Hands On Lecture: An Hour in Mrs. Coffin’s Garden

“Autumn approaches” 

“Of all these herbes and rootes before spoken of, you must take the likeliest and fairest to keepe for your seede.” 

– John Parkinson  1629 

As summer winds down we take a closer look at harvests and storage; also selection and saving of seeds. 

Join us this summer at the Oldest House for a fun and informative exploration of the history, layout and signature plants of the colonial housewife’s garden. We’ll discuss Native American gardens, the arrival of the English kitchen garden to New England, staple crops, the importance of herbs, and the blending of garden traditions. Each of the three sessions will then focus on the particular plants and garden chores of the early, mid-, and late summer garden (depending on the season). There will be ample time for discussion, exchange of ideas, and getting “hands in the dirt” (if one chooses!).