The Land Girls or the Women's Land Army rose to the challenge. This was hard physical work, usually done by men who were now required to fight for their country. The Land Girls drove tractors, ploughed fields, planted root crops, threshing, harvesting and tending to livestock. They were required to take on any farm work that was needed to increase food production for the Homefront. Encouraged by the government, the nation followed suit using allotments, parks, gardens, in fact every available space in cities and countryside to grow food. Home grown fruit and vegetables with large amounts of Vitamin C such as blackcurrants , gooseberries, turnips and cabbage was encouraged. Victory gardens were everywhere!
In 1941, The Ministry of Health, together with the Vegetable Drug Committee at Kew Gardens, produced guidelines about what herbs to collect and instructions about growing and harvesting. This was a return to medicinal herbalism! The Ministry of Supply also issued monthly information bulletins about the progress of collection and the quantity available in various areas, also sharing tips and giving advice. Herbs were to be used to prevent and treat infection and also to treat illness. Rosehips for example were a rich source of vitamin C and Wild Thyme was an antiseptic. Garlic, known as "Russian Penicillin" was widely used in WWII, and a naturally fermented penicillin, discovered in a laboratory in Illinois, USA, was tested for military use in 1943.
During WWI and WWII, herbs were use to treat soldiers wounded in battle. "Digging for Victory" and "Growing your Own" wasn't just a patriotic duty, it was a matter of survival. The war weary British people rolled up their sleeves and provided the resources that were needed! Food and Medicine.
Source
The Nation's Larder - Lectures at the Royal Instution of Great Britain, April,May,June published 1940.
herbalacademyofne.com (Herbal Academy of New England.)
Women At War 1939 - 1945 The Home Front Carol Harris
www.lib.niu.edu/aboutipo ( Illinois Periodicals Online Project - Northern Illinois University Libraries)
