Feeding Cleveland: Urban Agriculture

Victory Gardens

Harvey Rice students thinning vegetable plant in downtown victory garden
Harvey Rice students thinning vegetable plant rows in the downtown Cleveland, Ohio mall victory garden, 1943.

During times of war, particularly World War II it was considered patriotic to plant food to help in the war effort. Vegetable gardens were planted in many different sites in the city, including on the Mall in downtown Cleveland. 

Chickens were raised in the city as well. There were contests and exhibits sponsored by private corporations.

Browse all Victory Garden images.


Surplus produce sale in Cedar housing project victory garden
Growers and sellers at surplus produce sale
in Cedar housing project victory garden,
Cleveland, Ohio, July 1943.
Kindergarten students at work on their victory garden
Kindergarten students at work on their victory garden
plots at the Benjamin Franklin Elem. School Garden,
May 1942.
Panoramic view of the downtown Cleveland, Ohio Mall victory garden, 1944
Panoramic view of the downtown Cleveland, Ohio
Mall victory garden with garden shed on left, July,
1944.