TheCommonMedievalKitchenGarden,a21stCenturyInterpretation

ElizaSkakelFall2012

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Inthe2012fallsemesteragroupofstudents,ledbyProfessorJohnGerber,

begantheexplorationofcommonMedievalandRenaissancecottagegardening

practiceincollaborationwiththeUniversityofMassachusettsRenaissanceCenter.

Theoriginalthesisoftheproject,andthereforeourinitialresearch,revolvedaround

thebeliefthat“OldWorld”gardeningpracticeandspeciescontentshiftedrapidly

withColumbus’sdiscoveryoftheAmericasin1492.Howeverourgroupquickly

reachedtheconsensusthatcontactwiththe“NewWorld”didnotrapidlyaffect

renaissancegardening.Manynewlydiscoveredspeciesweretransportedtothe

“OldWorld”,butwereoftenviewedasnoveltyitemsandfoundonlyingardensof

thewealthy.Thesespecieswerenotwidelyacceptedincommonkitchengardens

withinourtimeframeofinterest.Inlightofthisinformationthestructureofour

plannedfinalproductshiftedfromtheconstructionandcomparisonoftwomodel

renaissance‐eracommonkitchengardens,onepreandonepost1492,toamorein‐

depthexplorationofgardeninginthemedievalera.Wesoughttheanswersto

severalquestions:howdidmembersofthissocietyconstructtheirgardens,what

weretheyeatingandhowweretheygrowingit?Ourfindingswillbedisplayedin

thecreationof,whatourresearchinformsusis,acommonrenaissancekitchen

garden.

Gardeninghaschangedimmenselysincetherenaissanceeraanditis

importanttounderstandthepurposesofmedievalcottagegardens,andthethinking

surroundingthem,beforewecanstrivetorecreatethem.

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Ifirstbeganresearchatthegenerallevel,simplylookingforanyrenaissance

gardeninformation,butIsoonbegantofocusmorespecificallyonthestructureof

thegarden,wateringtechniques,toolsused,andthecompilationofalistofthemost

commonspeciesmentionedwithinmysources.Theultimategoalofmyresearch

wastoproduceaplanfortherecreationofacommonrenaissancegardenonthe20

x40footplotprovidedattheMassachusettsRenaissanceCenter.Iapproachedthis

dauntingtaskwiththereassuringknowledgethatcommonmedievalkitchen

gardenswerenotallconstructedinthesamemanner,thegardenwouldbemodified

incertainwaystoallowforvisitors,andthattheothermembersofourgroupwould

providesupportthroughouttheproject.

MyresearchbeganwhereIknewconstructionoftheactualgardenwould

surelybegin,thestructureandlayout.Medievalgardenswereoftenenclosedand

protectedwithinsometypeofwall,fence,orhedge.TeresaMcleanwritesinher

bookMedievalEnglishGardensthatindividualsofthiseraenclosedtheirgardensin

orderto“shutoutfieldsfromwhichtheyfoughttoearnaliving;theforests,fens,

andwildernesstheyfoughttobringtocultivation,theanimals,wildanddomestic,

aswellasthievesandneighbors”i.Gardensinthiserawerevitallyimportant,

providingsustenancetothemedievalpopulation.Medievalsrecognizedthe

importanceoftheirgardensandtookmeasurestoprotecttheirinterestsbyplacing

“thornhedges,ditches,banksofearth,fencing,palingandwalls”iiaroundthem.

Manyoftheseenclosuretechniques,includingbrickandstonewalls,wererelegated

tousebythewealthierclasses;foundonlyatmanorhouseandmonasticgardens.

Wattlefencinghowever,defiedclassistboundariesandwasoneofthemost

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commonlyusedgardencontainmentmethods.Thisfencingwasusedinmonastic,

manorhouse,andcommonkitchengardensthroughoutthemedievaleraiii

Image1:takenfromSylviaLandsberg’sbookTheMedievalGardenillustratesdifferenttypesoffencingusedinmedievaltimesincludingseveralwattlevariations.

Wattlefencingisverydynamic.Itiseasilyassembled,durable,utilizesan

easilyharvestedandabundantmaterial,andcanbeusedforvariouspurposes.

Thesefactorscontributedtothepopularityandaccessibilityofwattlefencing.This

fencingismadeofwovensaplingsandcanbeformedinmanyshapesandheights.It

canalsobeusedtocreateraisedbeds,afavoriteinthemedievaleraiv.

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Useofthissimplefencingwassowidespreadthatitpermeatedmedieval

culture.Itisoftendepictedinperiodartworkincludingthetwoillustrationsbelow.

Image2:(1415) Image3:(1440‐50)

Thefirstimage,whichwascreatedin1415intheBoucicautMaster’sFrench

workshop,depictsthefirstmeetingofAdamandEvev.Theartistchosetoenclose

theGardenofEdenwithawattlefence.Thesecondminiaturewasproduced

between1440‐50bytheMasterofSirJohnFalstolf.ThisillustrationdepictsJesus

andagroupofSaintsandsoldierswithinawattle‐surroundedgardenvi.Though

theseillustrationsdepictBiblicalscenesthepresenceofwattlefencingrepresents

itspopularityduringtheerainwhichtheimageswerecreated.

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Wattlefencingisveryuseful,easytoconstruct,hardy,andmadewitheasily

sourcedmaterials.Thesecharacteristicsaswellasthemedievalpropensityto

protectthegardenensuredthepopularityofwattlefencingatalllevelsofsociety.

ApplicationofWattleFencing/Containment:BecauseMedievalgardenswereso

oftenenclosedourreplicationgardenshouldincludethisfeature.Wattlefencing

shouldbeusedtocontainthegarden,becauseofitswidespreaduseintheeraofour

interest.Constructionofthisfencecouldutilizelocalsaplings.Wattlecouldalsobe

usedifanyraisedbedsaredesired.Thornandbramblehedgeswerealsooftenused

tocreatebarriers,andIwouldliketoincludethisasanelementinourgarden.I

suggestthatlocalrosesandtransplantedblackberryandraspberrybushesbe

incorporatedwiththewattlefencingononeedgeofthegarden.Thiswould

representacombinationofprotectivetechniquesoftenimplementedinthe

medievalera.Everythinginamedievalgardenhadadualpurpose,whichfurther

supportstheinclusionofblackberryorraspberrybushes.Theseplantswouldnot

onlyofferprotection,butalsoberries.Isuggesttheybetransplantedfromalocal

sourcebecausemedievalgardensoftenincludednativeplantsfoundinthewildvii.I

suggesttheincorporationoftheroseinthehedgebecauseoftheflowers

importanceinthemedievaleraandreputationasoneofthetwo“greatestmedieval

flowers”viii.Themostcommonlymentionedrosesinmedievalliteratureand

depictedinartofthetimearered,thoughthewhiterosaalbawasafavoriteand

oftengrownasahedgeix.Whatevercolorroseisusedthisflowershouldhavea

placeinourgardenandthedualityofitsbeautyandprotectivethornswillbe

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perfectlysuitedforgardencontainment.Wattleandprotectivehedgingwillbea

handsomeadditiontoourgarden.

TheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyapprovestheuseofwattlefencingand

offersbuildinginstructionsandtipsatthislink

http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/wildones/handbk/wo27fence.html

Irrigationandthelocationofawatersourcealsoinformedthestructureof

themedievalgarden.Withoutproperirrigationcropscouldeasilyperish,anda

valuablefoodsourcewouldbelost.Placementofthisresourcewasmuchmore

importantthanitisnowinanageofoutdoorplumbingandlongreachinghoses.

Severalirrigationmethodswereutilizedinthemedievalgarden.Theseinventive

methodswereintendedtodecreasetheamountoftimerequiredtokeepthegarden

sufficientlywatered.

The most complex irrigation systems involved the use of channels or canals that

diverted water from its source to the garden beds. This process was often used with

raised bed gardens, in which the lower pathways served as the water irrigation channels.

These systems relied on gravity as the main force of energy and because of this the water

source was often located at the highest point in the gardenx. A manure pile was frequently

located close to the water source so “moisture oozing from it could be diverted into the

water channels”xi. These complex systems were originally used in Roman agricultural

system but were adopted in the medieval era by monastic gardeners. Monasteries often

had rather advanced aquatic systems that not only served to water the garden but also as a

sanitation systemxii. These highly structured systems were consigned to monastery,

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manor, and palatial gardens though a less substantial version of this method, involving

small earth dams may have been used in a common kitchen garden.

In the 14th or 15th century the use of a kitchen garden pond became popularxiii.

These ponds, shallow and lined with a clay water barrier, not only supplied a water

source for the renaissance garden but were also “appreciated (for) their ornamental

value”xiv. They were placed near or within the gardens. Manure was often added to these

ponds as a fertilization method. Water was removed from these ponds manually.

Several smaller scale irrigation methods are mentioned in Susan Campbell’s book

Charleston Kedding, A History of Kitchen Gardening. Capillary watering methods from

the medieval era clearly informed watering techniques still in use today. The common

watering can is highly reminiscent of the medieval thumb pot. Both technologies were

designed to provide a gentle flow of water to plants. Thumb pots, crafted out of

earthenware, were perforated with many small holes on their bottom and one thumb hole

at the top. The pots were filled by submersion, perhaps in a kitchen garden pond. When

full the thumb hole was covered to ensure none of the water escaped until it was meant

to.

Image 4: A full thumb pot. Image 5: The bottom of a thumb pot

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Image 6: A thumb pot in use

A similar technique involved hanging a perforated earthenware pot over plants

that required constant moisture. A feather, piece of straw or a bit of cloth was inserted

into the holes, allowing the water to gently and slowly reach the plants belowxv. This

technique was perhaps a precursor to modern day drip irrigation systems. These capillary

watering systems could have effectively watered a small kitchen garden, however their

sole use in a large manorial garden would have been impractical. These irrigation

methods were implemented to decrease the amount of time spent on watering the garden.

Though these techniques may sound time consuming to a modern gardener they

represented a large improvement in the medieval era.

Application of irrigation techniques:

Itwouldbeidealtoincludealloftheseirrigationmethodsinourgarden.

However,becausethechannelsystemofirrigationwasusuallyonlyusedinmanor

houseandmonasticgardensitsroleinourgardenshouldbesmall.Ourcommon

kitchengardenrepresentationshouldutilizetheRomanesquekitchengardenpool,

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whichwasclassicallylocatedeitheratthecenterofthegardenortothesidexvi.This

methodofwatercontainmentmaybetooinvolvedforourgardenproject,however

awatersourceshoulddefinitelybeincluded.Atroughplacedwithinthegarden

fencecouldsubstituteforapoolorwell,providingasimilaraffectwhileservinga

utilitarianpurpose.Theinclusionofamanurepileclosetothewatersource,tobe

mixedwithwaterasafertilizer,wouldaddauthenticity.Thecapillarywatering

systemsshouldbeutilizedinthegardenandcouldbefilledinthetrough.Thumb

potsareavailableforpurchasehere:http://www.fromfarmtomarket.com/p‐63‐

thumb‐pot‐waterer.aspx

BeforeColumbusintroducedsugartotheNewWorldin1492,creatinga

massiveindustrythatsoonflushedtheglobalmarketwiththeoncescarceproduct,

honeywasthemostcommonsweetenerusedinEuropexvii.Honeywasavery

importantinthemedievalerabecauseitwasusedinmanyproductsincludingjams

andpreserves,mead,medicinesetc.xviii.Thewaxcollectedfromhiveswasalsovery

valuablebecauseitcouldbemadeintocandlesandwasparticularlysoughtafterin

monasteries.Honeywassohighlyvaluedthatitwassometimescollectedas

paymentforrent,andthoughthereweredifferentlevelsofbeekeepingandquality

ofhives,beetendingwasprevalentateverylevelofmedievalsocietyxix.Ifan

individualhouseholdcouldnotaffordahive,onecouldbesharedandmoved

betweenmultiplecottagegardens.

BeecultivationhasbeencommonpracticedatingbacktotheRomans,who

raisedspecificplantsforthepleasureoftheirbeesxx.Thispracticewascontinued

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intothemedievalera,withsimilarplantsincludingMarjoramandBurnet,which

wereusedtoattractbeestogardensxxi.

Themostcommonmedievalhives,calledskeps,weremadeofstrawand

werepopularwithcottagegardenersbecausetheywerelightweightandeasyto

move.Althoughskepsoftenleftbeesvulnerabletodiseasethistypeofhive

maintainedpopularitythroughoutthemedievaleraxxii.Wickerhives,insulatedwith

clayanddungandcoveredwithbarkorwovenstraw,werealsopopularxxiii.These

hiveswouldlikelyhavebeenplacedonsmalltablesandifadditionalprotection

fromtheelementswasdeemednecessaryasmallhutwouldhavebeenconstructed

tohouseindividualhivesxxiv.Beecultivationintherenaissanceerawaswidespread

andaveryimportantaspectnotonlyofcottageandmanorgardens,butofEuropean

cultureitself.

Image7:Acommonskepsurroundedbyflowers.

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ApplicationofBeekeeping:

Honeyandthetraditionofbeekeepingwasaveryimportantpartofthemedieval

culture.Becauseofthehistoricalvalueofbeekeepingahiveshouldbeincludedin

ourmedievalgardenrepresentation,however,theuseoftraditionalskepsis

prohibitedinthestateofMassachusetts.Section33oftheMassachusetts

AgricultureandConservationLawsstatesthat“Nopersonsshallknowingly

maintainacolonyorcoloniesofhoneybeesinhives,otherreceptacles,treesor

otherlodgingplacesinwhichbroodcombsarefastenedtothecontainerofthe

colony”xxv.Accordingtobeesource.comthislegislationisinplacetoensurethe

healthofbeecolonies.Framedhiveswithremovablecombssimplifytheinspection

process,enablingthedetectionofdiseasedbeepopulations.Aframehivecouldbe

installedinplaceofaskep.Thepresenceofbeesandtheirpollinatingabilities

wouldnotonlybenefitourgardenbutalsotheorchardandotherplantingsatthe

MassachusettsRenaissanceCenter.Areplicationofaskepcouldbekeptonsiteasa

representationofmedievalbeekeepingpractices.Beekeepingwasanimportant

aspectofmedievalgardeningandcultureandwouldcontributeagreatdealtoour

garden.Skepmakinginstructionscanbefoundhere:

http://www.beedata.com/data2/skeps.html

Adecorativeskepisavailableforpurchasehere:

http://www.crowsnestprimitiveshoppe.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=BeeSkep

Thoughmanorhouseandcommongardensvariedinstructureandspecies

content,acommonalityexistedinthetypesoftoolsusedintheirupkeep.According

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toTeresaMcleanthe“equipmentnecessarytoacountryman,wereasbasicto

palace,burgessandmanorialastocottagegardeners”xxvi(198).Toolstodayvery

closelyresemblethoseusedinmedievalgardensxxvii.Recordsofgardeningtoolsare

rathercommon,foundinmedievaldescriptionsofgardeningorreceiptsof

purchase.

Inthe12thcenturyAlaxanderMeckhamslistedthegardeningtoolshe

thoughtweremostusefulinhisessayDeUtensilibusincluding,

“afork,awideblade,aspadeshovel,aknife…aseed‐basketforseed‐time,awheel‐barrow(moreoftenalittlehand‐cart),basket,pannierandtrapforsparrow‐hawks…atwoedgedaxetouprootthorns,brambles,briars,pricklesandunwantedshoots,andrushesandwoodtomendhedges…timbers,palings,andstakesorhedginghurdels…heshouldalsohaveaknifehangingfromhisbelttografttreesandseedlings,mattockswithwhichtouprootnettlesorvetch,darnel,thistles,sterileoatsandweedsofthissort,andahoefortares…”xxviii

A1453billfortoolsatDorsetEngland’sMunden’sChantrywasasfollows,

“5d.foronespade,2dforonerake,4d.foronehoe”xxix.In1676JohnRea,inFlora,

wroteaboutperiodtoolsnecessaryforgardening.Thissegmentwastakenfrom

CharlesQuest‐Ritson’sTheEnglishGarden,ASocialHistory,

“aSkreen,aWier‐Ridle,twospades,abiggerandalesser,likewiseShovels,andHowesofseveralsizes,aPruining‐hook,Grafting‐knifes,aSaw,aChiselandMallet,andalsoasmallpenknifeforInoculating,andlayingofGilliflowers,aLineandRule,Trowelsofseveralsizes,ahandsomHammer,withtwopairofGarden‐shears,andtwoIronRakes,abiggerandlongerinthehead,andashorterwiththeTeeththickerset,withseveralBasketsofTwigs,andBesoms,tosweepandcarryawaythecleaningsofthegardens”xxx.

Itisremarkablehowmanyofthesetoolsarestillinusetoday,andhowearlyon

theyweredevelopedandputintouse.

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Image8:TakenfromPietrodeCrescenzi’s13thcenturyagriculturalwritings,thisimagedepictsvariousgardeningtoolsfromtheera.

Applicationoftooluse:

ThroughmyresearchIhavecompiledalistofthetoolsusedinRenaissance

gardensthatIbelievewillbeusefulinourpursuits:pitchfork,wideblade(atypeof

hoe),spadeshovel(“arguablytheonetoolthatnogardenercanaffordtobe

without”xxxi),seedbasket(tocollectseeds),wheelbarrow(howtobuildamedieval

wheelbarrowhttp://www.bloodandsawdust.com/sca/barrow.html),basket

(generaluse),pannier(cropcollectionvessel),twoedgedaxe(usedforclearingthe

plantingspaceandcollectingwoodfortheconstructionofwallsorwattlefences),

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mattocks(similartoapickaxe),knife(forvarioususes),andahoe(forgeneral

purposes).Screen(forseparatingrocksfromthesoil),gardensieve(Availablefor

purchaseherehttp://chinamesh.en.alibaba.com/productshowimg/506993381‐

212816220/Garden_sieve_riddle.html),largespade,smallspade,smallshovel,big

shovel,trowel(smallhandheldshovel),hammer,gardenshears,twigsandbesom

(twigbroom),scythe.Inordertocompletelyunderstandandappreciatethe

medievalgardenexperiencethetoolsofthetimeshouldbeused,luckilytheyare

verysimilartogardeningtoolsofthisera.

Thetoolsofthemedievalgardenermaybesimilartothoseinusetoday,but

generaltastesinproducehaveshifted.Appreciationforcertainvegetable

characteristicsdictatedthespeciescommonlyfoundincommonkitchengardens.

Vegetableswithhighstarchcontentweregreatlyappreciatedandanyspecieswith

strongflavorwereprizedxxxii.TeresaMcLeanevensuggeststhat“formedievals,a

vegetablehadtobefullofeithercarbohydrateorflavour;ithadtocomenearto

beingacerealoraherbtojustifyitsexistence”xxxiii.Thispenchantforflavoralso

ensuredthepopularityofherbs.Herbsheldaveryimportantplaceinthemedieval

gardenbecausetheynotonlyofferedflavor,butmanywerealsobelievedtohave

healingcapabilities.Thedominantfixturesinthecommonrenaissancegardenwere

starchesandhighlyflavorfulvegetables;thesesolerequirementsdictatedthe

vegetablecontentofcommongardensthroughoutthisperiod.

Thesizeofacottagegardenwasusuallydiminutive,thoughcouldvary

dependingonfamilysize.Limitedspacedictatedthetypesofplantsfoundwithin

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thegarden;speciesthatservedmultiplepurposeswereprizedxxxiv.Cottagegardens

oftenincorporatedindigenousfloraintotheirgardens,sometimestransplanting

certainspeciesfromthewildintotheirprotectedplotsxxxv.Thecottagegardenwas

extremelyimportantinthisera,andproducednotonlyfoodfortheowner,butalso

medicinesandotherhouseholdnecessities.

Unlikemanorgardensofthetime,whichwereappreciatedfortheirhigh

levelsofstructure,cottagegardenswereoftenmorewildand,“werenearlyalways

justyards,orvegetablepatches,inwhichfruittrees,vegetables,herbsandflowers

allgrewtogether”xxxvi.However,despitetheinitialappearanceofalackof

organizationtherewerecertaingroupingsofplantsthatsuggestanintentional

method.OftenmembersoftheAlliumfamily,averypopulargroupofvegetables,

weregrowntogetherinthesamebed.Inthiscasethetasteofthesevegetables,

Leek(Alliumporrum),Onion(alliumcepa),Garlic(alliumsativum),dictatedtheir

placementwithinthegardenandillustratethetypeofstructurepresentwithinthe

commonrenaissancegarden.

Theseflavorfulvegetablesarefoundinpracticallyallrecordsofmedieval

kitchengardensxxxvii.TheAnglo‐Saxonsheldleeksinsuchhighregard,andfound

themsuchanimportantpartofthegardenthattheirnameforakitchengardenwas

“leek‐garth”or“leac‐turn”xxxviii.Chivesandshallotswerealsohighlyregardedfor

theirflavor.

TheBrassicafamily,includingkaleandcabbagewasanextremelypopular

additiontothemedievalgardenxxxix.Thesevegetableswerealmostalwaysincluded

inkitchengardensxl.

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Starchyrootvegetableswereappreciated,aslongastheirleafygreenswere

alsoedible.Parsnips,turnipsandbeetswereappreciatedforthesecharacteristics.

Radishes,arootvegetablewithastrongspicyflavor,werealsofoundinmany

gardens.

Beansandpeaswereanimportantpartofthemedievaldiet,andwere

sometimesfoundinkitchengardens,howevertheyweremoreoftengrownasfield

cropsxli.Thesespecieswerefrequentlyplantedtogether.

Acondensedlistofthemostcommonvegetablesfoundinmedievalgardens

follows:

‐ Leek(alliumporrum)‐ Onion(alliumcepa)‐ Garlic(alliumsativum)‐ Shallots(alliumcepa)‐ Chives(alliumschoenoprasum)‐ Kale(brassicaoleracea)‐ White/headedcabbage‐ Heartcabbage‐ Romancabbage‐ Cauliflower/colewort‐ Plaincoles/rape(brassicahapus)‐ Turnip/neeps(brassicarapa)‐ Whitebeet‐ Raddish(raphanussativus)‐ Fennel(foeniculumvulgare)‐ Whitepea‐ Greenpea(pisumsativum)‐ Beans(fabavulgaris)

Commonkitchengardenersgrewherbsandvegetablesincloseproximity.

Herbs are used very differently today than they were in the medieval period. They have a

less important role now, often appreciated solely for their flavor. However in the

medieval era herbs not only provided flavor but were also used as medicine, and even in

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food preservation. I would love to cultivate these herbs and try out some of their ancient

uses. The most commonly found herbs are compiled below:

‐ Clary(Salviaverbenaca):atypeofwildsagethatisnativetoEngland.‐ Rue(Rutagraveolens):was“usedtomakepicklesthatsharpenedupbroths

andpottages”xliiandwaswidelyusedbythe15thcentury.‐ Betony (Stachys officinalis): considered a cure-all, and I imagine if the cottage

gardener could cultivate only one medicinal herb it would be this. ‐ Dill (Anethum graveolens): used to flavor foods and its seeds were used to aid

digestion. ‐ Cumin (Cuminum cyminum): widely grown and at times was collected as part of

peasants rent. ‐ Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): “grown in infirmary, herb and kitchen

gardens all through the medieval period”xliii. This plant had many uses, and was much appreciated for its scent.

‐ Pot/ Winter Marjoram (Origanum vulgare): grown in kitchen gardens for its use in pottages. This plant also attracted bees.

‐ Pennyroyal (Mentha pulogium): the favorite mint in medieval times, because it is very strong. Other mints were also grown, including spearmint, water mint and corn mint.

‐ Black mustard (Brassica nigra): grown in both herb and mixed kitchen gardens. ‐ Parsley (Petroselium crispum): extremely popular, growing in “every single

kitchen and infirmary garden too”xliv. ‐ Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium): was a common cottage garden plant and was

often found planted next to Fennel, Coriander and Angelica. ‐ Fragrant tansy/tansy balm/Costmary (Tanacetum balsamita): “a common plant in

tavern, cottage and all kinds of kitchen gardens”xlv ‐ Rosemary(rosmarinusofficinalis):bythelate1400’srosemaryhadbecomea

commonherb.Itwasoftenplantedalonggardenwallsandwasafavoredfloweratfunerals,symbolizingremembrance.Rosemarywasalsoappreciatedasanattractionforbeesxlvi.

The common kitchen garden was a very productive area. Medieval gardeners sought

to produce what they needed in the smallest area possiblexlvii the vegetables and herbs

discussed above enabled them to do this.

ApplicationofPlantSpecies: Thevegetableandherbspecieslistedaboveshouldbeincludedinour

medievalgardenreplica,followinganyofthedetailsdiscussed.ThegardenplanI

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havecreatedwillprovidemorespecificdetailsregardingplacement.Thoughthe

exactvarietiesofspeciesgrowninthecommonmedievalkitchengardenareoften

unknownorunavailablethefollowingsitesofferawideselectionofheirloomseeds.

HighMowingOrganicSeeds(http://www.highmowingseeds.com/organic‐heirloom‐varieties.html)TerritorialSeedCompany(http://www.territorialseed.com/Victory_Garden_Seed_List)LogHousePlants(http://loghouseplants.com/plants/product‐category/heirloom‐vegetables/)BakerCreekHeirloomSeeds(http://rareseeds.com/shop/)

Thecommonmedievalcottagegarden,thoughoftensmalland

unassumingwasaverycomplexspace,packedwithhistoricalreferencesanda

wealthofveryusefulplantspecies.Thisprojectservedasanopportunitytolearn

notonlyaboutgardeningtechniques,butalsoaboutEuropeancultureandlifeinthe

medievalera.Themedievalorrenaissancegardenwasnotauniformentity,but

tookonmanyvariedformsandfunctionsacrossclasslinesanduses.Itismyhope

thatmyresearchofgardencontainment,irrigationtechniques,beekeeping,

medievaltooluse,andcommonvegetableandherbspecieswillcontributetothe

medievalgardenreplicationattheMassachusettsRenaissanceCenter.Workingon

thisprojectwasextremelyinformativeandchallengingbecauseofmylackofprior

knowledge.Itwillberewardingnotonlytoseemyresearchrealizedinthecreation

ofthisgarden,butalsotoknowthatmycontributionwillbeusedtoinformothers.

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Additionalthoughtsforthegarden:‐ Informationalsignsshouldbeplacedaroundthegarden,highlightingspecific

plantsandincludinganyinterestingstoriesormedievalusesoftheseplants

‐ Apamphletaboutthegardenshouldbecompiledanddistributedtothe

SmithandMountHolyokegreenhousesandfivecollegeBiologyand

EnvironmentalStudiesprogramstobolsterinterestandpublicizethegarden

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Bibliography:Campbell, Susan. Charleston Kedding, A History of Kitchen Gardening. London: Ebury Press, 1996. Print Landsberg, Sylvia. The Medieval Garden. 2nd ed. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2003. Print. Larkin,Deirdre.“HortusRedivivus:TheMedievalGardenRecreated.”HealthandHealingfromtheMedievalGarden.Woodbridge:TheBoydellPress,2008.228‐242.Print. McLean, Teresa. Medieval English Gardens. New York: The Viking Press, 1981. Print. Prance, Sir Ghillean and Mark Nesbitt. The Cultural History of Plants. New York: Routledge, 2005. Print. Quest-Ritson, Charles. The English Garden, A Social History. New York: Penguin Books, 2003. Print. Schibinger, Londa and Claudia Swan. Colonial Botany, Science, Commerce, and Politics in the Early Modern World. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005. Print. Schlesinger, Roger. In the Wake of Columbus, Impact of the New World on Europe, 1492-1650. Illinois: Harlan Davidson Inc., 1996. Print. Stannard,Jerry.“AlimentaryandMedicinalUsesofPlants.”MedievalGardens,DumbartonOaksColloquiumontheHistoryofLandscape.WashingtonD.C.:DumbartonOaksTrusteesforHarvardUniversity,1986.69‐92.Print.The188thGeneralCourtofTheCommonwealthofMassachusetts.StateofMassachusetts,n.d.web.5December2012.http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIX/Chapter128/Section33Images:

1. Landsberg, Sylvia. The Medieval Garden. 2nd ed. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2003. Print. (64).

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3. Master of Sir John Falstolf. “Betrayal and Agony in the Garden”. Illustration. 1440-50. Medieval Imaginations: Literature and Visual Culture in the Middle Ages. Manuscript. 3 Nov. 2012. http://www.english.cam.ac.uk/medieval/zoom.php?id=529

4. ThumbPot.Photograph.N.d.WateringFloorsandGardensinMedievalTimes,

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