MOTHER'S CHILDREN

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MOTHER feels strongly that youths can be creative "doers", working toward more ecological and self-reliant lifestyles .. . whether their tasks be raising chickens on a farm or maintaining rooftop container gardens in the city. To support the endeavors of our often overlooked "underage" citizens, we're glad to publish well-written articles from younger children and teenagers concerning projects they've undertaken. However, we recommend that all young authors query (that is, send us a letter telling about the story you'd like to do) before writing a full article. Address inquiries to Mother's Children, THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS ® , P.O. Box 70, Hendersonville. North Carolina 28791.

EXHIBIT YOUR VEGETABLES THE 4-H CLUB WAY

by Melissa Driscoll

Everyone knows that growing your own vegetables is a great way to produce nutritious and yummy food . . . but have you ever thought about seeing whether your pickings can hold their own at a judge's table?

That's right, exhibiting produce at fairs and garden clubs is fun, and an easy way to show off homegrown vegetables. And one of the best ways to learn how to do it is to join 4-H.

You may not know that 4-H clubs involve youngsters and parents working and learning together . . . receiving guidance from local county extension agents. When I started going to 4-H, I was amazed by the amount of material given to me, and by the number of different subjects I could learn about. Why, beef raising, geology, lawn and landscape, home environment, horses, aerospace, and—of course—gardening (indoor, outdoor, flower, and vegetable) are just a few of the choices!

And that's not all. My own local group, the Afton Arrows, enters county skit competitions and takes part in demonstration days and "Community Pride" roadside cleanups. Some of my friends' 4-H clubs have entered one-act play contests, and even participate in competitions to see who can conduct the best business meeting! (Most 4-H clubs hold regular meetings. They're conducted according to the rules of parliamentary procedure, and the kids are the officers.)

However, the main reason I got involved in 4-H was that I wanted to find out how to raise and show chickens and vegetables. And here's what I've learned about showing vegetables.

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