This article shows an earth bag building that could be a root cellar! If you can purchase something once and continue to grow it or produce it becoming self-sufficient, well, it doesn't get much better than that. Historic Events for Students: The Great Depression. This is from a copy of a 1922 Good House Keeping Book of Menus. Food entrepreneurs became millionaires during the Depression, and people searching to get the most out of what money they had were able to purchase inexpensive foods. where you lived. Meat was a borderline luxury during the Great Depression, and many folks took pains to stretch the quantity they had by any means necessary. President Hoover (served 192933), served at the time of the 1929 stock market crash and in the early years of the economic troubles. A specific chain may be only in a certain city or region, or may be national or international. Dandelions are actually quite nutritious, and during the Depression, people would make wine out of them. A family friend who is in an excellent baker only uses potato water in her cinnamon rolls. Some of the well-to-do were sensitive to the problems of the hungry, such as was Daniel Willard, president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. We do the best we can with the funds we have and the same should go for you as well. Winslow, Susan. FERA also tackled federal work projects such as building hospitals, roads, and bridges, and helped states that had already begun such projects. Le Sueur, Meridel. During the first one hundred days of his administration, from March to June 1933, President Roosevelt pushed through Congress an amazing amount of legislation. This was a popular recipe in the 30s because the beef offered some protein while the bechamel sauce provided filling carbohydrates. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. The need for Betty began when, in October 1921, Washburn Crosby's advertising department ran a jigsaw puzzle advertisement in a national magazine offering pincushions resembling a miniature sack of flour to anyone who could put the pieces together. Accompanying the puzzle answers were requests for answers to food questions: "Why doesn't my dough rise?" Mom always said you had to guess at the heat as well, as they had wood and coal. Unbeknownst to her listeners, Betty Crocker was not an actual woman, but simply a name created by advertiser Sam Gale for Washburn Crosby, a milling company that merged with General Mills in 1924. Frugality meant survival. Milk and eggs are perishable, and unless you lived on a farm, they probably werent a huge staple in your depression-era kitchen. New appliances included food processors, blenders, and in the 1980s, microwave ovens. Butter was often churned at home, and the by-product was buttermilk. Beansnavy, pinto, white, black-eyedwere a good substitute for meat during the Depression and were even an actual lifesaver in the 1930s. It took agricultural surplusespork, butter, flour, syrup, and cotton among othersand transported them to state emergency relief officials, who directed them into the hands of the needy. When Irma was fifty-three, Edgar, who had long suffered with bouts of depression, committed suicide. |, Is it better to take Metamucil in the morning or at night? He also served as secretary of commerce (19381940), and as special advisor and personal emissary to President Roosevelt during World War II. I love this project, http://www.motherearthnews.com/~/media/Images/MEN/Editorial/Articles/Magazine%20Articles/2009/08-01/Low%20Cost%20Multipurpose%20Earthbag%20Building/MEN-AS09-earthbag-lead.jpg. In the 1920s J.L. This creed persisted at most levels of society following the stock market crash and after President Roosevelt had introduced his New Deal programs of relief and recovery. Most people did not grow their own foods, and home gardening was more of a hobby than a supplemental and necessary food source. Federal Surplus Relief Corporation In September 1933 President Roosevelt channeled $75 million to FERA to purchase surplus food. A group of Minneapolis working class women broke windows of a store and raided the shelves, but left notes saying they would pay as soon as they could. Vegetables that Mother didn't can were stored outdoors between layers of dirt and straw. When she's not wrangling chickens and cattle, you can find her stuffing Mason jars with homegrown food and playing with flour and sugar in the kitchen. This recipe is similar to hot water pie but offers a different, thicker consistency with the filling. "How many people would have a nickel to spare to buy an ice cream cone these days?" What an amazing idea! Thank you! You hunt for dandelions on the hills with your mother. What did our forefathers and mothers eat? The two-temperature refrigerator, which included the built-in freezer, came on the market in 1939. I love learning from you as well. Continued printings of Farmer's cookbook prepared Depression cooks to be less wasteful with ingredients and instructed those who lost their kitchen "help" to 1930s budgets in the basics. In the 1930s the inventiveness of American entrepreneurs grew. The new act greatly expanded consumer protection and increased the minimal penalties of violation set out in the 1906 act. Because of this, chain stores contributed to the growing business of production, processing, and sale of foods and drinks with labels recognized nationwide. Canton, OH: Tresco Publishers, 1993. "Jess' pie" became chess pie; and (2) the pie's ingredients allowed it to be kept in a pie chest for days, hence chess pie. Thanks so much and your recipes. Though it began as a local radio program, Betty Crocker was soon broadcast nationwide to an audience of homemakers and cooks. Hot dogs will offer a little bit of protein while the potatoes fill up those hungry bellies. He believed that the unfortunate should be cared for within their local communities and that the federal government should let the economic problems run their course without interference. Leftovers always reappeared over the next few days. The market for farmers' goods shrunk, but farming production did not. Under the leadership of Senator Copeland and Representative Clarence Lea of California, and with the assistance of Walter Campbell, head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 passed through Congress. Of all the things I have done or read lately, though, the depression era tips has to be my favorite. The U.S. would not see such a level of humanitarianism throughout the remainder of the twentieth century. of potatoes, and 1 lb. My grandmother would just boil potatoes, drain them, and add some salt. This is another stew or goulash made with whatever meat and vegetables are available. The colonists ate their meals on trenchers, which were wooden plates. Helena, MT: Falcon Publishing, 2000. Harry Lloyd Hopkins (18901946). Also in 1933, along with Professors Milton Handles of Columbia University and David Cavers of Duke University, he drafted a new food and drug act to replace the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. They made the chore of cooking easier for homemakers. Mix. I preheat a cast iron skillet with a small amount of oil and then fry the potato patties. Encyclopedia.com. "Betty Crocker" was, in fact, Marjorie Child Husted, a home economist with the food company General Mills. Perfect for replicating with typical survival staples. As the difficult years of the Depression continued, however, many people in the working class found pessimism replacing American optimism. Most wealthy people were. |, Is it safe to eat canned soup after the expiration date? Part of the directions says to add eggs to dampen. Of course, the make-believe family cat also got hungry so the kids went back to the butcher for liver. This The social thinking of the time was that private charity should care for the hungry. Creameries, however, often gave buttermilk away for free. Anything goes, and it was often served at church socials or community gatherings. Boiling chicken feet with greens, which could be obtained even in the city, resulted in a good pot of soup. The term "soup kitchen" was originally applied to army kitchens in the mid-nineteenth century, but by the later nineteenth century was applied to kitchens of charitable organizations where free soup and bread were served to the poor and unemployed. In 1943 General Mills published a Betty Crocker booklet, Your Share, which showed women, many of whom had been teenagers during the Great Depression, how to prepare appetizing, healthy meals with Pancetta is included in this recipe to add some saltiness but could be excluded to make this dish even more affordable. The mass-produced products were cheap and easy to use. You don't talk. A few scattered food riots took place across the country in 1931. New Englanders don't always pronounce the letter "R" when it falls in the middle of a sentence, so "journey cake" became "jou'ney cake," and eventually "johnny cake.". Dried beans took their place, with the average American eating almost ten pounds a year, up from six pounds a year in 1920. Products introduced by food entrepreneurs of the 1930s are familiar to contemporary families. The All American pressure canner isn't any safer than any other model as long as you follow the manufacturer guidelines. A common feature of the Great Depression, soup kitchens have continued in the United States into the twenty-first century, but they often are officially known by other names, such as emergency food programs. By 1934 seventy thousand subsistence gardens yielded approximately $2.8 million worth of food to persons on relief. They loath it. Over the course of the Great Depression, however, neighbors shared and cared for each other. Take the case of Milkorno. Hickok's often humorous, sad, or angry, but always direct reports conveyed an accurate picture of the public's situation to the Roosevelt administration and influenced further legislation. Aunt Sammy was a fictional female counterpart to the U.S. government's Uncle Sam. At this time no government-backed social safety net existed for people who fell on hard times. Processed food refers to the more highly processed foods in which physical or chemical operations are applied to foodstuffs. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below! Who doesnt love pizza? Want more tips from the Great Depression Era as well as over 100+ recipes and tutorials?In my new book, Hand Made: the Modern Guide to Made-from-Living, passed down from my grandparents, my father (whose earliest years and memories are from the Great Depression), and many other dear friends and family members, that their wisdom may bless you and not be forgotten. Blessings, Roosevelt appointed Harry L. Hopkins to head FERA. A female voice, known as Aunt Sammy, anchored the program. Happy and Healthy eating. A star student, within five years Farmer became principal of the school. Bread was a vital part of keeping a family fed. Were they served hot or cold? A strong social stigma also existed regarding women standing in relief lines. I try to buy mostly organic potatoes because otherwise they are pesticide heavy and are still pretty reasonably priced when on sale. This allowed many to escape the increasingly dense inner cities, filled with factory workers, where crime and health conditions were problems. During the Great Depression, one box of Kelloggs Corn Flakes cost $0.83. In the United States the price of coffee fell from 22 per pound to 8 per pound. More over 12 million Americans served in the military during the war, with a comparable number working in defense-related professions. Filed Under: Dessert, Frugal Living, Homestead-Life, Recipes, Sides Tagged With: Depression Era, frugal living, Great Depression Era. You walk. Canned soups also helped cooks use every scrap of leftovers. On the surface, World War II seems to bring the Great Depression to an end. You can put the potato water in the fridge for up to a day before using in your recipe. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Depression cakes, especially those baked by urban residents, often cut back dramatically on milk, eggs, and butter. Midwestern and southwestern cornbread, slightly less rich than Johnny cake, was a direct descendent of Indian ashcake. Seven-minute icing survived well past the Depression. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), [cited October 11, 2001] available from the World Wide Web at http://www.fda.gov. Vol. Many wealthy men and women failed to contribute or sent insignificant sums to charities. the popular Butter Drop Do cookie at her Toll House Inn near Whitman, Massachusetts, a Boston suburb. In the late fall, maybe I'd go to the garden and find an old frozen cabbage to cook. Although the plight of the desperately poor and hungry made lasting impressions on all Americans, 70 to 75 percent of families still had income and concentrated on "making do." The easiest to read was chosen as Betty Crocker's signature. As a menu extender, crackling could be mixed with bread or potatoes. What would happen to people if help was not available? President Herbert Hoover (served 19291933) and state governors urged Americans to donate to the Red Cross and to other charitable organizations. He grew vegetables, raspberries, strawberries and peaches. Pour the tomato sauce over to give the rice enough moisture to cook. I hate to buy regular potatoes since theyre on the more pesticide laden list (and organic ones are $1/#) hoping to grow some of my own next summer , There is a British show called The Supersizers Go with the premise of eating from different eras in British history. FSRC officials reported that, while people were grateful, they did not want to be on relief but had no Through the remainder of the twentieth century, the food stamp program remained the primary means for the government to provide food assistance to the low-income and needy citizens. The recipe called for two bars of Nestl yellow label chocolate, semi-sweet, cut into pea size pieces. I saw that one, but dont have a copy yet. She learned to walk again, but had a pronounced limp. Depression-era potato pancakes are way ahead of the trend for their ability to transform any leftovers into a new meal. Many workers lost their jobs. Her reporting included descriptions of the hungry and how breadlines and soup kitchens were barely keeping them alive. I don't yet produce dairy on our homestead. Perhaps the most lasting legacy of the 1930s for most Americans was their diligence in eating every last bite on their plate. You could freeze it, but it's best used in a recipe immediately. By early 1931 New York City had 82 breadlines, serving approximately eighty-five thousand meals each day. It was not uncommon for families to invite those less fortunate for Sunday dinner. Lorena Hickok, a special assistant to the head of the FSRC, was quoted by Watkins in The Hungry Years: A Narrative History of the Great Depression in America (1999, p. 178), as reporting to her superiors, "These people don't want to be on relief. Finding ways to make more out of little is a Depression Era tip for sure. Birdseye, Clarence You walk. Really tastes good. Although wild greens became quite popular in many areas, they became survival food for those in drought areas. Britten, Loretta, and Sarah Brash, eds. 'Wacky Cake' Anything with the word 'cake' in the title has to be delicious, Add in more powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until you have a total of 6 cups. Hello Angela, Your dad lost his job more than a year ago. This recipe, in particular, requires only flour, salt, and yeast, and yields eight loaves of bread. During the Great Depression, what was rationed? In areas of the west where cattle and hogs remained plentiful, families felt the effects of the Depression less. Ill have to investigate! Kool-Aid was cheap, simple to make, and easy to store. The FSRC's president would be Harry L. Hopkins, who continued to serve as head of FERA. It is made with potatoes Men, women, and at times even children, took on what jobs they could find and used all the means available to them to stretch their resources to their limits. Popular garden magazines struggled with such dilemmas as how to garden without stable manure. In 1918 Copeland was appointed commissioner of health for the city. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1998. I do as much as I can from scratch. This soup was created during the Great Depression, but it became popular again during World War II. Otherwise, a primary contribution of the wealthy was keeping millions of workers employed building skyscrapers and manufacturing the new refrigerators and other products coming on the market. From 1936 onward, the public saw portraits of Betty on cookbooks, magazines, and General Mills' products. They pulled it apart to share, then checked the stick to see if it had "free" stamped on it. Problems of supplying sufficient quantities of nutritious food appeared on a massive scale during World War I. relief agencies to distribute surplus farm foods to the needy. Homemakers could make an easy mongole soup by mixing together canned pea soup with canned tomato soup. II, (198693, p. 29), includes two cups of flour, one tablespoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 cup of shortening, and 3/4 cup of milk or buttermilk. We all, as Christians struggle. My grandma would make mashed potato sandwiches as a treat. Guests loved them, and she included them in her 1930 cookbook, Ruth Wakefield's Toll House Cook Book. Chain stores had central organizations that purchase the goods for sale. Vegetables were chief ingredients in soups and casseroles. Casseroles were budget stretchers, as more homemade noodles, potatoes, rice, onions, beans, and/or vegetables could be added to stretch the life of the casserole. 11 / 16. Most of the rich remained quite comfortable throughout the Depression. I think we can hurt people's feelings and turn them away when they might have been open if we'd broached the subject nicely. Enter your email address below to get your One Year Urban Survival Plan it's 100% FREE! Site Map. A staple of southern cooking, hominy grits are made from dried and hulled corn kernels. Simple, hardy, and tasty, potatoes are a huge staple in Great Depression-era cooking and this soup is a prime example. Molasses was a common sweetener during the Depression, as it was relatively inexpensive compared to pricey, scarce sugar. + Omega-3 deficiency is the #1 cause of post-partum blues and depression, so keep it up. Boxed macaroni and cheese dinners continued to provide economical meals throughout the twentieth century. it sounds weird but we kids loved it! People during the Great Depression ate mostly bread, potatoes, and vegetables. II. One unemployed man described to New Masses on January 23, 1934, his day in the city after receiving his ration in the breadline (quoted in Winslow, Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? This utilization created a market for new products introduced in the 1930s. The broad range of legislation and federal programs through most of the 1930s would touch just about every aspect of peoples' daily lives. Wash the rice and sprinkle it on top. Though still in the experimental stages in early 2001, some farmers were planting and growing genetically modified crops. America in the 1930s Dandelion greens, wild berries and fruits, squirrels and gophers, and other edibles were consumed by some. And you came back. (NIV) Psalm 31:15This hit me the other day when I was reading it. ***Make sure potato is completely cooled. Whether you are trying to pad a post-collapse menu with decidedly limited ingredients or just stave off boredom from the same old dish every meal, these recipes still have some life in them. The newly unemployed looked on helplessly as their resources dried up and their families went hungry. The process of preparing the Poor Mans Meal included peeling and cubing a potato, frying it in a pan with fat, oil, or butter and chopped onions until browned and After the veggies are cooked you'll make a cream sauce (here's my cream sauce tutorial) I don't buy condensed cans of soups, one due to ingredients, and two due to cost. No matter what foods you eat, it's not right for us to condemn someone if they differ from our way of eating. Sad and desperate stories were reported across the nation. The military during the Great Depression ate mostly bread, potatoes are a huge staple your. 31:15This hit me the other day when i was reading it and cheese dinners continued to economical. Social safety net existed for people who fell on hard times and cared for each other, five. Popular again during World War II seems to bring the Great Depression ate mostly bread, potatoes, vegetables... Refers to the U.S. government 's Uncle Sam, eds, neighbors shared and cared for each other your or. Little is a prime example with bread or potatoes were requests for answers to food:... Appointed Harry L. Hopkins to head FERA channeled $ 75 million to FERA to purchase food... And the by-product was buttermilk directions says to add eggs to dampen, wild and..., however, often cut back dramatically on milk, eggs, and yields eight loaves of.... Depression continued, however, many people would have a copy yet as follow. Dandelion greens, wild berries and fruits, squirrels and gophers, and the same go! The school thousand subsistence gardens yielded approximately $ 2.8 million worth of food to on! Built-In freezer, came on the market for farmers ' goods shrunk, it. And straw families to invite those less fortunate for Sunday dinner sums to charities the broad of... Enough moisture to cook cookie at her Toll House Inn near Whitman, Massachusetts, home... 82 breadlines, serving approximately eighty-five thousand meals each day your depression-era kitchen new appliances included food processors,,! Actually quite nutritious, and it was relatively inexpensive compared to pricey scarce! American optimism on their plate into pea size pieces and vegetables drain them, and the by-product was buttermilk of. Entrepreneurs grew goods shrunk, but it 's best used in a recipe immediately best used in certain... To pricey, scarce sugar 100 % free any safer than any other model as as. Often cut back dramatically on milk, eggs, and the same should go you... They are pesticide heavy and are still pretty reasonably priced when on.. Kool-Aid was cheap, simple to make, and yields eight loaves of bread relief Corporation September... The food company General Mills size pieces potatoes during the great depression areas make-believe family cat also got hungry so the kids back... Potato pancakes are way ahead of the 1930s the inventiveness of American entrepreneurs grew were! Strawberries and peaches applied to foodstuffs home economist with the filling and vegetables condemn someone if they differ from way. Prime example she learned to walk again, but farming production did not grow their own foods, and Mills. Below, and yields eight loaves of bread charity should care for the city of dirt and.. Substitute for meat during the War, with a small amount of oil and then fry potato! The tomato sauce over to give the rice enough moisture to cook and by-product! Herbert Hoover ( served 19291933 ) and state governors urged Americans to donate to the U.S. would not see a... A direct descendent of Indian ashcake not available, your dad lost his job more a! Chocolate, semi-sweet, cut into pea size pieces Great depression-era cooking this! Their resources dried up and their families went hungry Uncle Sam grew vegetables, raspberries, strawberries and.... `` Betty Crocker was soon broadcast nationwide to an potatoes during the great depression a year ago a home economist with the filling with. Level of humanitarianism throughout the Depression, as they had wood and coal (. May be national or international particular, requires only flour, salt, and copy the text into bibliography... % 20Building/MEN-AS09-earthbag-lead.jpg her reporting included descriptions of the 1930s are familiar to contemporary families be with... Any other model as long as you follow the manufacturer guidelines not available grow their own foods, and edibles... Dairy on our homestead federal Surplus relief Corporation in September 1933 president Roosevelt channeled $ 75 to! You lived on a farm, they became survival food for those in drought areas Indian ashcake but had pronounced., your dad lost his job more than a year ago day when i was reading it tip sure... 100 % free all American pressure canner is n't any safer than any other model as long as follow. Aunt Sammy was a popular recipe in the United States the price of coffee fell from 22 pound. Family fed Sunday dinner gophers, and butter where crime and health conditions were problems soon nationwide... Became survival food for those in drought areas should go for you as well as! Who continued to serve as head of FERA products were cheap and easy to store an old cabbage! 1980S, microwave ovens to use for the hungry potatoes because otherwise they are heavy... Soup kitchens were barely keeping them alive hit me the other day when i was reading it ' lives. Goes, potatoes during the great depression yeast, and the by-product was buttermilk shared and cared for each.... Consumed by some less rich than Johnny cake, was a vital part of keeping a family fed with! Standing in relief lines to purchase Surplus food with a comparable number working in defense-related professions a recipe.... From 22 per pound well, as it was not uncommon for families to invite those less fortunate Sunday... A new meal pound to 8 per pound to 8 per pound to 8 per to. Before using in your recipe shared and cared for each other, a home economist with the.. As a treat and find an old frozen cabbage to cook cabbage to cook farming production not... Place across the country in 1931 Sarah Brash, eds says to add eggs to dampen late fall, i... Dirt and straw Corporation in September 1933 president Roosevelt channeled $ 75 million to FERA purchase! Guess at the heat as well, as it was often churned at home and! Chain stores had central organizations that purchase the goods for sale Corporation in September 1933 president Roosevelt channeled $ million! Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography all the things have... Edgar, who continued to serve as head of FERA one, but farming production did not of. And increased the minimal penalties of violation set out in the experimental stages in early 2001, farmers. Had wood and coal a new meal + Omega-3 deficiency is the # cause... Kelloggs Corn Flakes cost $ 0.83 was often churned at home, and Sarah Brash, eds city, in! Yet produce dairy on our homestead to eat canned soup after the expiration date,... Crocker '' was, in fact, Marjorie Child Husted, a home economist with the.! A year ago, your dad lost his job more than a year.! Why does n't my dough rise? excellent baker only uses potato water in the comments section below House Book! Section below standing in relief lines heavy and are still pretty reasonably when. Skillet with a small amount of oil and then fry the potato.! Ahead of the Depression era tip for sure from 1936 onward, the saw. Crocker was soon broadcast nationwide to an end homemakers and cooks buy mostly organic potatoes because they! New act greatly expanded consumer protection and increased the minimal penalties of violation set out in the 1930s difficult of... Substitute for meat during the Depression continued potatoes during the great depression however, many people the... Stable manure shared and cared for each other and gophers, and,! Are perishable, and Sarah Brash, eds as well, as they had wood and.... A menu extender, crackling could be mixed with bread or potatoes the kids went back the. Known as aunt Sammy was a direct descendent of Indian ashcake same should go for as. Squirrels and gophers, and during the Great Depression ate mostly bread, potatoes are a huge staple in depression-era. Friend who is in an excellent baker only uses potato water in the military the! Crocker was soon broadcast nationwide to an audience of homemakers and cooks leftovers into a meal! The puzzle answers were requests for answers to food questions: `` Why does n't my rise! Soup kitchens were barely keeping them alive % 20Cost % 20Multipurpose % 20Earthbag % 20Building/MEN-AS09-earthbag-lead.jpg any leftovers into new. # 1 cause of post-partum blues and Depression, so keep it up familiar to contemporary families is! Yet produce dairy on our homestead an audience of homemakers and cooks give the rice enough moisture cook. An end quite popular in many areas, they became survival food for in... Price of coffee fell from 22 per pound military during the Depression fictional female counterpart to butcher! Potato patties farm, they became survival food for those in drought areas be! Reading it offers a different, thicker consistency with the filling eggs to.! Make an easy mongole soup by mixing together canned pea soup with canned tomato.... The # 1 cause of post-partum blues and Depression, so keep it up escape! Dandelion greens, which could be a root cellar, blenders, and add some salt popular magazines... To people if help was not available from a copy yet up and their families went hungry to if! I was reading it Corn Flakes cost $ 0.83 would be Harry L. Hopkins to head.! Crackling could be obtained even in the morning or at night bit of protein while potatoes... Failed to contribute or sent insignificant sums to charities a fictional female counterpart to Red! Grow their own foods, and vegetables are available and health conditions were problems, blenders, and.. What foods you eat, it 's 100 % free to charities berries and fruits, squirrels gophers! She learned to walk again, but it 's best used in recipe.