Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1917-01-12
HOME ECONOMICS
Good Results Come from
Meetings of Housewives
During December

| Home economics extension
work was resumed in Arizona or
December 1st by a series of meet
Iings in the ella and Duncan val
leys, which continued until the
christmas vacation.
Previous meetings and dem.
onstrations had been conducted
in the ella valley last spring, SC
the housewives, understanding
the nature of the work, readily
cooperated with the plan to have
neighbood meetings and DEM
constructions held in number of
homes. i
The first Of these was held in
Thatcher, where, for several
afternoons, the women of the
community gathered in central
homes and discussed various
problems which the housekeeper
has to solve in her daily work.
Special Importance in these dis
cussions was given to comparing
notes on the most essential work.
ing equipment for the average
home and the possibility Of fol-
lowing a definite plan of house
keeping with a view to systema-
tlzing the daily routine work and
obtaining good, or better, results
from less expenditure of time
and effort.
1t was particularly interesting
to note that the verdict of these
experienced housekeepers, as
they discussed the most essential
labor saving appliances for the
farm home, listed them in the
following order in regard to
making housework easier and
more efficient:
l. Water piped into the house,
at least in the kitchen if nothing
more can be afforded. A system
that would save carrying water
in and out of the house was
unanimously decided to be the
greatest work and strength saver
and the first to be procured for
every housekeeper.
2. An oil or gasoline stove to
be used for cooking during the
hottest time of the summer. The
women agreed that cooking on a
range takes too much out of
one' to make it economy to do
without this inexpensive piece of
equipment. There were many
women who said the freless
cooker was a valuable adjunct to
the oil stove for hot weather
cooking.
3. A good washing machine
and wringer came third In the
list. Various kinds were dis
cussed, each woman who had a
good one proving an ardent ad-
vocate of that particular kind.
There were several women who
had proved the value of the
washer and wringer operated by
the gasoline engine; others had
learned the usefulness of the
steam washer.
a. Other labor-saving appli-
ances favorably mentioned by
women who were using them,
included a gasoline iron, bread
high stool, iceless refrig-
orator, vacuum cleaner, even
when operated by hand, and a
good supply of necessary cooking
utensils of first-class quality.
In discussing the most weari-
some" part of housework, it was
generally shown that certain
tasks were made unnecessarily |
hard on account of lack of suit
able tools. Washing is made
more difficult than necessary if |
the wash bench is too low; IRON
ing causes unnecessary WEAKNESS
if the ironing board is too low;
likewise the work table on which
baking is done may cause tired
limbs and aching back becausesit
is several inches too low for the
of the worker.
These round table discussions
and demonstrations of kitchen
equipment were varied in Stafford,
Thatcher and Pima by practice
lessons in candy making for
festivities.
Meetings were held in all the
towns Of the Gila valley, also in
Duncan, FRANKLIN and Richmond.
Mrs. Edith G. Salisbury, Home
Economies Extension, UniVersi-
ty of Arizona.
Going and Coming
V;c;to What :, +l,+ ,u,f,,I