Fruits of Victory (October book) by Elain Weiss)

8 people attended. The book received a positive 2+ smiley face ratting thanks to one 5 smiley face score! Good read for history!

Start 3 August
Acknowledgements
Alice Holway was a farmerette of WW I (Woman Land Army)
searched many achieve to gather information
The New Recruit parade to pursue the war to the end. Woman workers were walking in perfect formation. The girls behind the guns They were soldier of the soil.
The farmerette has disappeared in the last 90 years.
Chapter 1 The Right to serve (march): British Land Army
woman did war work (government training)
Equal Rights were stressed in Great Britain. Women wanted to serve.
It was an economic struggle. Especially for food. It was expensive to import all this food danger. Agriculture production was crucial. Plant more acres and grow more food. This was to start of woman in the field..
253 of 8057 or 3% complete.
8/4 fields of France had women pulling plows in the field
they were recruiting women for field work
The farmers did not women to work with them
untrained women on farm is useless. It’s a waste of time
women then gave a show showing the land girls demo
this was a starting point of woman farm work
Lode George was in charge of Agriculture
Chapter 2 Female preparedness
The woman’s Land Army
in spring 1916 women were taking training at a camp (live in tents…and clean it too)
signaling, eating military food, fitness, gained much skills
over 400,000 soldiers of the Navy league
study of how great Britain was using women’s skills
492 of 8057 or 6% done
8/5 The women wee training for months of training women for the farn=ming industry in 1914.
The start of the act of “women power”
After the USS Housatonic was sunk the negotiations with the German ambassador was dismissed. Thus the women training was called into action
“The land Army movement” the start of women in gardening for women
“women’s right to plow” farming has great opportunities
even if there was no war, women needed to farm.
Chapter 3 there was food riots
prices rise on cost of vegetables, prices were doubling, even tripling
during the war, people wanted food not be shipped to our allies
farmers needed workers (crises building for years)
factory floor jobs to many farmers off the farms
we need to honor those who behind the plow and guns too
Have prisoners work on the farms (POWs under military guards) “proposal”
Have government labor forces move to trouble spots…important is0″ food supply”
DRAFTING MEN FOR FARMWORK
were farmers slackers?
Idea was to have an exemption for farmworkers
722 of 8057 or 9% done.
8/6 farmers having (promote) addition seeds to grow…farmers will be excused. (President Wilson)
farmers were soldier’s of the commissary.
the farming army was formed (dangers of food shortage)
Tilling on Sunday was OK for farming on the land
Women had the “Chairman of Potatoes”
Council for national defense (CND)
The national league of woman services
back yard garden and a bigger harvest (raise vegetables)
Food Administer Herbert Hoover
OF COURSE….a garment was developed for a service uniform (they even wore ties!)
A Song was written about the Farmerettes
“Aggies” was the nickname
Chapter 5….Soil Sisters
953 of 8057 or 12% completed
8/7
was fighting an arm chair war
had winter food riots in the first weeks of war
have a standing committee of agriculture for help women getting out to work on the land
farmers did not want to hire woman workers (for household work, but not for farm work)
woman’s 8 hour work week was important
have women living in a community with other workers (1917 was a test…and it worked)
the women enjoyed the outside work…not paid really well, but they were happy
3 women usually equaled 1 man for picking berries
pay was 20 cents man to 17.5 cents per hour for women
The women just wanted to make food, not money
A war farm was developed tended by the “city students”
Chapter 6 A female invasion of the land
1189 of 8057 or 15% complete
8/8
experiment pf having women working on a farm
there were financial “angles” for this camp
at this camp they learned the lesson of farming
“time to mil; cows” “difference between a tomatoes and a weed”
uniform status was made (blue shirts and overall) doing work for uncle Sam
working wages were established
like a trade union!
women’s trade union “equal pay for equal work”
cost was big for transportation to the working farms
The camp broke even, but it did produce food
need college students for a sense on structure
Chapter 7: Fall 1917
the assistant secretary of agriculture was talking to and inspecting the farmerettes. Food producers (they have started a movement)
“The Army of Progress” big praise!!!!
Farmers felt betrayed when they lost war exemption
1421 of 8057 or 18% complete
8/9
talk about loyalty of food production
take the Hoover pledge (clean plate and empty garbage bins).
started canning for food
Hooverism is for the home front ear
“When men go to waring, women go to work”
Women power….they should also be producing
thought that the women’s unit was like a puppet
organize a land and get woman farming
The woman’s committee had little control
Show posters trying to recruit people for farmerettes
even spoofs were made
Vassar College became a training center for the framerate’s
Chapter 8: women on the land
fight to put women on the land (WLA)
had rules on wages and hours.
1684 of 8057or 21% complete
8/10 Substitute gardening for PE classes is schools
all worker of the WLA is equal pay….even had a manual of operation
WLA had to attract people to donate, sign papers, and take out loans
American positions did not like urging women to farm work
farm work was low paying
working for a White House endorsement (with military draft)
women needed for light work?? 😦
the president Woodrow Wilson endorsed the WLA
Chapter 10: FINE PROPAGANDA they had it all….good for photos…for comics!
WLA was a talking point for the press
was the framerate a costume party?
1911 of 8057 or 24% complete
8/11 WLA had to make its calling card
woman working to win war
working to save the world with food
WALL will work as soldiers (when called)
WLA was looking at health and safety
Some farmers could not survive without a farmerette
Had public relation works with the newspaper editors
WLA-a service work
farming is a job that’s well needed
newspaper were to publish stories about the farmerettes
General farm work wasn’t that tough for city girls!
Issue with woman’s war work
Labor commission USDA found the farmerettes threatening
farmer is a threat of coverage on news
woman should not engage in farm work
the farmerette genie was trying to be stuffed back into the bottle
2157 of 8057 or 27% complete
8/12 There was a Farmerette Comedy (to raise funds for the war)
this comic created a character to the U.S. – deal of sacrifice
chapter 11: Enlist now
refill your destiny
voting rights were addressed
talk about how women can help win the war
The land army started over in Britain
The WLA was looking good in 1918
Helen Fraser gave the “soap box” speech for the WLA
Shows the value of the WLA
Show would conclude with closing with a patriotic song
start of “women suffering amendment”
2395 of 8057 or 30% done
8/13 “The Bedford Camp”
“It’s work for your country” woman farming
farmerette appeared happy and “giddy” for promotion
Uncle Sam wants you cane from the British
15,000 entered war service in 1918 (estimate)
organized in 40 of the 48 states
the farmerettes built respect for themselves
The farmerette entered California who needed farm workers
worker from China??
WLA promised equal pay, rest areas, insurance, 2% prophets donated to the red cross
The farmerette moved into a one-piece uniform. They even had nurses!
18 years was a requirement for the WLA
“Going back to the soil to save America” motto
2648 of 8057 or 33% complete
8/14
only those who helped fund the WLA camp could use the farmerettes
they also established the quality of work
don’t be a slacker, be a packer
women could pick the same as a man
“The Land Army” – serious in their work (no prejudice)
They had a nifty uniform (looks like a two piece suit) Cost was $4.25 and a hat for .25.
became aa desirable affect. Effects the farmerettes attitude
More camps were being created in California
A WLA camp cost about $7,500 to build
Then there was sabotage for weak pickers on the farm
There was a tarator in the ranks
Even being charged with pro-Germanism (that person was court marshaled)
It took about 60 days to complete their training at the camp
Is women patriotism as good as mens patriotism?
A song was written for the land army
The war by food is won
2877 of 8057 or 36% complete
chapter 13
8/15- song was to glory…glory halleluiah
college women and the food situation
fall down to the peasant class
There was no farm workers policy
they were looking at Washington for direction
Then the city of boys were to work on farm issues
uniform of farmerette looked “spiffy” “march back to the soil”
These women are comrades
trained in how to run tractors on farmlands
farmerettes were being paid $1.20 per day. They are available
the price paid was raised to $2 dollars a day
“Soil Soldier”
were competing vs. men not in military
were bitter towards men driving the tractors vs. “pitching”
Pictures of women land army prep.
3128 of 8057 or 39% done
8/16 more pictures
ability to use a tractor
Chapter 14: cultivate the soothing weed
this was Tabaco
should WLA be used to grow this weed?
Tobacco was a state plant
Tobacco ration
Question went out asking if farmers will use women next year
Had older women help support the younger workers who were working on the farms
they were chaperons
pack specific clothing to learn to garden
Christian farmers would not employ Jewish people (racism – racism value at New Wilford)
The value of women workers were made by saving food (harvest)
3368 of8057 or 43% complete
8/17
talk about picnics, apple dumplings, and hay rides
the farmerettes were more UPPER CLASS than the “boys” were used to
Some had city worker patriotism problems
talk about the WLA moving into the farm and increasing work for the farmers wife
These WLA people has done mans work
Chapter 15: Libertyville Illinois
they would even pitch hay
a new WLA needed to be long term for the Midwest
A contest was developed for a Chicago style WLA uniform
minimal labor shortage in Illinois
was the WLA just a bunch of “city girls”
Issues with the farm wife (keep house)
need college educated women who could work on the farm
to create these training farms (Libertyville) the WLA asked for donations (from manufactures, girls schools, the YWCA
The donated farm was a mess…..it needed much work
rising bell at 5:30 to 9:00 at night
3628 of 8057 or 45% complete
8/18
liberal arts way of teaching farming
women singing to their milking cows
“do good by doing well”
WLA camp was high in Chicago (working experience)
had dance for the farmerettes
The WLA was doing this to help win the war
some women were not encourage to be hired from the WLA
WLA even had a medical test/evaluation in order to be accepted
farmerettes were good workers and they are ready to learn
For some studies; women are better than mean…otherwise it’s very “nervous” for men
3850 of 8057 or 48% complete
8/19
farmerettes spent 9 hours a day “monitoring” plants (roaming the rows)
they liked “showing off” their uniforms
girls in mens cloths
was wondering about the future of the farmerettes after the Artistries treaty
WLA selling their work (no federal support – they relied on donations
WLA became a war type charity
First child care at a polish WLA camp
woman was more consciences of the food
4079 of 8057
8/20
WLA did not open meeting with a prayer – to meet urgent cares
worked with the YWCA
there was farmer mistrust at first
but, overtime, the WLA was getting donations from the public
WLA to promote the need to prevent world famine
talk about the neutrality of the soil, could lead to soldier who will go hungry
Talk about cotton in Augusta
were black people slackers?
needed cotton for the war
then there was insect problems with the boil weevil
farmerettes enjoyed ginger ale as a treat during on of their breaks
many farmerettes donated money to the Red Cross (summer 1918)
farmerettes were invited to gather and sing
farmers enjoyed the farmerettes, but some did not like them
Though, they did not show the women “picking cotton”
4328 of 8057 or 54% complete
8/21: Chapter 19 Harsh Terrain
WLA working in Michigan (tough place)
worker were working in hot temp (100-116 degrees)
The WLA was picking 125 pounds of berries
Missouri had a good WLA start (richer potions of the state)
The WLA rescues a large wheat crop
Great for production of US food supply
Lab was at the Wellesley Experiment Camp (like West Point) for farmers
this is like a boot camp….also a camp for experience
The Red Cross worked on book binding for hurt soldiers
discussion of a new uniform…designed to a women’s statue
a newspaper refers to this uniform as a costume
had recruits over whelming the size of WLA training
4577 of 8057 or 57% complete
8/22
to get into school you had to pledge your future working conditions
Idea for camp was to come up with some research data
menstrual cycles were also noted
to worker who built wooden tents
the camp had a chain of command structure (rotate after 3 days)
talk of how motions of a duty is so inefficient
talk about the motion study

necessary and unnecessary movements…..ELIMINATE WASTE
ergonomics of farm work (like how to hoe/spade)
breaks showed increase of productivity also trained with the tractor and refrigerator
of camp was educational/teaching/good lab

4807 of 8057 or 60% complete

WLA work with woman’s work for public work for women

start employee group to employ women to work on the farm. Farmers kept asking for more farmerette workers (was it a duty or a pay check?)

they even caught critters for dissection for nurses
success in 1918
only solution to the food crisis
2 thousand dollars to start and operate a WLA camp.
WLA had membership “classes”
skill in women outpaces mens work (strength)
created a mobile farmerette group.
WLA was no longer an idea
“the door of opportunity”.
The government was not looking that seriousness of the land army
THE WLA TO BECOME A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
5026 OF 8057 OR 62%
WLA was going to be taken over by the department of labor (endorsement)
WLA controlling their own budget vs. government
uniforms for the WLA

The WLA:
the world is hungry!
millions of hungry people/famine abroad.
feed Germany (they asked for food)

200,000 lbs of food Hoover brought across the pond

5281 of 8057 or 66% done
are the farmerettes still want to be working on farm after the war?
work still must continue after the war. Christian colinition
women for land work ….the armistice treaty.
Strive to feed the people in Europe WLA needed to carry-on after the war
WLA started a good gateway into working.
WLA helped establish women workers
WLA was a vehicle for women. The 19th amendment
even labor rules were stressed
After war the WLA was losing supporters
started a WLA constitution.
Illinois departed the WLA
THE TRAING FARM PROJECT.
Food production for the future became the WLAs 68%
Uniform talk for the WLA “its all about women’s issues”
WLA was no going to be taking place for the soldiers returning from war
at the end of war, WLA was/became an issue
WLA camp needs to be self supporting (need for food production)
This was to break through class status
people were starving for food. $15 dollars per month vs. $30 per soldiers
was thee WLA a charity or a business?
it’s an economic necessity!
though, no tax-payer funding
more talk about uniforms for the WLA ($4.30 per uniform) had to promise to rules!!! {71%)
people liked to see woman doing female work
create a well groomed camp covering almost everything
3 Mexicans are equal to 1 white person…racial???
difficulties with WLA throughout all the states
about 13 states were ready

but….

no government support
so, the WLA still marched on
WLA piggy bank was very low

WLA was a Hoover helper 🙂
WLA discourage housework of farms
Mexicans were now allowed to come and work in the fields

WLA could not fund the demands of local farmers
Is their a value to this WLA movement
The WLA was going to close down because of lack of funds (74% 5942 of 8057)

it was able to work in several states in a small scale
WLA lost some of their fundraisers (through the war)
the idea of the WLA was a good way for livelihood

The WLA got “took” by it’s fundraisers
farmerettes in “costumes”
high boots and white blouses
“no future because of expense” for the WLA
do you want to be a producer or a consumer

The WLA then became professional…worked as a private club
the WLA had international response

farmers were reporting dangerous shortage of farm labor. In 1941.
Mrs. Roosevelt in 1941 said we need the WLA
6169 of 8057 77%

“he farmerete may come back”

for WWII, the eland army came back

“land service”

in 1943 the WLA had government backing.

done 3 October 2019