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Weeks. Charles

A California Acre

[Los Angeles]
[19]

 
     
 
   
   
    
   
   
  

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University of California at Berkeley Library

USAIN State and Local Literature Preservation Project

Master negative storage number: 00-76.1

(national version of the master negative storage number: CU SN00076.1)

Author: Weeks, Charles.
Title: A California Acre.
Imprint: [Los Angeles, 19 |]

Description: 32 p. illus., ports., map. 24cm.

Call numbers: CSL State Lib SF487 W36 California

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~

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

Through the Visitors’ Eyes

Thousands of people visit the one acre farm of Charles Weeks
and many come again and again. Read what they say:

Mr. Charles Weeks,
Dear Sir:

‘My sole object in visiting your acre proposition was to get first hand
knowledge so that I could truthfully and intelligently answer inquiries that
come to me from friends and others in the East and Midwest. Could you
have read the letter I wrote to the last person in whose behalf I made the
visit, you would certainly conclude that I am “sold’’ on your one acre plan.
To say “the half has not been told” does not express it. The tenth

has not been told and indeed cannot be. One must see how it is done to

' be convinced that from one single acre of ground one can obtain all the

essentials of a happy, healthful, interesting, carefree life.
I have placed you on my list of “special attractions’’ in Southern
California to show my Eastern friends when they visit us.
: i ive I : Sincerely yours, :
James G. Early,
Los Angeles.

Song of birds and’ cackling hens make sweet music in this garden city.
[4]

CALIFORNIA STATE LJ

 

 

EE ——

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

A Continued Story Telling of the Possibilities of the
Intensive Little Farms

The New Art of Living
CHAPTER 1.

E new art of living on the land which
Lincoln foretold is coming—it has come!
Men are beginning to see that the life of
the land must be revolutionized, that in-

stead of big holdings in lonely places they

must have small holdings near the heart of
civilization, that instead of using the land
wastefully they mist use it intensively and
scientifically; st, to supply a luxurious
table for their families; then, to furnish an
ample income for other needs.

That isn’t all! There must be a social
satisfaction, with neighbors close at hand,
with organized life of every sort, with op-
portunities for intellectual and spiritual
growth.

This new and better life on the land has
e a realization in the Garden City
founded by Charles Weeks and known as the
“Charles Weeks Community of Intensive Lit-
tle Farms.” This city of self-supporting gar-
den homes is unique in the world’s history
today and stands as a monument to the pos-
sibilities of the intensive little farm.

This story will be a sort of narrative relat-
ing, the simple, natural, healthful, independ-

ent life as lived by Charles Weeks himself on

his own one-acre farm. You should not miss
one chapter of this rural narrative. It will be

a revelation to you, showing a way to create
a little heaven on earth from the soil, water,
air and sunshine,

For twenty-five years Charles Weeks has
been proving step by step that a man and his
family can earn a comfortable living from so
little as one acre of land and from these years
of long experience he has evolved a system of
intensive farming that is revolutionizing old
methods of large farms. ' From all the world
he has chosen just one acre of sandy, loam
soil located in the west end of the beautiful
San Fernando Valley in sunny Southern
California, and on this acre he has created a
little paradise all his own. It is a material
realization of a dream come true—a veritable
wonderland wherein grows every good thing
that nature has given man for his sustenance.
It is a living demonstration to mankind,
showing how man can live this ideal, peace-
ful, healthful life out under the blue sky in the
sunshine and fresh air, away from the noise
and grind and high tension of the city.

“Better than grandeur,
Better than gold
Better than wealth a hundred fold,
Are a healthful body
A mind at ease

And simple pleasures

That always please.”

The Home Garden—all the year ‘round.

[5]

 
 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

Somewhere in the mind of almost every
individual is a picture of an ideal existence far
different from the real daily existence. Some-
time in the life of every person there is a
longing for the simple, natural life away from
driving customs. A picture of a rose-covered

. Four generations of the Weeks’ family.
ew ; ra
cottage surrounded by a luxurious garden out
in the life-giving sunshine and fresh air,
where health, peace and contentment prevail
— this is the picture that lurks in the mind of
every wage earner, or overburdened business
man, a little world where everything in crea-
- tion is grown for the delight and comfort of
' man, a place where a man can retreat from
the insistent and nerve-wrecking crowd and
hold communion with Nature and himself.
The story of what Charles Weeks has done on

one acre will be an inspiration to all who have

dreamed of owning a beautiful garden home.

There are four main essentials to be kept
in mind when choosing a site for a self-
supporting garden home. First, the soil
must be a sandy or silt loam, free from hard-
pan, alkali or adobe. Get the very best
sediment soil to start with. The second es-
sential is a superabundance of cheap water
direct from the mountains for irrigation.
The third essential is climate. Southern
California has an ideal climate for intensive
farming. The fourth is market facilities for
selling products produced on the little farm.
Soil, water, climate and market—these four
factors make a correct foundation to build

upon. :

Another family group of Charles Weeks—the name
is destined to live on forever.

[6]

nA RRL ts AAR ruth SH ete od th A a be to ds AA Ian ptt Lh

 

 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

A Tropical Garden
CHAPTER 2.

J Vyour own little farm, then specialize on

poultry for cash income,” is the slogan

~~, of Charles Weeks. He lives this life, he
thinks it, he dreams it, he preaches it and he

writes it. The truths that are brought to

Fre feed yourself from the products of

« you in this booklet will not be cold, dry stale

statistics, but pictures of this new and beauti-

ful way of life in a home surrounded by a

bountiful garden—pictures vibrating with
lifeitself.

One of the prettiest and most luxuriant
corners on the one acre farm of Charles Weeks
is that of the vegetable garden which lies just

~~ back of the kitchen door, where it should be.
Here on alittle Blot 30x40 feet is grown every
~ kind of vegetab
such abundance that there is enough and

for the table, and grown in

some left over to give away. Just enough is
lanted of each variety at a time, to supply the

table and a new bed of each variety is planted

few days so that there is a continuous

oly of fresh vegetables every day in the

‘balmy climate of the west end of

the San Fernando Valley in sunny Southern

ornia makes this treat possible.
t a wonderful privilege it is to be able

bib :

So to step out of the kitchen into a vegetable

garden any time of the year and pluck the
choice, tender, succulent vegetables right
from the rich, well-watered soil—vegetables

full of vitamines and mineral salts which are
so necessary to perfect health. How much
more poetical and healthful it is to live out of
your own garden than to run to the corner
grocery for stale products or canned goods.

In the tropics vegetation grows luxuriantly
because of the warmth and superabundance
of moisture, plus high fertilization of the soil
from decayed vegetable life. Charles Weeks
has brought these tropical conditions to his
own garden and is producing a veritable
tropical growth on his one acre farm. He
has learned that a shady soil holds moisture
and at the same time increases in fertility
through the wth of soil bacteria. To
bring about this condition he has first fer-
tilized his garden plot with decomposed
poultry, rabbit, and stable manure, ashes from
the fireplace and gypsum. These are spaded
and worked thoroughly into the soil at least
once each year.

Here is the secret for growing a tropical
garden, as given by Mr. Weeks. After pre-
paring the ground for the seed, cover it with
cheap asphalt paper which can be obtained
from any large paper company. Tay over
the seams where the paper laps, strips of
4-inch plank, which holds the paper down and
forms a walkway over the paper. In plant-
ing the seed a 12-inch plank is used as a
walkway, placing it across the 4-inch plank

\

 
 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

that holds it down. Holes are cut with a
sharp knife in the shape of a cross in ‘the
paper along the edge of the 12-inch plank,
spacing the holes according to the kind of
seed planted. The slits in the paper forming
the cross are about 2 inches long. A knife is
used to open the ground and cover the seed
through this cross-slit in the paper. In this
way the entire ground is shaded by the black
asphalt paper and the roots of the plant are
below the paper in the warm, moist, fertile
soil, while the crown of the plant revels in the
sunlight. This makes the tropical condition.
Very little moisture can escape through this
paper and by sprinkling the garden the water
runs through the slits in the paper to the
very roots of the plant, where it is most
needed. Besides holding the moisture, the
black paper absorbs all the heat rays from
the sun, creating a warmth that is retained

*N Meg. Charles Weeks and. son’ Junior.

throughout the night. Thus forcing the
plant growth day and night. Quickly zrown
vegetables are tender and crisp and finely
flavored. ;

‘Perhaps, one of the biggest advantages of
shading the ground with asphalt paper is that
it permits the soil bacteria to multiply near

the surface where the roots of the plants feed. -

The hot rays of the sun directly on the soil
destroy the moisture on the surface, thus
killing the many forms of minute life in “the
soil. Soil bacteria grow best in warm, shady

moist soil and this tremendous microscopic
growth tends to enrich the soil and this is the
reason such places are unusually fertile.

Charles Weeks says that some folks call his
garden “The lazy man’s garden” because no
weeds grow in it. Can you picture a garden
where the weeds do not grow? Wouldn't
that be a “heavenly” garden? Well, there
are no weeds to pull in the remarkable garden
grown by Mr. Weeks. He says it is simply
“mind power over matter,” saving labor by
using nature's own way. All the fertility of
the soil goes to grow delicious vegetables in-
stead of weeds. Did you ever think why we
till the soil and keep a fine soil mulch on top?
It is to retain the moisture beneath. The
paper answers this purpose far better with no
labor whatever. All that is necessary after
the garden is planted is to water it and gather
in the choicest vegetables in all the world.

In this magic paper garden you will see
corn, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce,
beets, turnips, radishes, cucumbers, etc., all
growing clean and free from dirt above the
paper—it is the cleanest and freshest looking
garden you ever saw! It is easy to grow the
best living direct from the soil by the Charles
Weeks’ system. This is only one of the
many new things evolved by him in his long
experience on the intensive little farm. He
has many surprises for you.

“Grape Lane,” cool, refreshing and restful, -lead-
ing to the aviary of the sweet songsters.

[8] Hy

 

 

system

 

A CALIFORNIA A CRE

Trained Trees

CHAPTER 3.

T IS remarkable what power man has in
training growing trees to form into many
‘different shapes. The. fruit trees on
~ Charles Weeks’ little farm are trained

flat as a fan against the fence. The choicest
+ varieties have been chosen ripening from the

earliest to the latest date, so that a continuous

supply of fresh, ripe fruit can be had for the
table during the long season of Southern

California.

1" "The Enpalier system of training fruit tress.

These trees are set 16 feet apart against the

wire. fence that encloses the acre with $8

limbs 8 feet long on each side of the trunk,

‘branch being 10 inches apart. This
of training fruit trees is called the
er or French system. Each limb or

branch runs horizontal and no limb isin com-

petition with any other limb, each having the

+ same amount of sunlight and air. The sun

kisses the fruit on the cast side in the morn.
and kissesit on-the west side in the evening,
‘blush through and through. This

These should all be pinched off at the bud end
when about 4 to 6 inches long, except the end
bud which keeps growing till the branch is the
length desired. The new twigs should be
pinched back about once each week during
the summer. = This is called summer pruning
and causes fruit buds to form on all the twigs

inched back so that a tremendous crop of
ruit sets on for the following summer. This
forces the tree to bear early and heavily and it
dwarfs the tree so that small, compact trees
are thus obtained.

The fruit trees planted and trained on the
fence around the acre take up very little
room and yield an abundance of the choicest
fruit from the second summer on, besides ad-
ding to the artistic appearance of the little
farm. Garden homes should be made beaut-
iful as well as productive. In fact, there is
always beauty where things are growing. The
trained trees on the one acre farm of Share
Weeks are now five years old and have yielded
abundantly the finest fruit since the second

+ Summer.

Charles Weeks has discovered a new and
efficient way of watering and fertilizing the
fruit trees on his farm. A hole one foot
in diameter and four feet deep is dug with a

makes the fruit sweet—being kissed

n so much, you know.
ng to Charles Weeks, it is a simple
rain fruit trees fan shaped forming
edge on the fence, if you start
first planted and direct the
g branches along the eight or

m the trunk except those along

branches
the wires. As the branch follows the wire,
there will be other twigs start upward.

wr ie

 
A CALIFORNIA ACRE

post hole digger about 4 feet from the tree
and filled almost full of poultry manure or
other kinds of fertilizer. The water can be
run down a furrow alongside of the row of
trees and into these holes filled with manure.
In this way the water soaks into the soil far
down where the roots should be and carries
the strength of the fertilizer with it. The
fertilizer holds the moisture in these holes and
soon decomposes without waste and is ac-
cessible to the roots. This system saves
water, conserves the fertilizer and p laces both
where most needed. Trees treated in this
way grow very rapidly and produce luscious
fruit. The following year another hole can
be placed on the opposite side of the tree and
the fertilizer is thus distributed.

Trees trained on trellises and irrigated and
fertilized in this way produce an abundance
of the finest quality fruit. Most of the fruit

rown in commercial orchards is poorly

avored because of lack of fertilizer in the
soil. What a wonderful privilege it is to
pick a compote of delicious fruit right from
your own trees trained and cared for by your
own hands! Someone has said that the first
of everything is the best and what a keen
pleasure it is to watch for each new variety as
it ripens.

On the one acre farm of Charles Weeks
~ there are now growing 17 varieties of peaches,
12 varieties of plums, 11 pears, 9 kinds of
apples, 4 nectarines, 2 apricots, 2 figs, oranges,
lemons, mulberries, pomegranates, etc.  Be-
sides these best varieties of all kinds of fruits,

there are 22 kinds of table grapes. The
earliest peaches ripen the first of June and
there are ripe peaches every week until
December. The many varieties of highly
colored plums are a pleasing sight when ripe.
The largest and finest flavored apples are
matured on the nine apple trees.

The one acre farm of Charles Weeks is a
veritable fairyland, especially when the
fruit and grapes are ripe. Charles Junior
Weeks, age 9 years, is indeed fortunate in
having such a fairyland for his childhood
days. Every child should have the divine
privilege of growing up in a garden. The
largest heritage that father can bequeath his
children is to create in them a love of nature
and the great outdoors. The garden home
is the very best environment for the highest
development of the child. Most of our great-
est men have spent their childhood days close
to na ture on the farm. Children that grow up
among flowers, trees and vines are naturally
good children. Vice and crime breed in the
slum districts in large cities. A garden home
makes a little heaven on earth for the child-

ren.

The finest crop produced on the one acre
farms in the Weeks Poultry Community is
the harvest of boys and girls. Here in the
sunlight and fresh air surrounded by the
beauties of nature with nourishing = food
direct from the garden, children grow sturdy,
strong and healthy, laying a noble foundation
for better men and women.

Another scene of the garden and trained fruit trees.

[10]

 

 

 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

Grapes

CHAPTER 4.

E subject of this chapter is “Grapes.”

Not the proverbial “sour grapes,” but
grapes within the reach of everyone,
growing on beautiful arbors over shady
walks and drives. In planning and develop-
ing this one-acre farm, Charles Weeks had in

mind beauty as well as utility. To thatend

he has used grape vines to make cool, refresh-
ing arbors and shady walks. The choicest
table grapes are trained artistically on trel-

Side. entrance to the home of Charles Weeks—a
corner of Paradise.

lises and arbors, around the cozy cottage,
making a tropical forest effect, even to that
delightful, fresl
tage is nestled in banks of verdure.

Every foot of the one-acre farm of Charles
Weeks 1s made to produce something useful
and beautiful. In order not to waste the

space occupied by the driveway into the

garage, large clusters of delicious grapes hang
rom the arbor overhead. Even the roof
space over the garage and cottage is made into

"a beautiful summer garden by arbors of

grape vines.

ul, fresh “‘woodsey” smell. The cot-

One of the most delightful nooks on this
intensive little farm is that formed by the
expansive grape arbor that encloses the aviary
for song birds. This grape-covered aviary is
10 feet high, 24 feet wide and 60 feet long and
is filled with warblers and rollers. When they
flood the morning air with sweetest song, one
can imagine that he walks in the leafy for-
est of the Harte Mountains. In the center
of this vine-covered aviary is a pretty little
bird house for shelter and feed, in the front
of which is a fountain that trickles down into
bird baths and into the gold fish pond below.
The floor of this fairyland aviary is covered
with a soft carpet of blue grass lawn.

Charles Weeks says that the most delight-
ful moment of the whole day on his one-acre
farm is that moment at break of day when
each little feathered songster bursts simul-
taneously into thrills, crescendoes and runs of
bird music. The songstersin the aviary attract
outside songsters from far and near and the
mocking bird in the rose bush over the win-
dow and the song sparrow in the hedge of
fruit trees add their glad refrain to the morn-
ing chorus. How much sweeter, more rest-
ful, more inspiring the songs of birds than the

The cool, shady home of the song-birds.

[11]

 
A CALIFORNIA ACRE

noise of the street cars, automobiles and news-
boys in theirritatingcity. The pepper drives,
dense hedges and fruit trees in the Weeks
Community attract thousands of song birds.

After the song of the birds in the morning,
in the opinion of Mr. Weeks, the next most
interesting part of the day’s program is to
visit the grape vines while the dew is still on
the grass in the cool of the morning and

sample the many kinds of juicy grapes right:

off the vine. The Amber Queen, the earliest
and sweetest of all grapes, is a special favorite
and the first visited. Then comes the good
old Concord we used to know back East, full
of “slip skin’’ sweetness. Then the Thom-
pson Seedless, Rose of Peru, White Niagara
and the balance of the 22 varieties.

The Concord grape is one of the favorites
on the one-acre farm of Charles Weeks, not
only for its fine table qualities but because it
makes the finest, sweet juice for canning,
which can be used throughout the year for
making refreshing punches along with lemons,
oranges and grapefruit. (It may pay you to
cultivate the acquaintance of Charles Weeks.)
He takes great delight in treating his intimate
friends to this Elixir of Life sweet from his

co
Las

own vines. One of the keenest joys of the
little farm is to be able to treat choice friends
with good things to eat and drink direct from
your own trees and vines.

Sweet music for the ear, beautiful flowers
for the eye, delicious viands for the palate,
fragrance of honeysuckle for the nostrils,
noble, productive work for the hand and a
world of love for the heart—all on a one-acre
farm in Weeks City of Garden Homes. -

There are no other kinds of trees or vines
that make a quicker shade than grape vines.
A barren acre can be made into a beautiful
green place with an abundance of shade and
good things to eat the second summer after
planting. Trees and vines grow while you
sleep and add more beauty and financial
worth to a place than any other work. In-
expensive buildings become artistic when
draped in clinging vines and surrounded with
bearing trees. In the Weeks Community
each little farm adds its quota of beauty to
the whole neighborhood and these units make
a perfect whole and form a garden city. The
neat, artistic arrangement of this community
of over 500 garden homes eliminates the usual
careless appearance around poultry farms,

Manufacturing Eggs
CHAPTER 5.

living, but in order to make this ideal
practical, there must be some way of
earning money on the intensive Little
Farm so that the dream can be realized by
the vast majority. After experimenting for
25 years with every known method of inten-
sive farming, Charles Weeks has discovered

[5 in a garden home is the ideal way of

that farming is the most intensive and

profitable method known today, if done
scientifically. Therefore, he has chosen eg
farming as the specialized industry for by
income on the one acre farm.

The fact of the case is—Mr. Weeks sells
clover for a living on his little farm. The
entire acre not given to the buildings and
garden is used for growing Ladino clover, a
new kind of clover for this country, and he
says this clover is the very source of the
handsome income on his little farm. This
clover is sold in the form of a breakfast food
although the people who eat it would never
recognize that the basis of this breakfast
food is clover. The clover is fed into a
little machine along with other elements and
comes out in the form of a clever little package
known as the world’s most nourishing break-

fast food. These raw food products come
out of the machine in the guise of a beautiful
white egg, which contains a greater amount of
food value for its size than any other kind of
food. People are beginning to realize more
and more that the food value of an egg is far
superior to other kinds of food. The great

probe has been how to get the egg direct
rom the farm to the consumer before .it
grows stale.

The Ladino clover used for green feed has
proven to be the best of all green feeds for
poultry. It is tender, succulent and full of
vitamines and mineral salts which are so
necessary to egg production. It makes a
beautiful green carpet over the acre and is
very attractive. It is cut with a scythe and
run through the cutter and fed twice a day.
The hens like it better than any other kind of
greens. Besides furnishing the salts. pro.

LJ i . . ’ P
. teinsand vitamines so necessary to the health

of the hens, it saves mill feeds and produces
large numbers of eggs—+the finest quality eggs
in the world.

Charles Weeks has found that there are
four essential factors in the successful pro-
duction of eggs, namely: first, good, clean,

[12]

 

tions ‘0 igree
~ preferably Be Leghorn hens; third, super-

 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

The typical California Acre.

sunny open air quarters sheltered from rains;
second, high record laying hens with genera-
Tons tof cedigres Loading behind: dorm,

abundance of succulent and nourishing green
feed—all the hens can eat all the time—along
with a balanced ration of grain feeds and

meat and fish scrap; and fourth, a cooperati-

v organized home market for selling the
Ww.

el
a, ch factor is just as necessary as the
scientific production of eggs. A fifth factor
might be added, and that is that a certain

amount of intelligent industry is necessary—
the hens must be cared for and that means
work. Those looking for a living without
work should not embark in egg farming. It
is an interesting, healthful, profitable work
for those who like it. Ra
Charles Weeks has had one main objective
in view in the building of the Weeks Poultry
Community and thats to give to the world a
concrete example of the highest efficiency to
be attained through cooperation of farmers
in producing and marketing a special product.

The xara growths of Ladin clover furnishes fresh, succulent green food for poultry each day of the year.

[13]

 
A CALIFORNIA ACRE

In the Weeks Community this special pro-
duct is s. Here the accumulated ex-
perience of all time is brought to bear upon
the production, of the highest quality eggs.
Not only must a superior brand of eggs be
produced, but these eggs must be delivered
direct to the consumer in the shortest pos-
sible time. This is done through the co-
operative organization.

The one acre farm of Charles Weeks is a
little university where settlers living in the
Weeks Community can come daily for in-
formation and inspiration. In this way
inexperienced people can start in where Mr.
Weeks leaves off, taking advantage of his
long years of practical experience, not only in
egg farming but also in gardening and in-
tensive fruit culture. Every detail is planned
to save labor and to get the highest product-

ry
Torment

ion possible on the smallest area of land. The
daily routine has been worked out almost
to a minute so that there is no guess work.
The garden is planted for the home table
methodically, the choicest varieties of fruits
are trained artistically, the hens have sani-
tary quarters and are cared for by schedule,
trap nests select the best layers, eggs are
cased daily—every duty hasits time and place
on the daily program and a high state of
efficiency is thus worked out. This interest-
ing work has been so nicely adjusted on this
model farm that there is both pleasure and
pride in performing it. Work thoroughly
and well done always brings a keen satisfac-
tion. Man must profit by the accumulated
experience of his fellowmen before he can
make much progress. AR

The Scientific Housing of Laying Hens
CHAPTER 6.

biguous when we learn that laying hens
do not need a poultry house in Southern
California. Charles Weeks has learned
in his many years of practical experience that
laying hens need only a covered yard and an
airy place to roost, sheltered from the winter
rains here in this moderate climate. He has
therefore devised a poultry house which

I ie subject may seem somewhat am-

Weeks type laying house—the
cleanliness make hi

 

gives the life giving sunshine at the time of
day when the hens need it most and at the
same time gives free, open air conditions with
ample shade and shelter. Most poultrymen
house their hens too closely and crowd them
on the perch at night.

The Weeks’ type of poultry house runs
north and south and is entirely open on both
the east and the west sid es to admit the morn-

scientific labor eliminator. Sunshi , fresh ai
high producing hens. np ae.

[14]

 

 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

ing and evening sunshine, when hens want it
most. The individual units are 24 feet
square, separated from each other by a cross
partition and house 200 hens each. ~The six
perches run across the pen next to the north
partition and have heavy 2-inch wire netting
just beneath, through which the droppings
fall to the ground floor below. Also there is
wire netting from the perches to the floor,
thus fencing the hens entirely away from the
droppings. The perches are 4 feet from the
ground, thus removing the hens from the
odor of the droppings. The droppings dry
almost as fast as they fall in this open air
compartment and are practically odorless.
Charles Weeks says that donping boards
located beneath the perches have caused
more disease in poultry than any other one

thing. It is the crowding of fowls together

between a dropping board and a roof that
causes over-heating and bad air, which makes
diseased conditions. In the Weeks’ system
the air passes over the droppings and under
the hens and each hen has an equal amount
of fresh air anywhere on the perches. This
arrangement of the dropping compartment
being wired away from the hens is the most
sanitary devise and eliminates the daily
cleaning of dropping boards. The droppings
can be hauled out by the buyers of fertilizer,
thus eliminating a br of disagreeable labor.
The perches are hinged so they can be lifted
in a hm \
Perhaps one of the biggest problems in
keeping large numbers of laying hens is how
to get clean, pure, fresh air to each hen at
night as she sits on the perches and still be

Eo

free from drafts. In the Weeks’ plan the
hen sits above the draft and yet has ample
fresh air coming up through the wire from
beneath. Poultrymen make the mistake of
trying to give the hens all the room in the
daytime and very little space at night, when
in fact they need almost as much space at
night as during the day to secure the fresh
air without overheating. Laying hens do not
need range, if they have clean quarters, fresh
air free from dust and plenty of sunshine.
Mr. Weeks says that this sanitary arrange-
ment of the perches is one of his most valu-
able contributions in the way of poultry
inventions.

Some people may object to fencing off six
feet of the 24-foot pen for roosting quarters,
but Mr. Weeks contends that this space is
absolutely necessary for best sanitary con-
ditions. The balance of the pen is divided
into two compartments by automatic trap .
nests being set across the pen in a partition
dividing the space into two pens, one 10 x 24,
neg to the perches, and the other 8 x 24. The
foc¥ hopper sets in this partition, feeding
both sides, and is on the floor just beneath
the 36 trap nests. In the mcrning all the
hens are in the pen containing the perches
and as they lay they are made to pass through
the trap nest into the other pen, no hen being
able to get through without first laying an
egg. The egg opens the back door and locks
the front door so that all the layers for the
day are accumulated into the pen and can be
recorded without handling at the end of the
day. As every hen has a leg band number,

Showing the new “Autoculler” trap-nest invented by Dr. Charles J. Loehr, now used in the
Weeks Poultry Community.

[15]

 
A CALIFORNIA ACRE

her performance is recorded daily and woe to
the hens that do not lay enough to pay!
According to Charles Weeks, this auto-
matic trap nest is destined to revolutionize
egg farming, taking all guess work out of the
business. When the hen enters the nest, the
weight of her body closes the door behind her.
If she does not lay, she steps upon the en-
trance perch and the door opens for her to
come back out into the pen from which she
came. If she lays, the egg rolls away into a
basket below and springs a lock that fastens
the front door and opens the back door.
When she steps on the back door, it releases
the lock on the front door and when she
jumps off, the back door closes and the front
door opens ready for the next hen. Thus all
laying hens can be recorded and turned back
in the evening to the pen where the perches
are, ready to repeat the performance the next

day.

This Autoculler, as it is called, enables the
market poultryman to eliminate from the
flock all hens that do not lay enough to gay
and at the same time select the high reford
hens for breeders. As each and every hen
has her record on the book, she sells accord-
ing to her value, and good prices are always
obtained for high record hens. As every hen
in the flock is a paying hen, the average of
profit runs high and no feed is wasted on
culls. By selecting the highest record hens to
breed from each year, the law of evolution
soon creates a heavy laying strain and this is
where the large profits are in poultry raising.
When using the Autoculler, the eggs roll
away from the hens as fast as layed and thus
there are no broken or dirty eggs.

Another important fea ture in this improv-
ed, fresh-air pen invented by Charles Weeks
is the sanitary water system made by setting
a small porcelain crock into a specially devis-
ed tile that sets in the ground over a hole
about 4 feet deep. The overflow from the
drinking crock empties into the cesspool
below. Around the tile containing the crocks
is a cement block, sloping so that no moisture
ever reaches the sand floor around the drink-
ing vessel. Much disease may be caused by
dampness around the drinking vessel. In
this way the water is kept cool and clean and
by the automatic valve the water runs in as
needed. Sanitary conditions in every detail
pay big dividends.

he entire ground floor of this 24-foot
square pen is covered with 4 to 6 inches of
clean, sharp sand placed right on the ground.
This is raked off with a fine toothed rake at
least once a week and at the end of the year
replaced with new, clean sand. The hens
can dust themselves in this sand, which keeps
vermin down and gives exercise. Sand is far
cheaper and more sanitary than straw and
requires less labor. A dry, clean, sandy floor
is free from disease germs and gives -the
necessary exercise for the hens. By chang-
ing the sand, new, clean, sani quarters
are obtained for each lot of new pullets.

Charles Weeks thinks this is the greatest
labor saving house yet invented. For 25
years he has been building poultry houses and
tearing them down, trying to get the very
best possible and this improved house seems
to meet every requirement. “The good is
enemy of the best.” Get the best—is Mr.
Weeks’ slogan.

gro)
Bonmndt or

Good Hens
CHAPTER 7.

On the intensive little farm only high
record laying hens are kept. “Any old hen”
willnotdo. These hens must have years and

years of careful breeding behind them. There
1s only one way to secure these high record -.

hens and that is through years of trapnest
breeding—selecting the highest record hens
from year to year to breed on In this way
the yield for the entire flock is increased
and Ts increase is where the profits are in egg
farming.

Charles Weeks is emphatic in advising the

beginner in egg farming to start in with stock
from the best and most reliable breeder to be
found. Do not buy hens with unknown

ancestors. Get the best. You can have the
best poultry house, the best feed and the best

market and still fail, if you have inferior

hens. - It takes very little more feed and
care for a well bred hen and your success is
assured. Don’t let anyone tell you that you
can get meat and eggs out of the same fowl.
You cannot get meat and eggs in paying
quantities from the same bird. To get high

~ quality eggs in paying quantities, the hen

must have years of selection back of her.
The cattleman keeps milk cows for milk and
beef cattle for meat. A dual purpose animal
18 a myth. If you secure large numbers of
eggs, you must sacrifice flesh and if you want

{16}

 

 

AAR

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

good, heavy meat birds, you must lose the
eggs. The White Leghorn hen is the highest

type egg machine known todav and is kept

on all successful egg farms. }

A good way to stock an egg farm is to
secure baby chicks from the most reliable
breeder and raise your own pullets in new,
clean quarters. - If you buy pullets or hens,
you may also buy lice and disease with them.
On the modern, up-to-date, egg farm, disease
is needless. Vigor in the laying stock is
absolutely necessary for heavy egg produc-
tion. To get vigor requires years of careful

selection and breeding. Itis fatal to attempt

to hatch eggs from first year hens. They are
not mature until their second year and are
better the third year. It takes about two
ears for a hen to prove herself worthy of the
reeding yard. This work of breeding up a

* high record flock is the most interesting and

rofitable part of poultry farming.
Pp Charles Weeks maintains that feeding has
a lot to do with the development of high
record hens. Rich, highly concentrated mill
feeds will soon burn out and break down the
laying hens and her progeny will be weak.
There should be an abundance of tender,
succulent green feed to counteract the harm-
ful effects of mill feeds in the form of ready
mixed dry mashes. More poultrymen go
broke for want of sufficient green feeds than
any other one cause. In forcing for heavy
gg production, the mortality is far too heavy
Fe een feed is scarce.
wo of the main factors in the establish-
ment of a heavy laying strain are the trap-
nest and green feed. In the previous chapter

*

mention was made of a new automatic trap
nest that separates the layers into a pen to
themselves so that they can be recorded. This
new invention is far superior to the old time
trap nest, where each hen must be released
from the nest. With the Autoculler there is
no mistake in the selection of breeding hens.
Then with plenty of freshly grown green feed
and open fresh air houses, these select hens
do their very best and the chicks from them
produce heavy layers. CL

In this day and age of high specialization,
the egg farmer that buys his stock promis-
cuously without due attention to breeding, is
gambling with chance. Baby chicks are easily
raised from breeding stock that has been
selected for generations for vigor and vitality.
Weak chicks are a sure sign of poor manage-
ment in breeding stock. There is a big
advantage in locating in a community of
scientific egg farmers, where right foundation
stock can be secured, which is so important
to the beginner. In a cooperative communi-
ty of egg farmers, such as the Weeks Poultry
Community, only breeders of marked ability

-are chosen and thus progress is made.

Charles Weeks says that 25 years ago when
he first began egg farming in California a hen
that layed 120 eggs a year was then consider-
ed a good hen. Today we have whole flocks
that average 200 eggs each per year. Some
few birds go over 300 eggs per year and the
world’s record is now almost an egg per day.
Where is the limit? The law of evolution
works fast in breeding laying hens and it is
hard to predict what record will be required
for the good hen of the future. It has been

Feeding fresh cut clover to the pullets.

[17]

 
A CALIFORNIA ACKE

a long jump from’ the little jungle hen that
laid 15 eggs per{year to the 300 egg hen. A
turtle will lay 100 eggs at one setting. A
frog will lay several hundred. A fish will lay
several thousand. A spider will lay countless
numbers. What may we expect of the well-
bred hen?

According to Charles Weeks, the big profit
is in high record hens rather than in cheap
feed. If a hen lays 150 eggs per year and
these eggs bring 3 cents each or 36 cents per
dozen on the average, the gross income will be
$4.50 for the year. It will cost 14 cent per
day, or $1.80 per year, approximately, to feed
a hen, if you have ample green feed. This
leaves a margin of $2.70 above the feed bill.
But if the hen lays 200 eggs per year at 3 cents
per egg, the gross income will be $6.00 and the
profit above feed will be $4.20, or $1.50 per

ird more than the 150 egg hen. Fifty more
eggs mean an increase of $1.50 in the profits.
Mr. Weeks keeps 2400 laying hens on his one
acre farm. If they were all 200 egg hens,
his profit would be enormous.

In the modern laying hen all the food she
consumes goes to make eggs and not to

fancy feathers, fat or meat. Thus a rich,
finely flavored egg is secured in large quanti-
ties. Egg farming has become an exact
science today and woe to the man who keeps
mediocre hens. The careless ultryman
goes out of business and gives place to the
man with system, method and good hens.
Charles Weeks has helped thousands of
poultrymen to get started on the right foot
and the one big purpose of his specialized
egg farming community is to help produce
more and better eggs and at top notch prices.
A visit to this remarkable community, will
convince you that he knows his business.

The hens on the one acre farm of Charles

Weeks have been bred for heavy egg produc-

tion for 25 years. This highly specialized
business makes it possible for a man and his
family to earn a very comfortable living on
one acre of land. This life in a garden home
with high record hens for income appeals to
thousands now living in cold countries. The
one acre farm is possible only in such climate
as is found in Southern California where rich
sediment soil and ample water abound.
It cannot be done where long winters prevail.

—
Lomond

Good Feed

the finest bred hens and still fail as an
egg farmer, if you do not have the right
feeds.

In the past poultrymen have been imposed

Y oe can have the best poultry house and

upon by the large flour milling companies

who dumped their inferior grains and waste
by-products into poultry feeds. This con-
dition has been largely rectified by required
analysis of poultry feeds and by specialty
ultry feed companies competing by making
igh grade mixtures. Perhaps the safest
way for the amateur poultryman is to feed a
balanced all-in-one dry feed put out by a
reliable company, along with an abundance
of green feed.

According to Charles Weeks, a well bred
hen in a proper type of house means that the
foundation is well laid. To get eggs on this
foundation requires a well balanced feed. To
get eggs you must cram the Jeying hen with as
large a variety as possible of wholesome feeds.
Give her an opportunity to help herself so
that she will never get hungry. It was never
intended that a hen should be fed periodically

CHAPTER 8.

like other kinds of animals. It is wrong to
let her get hungry and then allow her to fill
her crop with dry grains to swell and sour and
thus cause sour crop and indigestion. Nature
made the hen with a receptacle or crop in
which to store the feed gathered up during
the day and to hold for digestion through the
gizzard mill during the night. In the wild
state the hen works all day to fill this receptacle
or crop with seeds, bugs, worms, and greens
and comes to the perch at night with a full
crop, but so much energy has been expended
in the gathering of this crop full of food that
by the time the body machine has been re-
paired, there is no energy left for egg pro-
duction.

Man has applied the law of evolution to the
development of the laying hen and through

long Jeats of breeding and feeding has divert.
ed t

e energy to sex development, which
development causes a large production of
ovules or eggs. This has been the work of
the modern egg farmer. “This is why our
intensive methods of egg farming today are
getting such marvelous results. ~All energy

[18]

 

 

 

 

 

 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

is accumulated and given off in egg product-
ion. This is conservation of energy for a
iven purpose. The harder the struggle
or existence, the less energy for sex develop-
ment. The wild hen may fay from 15 to 30
eggs per year, while our modern domestic
hen lays from 150 to 340 eggs per year.
Again, Charles Weeks says that to get heavy
pSducsion you must feed heavy. Stuff the

en with egg producing feeds, all she can
eat, all the time.

In Charles Weeks’ poultry house a self-
feeding hopper is kept filled with an all-in-one
egg mash where the hens can help themselves
continually. This is their cafeteria. They
can wait on themselves from this hopper
from morning until night. This dry mash in
this hopper should be composed of good,
sound grains freshly ground. Grains lose
their savor just the same as coffee, if ground
too long. The food value deteriorates rapidly
after the grain is ground. These grains
should be coarsely ground, as hens do not
like finely ground feeds. A hen has her own
mill called the gizzard for grinding her feed.
This organ deteriorates when all grinding is
done by outside mills.

Charles Weeks emphatically maintains
that green feed, quickly, grown, is absolutely
essential for the continued health of the hens
and the highest egg production. Farmers
have known for ages that any kind of live-
stock fed highly concentrated grain feeds
continually without green feeds will soon
burn out. The mortality in a flock is too
great where no greens are fed. Common
sense and reason will tell you this, so why
experiment?! During his many years’ work
in egg farming he has tried out every kind of
green feed for poultry. “Prove all things
and hold fast to that which is good,” is his
motto. Kale, beets, chard, cabbage, soudan

rass and alfalfa are all excellent green feeds,
ge for Southern California the green feed
that has proven the best is Ladino clover. It
is rich in food value. This clover is fed
twice a day, all the hens will clean up. Thus
the hens eat green feed and dry mash all the
day long and come at night with a full crop of
the very best feed for making eggs. This
routine will get eggs in paying quantities,
although many feed sprouted oats and barley
on top of this in the evening. Some object
to sprouted grains because of the added
labor. It is well to eliminate all labor pos-
sible but not to do so to the detriment of egg
production.

With hoppers filled with a good dry mash,

green feed in the troughs all the time, fresh

cool water, oyster shell, charcoal, grit and
meat or fish scrap before the hens, eggs will

be produced in paying quantities if the hens
have years of breeding stock back of them for
egg production. It is a psychological
principle with laying hens under the Weeks’
system. Their mind is on their business.
They haven’t a thing in the world to do but
eat, drink, and lay. Someone has said,
“Eat, drink, and lay—or bust!” And thatis
about right.

Charles Weeks says that he never tires of
seeing his 2400 White Leghorn hens eat green
feed. It is a pretty sight—white hens, red
combs and green feed. These are the colors
on the one acre farm—red, white and green!
When he sees these colors waving in the air
he has a thrill, for he knows that they signify
prosperity in his little garden home. Feed-
ing laying hens is a pleasant work and a
healthful work and when done by system on
schedule it is very interesting. To grow
green feed, cut it and run it through the
cutter and feed it is a daily task that insures
success on the intensive little farm. Those
who neglect this all important duty will very
soon fall by the wayside and instead of
sweet smelling clover there will be ugly weeds
and a “For Sale” sign. Nature’s way is best.
Scientists have tried to wrap up all the food
elements in the form of little pills, but hu-
manity refuses to be nourished that way, so
we must still get our nourishment from the
garden. In Southern California green feed
can be grown the year around, especially in’
the untiring soil of the fertile San Fernando
Valley.

Perhaps you may wonder why Charles
Weeks never lets his hens run out over the
beautiful green clover yard and gather their
own greens. It is for several reasons. First,
the hens waste more greens than they eat
when they run over it, besides fouling it.
Second, the ground may become full of
disease germs when moist from irrigation or
rain. Third, the hens eat far more greens
when cut in right lengths and fed to them.
Fourth, more tonnage can be grown where
hens do not tramp over it. Fifth, yards are
expensive and usually unsightly. Sixth, hens
lay more eggs in confinement than on range.
Thus, the extra labor in cutting and feeding
greens is well worth while. There might be
some advantage in allowing the breeding
hens to run out over the green ‘yards in get-
ting stronger and more fertile hatching
eggs, but through the law of evolution we are
able to get good results by feeding a super-
abundance of green feed to breeding hens in
close confinement.

[19]

 
A CALIFORNIA ACRE

Co-operative Marketing

CHAPTER 9.

although he can produce the finest
eggs in all the world under his scienti-
fic system that he could not, single
handed and alone, get these eggs direct to the
consumer and get the price they merited. In
order to have enough eggs to pay for grading,
acking and delivering, it requires many
arms working under the same system, put-
ting out the same quality of eggs and hand-
ling them through an efficient organization
that can get them to the consumer with the
least lost motion. Therefore, the commun-
ity idea was developed, affording each in-
dividual poultryman an opportunity of
marketing his eggs direct to the consumer
through a centralized organization.

Not only must yoa have high quality
products, but these products must be stand-
ardized in order to be attractive to the con-
sumer. Each and every little farm in the
Weeks Poultry Community produces high
quality eggs, the finest flavored in all the
world, and this is the one specialized duty of
each individual farmer. When the house-
wife goes into the store and calls for a carton
of the Weeks Community eggs, she knows
that she is getting the freshest eggs and eggs
that are evenly graded. Hens that are all
handled under the same scientific, sanitary
conditions produce a uniform quality of
eggs that cannot be excelled.

n addition to having a high quality and
being standardized, eggs must have a brand

(aithoush. WEEKS has found that

so that the public may be protected. The
Weeks Community eggs are sold in special
cartons with their own trade mark. In this
way high class products from a community
that specializes are always in demand at
premium prices. Not only must these pre-
mium products have a brand but the people
must be educated to call for this brand. The
individual little farm can only produce quality
eggs. It cannot standardize or create a
brand or educate the people to use this brand
and do it economically, It is only through
cooperative organization that a brand can be
placed on the market satisfactorily and ef-
ficiently. When the people are educated to
call for their favorite brand, then the retailers
are compelled to handle this brand. The
education of the public to a certain brand is
done through the newspapers, journals, over
radio, on billboards, and best of all by the
people being able to visit the modern egg
farms where these eggs are produced.
Charles Weeks has found that the broadest
distribution of the Weeks Community brand
of eggs comes through the chain stores. These
avenues reach more people in the shortest
ssible time. The eggs are gathered daily
rom the little farms, graded, candled and
cartoned and sent immediately in large
truck loads direct to the warehouses of the
chain stores. Heretofore farmers have had
to sell their eggs to the wholesaler, who in
turn sold them to the jobber, who in turn sold
them to the retailer, who in turn sold to the

Where the business of the community is handled.

 

 

 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

consumer, making many hands for the eggs
to pass through and the egg was old and stale
and high priced before the consumer received
it.

_ According to Charles Weeks, the success of
his cooperative community lies in the fact
that the farms join each other, making it
possible to gather up eggs with the very
shortest haulage and overhead expense and

do it daily. Where farms are spread out

over a wide territory, it is almost impossible
to get true cooperation. Being located in
one centralized community, a uniform brand
of eggs can be established and the farmers
can receive these benefits. It has been said
that the farmers are hard to organize and
harder to keep organized, but the problem
is much easier in an individual, specialized
community. When once organized and the
brand of eggs is established, the farmers can
be as efficient in marketing as in producing
their products. Why should they io their
products in the hands of commission men
who set the price without consulting the
farmer as to the cost of production? Not
only does cooperation favor the farmer but
the consumer, in that the latter gets the
product from the farm fresh and of the highest
quality.
Not only does the cooperative organization
solve the marketing problem for eggs and
poultry but it also is a great aid in the pur-
chase of feeds. When properly financed, a
cooperative organization can buy feed direct
from the threshing machines for the entire
ear and buy it at the season when prices are
west, getting the best price possible and the
very highest quality of grain first hand.
This is a very big item in egg production.
Thus through community organization feed
can be bought wholesale and the eggs sold
retail. | The independent farmer out some-
where alone must buy his feed retail and sell
his eggs wholesale, which makes considerable
difference in a year’s profits.

In the opinion of Charles Weeks, food
roducts are sacred products and should not
be ambled with. The egg is considered one
of the nation’s breakfast foods today and one
of the cheapest, most nourishing foods in the
world, It is very disgusting to have this
choice food cornered by egg dealers, held for
high prices and sold in many cases as fresh
eggs. It is unfair to the farmer and to the
consumer. The consumer objects to buying
camouflaged cold storage eggs at fresh egg
prices. Eggs can be sealed in their own
shells by dipping in hot oil, thus closing the
pores and eggs thus processed can be put in
cold storage and come out in a few mon ths
almost as good as fresh, but when egg dealers

wash these processed eggs for no other
purpose than to fool the public, these dealers
are damaging the egg Dasineas for all, in-
cluding themselves. The washing of proces-
sed eggs should be made a state offense.

Some day, Charles Weeks says, all eggs will
be sealed as soon as laid, thus protecting them
from bacterial contamination and evapora-
tion and free from outside odors. The sealed
eggs may be sent to any makret in the world,
arriving as fresh as the day they are laid.
This will make it possible for egg farmers to
centralize at points most favorable for egg
production. For highest results, egg farmers
must come to a warm, balmy climate like the
favored sections of Southern California.
When all eggs are sealed, the housewife can
buy a 15 or 30 dozen case from the farmers’
organization direct and they will keep strictly
fresh until used up. Also eggs handled
through the retail stores, restaurants and
hotels will not deteriorate. The Weeks Poul-
try Community, being so closely organized,
has a wonderful advantage in being able to
seal the eggs direct from the nest. However
the time is not yet ripe, perhaps, for the
sealing of all eggs and at present a from
the Weeks Community direct to the retail
stores are not sealed. Some day when the
people are educated to use sealed eggs, it is
the ideal of this remarkable community to
put a brand of sealed eggs on the market.

Every industry adds prosperity to a com-
munity. The candling department furnishes
work for many girls and women. In the
poultry department men are used for dressing
and preparing fowls for market. In the
feed department many trucks and men are
employed. Also the cooperative hatchery
gives employment to others. All these
industries leave the payroll at home. Since
the organization is owned by the farmers
themselves, these people are really working
for themselves.

For a quarter of a century Charles Weeks
has been trying to solve the marketing pro-
blem for farmers, having had a broad exper-
ience helping organize the Poultry Producers
of Central California and other organizations.
The development of the community which
bears his name is an ideal being rapidly real-
ized. He wishes it to stand as a world
example of what can be done by a farmers’
cooperative for marketing their own pro-
ducts direct to the consumer. The Weeks
Poultry Community, Inc., is now doing over
One Million Dollars worth of business a year
through their efficient organization. They
are operating in a warehouse that covers
almost one acre of land. The poultry farms
supplying this organization have a total
investment of over Five Million Dollars.

[21]

 
A CALIFORNIA ACRE

Good Neighbors
CHAPTER 10.

where is a mighty lonesome spot. In a
city of garden homes where each family
tries to excel in developing a productive
and beautiful place, there is a healthful em-
ulation that acts as a stimulus to all, and
enables all to share in the combined beauty.
Inspiration and enthusiasm from noble neigh-
bors not only helps make more beautiful
homes but also more splendid characters. A
community is distinctive in direct.proportion
to the culture, refinement and ambition of its
citizens.
Although he raises every good thing that
grows out of the soil for his table and lives
free from fear of hard times, strikes, panics,

A LITTLE farm away out alone some-

Home of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson

famines or wars, Charles Weeks says he
finds that “man does not live by bread alone.”’
The soul must be fed from the manna on
high. “Many friends, a few good books and
a luxuriant garden” form the foundation of a
little heaven on earth. Therefore, when
choosing that acre on which to create your
own little paradise, choose more than ample
water, rich soil, fine climate and good market
—choose your neighbors by locating in a place
where the ideals are so high that only healthy,
noble, cultured people feel at home.

Charles Weeks says that he enjoys every
minute of the whole day on his one acre farm
with its varied work, but this routine alone
might become monotonous if at the end of
the day there were no good neighbors to
gather together and hold communion one
with another. We are social beings and true
friends of kindred spirits make the labors
of the day lighter. Intellectual and spiritual
growth come from mingling with those who
live on- the higher planes of existence and to
live surrounded by high thinking and zealous
neighbors is a sacred privilege indeed

The intensive little farm is the fittest set-
ting for the higher social life. What a pri-

vilege it is at the end of the day to gather
musical talent together and tune the instru-
ments for sweetest harmonies. This could
not be done in close, stuffy flats in the city or
on large farms miles apart. The Weeks

~ Community has its own orchestras, besides

student orchestras in both grammar and high
schools. Almost every evening is given to
singing or playing or reading good literature.
Lawn festivals with programs of music and
song vary the forms of entertainment. In
the summer season the young folks’ Christian
Endeavor meets Sunday evenings at the dif-
ferent homes and give, fine constructive pro-
grams. High ideals bring forth the best in
all ‘the home entertainments and make
a neighborhood that is loved by all.

Charles Weeks is of the opinion that a com-
munity without a community center is like a
man without a soul. The Weeks Community
center is the home of the poultry and garden
meetings with interesting lectures. It is here
that the Women’s Clubgivesits fine programs
and holds social luncheons and parties. The
large aggregation of talent in this favored
community helps to make the Weeks Com-
munity Women’s Club one of the finest in the
state. Here tie Sunday school and Com-
munity church hold their meetings to study
the divine way of life. Most people make
their business the sole business of money
making and many find out too late that mon-
ey will not buy health for a worn out b-dy,
peace for a troubled mind or happiness for an
avaricious soul. With all the art, science
and philosphy of the ages to teach us, we are
still amateurs at living and cumber ourselves
with unnecessaries, making life a burden in-
stead of one glad song. The Weeks Com-
munity center is a school of life where the
study is “The Business of Living” in the
broadest and fullest sense possible. When

Home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Weeks.

[22]

 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

Home of Mr. and Mrs. Hammond.

the neighbors gather here, all with fine
ideals, they are just one large, happy family
—“sort of kin ’ don’t you know!”’—and life is
made smoother.

Good schools and good churches portend a
good community, says Charles Weeks, he
classes these as very important factors in
the establishment of a prosperous community.
A community church where all denominations
meet for divine worship is the ideal church—

free from sectarian discussions. The Weeks

Community church strives to be the highest
example of what is broad and helpful, open
to the good, the true and the beautiful from
whatever source. Both the grammar and
high school buildings are models of architect-
ure with every modern equipment for the
development of the youth of the community.
One hs the first questions asked by newcomers
is, “Have you good schools?’” Yes! The best
in the land.

The new, life of the land on a little farm
appeals especially to people of artistic tem-
perament who hn for association with
people of the highest ideals and still be able
to live the simple life close to nature. It is
the dream of Charles Weeks to draw the
very best musical talent to this progressive

- community, thus enabling musicians who

wish to retire to live in a garden city and
still be able to come in touch with the best
in the musical world. Itis his dream to have
a beautiful conservatory of music in conjun-
ction with the community center where the

_ very best in music will be taught. Schools

of music, art, literature, oratory, and far

Home of Mr. and Mrs. John Mac Rae.

from the noise and grind of the commercial
world, adjoining a spacious auditorium where
concerts will be given by the many artists
living in the community—this is a vision
that is fast becoming real in this cultured
center known as Weeks Community. When
musicians, artists and actors have accumula-
ted enough to retire on, why not come to a
garden home in a talented community and
enjoy art for art’s sake, free from commercial-
ism? With the colorful flowers, shady arbors,
trees and the song of birds in the sunshine
and fresh air with the blue sky overhead—
what a fitting setting for the best in all the

~ fine arts!

Many teachers of the finest character
already reside in the Weeks Community.
Writers who wish congenial surroundings
find a garden home here conducive to the
best work, the nearness of the mountains
or the beach or the city affording continual
inspiration. Ministers who wish to retire
from the nerve-taxing duties of their pro-
fession here find a heaven on earth—a fore-

Home of Mr. and Mrs. P. F. Venners.

taste of the life they portray—where they can
still be active in helping make this world a
better place in which to live. Here lecturers
from the platform find a solace at last from
travel and continual change and revel in a
garden home of their own where they can
draw around them the best from all climes.
The tired and overburdened business man
here finds just what he dreams of in a quiet,
sequestered home surrounded by pleasant
neighbors. Would you like to have your
garden home in a community of the choicest
people in all the world? Come and pass the
examination. Perhaps you may be fortunate
enough to get in.

Charles Weeks is a practical idealist who
has the power to make his ideal a reality—
as demonstrated in the beautiful garden city
which bears his name. His own Tietle farm,
surrounded by hundreds of other such places,
is a sermon crystalized. For over 25 years
Mr. Weeks has been living this ideal life and
laying the plans for this Utopia on Earth.
Come and see this ‘garden city of dreams
come true” in the west end and the best end
of the fast-growing San Fernando Valley.

[23]

LT SR EE SG 8 al BCU EY DULCE hl ie

 
 

A CALIFORNIA

A CRE

In Touch With The Universe
CHAPTER 11.

every advantage to further its success

and the best neighbors that ever lived,

it would not give Charles Weeks the
highest satisfaction if it were not located
within reach of the best that civilization has
to offer to date. Emerson says, “keep the
city for occasions but form thy habits to
solitude.” To live in a garden home right
under the shadow of one of the fastest grow-
ing and most progressive cities in the world
and destined to some day be the largest, is a
great privilege. One hour by auto from the
Weeks Community, over paved avenues
bordered with palm trees, evergreens and
rose bushes lands one into the heart of this
throbbing metropolitan city of the Pacific
- coast, a city in direct touch with the world of
commerce through its steamship lines, trans-
‘continental railroads, air lines and the best

A LTHOUGH his one acre farm has

auto roads in all the world. The quiet, rest-

ful little farm is the bread basket, the larder,

for the millions that strive in the great city

andisa natekasy part to complete the whole.
of t

At the end e day Charles Weeks de-
lights to drive with his family and friends into
theatrical Hollywood and enjoy an evening
occasionally at the theatre. Here in this
capital of the motion picture world are many
of the most beautiful theatres in the world

and the very best on stage and screen is
available. The old time large farm far from
intellectual center had a tendency to dull and
depress the individuals who were overworked
with monotonous routine. Hollywood is 18
miles or 30 minutes drive from the Charles
Weeks’ farm. To be so near and yet apart
from this brightest theatrical center 1s a
wonderful privilege, affording both amuse-
ment and enlightenment. While the great
men of the world have come largely from
rural homes, they have received their in-
spiration from the needs of the masses in the
large cities when in touch with humanity,
Another royal treat is that of being able to
hear the best artists in all the land at the
“symphonies under the stars’ given in the
Hollywood Bowl, one of the largest outdoor
theatres in the world, nestled naturally among

the beautiful hills. This season of 40 con-

certs is an annual affair, drawing prominent
artists from all over the world and is becom.
ing internationally famous. The soft, cool
Southern California summer nights, without
storms or rains, make these out door concerts
possible. People from far away cities make
pilgrimages to the Bowl. Music loving
neighbors from the Weeks Community form
congenial parties and attend these inspiring
concerts. Other attractions within a few

A good time at the Community Beach Cottage—Fifteen miles from the Colony.

[24]

 

AE TS

Th

 

IVR
. Sh Wy

 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

minutes from these little farms are the annual
Pilgrimage Play and the Mission Play.
Southern California is drawing wealthy
people from every clime who wish to make a
ome in the best climate on earth. Many
favored sections, such as Pasadena and Bev-
erly Hills, the fatter just across the Santa
Monica mountains, afford the finest examples
of palatial homes owned by prominent people
and are a continual inspiration of what wealth

_can do in creating a magnificent garden city.

But no section offers more unequalled ad-
vantages than does the west end of San
Fernando Valley for creating a city of attract-
ive garden homes.

In selecting the location for his little farm,
Charles Weeks had in mind all these outside
influences, but there is one he prizes very
highly and that is being near the best schools
and universities in the land. Thirty minutes
through shady Beverly Glen Canyon is
located the site of the new and magnificent
University of Southern California, which the
children of the Weeks Community can attend
and live right at home while doing so. A
great university of this character influences
the entire community for miles around. Right
near this modern university is now being es-
tablished the Botanical Gardens of Southern
California which will be one of the most
beautiful of its kind today as well as one of
the big educational factors for all. Another
educational institution is the Mt. Wilson
Observatory overlooking Pasadena and all
Los Angeles. Fortunate indeed is the child
who is brought up under the shadow of all
these great institutions of learning,

One of the most interesting landmarks in
the valley is the old San Frenando Mission
established 130 years ago by the Mission
Fathers. Around this old mission has been
developed a beautiful garden, called Memory
Garden, and this is the favorite meeting
place of all the valley for basket lunches and
evening parties. The different clubs of the
Weeks Community meet here with well filled
baskets from their prolific little farms and
enjoy a feast under the magnificent pepper
trees on the site where the Indians once were
wont to gather at the old mission. After sup-
per a fine program of music and song is en-
toyed with many good stories and jokes
around the campfire. This enchanting Mem-
ory Garden is only another of the many
sources of inspiration and it is no wonder that
the lucky families in the Weeks Community
vie with each other in trying to have the most
beautiful garden home with so many examples
around them.

According to Charles Weeks, there are
more beauty spots in the mountains within a

day’s drive of his one acre farm than could
be visited in a lifetime. Mt. Baldy, Lake
Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake are but a few
hours away and have many pleasure resorts.
The High Sierras, afford trout fishing and
scenery unsurpassed. Charles Weeks has
many sacred temples in the mountains only
15 minutes from his garden where he loves to
go alone and think and write and go into the
great Silence. It is here he “comes in touch
with the universe,” and draws from that un-
seen power the strength to go on with the
great work of building a unique city. From
the garden homes in this valley the people can
“look up unto the hills from whence cometh
their strength”—an eternal example of
strength on all sides.

One of the most impressive panoramas is
seen from the mountain tops looking down
upon the valley. Lying level as a floor in
the balmy California sunshine, free from
winter’s cold or summers’ heat, are 147,000
acres of rich sediment soil, water from
the mountains and surrounded by them on
all sides—awaiting the magic touch of mind
power to make it the greatest garden city on
earth. This valley 1s to be Los Angeles’
better half—a city built with a higher vision
of humanity’s needs in view—a city of tropi-
cal verdure, cool and refreshing—different
from the sky-scraper city with its stifling con-
gestion, Looking: down from the mountain
tops the valley looks like a gigantic checker
board with its green alfalfa and bean fields,
orchards of grape fruit, oranges, lemons,
walnuts, peaches, figs and apricots, with long
paved roads intersecting every part of the
valley.

From the mountain tops the Weeks Com-
munity is a picture of contentment nestled in
the west end of this walled-in valley. Artis
tic cottages, surrounded by flowers and green
gardens, with long uniform rows of poultry

ouses filled with red combed hens make up
the units of this peaceful little city. No
clanging of street cars, no sounds but the
builder’s hammer or the song of birds or the
cackling of hens in the restful, urban scene.
In the east end of the valley progressive
Hollywood is pouring over into the valley
with many motion picture industries and
calling this section North Hollywood. San
Fernando, Van Nuys, Burbank, Glendale and
Magnolia Park will eventually all be swallow-
ed by North Hollywood and the east end will
be one solid city, leaving the west end for
more spacious garden homes.

Charles Weeks says that one of his dearest
privileges is being within 15 miles of the
Pacific Ocean. Here on the sandy beach is a

[25]

 
 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

 

cottage with the latch string hanging out at
all times to all in the community. In this de-
lightful climate one can swim in the blue,
magnetic waters of the Pacific almost
every day of the year. The residents of
the Weeks Community stage many beach
parties, especially during the warmer
summer days. Oft times a boat is chart-
ered and those who like to fish go out for
bass, halibut, mackerel, barracuda, etc.,

coming in at noon with sacks well filled and a
fish dinner is enjoyed, with a fine program,
swimming and athletics in the afternoon.
Sunshine, fresh air and salt water make
sturdy constitutions for the girls and boys
and fill the older. ones with pep and energy.
With labor systematized and organized on
the intensive little farm, one always has
time to take some hours off for play, which is
very necessary.

ee
Brsonmond

Cost of Getting Established on a One Acre Farm
CHAPTER 12.

in the last analysis this plan must be
figured in dollars and cents, because
we live in a commercial age where
money gets the material things. The love of
the substantial things that money buys is
not wrong, providing the desire for possession
is second to the desire for self-perfection.
When entering a new business the question
usually asked is “How much money can I
make?” instead of “How much health, joy
and happiness can I get out of the business?”
This new life of the land on an intensive little
farm advocated by Charles Weeks cannot be
calculated in dollars and cents. To the one
who can “catch the vision” and loves this
simple, healthful, natural life it has more
than money will ever buy.
Charles Weeks declares that in purchasing
a piece of land for a garden home the first
cost cannot be considered—get the best,
regardless of cost, that is within reason. At
first thought the cost of acres in the Weeks
Community might seem exorbitant. How-
ever, there are other important factors in
selecting a homesite besides the first cost of
the land—climate, scenery, culture, a proven
system, cooperation, rich soil, water electri-
city, etc. Another important fact is that
here you buy land right in line with the march
of progress, which means that values double,
treble and quadruple. Land values have
already doubled since the community was
started some five years ago and are increas-
ing even more rapidly. The present prices of
acres in the Weeks Community run from
$1900 to $2500 (subject to change without
notice), depending on location and is the best
and cheapest land in the entire valley when
soil and improvements are considered. For
the protection of buyers, Charles Weeks
owns and handles the acres in this garden

OWEVER ideal a plan of life may be,

city—AND SELLS THEM FOR CASH,
giving a deed and certificate of title. Too
many people lose their life’s earnings pur-
chasing land on contract with a payment
down and building on another’s land, Cash
for the land protects the buyer! It also gets
a thrifty class of people and eliminates the
speculator.

For those wishing to purchase land and hold
same pending future development, arrange-
ments can be made to set out fruit and grapes
and have them trained and bearing when
ready to take possession. In this way pro-
fessional people, ministers, doctors, actors,
farmers, mechanics, etc., can purchase an
acre and have it developed and ready for
them when they decide to retire from their
active professions. This will insure a self-
supporting garden home in the most favored
community in the best section of all Southern
California. The cooperative advantages will
more than pay for the land in time, making it
the best investment possible. Those wishing
to purchase more than one acre can do so,
although one acre is as much as a family can
handle to best advantage without hiring
help. For those wishing to go into egg farm-
ing on a large scale, it will be safest to put one
long house for 2400 hens on each acre,
growing greens for same and developing as
many acres as desired. This makes the

surest plan for the ambitious poultryman who

wants a large number of hens and still make
the investment safe, so when the time comes
to retire from egg farming the property can
be easily sold in one acre farms ready to go.
Too many invest fortunes in large poultry
farms that are too big to turn and thus lose
heavily when retiring from the business. By
developing acre units the business can be just
as big as desired without danger. Thus the
Weeks Poultry Community offers the finest

[26]

 

Li it nT
a iE) ATR Lal) ake. 5 skibih mo

1 acre (corner)

+ Garage feed room

 

 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

 

opportunity for the establishment of large
egg farms where they can have cooperative
and other community ad vantages.

A modest start costs as follows: Average

- price for acre $2300. A cozy, modern cottage
~ of 5 rooms can be built for $3500 A poultry

house for 1000 hens will cost $875. Garage
feed room $250. 1000 pullets will cost $1000.
This totals about $8000. The building and
loan association will carry half of this for
10 years, making the initial cash payment

. Thus with $4000 cash a family can
move into one of these completed, ready-made
places and pay the balance at the rate of $45
per month over a long period. If the family
wants to camp in the garage while getting
started, they could eliminate the cost of the
cottage, or $3500, and not go in debt so
heavily. However, it is better to have a
comfortable place to live in at once and work
all the harder to pay for it. With the acre
paid for, a reliable building and loan company

will finance the home and poultry units

almost 100%. It is advisable to start with
at least 1000 hens. This many good hens,
well cared for, should earn a comfortable
living and pay off the loan. For those with
enough cash to become established without
debt, the problem is easy.

A FULLY DEVELOPED ACRE as

represented by the one acre farm of Charles
eeks will cost as follows:

=n
Sot id
vin
s2

£3
83888 883

Cottage, modern
Poultry house (latest improved) for °
ens

£

Trap nests

=
Oe

2400 pullets
Brecon on roof for 7500 chicks
Fences, aviary, trees and vines

Total $14,050.00

This investment affords a beautiful garden
home with ample income Many will spend
the above amount on a city home and then
have to go out to work to support it. Those
starting with the minimum of $3500 to $4000
cash can gradually build up their flocks until
the limit of 2400 hens is reached and in time
have a farm that fulfills the ideal. It would
hardly be safe to start with less than $3500
cash, unless one had a good job on the side.
Too little capital means a shack community
and no one wants to live in a “shacktown.”
The individual must succeed before the com-
munity can be a success.

People who have accummulated $10,000
or $15,000 or $20,000 can live here in a pretty
self-supporting aiden home and live longer
and happier while making a comfortable
living without having to use up their life’s
savings. Thousands of people living where

£8
8

the winters are long and cold would gladly
come to sunny California if they knew just
what to do when they get here.

SUMMARY OF COSTS

LAND: $1900 to $2500 per acre, cash, including
water and lights to front of acre and graded

streets.

POULTRY UNIT: New type, 24 x 24, contract price
with water system, lights,etc., less than $1.00
per hen; houses 200 birds.

HOMES: Garage houses $350 to $600; temporary
homes $800 to $1200; permanent homes

$2500 and up.

GARAGE FEED ROOM: $250 to $300.

STOCK: $1.00 each to raise baby chicks to 6 months
or laying age, accounting for cost of chicks,
mortality, sale of cockerels, feed, etc. Pul-
lets 8 or 10 weeks old, $1.00 each.

TAXES- Pere acres about $16; improved acres $25 to

WATER: 5c per 100 cu. ft.; averages around $5 per
month.

ELECTRICITY: 5Yc per kilowatt hour; rate reduced
as quantity is used.

GAS: Minimum charge $1.00; rate 1214 c¢ per 100

cu. ft.

Charles Weeks maintains that the profits

* to be made under his intensive system of egg

farming depend largely upon the man behind
the hen. It is an equation of the man and
the hen—if the man 1s equal the hen is equal.
Some men will never make poultrymen and
they usually have to try it to find that out.
They must first like the business and then do
the necessary work. Those who do not like
the work had better try some other way to
earn a living. Like everything else, there is
a certain amount of work in egg farming, but
itis an interesting and healthful work.

Under the right system and conditions
the profits should average one year with
another around $2 per hen above feed cost.
Some years less and some more, according to
the prices of eggs and feed. Not all poultry-
men make this average because they do not
all work this intensive system in a favored
climate such as is had in the west end of the
San Fernando Valley. With the new auto-
matic trapnest, it is possible to increase the
above profit. It is the egg farmer who stays
in the business year after year who makes the
average profits and not the amateur whois in
today and out tomorrow.

Charles Weeks does not keep a city office
or employ high-powefed salesmen. His pro-
position stands on its own merits. It is a
community affair and every individual is a
community builder. Those interested come
direct to the Weeks’ one acre farm, where they
are shown around by property owners re-
siding in the community, who do not exag-
gerate. All persons coming into the com-
munity are handled through the Charles
Weeks’ office in order to protect the commun-

 
 

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

ity against undesirable citizens. Only high- only one Charles Weeks California Com-
class, English speaking citizens who have munity. You will know it by meeting the
enough capital to succeed are admitted and community builders and Mr. Weeks himself
these receive the benefit of the many years of on his own little farm. All information in
experience of the founder of the community. regard to selecting a home site will be cheer-
They are welcome at all times to visit the fully given. Questions are invited. Litera-
demonstration farm for information and to ture, including a free copy of LITTLE
attend the lectures of instruction in the com- FARMS magazine will be sent to you by

munity hall. addressing Charles Weeks, Owensmouth,

There are many imitations of the lif: k  Californi
of Charles Weeks throughout the land, but alifornia.

ey

A Self-Supporting Garden House

F you are weary of the work you
are now doing and contem-
plate a change, it will pay you

to investigate this beautiful city
of self-supporting garden homes
where the highest ideals are being
made a living reality—a city of
luxuriant garden homes visioned
by a man of 25 years’ practical
experience—a place where a man
and his family can live in abun-
dance with good neighbors on all
sides and with well-organized social
life for both young and old.

 

 

i] HE esa)

 

 

industry most.”

 

SE ASE

A CALIFORNIA ACRE

Through the Visitors’ Eyes

MR. CHARLES WEEKS,

Dear Sir:
Some two or three weeks ago I paid a visit to a friend of mine who has a poultry ranch

in your colony. I had heard about your one acre poultry ranches and I was rather skeptical
about this no yard for hens proposition and also the possibility of raising sufficient green feed
for some 2000 or more hens, to say nothing of lawns, vegetables, fruit trees, etc. But after
spending a couple of days with my friends, I confess the whole thing was a revelation to me.

‘The hens at all the plants we visited looked well and judging by the singing and cackling they

were doing their duty as layers. As to their being unhappy in being shut up, all I can say is
that at one place two of them got out by accident and it was comical to see how frantically
they were trying to get back.
Volumes could be written about your system. Best of all is, after all, the poultrymen in
our colony seem to make good and are contented as far as I could judge during my brief stay.
ishing you success, I remain,
Yours truly,
ALEX. ROUSSEAU,
Calistoga, Calif.

Dear Sir: .
I am glad that I had the opportunity of visiting your colony of one acre farmers. I was

particularly interested in the beautiful home you had made on a single acre of ground. Seems
to me I have never seen 8o big an acre.

With your residence, housing for 2000 or more chickens, aviary for birds, trees and vines
trained ier, vegetable and flower garden and room to spare for a clover.patch, no wonder
the acre looked like five. With climate unsurpassed, plenty of water, gas and electricity, fine
soil, in a beautiful location at the foot of the mountains, the whole scheme looks good. The
cooperative plan of your colony must also be counted in your general scheme of suscess. Then
tude js ithe big outdoors, fine atmosphere and a general landscape that is intriguing. Good

uck to you

Sincerely,
v U. S. HOLLISTER,

Hollywood, Calif.

Dear Mr. Weeks :
Mrs. Jones and I gave your one acre farm the “once over’ a week ago today. Never

have we seen so little waste space on one acre. All available corners are utilized, even working
double shift. I noted some spaces working three shifts at the same time, besides adding beauty,
utility and evidently profit besides. It is a good example of Frank Wiggins (our great Chamber
of Commerce Secretary for 30 years in Los Angeles) famous slogan: ‘‘Where Nature helps
Cordially yours,
DANIEL H. JONES,

Los Angeles, Calif.

=
TEN SOR

Looking west on Saticoy Street—showing vast development in a few years.

[291

 
A CALIFORNIA ACRE

An Invitation to You

Charles Weeks gives a special lecture to his many visitors every Sunday at 2 p. m. on his
own little farm located near Owensmouth—and don’t forget—in the west end and the best end

of the progressive San F ernando Valley. He has a real message dealing with one of the basic
principles for a better civilization. His theme is “The Fine Art of Earning a Comfortable
Living on One Acre,” also “How to Create a Better Environment for the Higher Development
of Man.” He has a real message for you. Come and hear him.

Directions
To reach the Weeks Poultry Community take the P. E. car marked for Owensmouth at Hill
Street Station, Los Angeles, and ask to get off at Weeks Colony. Or drive through Cahuenga

Pass from Hollywood, along Ventura boulevard to Van N uys sign, thence north through Van
Nuys, thence west on Sherman Way, between Reseda and Owensmouth.

“One Acre and Independence,” or
“My One Acre Farm”
By CHARLES WEEKS

An absorbing story of the possibili ties of the intensive little farm, describing its evolution in
detail. Many illustrations. 5000 copies of this popular book were sold last yeat, going to all
parts of the world. It has a message for you. Price $1.00, postpaid.

o an
Little Farms Magazine
Charles Weeks’ magazine devoted to intensive human culture as well as intensive agriculture.
Practical articles on poultry raising, bee culture, etc., and interesting stories of life in a commu-
nity where the main business is the business of living and where the highest ideals are being

made a living reality. Profusely illustrated with actual photos. Subscription, $1.00 for 12
issues. Address Charles Weeks, Owensmouth, California. LA

Community Inn
A home-like Community Inn is maintained where visitors may enjoy hearty country meals

or stay while looking over the community or wai ting for their homes to be built. Very reason-
able rates. ‘

[30]

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Weeks Poultry

SP.
Community
The Most Intensive Poultry Center in the World
Located at Owensmouth, Calif.

T othe years ago I left Indiana and came to California to go into the

poultry business. I came with $1275 capital and a great big dream. My
* dream was to have one of the largest egg farms on the Pacific Coast.

In fifteen years my dream had become a reality for I found myself the possessor
of the largest intensive poultry farm in the world with twelve thousand laying hens
a fine herd of Guernsey Cattle, a herd of registered Duroc Hogs, 3000 head of fur
bearing rabbits and a hatchery for 40,000 eggs, all on ten acres of land, located at
Palo Alto, Calif., 30 miles south of San Francisco and near Stanford University.

But the dream and the reality were far apart. In the accumulation of too much
business, I had lost the most precious thing in life—my freedom. With twelve hired
men like a millstone around my neck, I had no time for myself or my family. My
Palo Alto Egg Farm was valued at $100,000, proving that I know my business as an
egg farmer. The development of this large farm served its purpose, for it showed me
that large possessions do not always make men happy. hy

any men are slaves to too much business. Then came another vision, the
dream of a little garden home where a man and his family could live simply and in
abundance without hired help. From the large farm with its complex business was

“born the idea of ONE ACRE AND INDEPENDENCE.

The dream of the ONE ACRE FARM has become a reality and the reality far

: ildest d , for today, I am living the simple, natural, healthful,
ora life o ie own ONE ACRE FARM located near Owensmouth in the west

beautiful San Fernando Valley; twenty-five miles from the heart of Los
nd 3 sel iy is from the Pacific Ocean. Here I revel in the sunshine and
fresh air under the blue sky and grow all kinds of fruits, vegetables and grapes for the
‘keep 2400 laying hens for income. = :
table, and | > own ONE ACRE FARM have sprung up as if by magic over 600
other little farms, making a city of garden homes where men live independently with

their families without going out to work for wages.

Over five million dollars have already been invested in this famous community
and over one million dollars worth of eggs, poultry and feeds are handled annually
through the cooperative warehouse by the farmers cooperative organization.

e invite you to come and make your garden home with us and join in the making
of this unique city of garden homes, which is destined to stand as a monument to the
possibilities of the Intensive Little Farm.

I LECTURE PERSONALLY

ev Subiday afternoon at MY -ONE ACRE FARM, on the Fine Art of Earning a
rortablc i

ving on One Acre of Land in California. If you cannot come to the
lecture, write for Seratute, Ou hia :
ensmouth, Calif.

DIRECTIONS TO WEEKS COMMUNITY: Take Pacific Electric cars at
4th and Hill Streets for Owensmouth, and have conductor put you off at Weeks
Poultry Farms or drive from Hollywood through Cahuenga Pass to Van Nuys, thence
8 miles west on Sherman Way to the Charles Weeks Poultry Community.

You will be glad you came. It will be a revelation to you.

 

 

 

[31]

 

 

 
SE ERR

Rn i

ANNOUNCEMENT

1 tnannnancnnafs]

Charles Weeks Lectures to

Farm Bureaus
Poultry Associations
Chambers of Commerce

Service Clubs—High Schools

on

Intensive Egg Farming, or
The Fine Art of Earning a Comfortable Living
on One Acre |

My response to invitations received directly or through any organized Farm
Body or Chamber of Commerce will be complimentary and free of charge.

My message stimulates interest and fosters activity in your local community
upon the subject discussed.

 

 

EERESREINELINITINTIRNNNEINESIE

Elressmmnanammnisinsssss ns asmssssssssssse 5

= Te

ONE ACRE and

Independence
A New Book By Charles Weeks

MARVELOUS POSSIBILITIES

ON ONE ACRE BY
THE CHARLES WEEKS SYSTEM
OF INTENSIVE EGG FARMING

Showing how to keep 2400 hens on ONE
ACRE making them net not less than $2.00
each per year and still have room for all
kinds of fruit trees trained intensively on

trellises, family vegetable garden, berries and
grapes.

The largest single fact in the welfare of

the nation’s history today is the fact that a

man and his family can earn a comfortable living from so little as ONE
ACRE of land intelligently cultivated, out of doors in the sunshine and
fresh air close to nature. This BOOK will be a revelation to you and will be
mailed to you upon receipt of ONE DOLLAR. If it is not satisfactory, money

will be refunded. I have been living this IDEAL LIFE for TWENTY-FIVE
YEARS and have a message for you. Address

CHARLES WEE'S, - - . OWENSMOUTH, CALIFORNIA

Lejeennsnine ENON a ab EE ura o anna NONE ROOT TRaaRRENOaEUCNeNasrsRnsa RNR unnennnIeseg

[32]

 

 

Map of San Fernando Valley Showing Weeks Poultry Farms in the West End, Only 15 Miles from the Ocean and 25 Miles from Heart of Los Angeles.

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

By CHARLES WEEKS

"

I believe that the biggest single fact i in the
welfare of the nation’s history today is the fact
that a man and his family can earn a comfortable
living on so little as one acre of land. Hi

iw

1 believe it. the best environment for the
+ highest development of man, physically, ‘mental :
_ ly and morally is in his own garden, grown by his
own hands, where the five senses ced directly
from nature. ?

ft fhicie that the. highest inde

"whith man is capable,

 

 

garden home, where he n cither |

1 3 Believe that every child shoul

It divine privilege of growing up in a luxur
garden under the blue sky in’ the fresh ¢ | air an

" sunshine closes tonature.

1 balievi that our public “Shoo $8
our children the joy and gladness an
growing things in the soil.

=f belicve that the highest work given in = he

an of man to perform is that work of 3

ducing, of greating, useful things from the soil for
‘the better nourishment and development: of
| the human race.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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