Since Victory Gardens were planted at private residences and on public land during World Wars I and II, families have been receiving encouragement to grow their own food. During wartime the federal government requested the homefront to grow their own produce to cope with a food shortage.

In today's fractured economic climate, new style victory gardens are capturing the attention of families who want income from food production, local food security, and reduced transport costs for meals.

Small Plot Intensive gardening or SPIN is an urban gardening movement that works in suburbia or small towns. Families grow as many edible crops as feasible in densely sown plots on an acre or less.

These SPIN gardening practices fit comfortably into most backyard gardens in the Midlands • Plan successive relays of seasonal crops all year long. • Provide raised beds only wide enough for arm's reach at harvest. • Keep paths one foot in width to conserve space for crops. • Sow seeds rather than buying bedding plants. • Use low cost homemade compost and composted animal manures to fertilize • Think of the garden as a market or franchise business requiring part- time or full- time workers. • Consider inviting neighbors to adapt their garden to a market as well.

Red Heirloom Tomatoes Since SPIN is a home business, a strong marketing plan must be in place to yield profits. SPIN gardeners sell at local farmers markets, roadside stands and supply local restau- rants and soup kitchens. Many contract with consumers who pay a seasonal or annual subscription for a portion of the harvest.

SPIN gardeners pick produce as close to consumption as possible to reduce space and cost for storage and chilling. Consumers expect fast fresh produce with high nutrient levels.

SPIN has evolved into a for- profit enterprise for individuals, groups or families who join and purchase garden guides and manuals. But the principles of SPIN are not new and can be attained by studying several related practices.

One intensive gardening program that has been around since the early 1970s is common ground gardening promoted by Alan Chadwick and John Jeavons. Their biointensive gardening method promises the gardener more vegetables, fruits, and grains than one can imagine on plots as small as 100- 200 square feet. Bed preparation is the most important step in this method and gardeners need to be prepared to double dig.

In the 1980s Mel Bartholomew popularized Square Foot Gardening, a system of intensive gardening within a grid of one foot by one foot squares rather than traditional rows. Each square holds a different vegetable, flower or herb. Climbing vine crops grow skyward on vertical frames to save space. His soil recipes are labor intensive.

In the 1990s Elliot Coleman devised a market gardening plan for a yearround harvest by using cold frames, tunnels, greenhouses, and root cellars. Composting is the means to Coleman's success. Using organic methods and crops in sync with each season, he sells produce from a farm stand at Four Season Farm.

If one's head is reeling from the many resources available for making home gardening profitable for the family, the next step is to put your personal spin on a high yield plot.

Family Food Gardens www.fourseasonfarm.com www.growbiointensive.org www.revivevictorygarden.org www.spingardening.com www.squarefootgardening.com