Lecture: "Community Gardening During World War I: Sowing the Seeds of Victory"

Photo courtesy of Rose Hayden-Smith

October 3, 2015

2 p.m.

Lecture and Book Signing by Rose Hayden-Smith

As we approach harvest time here in New England, join us at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library to learn how World War I gardens were considered patriotic. Our speaker, Rose Hayden-Smith, University of California, is a nationally-recognized expert on historical and contemporary issues surrounding gardens, food systems, sustainability and food policy. 

Hayden-Smith will discuss how three popular WWI gardening and agricultural programs affected American food production and consumption patterns. The National War Garden Commission (Liberty and Victory Gardens), the United States School Garden Army, and the Woman’s Land Army urged Americans to express their loyalty by producing and conserving their own food. Hayden-Smith will also touch on how food is fundamental and vital to national security both historically and today. 

Please join us after the lecture for a book signing of Rose Hayden-Smith’s book Sowing the Seeds of Victory: American Gardening Programs of World War I.

This lecture is made possible by the generous support of the Ruby W. and LaVon P.  Linn Foundation and is part of the lecture series, “The U.S. Home Front during World War I: Duty Sacrifice, and Obligation.”