Compost Heap
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.
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.
15 videos in this collection
Cotswold Club
Salute to Farmers
Wartime Food Boredom
Bampton Shows the Way
Compost Heap
The New Crop
Storing Vegetables Outdoors
VE/VJ Don't Waste Bread
Greenford and Northolt Dig for Victory Campaign
The Backyard Front
Brighton's Warship Week and Tank Week
Heronsdale Manor Harvest
Wartime harvesting
