15 Vintage Victory Garden Pics

It’s Friday, so we’re taking a trip down memory lane through the photography archives of the Library of Congress.

Victory gardens — also known as war gardens — have caught our eye once again. These plots of land, both in private and public spaces, were used to grow food for civilians to reduce the home-front’s dependence on the country’s food supply during World War I and II. Take a tour of these gardens with us, and get ready to start growing.

An occupant of a Farm Security Administration trailer camp project, tends to his victory garden in Arlington, Virginia, ca. 1942

Girl working at their school’s victory garden on 1st Avenue between 35th and 36th Streets, New York City, ca. 1944

A girl enjoying a radish at her school’s victory garden on 1st Avenue between 35th and 36th Streets, New York City, ca. 1944

Victory gardener plowing two acres at Fairlawn Avenue in Washington, D. C., ca.1943

A man working on Sunday morning in his victory garden in Oswego, New York, ca. 1943

Man and wife at their victory garden on Fairlawn Avenue in Washington, D.C., ca. 1943

Workers in a large victory garden on Fairlawn Avenue in Washington, D.C., ca. 1943

Children with rabbits that were formerly pets, are now being raised for food, ca. 1943

Boys working at their school’s victory garden on 1st Avenue between 35th and 36th Streets, New York City, ca. 1944

The victory garden on Fairlawn Avenue in Washington, D.C., ca. 1943

Woman planting peas on her plot in a victory garden on Fairlawn Avenue, Washington, D.C., ca. 1943

America’s youngsters are working to feed their family, ca. 1942

Victory Gardener consulting a salesman before purchasing garden tools, ca. 1943

This Victory Gardener is transferring good top soil to improve the fertility of their garden, ca. 1943

Source: Library of Congress