50 years ago
The successful harvest of more than 16 tons of potatoes by Church members in Berlin, Germany, was reported in the Nov. 3, 1948, Church News.
The potatoes were planted to provide food for members in Berlin, which was blockaded against outside support in the aftermath of World War II.
The article stated that the Church members secured the land for their potato crop with the help of LDS servicemen. The potatoes planted had been given to the East German Mission by the Netherlands Mission the previous fall.
"Throughout the long summer months the field had to be guarded day and night against thieves and roving livestock," the article added. "The members happily took their turns and looked forward to the time of the harvest."
The article stated that an average of 65 Berlin members, including only 15 men, worked three days to dig the potatoes. "The work was very carefully done by hand," the article continued, "and care was taken that not even the tiniest potatoes were lost. . . . When the last row had been dug and the last sack weighed, it was found that more than 16 tons had been harvested - an eight-fold yield which everyone thought was good considering the poor soil and the lack of water during the hottest part of the summer."
Each of those who worked on the project received 40 pounds of potatoes at a time when fresh fruits and vegetables were practically impossible to find.
