FOOD FROM SOIL

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 99, 21 January 1932, Page 8

FOOD FROM SOIL

Vegetables on Town Belt

i EXTENDED SCHEME

250 to 300 Acres Available

“There are no doubt areas of suitable land here and there on the Town Belt,” said Councillor F. Meadowcroft, chairman of the Reserves Committee of the City Council, when consulted as to whether a larger scheme of vegetable growing by the unemployed could not be undertaken under the supervision of the Director of Parks and Reserves, Mr. J. G. McKenzie. “I am quite sure that if the need for the cultivation of such areas was real, the City Council would make no demur about lending them for the purpose. We would benefit by having the soil turned over and improved by manures and attention, and the unemployed would benefit by the vegetables grown.” Mr. MacKenkie said that carrots and turnips had already been grown on the Town Belt near Russell Terrace, and, for the conditions prevailing, the result was satisfactory. He made the qualification because that part of the Town Belt, though once cultivated, had been stamped hard down. “There was hardly a worm in it,” said Mr. MacKenzie. “It was as hard as flint, but next season it will be much better, as it will have the benefit of the treatment given it this year." , When asked by Councillor Meadowcroft to mention places on the Town Belt where it might be possible to grow vegetables profitably, Mr. Mackenzie said there were bits here and there suitable for the purpose, but, of course, the major part of the Belt was steep, pretty arid, and very windy. There was a little more land at the Russell Terrace site, and there were places on the municipal golf links which could be turned to account without interfering in any way with the players. The lower slopes of the Wilton block at Wadestown presented possibilities, and the housing block at Northland could be used. There was also the council’s property at Khandallah, formerly part of the Cashmere Estate, which was worth considering if the Unemployment Board’s scheme came to anything. There were also bits at Kilbirnie and at the back of St Helens Home in Liardet Street that might be turned into account “In all,” said Mr. MacKenzie, “there might be from 250 to 800 acres of land made available if a scheme were organised, but organisation is needed, as each plot should be worked by the unemployed who live nearest it and have a personal interest in it. The work would have to be overseen by someone who knew something about it, and would keep the men working. Otherwise it might easily become uneconomic. The best results would not be obtained the first season, but could be looked for when the ground was sweetened by being worked and properly fed. The Director of Reserves mentioned that Mrs. Line had done very well with her patches on the Belt near Owen Street At first It had been proposed to do the work on the communal plan, but this did not work out as happily as it should. Some would work willingly enough to retain their interest in the ultimate product but others loafed on the job, and did not turn up with any degree of regularity when they were wanted, so the whole thing had to be replanned and taken over by a special group. It was on those lines that results had been achieved.

It was suggested by Councillor 8. Holm, who was present at the interview, that probably Air. Stellin, owner of the Strathmore Estate, might be inclined to lend some of his land for the same purpose. There was not very much doing at the present time in suburban land, and there was probably no great area available for Aliramar and Seatoun unemployed in that district.