OUR CURB MARKET, Pennsylvania; February 1924

What I am most interested in at present is our curb market as it solves the problem of how to get fresh produce to consumer—the elimination of the middleman. A committee composed of grocerymen and store-keepers originated the plan. A place is designated; every Wednesday and Saturday morning at seven, trucks, touring cars and other vehicles assemble with produce of all kinds, from large trucks loaded with peaches or apples down to a single farm woman with her butter and eggs.
We are small fruit growers—farmers in general—and have marketed vegetables, eggs, butter, milk, cottage cheese, dressed and plain poultry, fruits, flowers. I have sold several hundred quarts of cottage cheese in ice-cream containers at twenty-five cents a quart.

One of my neighbors recently had fresh hog meat. The sausage sold for twenty-five cents a pound and the crowd couldn't be penetrated, the demand was so great.

We aim to put all produce in an attractive shape, sell between wholesale and retail prices, give good honest measure and do as we would be done by.

When the rush is over, we women discuss household economy; in the summer we traded flowers, slips and so forth. Tubers of dahlias for spring sold well this year.

Everyone boosts for this market and a market house is being talked of. With this year's abundant crop of apples, the market surely has been helpful to this part of the state.

OUR NEEDLECRAFT SHOP; Miss S. E., Missouri; 1924

We live on a hill in the outskirts of a village and our town is about four miles from a girls' college. Our home is on a state highway where there is much travel. The house is attractive, painted white with green blinds like many other country cottages. We have a nice lawn and flower beds, a big spreading tree in front, small fruits and a garden at the back.
Our mother was a helpless invalid and neither my sister nor I could leave home to earn money. We faced sad moments for our income was very small.

One day Mother said, “I love to crochet, tat and embroider. We could live all right if we could only sell our work.” That gave us an idea and the next day I went to a needle-work shop in a city about fifteen miles away, told the manager our circumstances and asked him if he would buy some of our articles. He told me he would. So I purchased a supply of crochet thread in different sizes. Mother cheerily started at her fancy work.

We decided to fix up a fancy-work shop at home. We planned to use our parlor as a reception room and the sitting room as a room to display samples. We put an advertisement in the papers inviting travelers to stop at the Hilltop Needle Shop. Hiking college girls heard of us and picked our farm as a choice place for hikes. They stopped to rest and bought some things. Then we made lemonade and ice cream to sell and the next spring we made garden early and sold vegetables. Then we branched out still more and put a sign at the front saying that we served lunches. Many travelers stopped for lunch and often bought fruits, vegetables and chickens to take on with them. Our fancy-work department was more than successful and Mother now has orders for two months' work ahead.

We have had a few set-backs but we are very happy now and our income is steadily growing. It is a pleasure to please others and to know they are pleased.

HOW WE CLIMBED; Mrs. W. F. S., South Carolina; February 1924

Thirteen years ago, my husband and I started our home as tenants; we owned one horse, a cow and one shoat and had a few hundred dollars, saved before we were married. With this money we bought a one-acre lot and built a five-room bungalow; we had just enough left to buy wire for a garden fence. We started our first year of married life without money for out-buildings. Husband did the field work; I did the work of the home. I sold butter, eggs, chickens.

It took all of the first year's income to build a barn and smoke-house but we persevered, making a little more each year. In the third or fourth year, my husband made twenty-one bales of cotton with only thirteen dollars paid out of labor until gathering time. He always raises enough corn for feed and some to sell; we also have plenty of hay. We produce everything that can be successfully grown in this climate. Mules and farm machinery have been purchased as needed.

The first extra dollars we could spare we decided to invest in Building and Loan stock.

We now have eighty-one acres of land, a remodeled home with water works, electric lights and many other conveniences.

Two years ago our County Home Demonstration Agent opened a curb market in our town, something new to all of us club members. I was the first woman there and the first to make a sale. This market has been a success from that day and grows each month. We open two days a week in the winter and three in summer. I sell butter, eggs, chickens, vegetable, flowers and some preserves and pickles. I make quite a little sum on flowers. Dahlias and gladioli sell best.

My sales for last year amounted to $900. This is my income, and with it I buy clothes, table supplies, carry Building and Loan, help support three orphan children and give a tenth to religious and other good causes.

We have not “happened” on any “good luck”--it has been done by hard work and systematic saving.

CHUMMY CHATS FROM OUR GIRLS, Part 2; 1931

Letter #1 We still have girls with the pioneer spirit! Isn't this a new idea? Lucy Frederick's (Wisconsin), ambition is to be an employee of a government or state game preserve. She says, “I have always been interested in the out-of-doors and its inhabitants. I have always had animals around me, both domestic and wild to feed during the winter months. Of course, I know it's strange for a girl to want such a position; yet I don't see why one in good health with a good education and a desire for out-door life cannot do it.”

Letter #2
In April the country girl is in her glory. She sees the first crocus come through the soft ground and watches the daffodils open up their faces to the sun. She spies on Robin Red Breast to see where she builds her nest, and she delights in the croaking of the frogs. What fun to watch the lambs and calves kick up their heels in the pasture! And better still, to make each of them a jolly pet!

Letter #3 “Advice Column”
At school I feel miserable because I am lonely and my classmates go by themselves. I am left alone for the recess and noon periods to read, write, or do something else which I do not enjoy. I have to do this to keep from getting lonely. All this makes my head ache terribly, and my heart ache, and makes me ill-tempered and feel like doing something terrible. I think the trouble is that my desire to join in their games and sports is too great, and because I do not get enough exercise during the day. I never smile because I am too unhappy. I am 14.--A miserable 6^th Grader, Michigan.

Little Sixth Grader, won't you give me your name and address, so I my answer your other questions personally? Will you promise to do one thing even if it is hard? From the time you get up in the morning until you go to bed—smile!! Do it until your face hurts from over-exercise, and the “achey” feeling around your heart will be forgotten. Say something jolly to all your school mates. The minute the bell rings say, “Let's go play,” and be one of the first ones out. Above all, never feel sorry for yourself. Play hard and be a good loser. What I have suggested will be the hardest thing you ever did, but it will be worth it.