Colonial Garden Unit

Students will be able to plan a colonial garden with plants that’s would have been available in the 1600’s

What did Colonist eat?

How did Colonists use herbs?

Where role did gardens play in the survival and health of colonial families?

Colonial Garden: Lesson 1

Look at slides of garden examples from Plimoth Patuxet. Ask students- What do you notice?

Distribute Facts of Colonial Life cards, one to each student or small group:

While the small groups are discussing, fresh or dried herbs can be passed around to explore.

Ask how these facts relate to what would be grown in a kitchen garden.

Possible discussion starter questions:

What do we know about where the colonists came from? Daily life?

What herbs do you use at home?

Do we know of any medicines made from plants?

How did the colonists get these plants?

Have discussion to narrow down the top 3 uses of kitchen garden plants. (food, medicine, fragrance. 4th could be dyes)

Facts of colonial life cards

Fresh or dried herbs

Each student (or pair) chooses a garden plant to study, using Herb Facts sheet, Internet and Herb Exploration worksheet.

(Local sassafrass, bayberry and tobacco were added by students. Independent kids or pairs that want to go further can study food plants as well)

Look at “Catalogue of Seeds, Plants &c Sold by Will’m Lucas” (1677)

Notice what was available. (and spelling changes)

If possible, field trip to nursery to purchase plants.

If early in season, order seed and start plants.

Plants

Discuss arrangement (where to place perennials vs. annuals, for example. Have students fill out Colonial Garden Grid Worksheet in groups.

Plant!