Compost Heap

1942
Sound
2m

A talking cabbage plant will win you over in this Second World War cartoon trailer, which has a surprising charm.

This Ministry of Information cartoon (animated by Halas and Batchelor) features a talking cabbage plant, who introduces 'Mr Middleton' (a depiction of gardening expert and broadcaster Cecil Henry Middleton), who provides commentary in his gently-spoken style, encouraging the use of compost heaps to produce humus to feed vegetable plants. Accompanied by a lively soundtrack, cartoon figures are seen working inside a compost heap, the 'Plant Canteen', preparing, cooking and delivering food.

A short cartoon promoting the use of domestic compost heaps. Explains how humus in soil improves its quality and helps householders support the war effort by growing their own vegetables.

Dig for Victory

Keeping the nation fed and healthy was the greatest priority of the Home Front. Women replaced absent farm workers, while ordinary Britons were exhorted to 'grow their own'.

'Dig for Victory' was perhaps the most successful official campaign of the Home Front. Britons in their millions picked up their trowels, and acre after acre of parkland, waste ground - even back gardens - was repurposed as makeshift vegetable plots. Just as the factories were constantly increasing their productivity, great efforts were made to increase agricultural yields, while the 'land girls' of the Women's Land Army enthusiastically took the place of farmworkers fighting overseas.