Monk, George (b.1909 - d.1998)

Collection relating to George Monk (civilian farmer), Queanbeyan, Second World War. Collection comprises seven letters regarding the setting up and equipping of a market garden at Barracks Flat, Queanbeyan, New South Wales. Also included are eight seed packets and seven other containers enclosing seeds, a tag from a length of war grade 'Fruit and Vegetable growers hose', a contract and receipt for the growing of Tasmanian seed potatoes and three photographs of the market garden with captions. Due to the nature of this material the box containing the seeds is on restricted access.

In 1942 George Monk, with his neighbours Ted and Greg Wells, set up a market garden to grow vegetables for the Allied Forces in Australia.

The land selected was a large block at Barracks Flat, in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, that ran down to the Queanbeyan River. The market garden was supported by several government departments with the Department of the Interior providing a financial grant for equipment and the Department of Agriculture generally supplied the seeds. There was also a small petrol ration for a rotary hoe and special permission was eventually granted for irrigation

Potatoes were the main crop but carrots, parsnips, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, white large radishes and onions were also grown. After havest the vegetables had to be graded and priced with the produce for the military required to meet set size and quality standards. Vegetables were sold to Australian, American and Netherlands East Indies forces in the area. Odd sized and lower grade vegetables could be sold at shops in Queanbeyan.