Born in the late 1940's, I can remember rationing coupons. Dad and grandfather had a fairly big allotments, with greenhouses. There were also up to three pigs, as well as dozens of hens and a few ducks and geese plus their eggs. There was plenty of room for growing greens and other staples such as strawberries and gooseberries. However, the more mundane, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, radish, green beans, onions, turnip, parsnip, potato, rhubarb and sprouts grew in abundance enough to keep our three families well-fed. The sprouts would crop, about the beginning of November, just in time for mother to get them on, the boil for Christmas.
Dad built me a small version of his garden single wheel, wheelbarrow and I would often be sent down to get items from the allotment. We gave names to the pigs, ducks and chickens and on occasion the name would crop up while eating. But we were never squeamish about it. From time to time, the veg would be used to barter for other things, so much was home-made and home cooked. We also kept a couple of dogs down the allotment to ward off intruders. If anyone came around, the dogs would sound off and dad and his brothers would turn out like the cavalry. They would chase them across the fields to the river, which they would have to swim voluntarily or otherwise. Dad said he always knew who had been around the allotment, as they were cleaner than usual.
My favourite snack was a bread cake with pork dripping and a cup of tea. Which I still enjoy today as a special treat. I knew where all the fruit trees were in the area and a bit of judicious scrumping would take place for apples, pear and greengage, which I told everyone that they were plums and not ripe yet. Blackberries were collected in the season and were often made in blackberry and apple pies, though my preference was always for rhubarb and apple. It has been 50+ years since I last went down to the allotment, but I do drive over it today from time to time.
I suppose that's progress.