Sugar beet farming was particularly
important during the war years. After World War 1, this industry had been subsidized
by the government, and at great cost to the British
taxpayer, it continued to be subsidized
during World War 11. During the years of rationing, the weekly sugar ration (with the sugar coming from the British sugar beet) was
12 oz per person.
Sugar beet is particularly
resilient to drought as beet sown early in spring would develop a deep taproot
capable of drawing moisture and nutrients up from the subsoil. Sugar beet roots were pulled up by hand and topped and
tailed with a special knife. The tops were originally ploughed back into the
soil as a green fertilizer, but in 1940, the tops began to be used as
feedstuffs for livestock.
Root crops were promoted by the Ministry of Food as Miracle Food 2, and carrots were right there in the forefront, with recipes such as Carrot Hotpot, Carrot Croquettes, Curried Carrots, Carrot Fudge, Carrolade (a drink combining carrot juice with the juice of Swedes) and Carrot Marmalade.
BBC Radio Home Service broadcast "From the Kitchen Front" every morning for 5 minutes during World War 11. One broadcast in 1941 talked about mixing jam with grated raw or cooked carrot so that the jam could go further.
Root crops were promoted by the Ministry of Food as Miracle Food 2, and carrots were right there in the forefront, with recipes such as Carrot Hotpot, Carrot Croquettes, Curried Carrots, Carrot Fudge, Carrolade (a drink combining carrot juice with the juice of Swedes) and Carrot Marmalade.
BBC Radio Home Service broadcast "From the Kitchen Front" every morning for 5 minutes during World War 11. One broadcast in 1941 talked about mixing jam with grated raw or cooked carrot so that the jam could go further.
Swedes, turnips, celeriac and parsnips - all to be grown in home gardens - were used in soups and stews, or they were cooked until soft and were perhaps mashed together with an equal amount of boiled potatoes keeping the Wartime families healthy.
HOW CAN I APPLY THE ABOVE INFO TO MY LIFE?
I already have a few sugarbeet plants in my Queensland garden, and look forward to experimenting with how to use them - perhaps I will even be able to make a little sugar!!
Next season I won't plant them so close, as the root can grow to the size of a person’s head!
I will have to turn to internet sites such as this one to learn how to grow and use my sugarbeets.
I look forward to being creative with using carrots - finding my inspiraton from the links below.
http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/history4.html#broadcasts