's no need to strain transportation resources to bring food from a victory garden to the table mother picks it herself fresh every day fresh food good food food packed with the rich minerals and vitamins we all need to keep healthy strong and fit fresh food good food food from our own backyards food from The Gardens of Victory grown by you and me so that thousands of miles away a fighting man too can have food there are many many ways we who have stayed home can fight this war many ways for us to give our time and energy and loyalty and Devotion to the battle for freedom but love them all none is more appealing than this and year in year out if need be with our own hands we can grow The Gardens of [Music] victory
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Original permalink · Record added: 2025-06-27 21:15:04