It was really more like a family affair than a University project, but those faculty men and employees who had Victory Gardens on the Botanical Garden acreage, just outside the city on the Packard Street road, feel the satisfaction of having made a typically American contribution to the war effort and gratitude to the University for having made this possible. The idea originated with Mr. O. E. Roszel, keeper of the University Storehouse, who took charge of details, enthusiastically aided by both the Botanical Gardens staff and the School of Forestry and Conservation. Early in the spring the University attended to ploughing and preparing the soil and over 80 plots, each 50 x 25 feet, were assigned—and more could have been used. But let one of the participants tell the story, in a letter addressed to Vice President Shirley W. Smith:
"I have just pulled the last carrots from my 1942 Victory garden in the forestry area of the Botanical Gardens. These late-season carrots remind me of a pleasant duty which I should have discharged long since.
"I know I speak for all of the persons who had Victory gardens on University property during the past summer when I say that we appreciated the privilege very much, and were especially grateful for the courtesies of Mr. Roszel who was in charge of the project. You probably know that by far the greatest number of persons who reserved garden plots carried their projects through to completion, and there was very little waste resulting from neglect. In my own case, I did not purchase for my household any kind of vegetable, or salad greens, between June 6 and the middle of September. Even after that date, we continued to enjoy some of the late vegetables, including the late lamented carrots which prompt the present letter.
"I have not made any attempt to discover how much the garden saved me in actual money, and perhaps when the gasoline and bicycle tire rubber, seeds, and equipment are figured up, it will be found that I broke approximately even. I am concerned with reporting to you, however, that my family enjoyed from two to four vegetables, in addition to a large variety of salads, on practically every day of the period I mentioned above. I might also add that we have never eaten better in our lives at so little cost.
"As for the farmer himself, he received a great amount of pleasure, relaxation, and excellent though strenuous exercise in carrying the project forward. He discovered that the new war time was a boon to the small agricultural worker, for he could put in at least three hours of work after supper in the evening. His experience with the earth had been distinctly limited, but he followed the directions on the packages, used various sprays to advantage, and nature and Mr. Kleinschmidt's excellent soil did the rest. So much for the rhapsodical aspects of the matter.
"On behalf of several of my colleagues who enjoyed the same pleasure and profit as I did in planting and caring for a Victory garden on University property, may I offer to those who made the plan possible our sincerest thanks; and may I also express the hope that the same opportunity will be available to us in the future."
There will be more University Victory gardens at the same place next spring, too.
The Michigan Alumnus
Jan 9 1943, Page 219
