Evening journal., 1911-03-30
FARMING ON
The CITY LOTS
Two Hundred Families Got
Produce From Plots Last
Year
CONSUMERS LEAGUE
BACK AFTER THE MOVEMENT

Few of the many people who
noticed the rows of corn. tomatoes,
and potatoes growing in vacant lots
over the city last summer. realized
how much garden produce was grown
in this way and enjoyed by some of
the poorer families of the city at their
tables. The following report given
by Mrs. William S. Hilles, chairman
of this work, to the Consumers
League, under whose auspices the
work is done, gives an idea OF the
large scope of the plan. In short
time, the vacant lot gardens will be
started again this year, on the same
principles as are embodied in the re-
port
The report follows:
"To the President of the Consumers
League of Delaware.
"On April 18th, 1910, engaged
Joseph Reynolds as working superin-
tendent for the cultivation of the
Vacant Lots. In order that the work
should be understood by those who
were to be asked to subscribe to-
wards its maintenance, Mr.. Dix, the
superintendent of the Philadelphia
Association for the Cultivation of Va
cant Lots, came to Wilmington to the
Century Club, and very kindly gave
an illustrated lecture, free, in which
the work was fully set forth and ex-
planned.
"As March is the month in this To-
cality to get the ground ready for
garden work, ] was late in starting,
but was fortunate in having very lit
tie trouble in getting permission from
the owners to use their lands. This
accomplished, the work of clearing
them off, the ploughing and prepars-
ton of the ground followed. I di-
vided the city into four sections,
North, South, East and West. In all
we had one hundred and twelve gar
dens, which helped more than two
hundred families. These gardens
were worked by white and black
young and old, strong and weak.
1T may give the Consumers League
some idea of the good the cleaning
alone of these lots did for the city
when I stated that in all the sections
] hauled off two hundred and sixty.
eight loads of rubbish, of dead ami.
mails, cats, twelve; chickens, fifteen
goat, one; dog, one rabbit, one; one
bag of decayed FISH heads, and one
bucket Of FISH heads and slop, ant
piled up fourteen perches Of stone ou'
of the way. Later in the season,
was forced to abandon seven or tbs
gardens. due to bad drainage, and thu
rain drowning them out. The sectioI
where the gardens we're most needed
and most in demand, lies over Elev
enth street bridge. Here, I foun'
great difficulty in getting svailabl
lots. not from scarcity Of land, bu
most Of the desirable lots lay unde
water. Indeed it would seem tha
this part Of the city was quite lef
out of the consideration Of either tn
Board of Health. or the Street AM
Sewer Department. Such condition
as exist there are menace to III
health of a community, and a disgrac
to Wilmington.
"The average yield sold Of the gar
dens. over and above what was con
= sumed by the owners, was a little owe
. six dollars. The highest individua
WELD. sold over and above what wa
consumed. was .thirty-six dollars. TIL
) lowest individual yield was one dollal
but in this case II was one OF tn
gardens that was washed out. Man
% AoEA nOnI UNVHlf WI NNAH ~ "N~ ~
uncommon sight to see women an
+ children working together during tn
> day. and men, after work hours in tn
E evening. An old man about sevent
! years of age, crippled with rhet
2 matism, had one of the most success
ful gardens. and told the superinter
dent that but for the garden he woul
have had TO 60 TO the poor house.
There was much cooperation. an
: scarcely any friction between thos
= who owned adjoining lots. To eac
person was given about 6ox100 fee
~ but It must be remembered that ha
n had no previous experience In tn
t work, and never knew just how muc
Z money I could depend on. I do NJ
c look upon these gardens in the ligl
- Of charities, but rather as benefit
The owner of the lot has his Ian
taken care Of, the person who has u
Y garden, realizes all the advantages
d a kitchen garden and the opportunii
TO make little money. the people