Nebraska's greatest contribution to winning the war was in food production. Even Nebraska families who did not live in rural areas got involved with agriculture through the nationwide "Victory Garden" program. Nebraskans were encouraged to plant gardens to help ease the food shortage. For example, children from St. Teresa's School in Lincoln raised a bumper crop of victory garden vegetables in 1944.
Almost half of all vegetables grown in the United States in 1943 came from victory gardens. Because vegetables were in short supply, many Nebraskans canned their own for the duration of the war.
Poster for the U.S. Department of Agriculture promoting victory gardens, ca. 1942. NARA.
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The Home Front
