Facing a labour shortage on farms during the World War 2, over 40,000 young women across Canada stepped forward to “Lend a Hand” and participated in a government-sponsored program to keep the food supply going while soldiers were away fighting. These women became known as The Farmerettes.

Motivated by patriotism, or a thirst for adventure, these teenagers took on gruelling manual farming tasks, usually without any previous farming experience. Despite the arduous work of seasonal planting, weeding or picking,  they managed to find time to develop life long relationships enhanced by after hours hitchhiking to dances, group hay rides, roller skating, or swimming in Lake Huron. For many of the Farmerettes, this was their first trip away from home and they paved the way for the changing role of women in modern agriculture. This experience sparked a passion for rural life and led many of them to build their lives and families in small communities in Ontario. 

This play captures the lived experiences from Ontario Farmerettes and is inspired by the book “Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of the Ontario Farmerettes” by Bonnie Sitter and Shirleyan English

“Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes was co-commissioned and developed by 4th Line Theatre and The Blyth Festival Dramaturgy by Kim Blackwell and Severn Thompson.

It premiered at 4th Line in July 2024 Directed by Autumn Smith, and at the Blyth Festival  in August 2024 Directed by Severn Thompson.

Alison Lawrence is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada.

Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes is produced by permission of the Playwright and Marquis Literary (Colin Rivers) www.MQlit.ca”