Spring has sprung and that means it’s time to, “dig in and get your hands dirty” – it’s gardening time!

For today’s post, we are going to step into the world of vintage photos and take a look at people working in their gardens from the 1930s to 1960s.

Let’s get started!

1950s 1960s vintage photo of two women taking flowers out of a green house. One woman is wearing a cute 1950s 1960s novelty dress

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase

Vintage Photos of People Tending to their Gardens 1930s-1960s

1939 photo of a woman in a cute playsuit working in her garden. What a great outfit! I need to look that cute when I garden.

1930s vintage photo of a woman in 1939 Gardening In a Summer playsuit.

Source: eBay

1940s (maybe 1950s) photo of a woman in saddle shoes holding seed packets & a garden trowel ready to plant.

Another super look! Love the rolled up jeans, the scarf around the hair and the letterman style jacket.

Further Reading: Vintage photos of people wearing saddle shoes.

1940s (maybe 1950s) photo of a woman in saddle shoes holding seed packets & a garden trowel ready to plant.

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

The little gardener. Date unknown but how cute is a little boy on the stool watering the plants in the window? LOVE IT!

The Little Gardener. A vintage photo of a little boy watering his window plants while standing on a stool.

Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage

1940s vintage photo of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company employees tending to tomatoes in a Victory Garden (via Canadian War Museum).

Victory Gardens: Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia (and beyond) during World War I and World War II. In wartime, governments encouraged people to plant victory gardens not only to supplement their rations but also to boost morale (Source).

Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia

Another 1940s photo of a woman working in a Victory Garden / farm in slacks, hair scarf and short sleeve blouse.

1940s vintage photo of a woman in trousers, hair scarf and blouse working in a garden during WW2. 1940s Fashion Inspiration.

Source: Pinterest

One last Victory Garden photo. A woman with shorts and wide brim hat, tends a World War II-era victory garden at Breeze Hill in 1944.

1940s vintage photo: A woman with shorts and wide brim hat, tends a World War II-era victory garden at Breeze Hill in 1944.

Source: Smithsonian Gardens

1960s photo of a young woman with a super fun straw hat working on her flower garden.

1960s vintage photo of a young woman in shorts and fun straw hat working on her flower garden in her front lawn.

Source: Fine Art America

“Working on a tan AND the garden”. A 1950s vintage photo of a woman in her swimsuit planting a tree in her backyard.

Source: eBay

Time to start the cleanup of the patio garden! 1940s photo.

1940s vintage photo of a woman in a 1940s dress posing on a garden patio with plants beside her

Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage

Need to make sure the veggies are growing just so. 1930s vintage photo.

1930s vintage photo of an older man working in his garden.

Source: Etsy-LightSilverandPaper

July 1954: Niagara, Ontario Canada-A gardening instructor, in shirt and tie, discusses the plant he holds in his hands, with his gardening student.

1950s vintage photo: July 1954: Niagara, Ontario Canada-A gardening instructor, in shirt and tie, discusses the plant he holds in his hands, with his gardening student.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Here is another 1950s photo (July 1954) from this series…five gardening students and their teacher discuss flowers.

1950s vintage photo: July 1954: Niagara, Ontario Canada-A gardening instructor and his students discuss flowers.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

I would be proud to show off my tomatoes as well, if they looked this good!

1950s photo of a very happy woman with her tomato garden.

1950s vintage photo of a woman in shorts and plaid shirt working in her tomato garden

Source: eBay

1960s family enjoying some time together working on their front yard flower garden.

1960s vintage photo of a family working in their garden in front of their house in 1960s summer fashions for kids and adults.

Source: Fine Art America

Not all gardening has to be organic. Here is a vintage photo of a Japanese rock gardener at New Denver (village in British Colombia) continuing the picturesque tradition of oriental gardening.

Vintage photo: Japanese rock gardener at New Denver has continued the picturesque tradition of oriental gardening

Source: Library & Archives Canada

I will end this post with an image of the ‘Farmerettes‘.

Farms are just much bigger gardens, and Canadian Women’s stories must be told.

As young men went off to fight in World War II, there was a need for farm labourers in Southern Ontario. The Ontario Provincial Government responded by creating The Ontario Farm Service Force in 1941 “to recruit workers from all levels of society.” In this war effort initiative, the group with the most participation was the Farmerettes.

The Farmerettes were young women and primarily students, 16 years of age and older. They worked on fruit, vegetable, and truck farms (where produce goes to local markets). Over the summer, the Young Women’s Christian Association provided for their basic needs and supervised the work.

Looking back, Farmerettes remember the hard work they did to support the war effort and the great camaraderie they all shared. Many women have said these were “the best of summers.” The program was so popular that it continued for seven years after the war until 1952 (Source).

1940s vintage photo of Ontario Canada Farmerettes. Women who worked on farms to help the war effort at home.

Further Reading on the Farmerettes:

The Lambton County Archives (my hometown area) has a fantastic online collection of images, stories & so much more on this topic. I 100% encourage you to take a read.

There is also a book entitled, “Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz-Memories of Ontario Farmerettes” by Shirleyan English & Bonnie Sitter, that you can purchase HERE.

1940s women's history in Ontario Canada: Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz-Memories of Ontario Farmerettes". Book by Shirleyan English & Bonnie Sitter

Thank you for stopping by and hopefully you enjoyed the vintage gardening photos I shared with you today. There is just no denying the satisfaction that comes from growing your own food or tending to a beautiful flower bed. I know I’m excited to get started as I have a large balcony garden that I spruce up with flowers and hot peppers (all with a Tiki theme). I just love my garden!

Question Time! Are you a gardener? Or do plants die just by looking at them? ha! Share any thoughts on this topic in the comments section below. I love hearing from my readers!

Further Reading:

Vintage Photos 1920s-1960s (Archived blog posts)
1950s / 1960s Outdoor Patio Furniture Ideas

Liz

In November I like to dedicate some of the month to blog posts on Women & Canada’s participation during WW2. I have done many posts on this topic and it’s always exciting when I find content I have not shared before. Like today’s post….”1940s images of Canadian Women in Military Uniforms During WW2“.

This post was one that I have wanted to do for some time, after my guest blog post in 2014 from writer (and friend), Elinor Florence entitled “WW2 Air Force Uniforms for Canadian Women”. Many of the images you will see below are discussed in this fantastic read. Please take some time after your done here, to take a look.

Now without further adieau, here is my newest read.

1940s vintage photo of Canadian Woman taking a break to chat during WW2. They are part of the CWAC. In 1941, the Canadian Women's Army Corps was created, paving the way for a long tradition of Canadian women in the military

1940s Vintage Images of Canadian Women In Military Uniforms During WW2

Unidentified Woman in uniform with bag on chest in front of ‘Canada’s New Army’ posters.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Vintage photo of the new Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service “Wren” uniform -1943.

1940s vintage photo of New Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service "Wren" uniform -1943.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Signal officers of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (W.R.C.N.S.), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, October 1943.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (W.R.C.N.S.) signallers during training at H.M.C.S. CORNWALLIS, Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, Canada, July 1943.

1940s Vintage photo: Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (W.R.C.N.S.) signallers during training at H.M.C.S. CORNWALLIS, Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, Canada, July 1943.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Canadian Red Cross Corps Uniforms.

Models show the uniforms worn by all four sections of the Second World War CRCC.

Source: redcross.ca

Three CRCC Welfare Officers visit a convalescing soldier overseas (ca. 1943-45) while distributing “ditty bags” on a hospital ward.

1940s Vintage Photo: Three CRCC (Canadian Red Cross Corps) Welfare Officers visit a convalescing soldier overseas (ca. 1943-45) while distributing “ditty bags” on a hospital ward.

Source: redcross.ca

Mary Laura Wong (Mah) enlisted with the CWAC (Canadian Women’s Army Corps) in Vancouver, British Columbia where she was employed as a teletype keyboard operator.

Further Reading: The story of Chinese Canadian military service is one of determination, courage and honour. & Chinese Canadian Women in the War

1940s Vintage Photo of Chinese Canadian, Mary Laura Wong (Mah) enlisted with the CWAC (Canadian Women's Army Corps) in Vancouver, British Columbia where she was employed as a teletype keyboard operator.

Source: Veterans.gc.ca

Learning is always important!

Canadian Woman’s Army Corp (CWAC)- Unidentified Women in uniform sitting with books on their laps.

Interesting Fact: CWAC had 50,000 women in its ranks during the Second World War in support roles ranging from cooking to decoding (Source).

Further Reading: The Canadian Women’s Army Corps, 1941-1946 via Canadian War Museum

1940s vintage photo of the Canadian Woman's Army during WW2- Unidentified Women in Uniform Sitting With Book on Laps

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Eva May Roy (on the right of the photo), Roy left her job as a presser in a laundry to become a machine operator and fuse assembler at the General Engineering Co. munitions plant in Scarborough. Roy enlisted in 1944 and joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC), a new division created just three years earlier. She’s one of many Black women who served in the Canadian Forces during the Second World War — people whose stories are largely missing from the public record (Source).

Roy was a trailblazer, serving overseas at a time when it was rare to see a Canadian military woman working in Europe.

Her story goes much deeper then this, so I encourage you to read all about Eva at the link below.

Further Reading: ‘She didn’t hesitate’: The untold story behind a Black Canadian woman’s wartime portrait

1940s Vintage photo of 2 Black Women in the Canadian Women's Army Corps during WW2

Source: CBC.ca

A young Canadian woman in military uniform is shown in this photo, counting pins surrounded by boxes of them from different colleges and universities in Canada.

1940s vintage photo of a Canadian Woman in Military Uniform counting pins surrounded by boxes of pins from colleges and universities in Canada.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Nurses with the Canadian Army Medical Corps in Normandy, July, 1944.

(Image source: Government of Canada)

Woman’s Air Force, 1940’s. Unidentified Woman in uniform using wireless equipment.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

In the Canadian Auxiliary Air Force, women worked in the parachute packing and checking department.

Source: Community Stories

1940s’ recruitment poster – “Men & Women. The RCAF Needs You Now!

1940s' recruitment poster for Canadian RCAF duing WW2 asking for men and women to enlist

Source: Library & Archives Canada

By looking at 1940s vintage images of Canadian women in military uniforms during WW2, we can reflect on the history of women in the military, the impact of women’s contributions to the war effort, and the ongoing efforts to recognize the efforts of women in the military and beyond. These images remind us of the advancements women have made in the military and encourage us to continue to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in all contexts.

Thank you for dropping by!

Further Reading: World War 2 Women’s Contributions & Homefront Posts

Liz

P.S. I’m off to Las Vegas for my mother’s 70th, so I won’t be having a new post until I get back. Follow along on Instagram.

Tag: vintage photos