Once their homes - temporary or otherwise - were built, migrants were quick to put their gardens to work. Many of the houses were on traditional quarter-acre blocks and there was plenty of room to plant vegetables and fruit trees. While the main reason for growing vegetables was to save money, especially in the case of large families, it was also important culturally. The vegetables were grown and harvested and then they would be preserved in traditional ways to ensure a steady supply of the food the migrants were used to.