Two hundred and fifty years ago, at the time of the American Revolution, gardens were essential to everyday life.
Many modern gardens are often created for beauty or recreation, but most colonial gardens were designed to provide food, medicine, household supplies, and feed for livestock.
Every available space was put to use, and gardening was considered a necessary life skill.
Kitchen Gardens
Nearly every household maintained a kitchen garden close to the home. These gardens supplied fresh produce throughout the growing season and often included:
Herb Gardens
Herbs served many purposes beyond cooking. Common herbs included:
Flower Gardens
Flowers were valued for both beauty and practicality. Many attracted pollinators or were used in herbal remedies and dyes. Popular flowers included:
Many of these old-fashioned flowers remain favorites in cottage gardens today.
Orchards and Berry Patches
Fruit trees and berry bushes were an important part of many homesteads. Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, currants, gooseberries, and raspberries provided fresh fruit as well as ingredients for cider, jams, and preserves.
Native American Agriculture
Long before European settlement, Indigenous peoples across North America cultivated highly productive gardens. One of the best-known planting methods was the "Three Sisters," growing:
Gardening Without Modern Technology
Gardeners worked entirely by hand using simple tools such as hoes, rakes, spades, sickles, and hand-forged forks. Compost, animal manure, wood ash, and crop rotation maintained soil fertility, while seed saving ensured future harvests.
A Place for Beauty and Community
Although practical needs came first, gardens were also places of beauty and gathering. Families shared seeds, exchanged gardening knowledge, and celebrated the changing seasons through planting and harvest.
Every available space was put to use, and gardening was considered a necessary life skill.
Kitchen Gardens
Nearly every household maintained a kitchen garden close to the home. These gardens supplied fresh produce throughout the growing season and often included:
- Beans
- Peas
- Cabbage
- Onions
- Carrots
- Beets
- Turnips
- Lettuce
- Squash
- Pumpkins
Herb Gardens
Herbs served many purposes beyond cooking. Common herbs included:
- Sage
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Mint
- Parsley
- Dill
- Chamomile
- Lavender
Flower Gardens
Flowers were valued for both beauty and practicality. Many attracted pollinators or were used in herbal remedies and dyes. Popular flowers included:
- Hollyhock
- Larkspur
- Sweet William
- Marigold
- Foxglove
Many of these old-fashioned flowers remain favorites in cottage gardens today.
Orchards and Berry Patches
Fruit trees and berry bushes were an important part of many homesteads. Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, currants, gooseberries, and raspberries provided fresh fruit as well as ingredients for cider, jams, and preserves.
Native American Agriculture
Long before European settlement, Indigenous peoples across North America cultivated highly productive gardens. One of the best-known planting methods was the "Three Sisters," growing:
- Corn
- Beans
- Squash
Gardening Without Modern Technology
Gardeners worked entirely by hand using simple tools such as hoes, rakes, spades, sickles, and hand-forged forks. Compost, animal manure, wood ash, and crop rotation maintained soil fertility, while seed saving ensured future harvests.
A Place for Beauty and Community
Although practical needs came first, gardens were also places of beauty and gathering. Families shared seeds, exchanged gardening knowledge, and celebrated the changing seasons through planting and harvest.
A Lasting Legacy: Many gardening practices from 250 years ago remain relevant today: composting, seed saving, crop rotation, companion planting, and growing heirloom varieties are once again popular among home gardeners. These time-tested methods remind us that a productive, beautiful garden is built on healthy soil, careful stewardship, and a close connection to nature.