Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1917-12-28
FOOD CONSERVATION
HELPS TO WIN WAR
Extension Department Doing Much to
Solve War Problem of the State
Club Work Important

Practically every division of the
extension department is concentrat.
ing it's work upon war measures and
needs. The division most active in
this work are home economics, boys
and girls club leaders, farm help
specialists, and county agents.
The home economics workers are
particularly active in food conserya-
ton work. AS often as possible they
are getting out circulars on war
foods and recipes showing how for
merly undesirable foods can be made
appetizing as well as a direct means
to Hooverizing. One of the circulars
on skinned milk is especially valu-
able and is supplemented by the work
OF e. ]. Barber, the cottage cheese
specialist, who proves the high food
value of the milk. The home eco
Monies agents have shown that chill
dren can Hooverize because their
diets can be so we'll applied to this
movement. Other circulars have
dealt with the need of sugar con-
servation, meat, and wheat substi-
tutes. This year eight workers have
been added to the home economics
agents and have been assigned to the
eight districts of Washington. They
have done an amazing amount of
work already and are trying to reach
every woman through every avail
able source and through the organi-
cation of thrift clubs. Women's clubs
are utilized for this work and nearly
all of them are now giving up a part
OF each meeting to food problems.
Volunteer workers are working UNI
der the leaders in their local town
and the farmers wife is being
reached through the Grange meet
ings, where the women are now hav-
ing an active part as well as the men
Here they are either lectured by the
leaders or assistants, Work is being
done through the public schools as
well, most of which are using war
recipes in their cooking classes, and
doing Red Cross work in the sewing
classes. The agents are not only
reaching people through organiza-
ton, but whenever it is possible they
go into private homes to demon
strate
All of the state boys and girls
clubs have now become war clubs.
The backyard gardening clubs start
ed last spring were very successful
and the canning clubs conserved the
garden stuff raised. Pig clubs have
efficiently used boys labor not other
wise demanded and have helped
greatly in meetinb the food demand.
In Yakima county alone $4,000 has
been turned in from the pig clubs.
Other animal clubs are those of
sheep, poultry, and rabbits. The
rabbit clubs, it is hoped will be es-
pecially useful to help solve the food
problem in that rabbits eat anything,
are very prolific, and are ready to eat
much sooner than other animals.
Plans are already started to can rab-
bit meat in those communities where
rabbits are very abundant Cooking
clubs are being organized for the
purpose of teaching war recipes and
making the children realize the great
need of conservation. They are kept
In constant touch with the rapid
changes in the food plans.
The sewing clubs are devoting
their time TO Red Cross work. Even
the smaller girls are useful in help
ing to make such things as gun wads
napkins, and tray cloths. Even the
boys are helping in some communi-
ties by knitting. The newest club
formed is for the purpose of gather
ing and drying the foxgloye plant
which is very valuable for medicinal
purposes.
The farm help specialists are MAX
ing a particular study of farm labor
conditions due to the war and are Of
fering suggestions to the farmers to
remedy this. They are trying to get
retired farmers back on the farms
and to get the farmer to do all the
work such as m achine repair, that
ne can during the winter so there
VIII be nothing of that kind to ham
per the summer work. They are also
endeavoring to put their work on the
same basis as other industries in Of
1erlng good living conditions and
wages. Another means they have de-
Vised of getting farm labor is through
the recent local farm labor bureaus
The most recent work of this depart
ment has been TO get in touch with
the National Boys Working Reserve
clubs in order to utilize as much oil
the work as possible of boys from 10
IN n e.