THE SELF-SUPPORTING HOME 9 



THE CONSUMER COMING INTO HIS OWN 



It is time that the consumer were given advice 

 that will enable him to reduce his expenses. The 

 doctrine now being preached to the farmer urges 

 high-quality crops, advertising, high-class trade and 

 private markets, whereby the high prices that the 

 city people are willing to pay, need not be divided 

 (equally?) with the various middlemen. Our mes- 

 sage is straight to those city and suburban consumers 

 themselves, thatthey neednot pay the high price to any- 

 one, and can at the same time obtain better food and 

 often pay themselves a cash profit, by getting a large 

 part of their living directly from the ground. 



As far back as 1866 Peter Henderson stated 

 that "the consumer pays twice the price the raiser 

 receives." Don't you appreciate the advantage 

 of being both consumer and producer? This sounds 

 radical, perhaps; as if we were levelling hopes of 

 destruction at the practical farmer and market 

 gardener. However, neither is this our attitude, 

 nor would it be the result. The stage of over- 

 production of food-stuffs has not yet been reached, 

 nor is it likely soon to be, and there is no danger that 

 there will not remain the necessary consumers who 

 are contented to remain as such to make market- 

 gardening profitable. To these we do not urge these 

 methods, this system of home-profit making, but 

 rather to those who are ambitious for something 

 more; who want fresh, palatable vegetables and fruits, 

 and the minimum expense in procuring them; who 

 love the out-of-doors; who will find pleasure as well 

 as profit in pursuing the oldest activity in the world. 



