The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-05-12
The Family Garden

This Is the season when family
gardens are receiving special atten-
ton from borrowers of the Farm
Security Administratio ton, according
to Miss Helen F. Willerton, Home
Management supervisor of the FSA
in Queen Anne's, Kent, Caroline and
Cecil Counties.
Emphasis upon the growing of
abundant and well-diversified gar
den crops in order to supply the
family table with long season.
of fresh vegetables and fruits, with
enough produce left over to can and
store for the winter months, is
fundamental to the "live at home
program of farm families receiving
FSA rehabilitation loans.
Every seed planted in the home
garden, by helping to reduce expend-
itures for the family table, repre-
SCENTS saving in the cash income"
Miss Willerton stated. "This saving
often releases hundreds of dollars
of family's income annually for
other farm needs. But the financial
consideration Is not the only one in
volved in this program; besides
keeping food purchases at mini
mum. an ample supply of home
grown produce, planned with refer
ence to correct diet needs, helps to
rehabilitate family physically as
we'll as economically. We consider 1t
one of their greatest assets"
The primary purpose OF Farm
Security's rehabilitation program is
to make the borrowers self-reliant
and independent through education
as well as financial backing Miss
Willerton pointed out. The role OF
the Home Management Supervisor
in the development of this program
ia to assist the homemaker in draw
ing up her home management plans,
to give advice ON better family liv-
ing, and to demonstrate how the
farm may best feed the family. In
the process of achieving well-bal-
anced diet at low cost, from garden
ing and poultry raising to the can
ming and storing Of food for win
ter needs, 1t is the duty OF the
Home Management Supervisor to be
guide and counsel.
She assists each family in plann-
ing and laying out the family gar
den. Soil preparation, the size OF
the plot, types of seed and fertiliz-
ers, the proper spacing, diversified
ton and care of kitchen crops are
all considered carefully. Family pre-
ferences and maximum requirements
for its year-round diet are also
taken into account.
Each family endeavors to produce
as much of the home vegetable sup
ply as possible. In the households
of some FSA borrowers, sugars,
flour, coffee, tea, salt and spices are
practically the only foods purchased.
BY following early and quick-grow-
ing crops with other paintings on
the same ground as soon as the
first are harvested, the fresh veget-
able season is made to last as long
as possible, while the garden plan
also allows and adequate surplus
for canning and storing.
Miss Willerton pointed out that
notable increase in the amount OF
food produced, for home consump-
ton has been revealed by a recently
completed nationwide survey COW
ering nearly 100000 of the families
being rehabilitated by the Farm
Security Administration. Since these
families became FSA clients, they
have tripled their production OF food
for home consumption, she stated.
"Our clients in Queen Anne's,
Kent, Caroline and Cecil counties
are making an effort to plant earlier
and better gardens than ever this
spring." Miss Willerton said "They
have learned through experience
what a year-round diet of home
grown vegetables means to the fam
lily purse, to say nothing OF its
better health and general we'll
being"