Autumn 2009
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Other Issues: | Autumn 2007 | Winter 2008 | Spring 2008 | Summer 2008 | Autumn 2008 | Winter 2009 | Spring 2009 | Summer 2009 | Winter 2010 |
Articles from this issue:
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Locavore: Three Virginians Taste the Past Profiles show how these Piedmont people have rediscovered treasures for the garden and the palette.
F
ood for Presidents, from Jefferson to ObamaPeter Hatch, Monticello“I wonder if anyone had grown so many different things in one place before Thomas Jefferson did,” says Peter Hatch, Director of Gardens and Grounds at Monticello.By Hatch’s count, Jefferson raised 330 varieties of 89 species of vegetables and herbs and 170 varieties of fruit in his gardens and orchards -- a multicultural, experimental assembly that Hatch explores in his forthcoming book Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden.Hatch brings a unique perspective to his scholarship: for the last 32 years, he has worked the same earth as Jefferson, cultivating as many as possible of the same kinds of plants.Finding those varieties takes detective work, he says: “We can find some of them, particularly with fruit. And with flowers we do pretty well. Read more... |
What You Need to Know But Never Thought to Ask
R
aising chickens in the backyard is becoming an increasingly popular way for families to learn about the meaning of growing and eating local.Fresh eggs, pest control, and top-notch fertilizer are some of the reasons the venture is so appealing.One of the most rewarding aspects of raising backyard chickens is the opportunity it provides for children.They learn not only about responsibility for pets but also about local food production, carpentry, and even some life lessons.Keep in mind that good candidates for backyard layers are quiet chickens with docile and enduring temperaments.After all, who wants to spend an afternoon chasing down a crazy hen, or for that matter, being chased by a crazy hen? Heirloom chickens — breeds that are not hybrid — meet this standard. Read more... |