I think the farmers were the most creative, and intelligent survivors during the first depression. They had the survival skills and instinct that I’ve ever read or hear about. They grew gardens, canned their own meat and vegies, sold eggs and milk to stores in return for sugar and flour etc. My grandmother and greatgrandmother had so many stories to tell abourt that era. Not to mention the fact that they also had crops to take care of, and wash laundry the old fashioned way. I can’t imagine how many people could stretch their $$$ the same way now.
Yeah, you’re right there...
What you describe is exactly how my mom’s family lived — Grandpa, Grandma, and eight kids. They worked hard and lived off the land. Grandpa had nothing but contempt for FDR’s WPA people. He called WPA “we poke along” because they weren’t what you’d call “motivated”.