During both world wars, women volunteered to help out in the fields and in the forest industry to keep the war effort going. Called Land Girls, members of the Women's Land Army played a vital role; eighty thousand women from cities and towns worked in forests, sand mills and farms producing invaluable food and material to keep Britain’s agriculture moving. They looked after animals, ploughed the fields, dug up potatoes, harvested the crops, killed the rats, dug and hoed for 48 hours a week in the winter and 50 hours a week in the summer. Their motto: 'For a healthy, happy job join The Women's Land Army'. Right.

The Women's Timber Corps members, Lumber Jills, worked in forestry; handling axes, saws, and felling trees to provide timber. As most were city bred and were unfamiliar with the wide-open spaces or the woods, being sent off to the countryside was a real shock. They turned the trees into telegraph poles, wood pulp for paper and mining props. At last these WW2 women are being recognised by the government for their services to forestry and agricultural work with a special badge. As one recipient said: "the badge was a powerful and touching gesture to thank us for what we did". :: BBC

Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:

Mestiza: Repurposed Fabrics' Bags from Argentina

Algae Towers, Carbon Nanotubes Coming to a City Near You