Connecticut western news., 1919-02-20
THE JUNIOR FOOD ARMY
Elizabeth Lee


 stop further activity of the Junior Food AImy, Ne are glad to give our readers this account of it's benefits. If you think this work should be conlin.cu tell our representatives at Washington so.-Ed.)
 The Junior Food Army is an army of boys and girls who agree to help in the conservation of food, for the n .rpose of feeding our Allies and the people at home. By furnishing the people at home with the neces- sary supplies of fruit and vegetables for winter use, the canning concerns are able to furnish more food for the army, as the people at home will not have to buy their canned vege- tables and fruit.
 There are several ways by which a boy or girl may become a member of the Junior Food Army; namely by gardening. coultry or pig raising, canning, or food saving.
 Probably most of the Junior Food Army members joined by agreeing to cultivate a plot of ground which was available. In many towns garden clubs were formed, which held meet irgs monthly to discuss gardening and the raising of certain vegetables. An older person was usually appoint ed, who attended these meetings, and inspected the gardens. The mem- bers elected officers also. The boys alone did not compose these garden q bs, for the girls worked as enthu- siastically and successfully as the boys. The members of the clubs competed for prizes at the town, co nty, and state fairs, and their exhibits were in many instances, the 1 best shown. In some towns demon stration teams were formed, and these teams went to various fairs, where they discussed the raising of v~,~a+"l''-- ~'-i gave advice to those who sought it.
 l Poultry and pig raising was adopt. Iel by q few of the members, most of them being those who lived on farms
 The girls were given an opportun- ity to help in conserving by can ming. Each member of the canning division of the Junior Food Army pledged herself to can fifty quarts of produce. This does not include Ijellies, jams, conserves, dryed vege- tables, or pickles. l. means that 70 a to preserve fifty quarts of fruit and vegetables. The above named are considered in food say ing, instead of canning. In some towns canning clubs were formed, though there were not as many of these as of garden clubs. A lady was also appointed to give instruc- tion to those who desired it. She also inspected the canning at the end of the season. Those who proved to be most successful in can- ming were chosen for demonstration teams, which gave demonstrations at various fairs, as did the members of the garden clubs. Pamphlets fur. canning were sent out by the State The cold pack process for canning dvegetables preserves them so that they are scarcely distinguishable from the fresh produce. joined the canning division and spent very en. joyable as we'll as instructive sum- mer. At first I thought that the cold pack process, recommended in the pamphlets, would be very tedious but I did not find it difficult or tire some, after had become accustomed to it. Each member of the canning division, received a booklet in which she was to record Information, and at the end of the season was to send this to the state headquarters. II her work had been satisfactory, she would receive g certificate and badge
 Food Saving consists in drying vegetables and preserving in other ways than canning.
 Mrch food was conserved, that would otherwise have been wasted and much ground was cultivated which would not have been, had il not been for the efforts of the Junior Food Army.
 ,-- id the members heir the government by conserving food but they learned methods for garden. ing which they would not have otherwise. The girls were given ar opportunity to learn the correct way for preserving vegetables and fruits for winter use also.
 Many boys and girls in the coun- try have signed pledges for earning and giving a stated amount for The United War Work before March first. For the boys this is not so difficult, for they are accustomed to working when out of school, but with the girls it is problem. l would suggest that the girls sell some of their canned products, if they have more than is needed at home, and earn their money in this way. There are many people who would be will ing to buy of the girls, if they knew that they wished to sell their vege- tables and fruit. The girls would be Il II