Research

I began my research for my internship project this week. After talking with Kim and Lauren, I have chosen to makeover the little fenced area next to the tool shed. We all agreed that the area would make a fantastic kitchen garden. To start, I will plant herbs that would have been used in cooking and for medicinal purposes.

I ordered five books on herbs and gardening in the 18th and 19th century from Ramsey Library which have arrived at various points during the week.

The Backcountry Housewife: A Study of Eighteenth Century Foods, vol. 1 by Kay Moss and Kathryn Hoffman (1985)

The Gardener's Calendar by Robert Squibb (1787)

A Backcountry Herbal by Kay Moss (1993)

The Herball or General Historie of Plants, vol. 1 and 2 by John Gerard (1597)

      I have also found several very interesting websites about herbs, and Colonial Williamsburg's kitchen gardens. On the 28th of this month I will be visiting the 18th century backcountry farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium in Gastonia, NC. I learned about the Schiele museum through the books written by Kay Moss. Her books were written for the museums' 18th Century Backcountry Lifeways Studies Program.


Location: Leicester, NC 28748, USA

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