Archive video of the Holder family in Maryland laying out a quarter acre Victory Garden during World War II. Most of the gardening work is done by Grandpa Holder and his teenage grandchildren Rick and Amy and from the looks of the film. There is an annual garden of peppers, tomatoes, pole beans, potatoes, asparagus and sweet corn. Then, there is the late garden with beets, squash, late potatoes, late cabbage, kale, collard greens and three rows of turnips.
To save gasoline, they use a horse and plough and humble farm implements.
It is anything but organic. We see every kind of pest, worm and disease that can affect the garden.
Rick sprays various noxious looking chemicals on the vegetables without wearing a face mask or gloves.
The victory garden is like a share in an air plane factory, the films opening tells us.
It is also a vitamin factory that will keep Americans strong. The film ends on a patriotic note – No Work, No Victory.
Bear that in mind all you Victory Gardeners and Work! For Victory!
A no-nonsense, non-idealized look at what it is was like then – When you really needed to grow your own food.
