Original WW1 Image by Paul Stahr, 1883-1953
World War I began as a result of the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary and his wife Sophie in 1914. Food shortages were widespread in Europe during
the war. On the home front, it was hoped that Americans would adjust their eating habits use less or simply do without to conserve food to send to the troops. Americans were told to go meatless and wheatless, to eat more corn and sh, plant victory gardens and to can fruits and vegetables. Countries on both sides of the conflict distributed posters widely to garner support, urge action, and boost morale. Paul C. Stahr was a noted illustrator who contributed to Harper’s Bazaar, American Magazine, Argosy, Collier’s Weekly, Woman’s Home Companion and other magazines. The original text underneath the image is “Be patriotic: sign your country’s pledge to save the food.” Today we need to use less or simply do without all consumer products, using an old New England frugal adage. We waste a lot. We throw away even more. In the United States alone, Americans waste $160 billion worth of food, which is nearly 30 to 40 percent of the entire U.S. food supply.