The Republican journal., 1907-06-06
THE HOMECROFT MOVEMENT.

A garden stored with peas, and mint and
thyme,
And flowers for pOsieS, oft on Sunday
morn
Plucked while the church bells rang their
earliest chimes.
Wordsworth.
| believe in a spade and an acre of
good ground. With the going of April
my soul goes out of doors-though my
body may not to engage in that humb-
ling and God-fearing occupaton-gar
dening. l know from experience what
even a woman's strength can develop
from the soil; how many hurts "a gar
den spade can heal. So these observa-
tons are not recorded for those who
start life with an automobile and a
yacht, or those who will inherit fortune,
or those who plan to get a living in any
other way than by working with their
hands.
The word Homecroft is compounded
of the English word "home" and the
Scotch word croft" meaning a Every
small farm intensively cultivated.
The word was coined and is applied by
George H. Maxwell, who was born in
California and spent his early life
there.
Later he became Executive Chair
man of the National Association,
which he originated and organized
His work in connection with this move
ment was the occasion of his coming
east to live, and at present he has a
home in Newton while son and daugh-
ter are students at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. The cause of
forestry also owes much to him.
Recently he was invited to speak
under the auspices of the Waltham
Business Mems Association ana the
Waltham Education Society, which
gave me knowledge of the facts where
of | write.
As a student of social conditions Mr..
Maxwell contends that the only way
out of the social and political tangles
in which this country seems to be in
volved, is to begin with the children
dllt lSaSH CNCif Sllllo ellC oiluPiS PllA-
ciples of gardencroft and homecroft, SO
that it will never be content to live any
where except next to nature and under
the spell of her influence, and will know
how to get at least a goodly share of its
living from the bosom of mother earth,
and will know how to make the simple
things which are of most importancein
the home and household of the family
of every man who must work for his
living.
His creed is-Every Child in a Gar
den-Every Mother in a Homecroft-
and Individual Industrial Independence
for Every Worker in Home of his
Own on the Land.
In illustration, there has been es-
tahlished by him at WATERFOWL, Mass,
a Homecrofters Guild, where garden
craft and home craft can be taught and
returns received, in health, content
ment and substantial increase in in
come. This Guild | visited.
The Wilson estate at 143 Main street,
extending from Main street back to the
Boston & Maine Railroad, has been
purchased and the land converted to
the use of garden school and laid out
in children's~ gardens, the demand far
exceeding the supply. At the time of
my visit the director of the garden
school, Miss Elizabeth S. Hill of Groton,
bo.r ~.
second season.
The location is most beautiful one
for the purpose, the garden being firing
ed by grand old trees and background
of foliage, which makes the picture of
the children at work there-over one
hundreG-a most attractive one
On the outer boundary of WATERFOWL,
the old Emerson place has been pur-
chased and set aside as garden school
TOR boys and even men who desire to do
practical work. The plots in this gar
den are large enough to permit practi-
cal experiments and to even supply
large quantity of vegetables, which
each gardener is allowed for bis own
use. The only requirement is, that he
provide his own tools and seed and pay
sufficient attention to the instruction
and to his work, to keep his plot in fair
condition and in harmony with the gar
den as whole. There is in this garden
plenty of space not taken, and it offers
unique and valuable opportunity for
any one desiring such work. The gar
den is supervised by a young man with
practical experience in market garden
ing.
The Woman's Club of WATERFOWL
has established another garden school,
also under Miss Hills supervision.
The commodious old family residence
on the Wilson estate has been convert
ed into Guildhall and shops for handi-
craft work. The weaving department
is supervised by Miss NJ. c. Wilson, di-
rector and teacher, and a three weeks
course of ten lessons, three hour periods,
&c OF Do, ~ IL; -,