Evening star., 1939-06-11
Subsistence Gardens,
Under Chest Control,
Aid 500 D. T.. Families
individuals and Agencies
Secure Free Use of
Four lund Areas

dens, but they are much more than
that to nearly $500 men, women
and children who will enjoy the
benefits of summertime garden plots
through a project fostered by sew
eral local organizations and kept
alive through the past five years
through the efforts OF Miss Edith
Coulson, recreational secretary of
the Council of Social Agencies. the
central service and planning body
supported through the Community
Chest
With planting time just over in
many of the gardens. green shoots
are already showing in four tracts
now divided with moSaic-like neat
ness into the garden-plot farms of
city people who are taking part in
the city's own "back-to-th land"
movement. Garden-spot privileges
have been accorded more than 500
OF less-privileged families.
Through the cooperation of
number of individuals and organi-
cations. free use of four tracts of
land has been obtained the prepara-
tory plowing has been done, and
those aided may SOW, cultivate and
harvest an ample supply of fresh
vegetables at no cost other than
their own labor and that of few
seeds.
Supervisory and advisory func-
tlonS are the responsibility of per-
sonnel made available through w.
P. A. adult education project. spon-
sored by the District Board of Edu-
cation.
Park Service Tract Used.
-Four large tracts have been OBJ
tanned in DeanWood and in North
east, Southeast. Southwest WASH
ington. The garden-plot land in
Deanwood, as well as in the North
east and Southeast tracts, has been
made available by the National Park
Service, through the interest and
cooperation of c. Marshall Finnan,
superintendent. The tract in South
west Washington has been lent by
the R. O. Belt real estate firm
The tract in DeanWood consisting
OF about seven acres. accommodates
about Sc gardens. Mrs. Mamie Mont
gomery, president of the DeanWood
PIT. A, is in charge
Across from the power house in
the Northeast area is another tract
OF about 10 acres, about rs gardens.
On the banks of the river in the
Southeast. near Anacostia. there
are Is acres of land, about 13O gar
den plots
In the Southwest, on First street
G
tract, approximately 112 gardens.
This tract is under the supervision
of Herndon Jones, principal of
Smallwood School.
Both the Northeast and Southeast
tracts are under the direction of the
adult education division of the
w P A, with Mrs Tina Eugene
Bohannan in charge and Raymond
Winston supervising.
Tractor and Tools Loaned.
The plowing has been done by the
w. P. A. with a tractor lent by
Gallinger Hospital, the cost of oil
and gas for the tractor and other
incidental expenses being paid for
out of private donations Tools are
being loaned by the woodward of
the w. P A. to those individuals
working on the adult education
project.
Last summer, Miss COulsonS data
show each gardening family was
able to raise an average of SIT worth
of vegetables. which meant an all
summer supply for the family table.
as we'll as surplus available for
canning to last into the fall and
winter months.
Benefits acCruing through better
health. through outdoor recreation
enjoyed by whole families. and
through an increased sense Of Sc
curity and Contentment, far eX-
ceeded the money value Of the vege
tables raised" Miss Coulson stated.
~ saw last year a man. his wife
and six children contentedly spend
ing Saturday afternoon together
in their little garden plot on the
banks of the river The man had
built a small shelter out of scrap
material. where they kept tools and
even a few cooking utensils. The
boy was fishing from the river bank
and the young children were playing
In the sunshine
Subsistence gardens had their orr /
gin here in 1882, when Mrs. Fred .
erick Brook Cthen chairman of a
garden committee of the Council
OF Social Agencies and a small I
group of interested gardeners
planned, in cooperation with w r. |
Beatty of the Department of Agri |
culture. and C. Marshall Finnan, |
superintendent of the National
Parks, SO gardens for families of
low income and on relief, Miss .
Coulson's records show. From that .
beginning the project grew in three .
years to 100 gardens in 1885, when .
they were taken over for one year
by the w. P A. division of the .
Board of Public Welfare.
In 1886 leadership for the garden |
plot program again became the re-
sponsibility of the Council of So
cial Agencies, where it has re-
manned under the direction of Miss
Coulson.
Appearances Improved.
The gardens have been a great |
success in the neighborhood, do |
Ing away with the rundown ap- |
pearance of the place where they |
are located states the Parent
Teacher Association which has TAX
en- keen interest in the Deanwood |
Garden Club.
In 1898, according to Miss Coul-
sons report, 442 gardens were plant
ed. carrying benefits to more than |
1000 individuals in the families who |
cultivated them. The ground was
lent by the National Parks by Heu- |
rich Brewery, and public-spirited |
individuals. w. R. Beatty of the |
Department of Agriculture assisted |
In selecting the ground. Two social |
case workers volunteer full time in |