The government issued food rationing stamps that they could exchange for food products.
As fresh food became harder to get, people were given powdered foods such as milk, eggs and potatoes.
They ate margarine for the first time and new foods like Spam and corned beef became available.
None of these foods were as healthy as the fresh foods they replaced.
As part of the war effort, the government rationed foods like sugar, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, coffee, meat and canned goods.
Labor and transportation shortages made it hard to harvest and move fresh fruits and vegetables to market.
So, the government turned to its citizens and encouraged them to plant "Victory Gardens.
" They wanted individuals to provide their own fruits and vegetables.
Nearly 20 million Americans responded to the call.
They planted gardens in backyards, empty lots and even city rooftops.
Neighbors pooled their resources, planted different kinds of foods and formed cooperatives, all in the name of patriotism.
Farm families, of course, had been planting gardens and preserving produce for generations.
Now, their urban friends and relatives got into the act.
If they had their own plot of land to grow their own garden, they were very fortunate.
Families who lived in the country could grow a lot more vegetables.
Many families shared their fresh produce with each other.
Even a bag of onions would be appreciated when given as a gift.
Fresh fruit was a rare treat, especially if you couldn't grow it yourself.
An ad written in a vintage magazine in the 1940s during World War II says to "Save Ration Points - Save Fuel - Save Time - Get Vitamins From Your Victory Garden!" Victory Gardens came in every size and shape.
People in all areas, rural and urban alike, worked the soil to raise food for their families, friends, and neighbors.
Victory gardening enabled more supplies to be shipped to our troops around the world.
These concepts are very foreign to us in our global economy.
For years we have been deluged with messages of consumerism and reliance on others.
A whole generation of young people knows nothing of self-reliance and how to make do with what they have.
They know no other way.
As our population ages, we are losing the experiences and knowledge of the hardships and scarcities of the Great Depression and World War II.
History is cyclical, our economy has begun to weaken, and there are lessons to be learned from the past.
Now may be a good time to plant your own "Victory Garden.
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