Living in a rural area on a croft had its benefits during the war and having to struggle to produce a meal from flour and dried eggs was not something local women had to worry about. Fresh eggs and milk was usually available and as much vegetables as possible was grown on the crofts. Cartoon characters called Potato Pete and Dr. Carrot appeared on leaflets, telling people to eat plenty of them and the slogan "Dig for Victory" appeared on posters encouraging folk to grow vegetables in order to feed their families. Meat was hard to get hold of, so the government encouraged people to eat rabbits. Again living on a croft meant the odd hen was on hand for the soup pot and of course at killing time there was mutton.

Rationing of clothes began in June 1941. Everyone was allowed 66 clothing coupons per year; this could just about buy one complete outfit.

Thankfully Northmavine was not subjected to the evacuation of its children or to the nightly bombardment suffered by people in the Blitz, but it can lay fame to the first German bomb to fall on British soil in World War II!

Women were encouraged to 'Make do and Mend' by remaking their family's old clothes, even curtain material and used parachutes were cut up to make skirts and dresses, the silk of parachutes was in great demand for making wedding dresses. Make up and stockings were hard to come by, so when the rare dance took place in the local halls, it was not unusual for women to draw a line down the back of each leg and pretend they were wearing silk stockings.