(Win The Next War Now, 1918)

(Can Vegetables, 1918)

(Houston, 1918)

During World War I, the United States Government promoted the cultivation of “war gardens,” changing the name to “victory gardens” after the war was won (Bentley, 1998).

To maximize the utility of war gardens, the Federal Government emphasized a number of food preservation methods, namely canning, as patriotic ventures.

Numerous posters were produced emphasizing the correlation between canning and Allied victory.

(Fruits and Vegetables, 1914)

(Save Perishable Food, 1917)

(Waste, 1914)

This system was established by the Federal Government under the terms of the Smith-Lever Act of May 8, 1914, which provide for definite cooperation between the United States Department of Agriculture and the State land-grant colleges… The county is the extension unit upon which the whole system is based. Here, at the county level, are employed the county agricultural agent, the home demonstration agent, and, in some instances, the 4—H Club agent.

--United States Department of Agriculture. (1951). The home demonstration agent. Retrieved from http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/catalog/CAT87791369

These agents held community meetings and also met with individual families to teach a variety of skills including safe canning practices of the period.

(The Home Demonstration Agent, 1946)

Home demonstration agents also often ran community canning clubs for youths and young adults.