(Q) b. Selection of a manager to handle the project, living
on the ground.
(A) To be sure this is necessary, and he must know something
not only about soil but about all characters of vegetation;
of vegetables, of fruits and berries that grow in this
section of the country. Understand, not all are adaptable.
There are some characters of berries, - for instance, the
whortleberry or the dewberry or blackberry will grow in
abundance here - on this project. Some other characters
that would be very desirable won't grow at all! Certain
characters of vegetables will grow well, others will not be
so good. All of these things must be taken into
consideration. For, remember, the appetites of ten
individuals are entirely different! Some would never want a
strawberry, some would never want a whortleberry, and some
would never want an apple, but some would want all the rest!
(Q) c. Intensive truck farming and chicken and egg
production, fruit, berries, etc.
(A) All of these should be considered. For these are ideal,
not only as to the location but as for some characters of
such vegetation.
(Q) d. System of canning, cooperative family effort.
(A) All of these should be considered; and it would be the
same character of activity as indicated, both in the fresh
fruits and in the canning, there will be certain ones who
will want certain characters and others who wouldn't care
for same.
(Q) e. Sale of surplus, if any.
(A) This is correct also, but this needs managers as well
as workers!
(Q) May any advice be given through this channel regarding
the selection of a farming manager of the project?
(A) It would be well to get some individual who is well
acquainted with the soil, first, as indicated, and the
character of fruits and vegetables as would produce the
better in this particular section of the country. As to the
name, no; because it will be best to take one of those who
will come possibly from Finland or Poland.
(Q) Is ten the proper number of families to interest in the
project?
(A) This depends upon just how the division is to be made
of the character of materials or the produce to be produced.
It depends on how much is to be put in the chicken yard, how
much in the other home sites or the like, or the outhouses or
other characters of produce that might be produced. This
would be a very, VERY good place for such considerations as
mushrooms, which is a good tentative idea for one of the
individuals who thinks!
(Q) What other particular items, if any, should be stressed
in such a project?
(A) These as indicated will keep their hands full for
several people!
(Q) What information may be given as to the time to start
such a project?
(A) As indicated, in two years - but that would mean,
of course, from about the middle of the year, or July or
August - two years from now.
(Q) What steps should be taken to prepare the land, - such
as planting of fruit trees, berries, grain crops for chicken
feed, etc.?
(A) These would all come in their regular order, but begin
the fruit trees now - and then in two years you'll have
something to commence with, see? Don't begin the berries,
though, as yet. But the fruit trees will not interfere with
the present operations, and these can be kept on for two more
years.
(Q) What suggestions may be given here (on the basis of the
families involved as stated above) regarding percentage of
land for the following: chicken production, vegetable and
grain crops, fruit, berries?
(A) These had best be worked out with the character of the
individual who would manage or superintend such, and the
superintendent must not be an overseer but a worker, - not a
shirker nor a jerker!
(Q) May information be given through this channel on the
proper methods of farming which would insure the production
of products of the best possible food value and balanced
content?
(A) If there is to be insured the producing of the character
of fertilization needed, or the making of the proper
fertilizer, - none exceeds, of course, the value of chicken
fertilizer, especially for some vegetables. Hence this
should be used in rather an abundance, not excessively but in
large measures; as well as that produced by the methods of
adding such as lime and potash with portions of the soil, or
portions of vegetable matter or refuse of vines or grasses in
certain characters of vegetation, - but always mixed with the
droppings of the chicken, - for this is the better of ANY
that may be had for vegetables!
(Q) What suggestion should be used to secure through this
channel the best information on this subject?
(A) The answering of the needs as they arise, of course,
would be the best manner. But the better understanding may
be had through the regular agricultural propositions for the
various things, and then these tested with such information
as combined with others who have made a study of same. For,
here ye approach from the spiritual angle; others approach
from the mental; others from the practical. They are one;
yet comprehending or understanding same is of the greater
value. To be sure, there is a great deal in the theories
that are propagated by some groups, that what is in the
vegetables and fruits has much to do with the character. If
the man who raises and cares for them does it with love, it
makes all the difference! Don't think a grouchy man can ever
raise a headed cabbage or a tomato that will agree as well as
those raised by a man who laughs and tells a good joke,
though it may be smutty!
(Q) May information be given as to the ultimate goal of such
an undertaking in the light of national and world affairs?
(A) This will be in keeping with many of those projects
undertaken, that have been for some time set in motion in
various sections of the country for a better correlation with
the masses and the production of farms, or the small acreage
intensive farming, and all in keeping with the practical, the
mental and the spiritual applications of all those purposes,
aims and desires in such undertakings. This might be
extended to where there might be included in half the acreage
that is now under cultivation in this county sufficient to
supply twice as much of the people, because they are happy in
what they are doing! Consider the days of old, - these are
not foolish! When there were the families that produced upon
the farm, how much better not only were the lives of those
individuals but the character of the product - and there were
not half so many pests to deal with! And whence came they?
From the same place that the flies and the fleas and the
grasshoppers came to plague Egypt!
(Q) Could the house now on the property be repaired and
termites exterminated or would it be better to tear down and
build a small bungalow closer to the road?
(A) It would be better to tear down eventually and rebuild;
using a great deal of this, though the foundations are not of
such natures that it would be well to attempt to repair in
this present location, and this in the manner in which it
might be laid out would be rather in an inconvenient place.
(Q) Where would be the best location for the wood working
shop, - at the farm or at the ... St. house in Va. Beach?
(A) Wherever the one is who is to use same! If you're going
to use it, have it closer, - if you don't you won't use it as
much as you should. Or if it is too far away others would be
using it that wouldn't be so well, for the materials nor for
the work itself!
(Q) Any other suggestions, counsel or advice on this
project?
(A) Do consider it seriously. It is the basis of any
undertaking that is worth while. It may not only become a
local but a state-wide and a national movement in ways and
means as to insure the meeting of the problems when there is
peace again in the land, and also insuring the better
products for a better people. You expect a new root race.
What are you doing to prepare for it? You must prepare food
for their bodies as well as their minds and their spiritual
development!
We are through for the present. [GD's note: See 470-35,
Par. R1.]
Copy to [Mr. 470]
Copy to H. L. Cayce
Copy to Ass'n file
BACKGROUND
See wife's reading
1100-31, Par. 23-A--25-A, on
8/06/41,
advising them to buy a farm, near those groups [A.R.E.]
representing to them security, safety, in the material,
mental and spiritual influences.
REPORTS
