Frugal Green Living: Posters for the Movement
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.11.08

"Frugal is the New Black" say the trendsetters. This isn't news to TreeHugger readers, nor is it particularly original; during the World Wars, that is how one lived. Sometimes people needed a little encouragement, so the the creatives got to work designing posters, telling people to save instead of spend, fix instead of buy new, grow instead of shop at the grocery, all messages that resonate today.
Have a look at a few of them in our inaugural slideshow of Frugal Green Living: Posters for the Movement
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- The Bad News of 2008 is Also the Good News
- So Long 2008, and Thanks for All the Posts
- Reddit Yet? TreeHugger's Top 25 Posts from 2008 on Reddit.com
- When The Green Side of Israel Gets Tainted Black

























Love these posters! We should definitely bring them back. "When you ride alone you ride with Osama Bin Laden!" LOL
When is a environmentalist not One?
When he is blowing up pipe lines in the name of our planet. Doe he not know how much damage that can do??
What is going on I support a lot of things but this I wil not.
I love this site! It shows a fun and stylish way to live eco friendly while still having a good time. I know this year is tough on me $ wise and its a great reminder on learning how to get crafty again! I wrote a small article on using items laying around the house (foil, maps, newspapers, etc) to use for gift wrap instead of the traditional alternatives. Click the url to read and make the Holidays cost a little less and be that much more unique for your family and friends!
I did a short video using WWII posters at http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=FIlQJg1kSvk
They are indeed great with good information that is still useful today. If we had responded to 9/11 as we responded to 12/7/41, we would be a lot safer and more secure in many ways today.
gmoke,
Uh, I don't see how going to war with Japan would have helped on 9/11 ?
I loved those posters and have often thought, they could really make a comeback. I actually considered using this poster to promote car-sharing, but thought it might be a bit insensitive.
It's amazing how relevant those posters are today, from the locavore "Grow Your own, Can Your own" to recycling-themed '"Waste helps the enemy!"
lol, great vintage poster! great job, who is the designer?
I started getting into old propaganda posters and making my own around the same time Micah started doing his remix stuff. Conservation ones in particular. I love how relevant they are today. I guess I should have published mine, Micah seems to have made a career out of it.... My posters were a little more pure propaganda rather than satire. I had a ton of different ideas I wanted to do, but life and work got in the way and now with a progressive government coming onto the scene they seem kind of pointless except for the conservation ideas. That is always relevant. Lloyd, if you are interested in additional posters for your site, let me know, I have lots of images. Clothes mending, gardens, recycling, etc.