This week, I attended a workshop on plant and vegetable breeding to improve varieties for organic growers in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. The workshop was hosted by NOVIC– the Northern Organic Vegetable Improvement Collaborative, which joins researchers and farmers from the Organic Seed Alliance, the USDA, Oregon State University, Cornell University, Washington State University […]
On August 22, 2018, staff from Monticello’s Center for Historic Plants visited Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (SESE), a founder and host of the Heritage Harvest Festival and the site where many of the delicious vegetables and fruits are grown for the festival’s Tasting Tent. SESE is located on 72 acres in Mineral, Virginia, on an […]
Efforts to support bluebirds at Tufton began several years ago through concerted involvement from Ron and Priscilla Kingston and members of the Monticello Bird Club who erected bluebird boxes in the display garden of the Center for Historic Plants. For those who have visited the Center for Historic Plants at Jefferson’s Tufton Farm, you have […]
Bitter melon, or as Thomas Jefferson would have called it – balsam pear – is among one of the most unusual Asian vegetables to grow and taste. The 8-10 inch, light green, oblong fruit is recognizable by its bumpy appearance. It also has a distinctly bitter taste. Recently, bitter melon has received a lot of […]
When people struggle with their gardens, I always tell them not to worry. The great thing about gardening is that there is always next year! Keep good notes, learn from your mistakes, and every year you’ll develop as a gardener. What I have come to realize more recently, is that there is a wealth of […]
“Garden to Table” is the best way to describe my passion for adding purpose to landscapes in suburban neighborhoods, office parks, school campuses and retirement communities. With an education in design, an enthusiasm for ornamental horticulture, and a hunger for local, organically raised produce I see potential to grow food in every cultivated space. From […]
