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Vacant Lot Junior Garden Clubs 
There are many vacant lots in every city that are permitted to accum¬ 
ulate rubbish and weeds, thereby becoming eye-sores to the community. 
These vacant lots could almost always be secured for gardening purposes 
if the owner is approached in the right manner. 
Organize a Junior Vacant Lot Club of a half dozen or more boys 
and girls, appoint a committee, or better still, go in a body to the owners 
of vacant lots in your neighborhood, fully explaining your plan, and ask 
for the use of the lot. 
When a suitable lot has been secured, march in a body to your 
Mayor’s office, again explaining the purpose of your visit, and respect¬ 
fully ask him if he will not have your little farm plowed and prepared for 
you at the expense of the city. If he refuses tell him that in Cleveland, 
Ohio the city administration provides a special officer whose duty is to 
look after just this kind of work, and that many other cities are doing 
similar work for the school children. 
When your lot has been prepared, divide it into plots of equal size, 
according to the number of members in your Club. For example suppose 
you have eight boys and girls in your club. An ordinary lot is about 40 
by 120 feet. This will give each member a plot 20 by 30 feet in size. 
A well kept garden of this size will produce sufficient vegetables for 
an ordinary family. 
Before and After. Greensburg, Pa. (Courtesy of M. R. Keenan.) 
Community Garden Clubs 
These will differ from Junior Garden Clubs in soliciting families in 
congested districts, who do not have room for a garden at home, to join 
the club and permitting any or all members of such families to assist 
in cultivating and caring for their respective plots. Woman’s Clubs and 
Civic Improvement Leagues can render practical and helpful service by 
organizing and supervising gardening clubs of this kind. Mayors and 
other city officials will generally assist in this kind of work by plowing 
and fertilizing the lots at the expense of the city, if the matter is presented 
to them by citizens of good standing and influence. 
Teachers should read the interesting and instructive little story 
on page 38 to the children. 
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