Worcester Garden City Plan; Or, The 

 Good Citizens' Factory 



R. J. Floody 



"Back to the farm," '*Back to the soil," is the slogan of the 

 social prophet of today. The soil is the source of wealth, means 

 of health, basis of education, and condition of civilization. In- 

 deed, man commenced to be civilized when he began to till the . 

 soil. What a strange and fascinating effect the soil has upon 

 the human mind ! Note when a load of loam or sand is dumped 

 upon the street how quickly it is covered with little children. 

 The prophetic finger of the age points to the soil or soil cultiva- 

 tion as the principal factor in the solution of our social ills. This 

 lias been clearly demonstrated in our experiment with what we 

 have been pleased to call the Garden City Plan. 



This Garden City Plan consists of a large group or city of 

 little gardens, ten by twenty feet, with streets, boulevards, 

 squares, etc.; like a minature city. So far we have used dumps 

 and vacant lots. Each child is charged the sum of five cents for 

 his garden, given five packages of seeds, and he owns all he 

 raises. The age range is from six to sixteen but those beyond these 

 limits with adults also are given special permits, so that it is a 

 community affair with all ages. There is a Zoo in connection 

 with this juvenile city. Rabbits, guinea pigs, foxes, coons, white 

 rats, white mice, etc., comprised this menagerie. 



This city is well organized with a Mayor. City council of 

 seven members. Commissioner of Gardens, of Streets, of Tools. 

 Water Commissioner, etc., together with forty Police Officers. 

 The latter were for the purpose of protecting the property from 

 thieves and bums. In the central square waves "Old Glory," 

 reminding the many nationalities of their country and the laws 

 it represents. 



This work was independently started five years ago under the 

 auspices of the Worcester Social Settlement in the "Island Dis- 

 trict" of Worcester. Mass. This district is about two miles long 

 and one wide, contains 22 nationalities, has over 20,000 children 

 eighteen years and under, has a record of much drinking, poverty 

 and crime. After three years of successful work, another gar- 

 den was opened among the Italians in the East side on Shrews- 

 bury St. Last season we had not only the above gardens but two 

 on the \\'est Side among the American class of people, making 

 four garden cities in^H. It worked with equal success among 



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