Victory Gardens and Other Conservation Methods

Poster created by the U.S. Food Administration promoting victory gardens.

One of the most substantial methods the U.S. Food Administration led was the promotion of victory gardens. The Wilson administration turned to American citizens to plant their own gardens, known as victory gardens, in order to avoid any possible food shortages in the future.¹  Victory gardens called for Americans to turn thier yards, schools, and any vacant lots into a garden, giving every American the opportunity to participate and show their patriotism.² Americans faced the challenge head-on with great patriotism, excited to do their part in the War effort.³ Newspapers were filled with ads promoting and selling victory gardens, and propaganda posters dispersed by the U.S. Food Administration created catchy slogans like, "Sow the Seeds of Victory!" and "Food Will Win the War."⁴ Alongside victory gardens were other conservation efforts ran by the U.S. Food Administration that would promote patriotism for the War.

The U.S. Food Administration focused mainly on conserving wheat and sugar. The Food Administration added a twist of patriotism to many of the conservation efforts put forth by adding "victory" before certain efforts, similarly to victory gardens. Strict restrictions were put on wheat and the Food Administration created a restricted list of ingredients and promoted non-wheat flour to help conserve wheat and promote victory bread.⁵ Sugar was also restricted, and Americans had to get a card from the county food administrator in order to purchase sugar, which was restricted to two pounds a month.⁶ The U.S. Food Administration was very successful in pushing conservation efforts, whether it be growing gardens or limiting food intake, by spreading propaganda to promote patriotism and get the ordinary citizen involved in the War efforts.