Name/Title
MacArthur Award, National Victory Garden TnstituteContext
The term Victory Garden was first used at the conclusion of World War I. The United States Government asked home front people to plant War Gardens during the war. When the war ended, the Government encouraged civilians to keep growing these gardens but suggested changing the name to Victory Gardens.
During World War II, the War Food Administration resurrected the idea of Victory Gardens. Planting such gardens by civilians would increase the availability of vegetables and free resources for the war effort. The National Victory Garden Institute was founded in 1943 to aid in promoting the need for Victory Gardens. In 1945, the Institute presented the MacArthur Award to individuals and groups for “Outstanding Achievement in the War Food Program.”
Louis Bromfield had his own Victory Garden at Malabar Farm. Through his writing and lecturing, he was very influential in promoting the planting of Victory Gardens throughout the nation during the war years.
- Research and text by Thomas Bachelder of the Malabar Farm FoundationLocation
Building
The Big HouseOhio State Park
Malabar Farm State Park