This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 22nd day of June, 1942, in accordance with request made by Mr. [470], Active Member of the Ass''n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mr. [470] and Mrs. [1100], Mrs. [1472] and Hugh Lynn Cayce.
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 3:55 to 4:20 P. M. Eastern War Time.
1. GC: You will have before you the enquiring minds of [1100] and [470] and Hugh Lynn Cayce, present in this room, and the 13 acres of land owned by the [470]s lying on the west side of the Great Neck Road between Oceana and the Laskin Road in Princess Anne County, Va. It is proposed to establish a cooperative farm enterprise, using this property as the basis. You will give counsel and advice regarding this project and answer the questions which have been prepared.
2. EC: Yes, we have the lands and those tentative projects of same, with the enquiring minds of [1100] and [470] and Hugh Lynn Cayce.
3. As we have indicated through this channel, such projects, such undertakings, should be activities in the minds and in the physical activity of practically everyone; and most will wish they knew something about it before it's over!
4. But in considering this proposition, under the present circumstance and present conditions - while this would be well to begin here, if it is the desire of each of these individuals, we find that neither of these is in the position - mentally or in associate connections - to give that as would be necessary for this to be made into a project that would be as self-sustaining as such should until, at least two years have passed - then this may be considered.
5. However, if this is to be then considered, there should be certain definite conditions or steps taken. Such a project - from these sources - is most noteworthy. For each and every individual should own sufficient of the earth to be self-sustaining. For the earth is the mother of all; just as God is the Father in the spiritual, the earth is the mother in the material. These are the supplies, the sources, from which individuals sustain or gain the sustenance for the material undertakings.
6. And such acreage as this, or even half as much, can be
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made to sustain a good deal more than these three!
7. These activities, then, should be considered. But circumstances, requirements; think about them, but do something about the thinking! Two years - then commence.
8. But in the meantime, do put an orchard around the edge; not in the front, but from at least a hundred or a hundred and fifty feet from the front put it all around the rest of the property - peaches, apples, plums and pears, quince and the others. Put them all! And let it be a part of the agreement with those who would continue to use same as the bulb farm, that this they are to do and to look after same, in caring for, in spraying, and in putting same in order.
9. Ready for questions.
10. (Q) The plan includes the following steps - comment on each one as called: a. Contributions of capital by ten families, to be returned in double value in produce at market prices. (A) This is a very worthy undertaking. There will be a lot of skeptical individuals, and you'll have a hard time getting ten. You might get five, or eight, or nine, - possibly in two years you may get ten to agree. They'll never think you'll repay anything, though!
11. (Q) b. Selection of a manager to handle the project, living on the ground. (A) To be sure this is necessary, and he must know something not only about soil but about all characters of vegetation; of vegetables, of fruits and berries that grow in this section of the country. Understand, not all are adaptable. There are some characters of berries - for instance, the whortleberry or the dewberry or blackberry will grow in abundance here - on this project. Some other characters that would be very desirable won't grow at all! Certain characters of vegetables will grow well, others will not be so good. All of these things must be taken into consideration. For, remember, the appetites of ten individuals are entirely different! Some would never want a strawberry, some would never want a whortleberry, and some would never want an apple, but some would want all the rest!
12. (Q) c. Intensive truck farming and chicken and egg production, fruit, berries, etc. (A) All of these should be considered. For these are ideal, not only as to the location but as for some characters of such vegetation.
13. (Q) d. System of canning, cooperative family effort. (A) All of these should be considered; and it would be the same character of activity as indicated, both in the fresh fruits and in the canning, there will be certain ones who
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will want certain characters and others who wouldn't care for same.
14. (Q) e. Sale of surplus, if any. (A) This is correct also, but this needs managers as well as workers!
15. (Q) May any advice be given through this channel regarding the selection of a farming manager of the project? (A) It would be well to get some individual who is well acquainted with the soil, first, as indicated, and the character of fruits and vegetables as would produce the better in this particular section of the country. As to the name, no; because it will be best to take one of those who will come possibly from Finland or Poland.
16. (Q) Is ten the proper number of families to interest in the project? (A) This depends upon just how the division is to be made of the character of materials or the produce to be produced. It depends on how much is to be put in the chicken yard, how much in the other home sites or the like, or the outhouses or other characters of produce that might be produced. This would be a very, VERY good place for such considerations as mushrooms, which is a good tentative idea for one of the individuals who thinks!
17. (Q) What other particular items, if any, should be stressed in such a project? (A) These as indicated will keep their hands full for several people!
18. (Q) What information may be given as to the time to start such a project? (A) As indicated, in two years - but that would mean, of course, from about the middle of the year, or July or August - two years from now.
19. (Q) What steps should be taken to prepare the land, - such as planting of fruit trees, berries, grain crops for chicken feed, etc.? (A) These would all come in their regular order, but begin the fruit trees now - and then in two years you'll have something to commence with, see? Don't begin the berries, though, as yet. But the fruit trees will not interfere with the present operations, and these can be kept on for two more years.
20. (Q) What suggestions may be given here (on the basis of the families involved as stated above) regarding percentage of land for the following: chicken production, vegetable and grain crops, fruit, berries? (A) These had best be worked out with the character of the individual who would manage or superintend such, and the
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superintendent must not be an overseer but a worker - not a shirker nor a jerker!
21. (Q) May information be given through this channel on the proper methods of farming which would insure the production of products of the best possible food value and balanced content? (A) If there is to be insured the producing of the character of fertilization needed, or the making of the proper fertilizer - none exceeds, of course, the value of chicken fertilizer, especially for some vegetables. Hence this should be used in rather an abundance, not excessively but in large measures; as well as that produced by the methods of adding such as lime and potash with portions of the soil, or portions of vegetable matter or refuse of vines or grasses in certain characters of vegetation - but always mixed with the droppings of the chicken - for this is the better of ANY that may be had for vegetables!
22. (Q) What suggestion should be used to secure through this channel the best information on this subject? (A) The answering of the needs as they arise, of course, would be the best manner. But the better understanding may be had through the regular agricultural propositions for the various things, and then these tested with such information as combined with others who have made a study of same. For, here ye approach from the spiritual angle; others approach from the mental; others from the practical. They are one; yet comprehending or understanding same is of the greater value. To be sure, there is a great deal in the theories that are propagated by some groups, that what is in the vegetables and fruits has much to do with the character. If the man who raises and cares for them does it with love, it makes all the difference! Don't think a grouchy man can ever raise a headed cabbage or a tomato that will agree as well as those raised by a man who laughs and tells a good joke, though it may be smutty!
23. (Q) May information be given as to the ultimate goal of such an undertaking in the light of national and world affairs? (A) This will be in keeping with many of those projects undertaken, that have been for some time set in motion in various sections of the country for a better correlation with the masses and the production of farms, or the small acreage intensive farming, and all in keeping with the practical, the mental and the spiritual applications of all those purposes, aims and desires in such undertakings. This might be extended to where there might be included in half the acreage that is now under cultivation in this county sufficient to supply twice as much of the people, because
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they are happy in what they are doing! Consider the days of old - these are not foolish! When there were the families that produced upon the farm, how much better not only were the lives of those individuals but the character of the product - and there were not half so many pests to deal with! And whence came they? From the same place that the flies and the fleas and the grasshoppers came to plague Egypt!
24. (Q) Could the house now on the property be repaired and termites exterminated or would it be better to tear down and build a small bungalow closer to the road? (A) It would be better to tear down eventually and rebuild; using a great deal of this, though the foundations are not of such natures that it would be well to attempt to repair in this present location, and this in the manner in which it might be laid out would be rather in an inconvenient place.
25. (Q) Where would be the best location for the wood working shop - at the farm or at the ... St. house in Va. Beach? (A) Wherever the one is who is to use same! If you're going to use it, have it closer - if you don't you won't use it as much as you should. Or if it is too far away others would be using it that wouldn't be so well, for the materials nor for the work itself!
26. (Q) Any other suggestions, counsel or advice on this project? (A) Do consider it seriously. It is the basis of any undertaking that is worth while. It may not only become a local but a state-wide and a national movement in ways and means as to insure the meeting of the problems when there is peace again in the land, and also insuring the better products for a better people. You expect a new root race. What are you doing to prepare for it? You must prepare food for their bodies as well as their minds and their spiritual development!
27. We are through for the present. [GD's note: See 470-35, Par. R1.] Copy to [Mr. 470] " " H. L. Cayce " " Ass'n file Ass'n file