By Marshall Heil
Serving with Seneca Rocks Discovery Center
Purple Foxglove
Spring has arrived at the historic Sites Homestead, and our Heritage Garden is off to a great start. After last year’s dry season, the extra rain we’ve been getting this spring has made a big difference. The soil is damp and rich, and our plants are growing faster and stronger than ever.
We’ve already seen big progress in our garden beds. The warm days and steady rain have helped everything come up quickly. One of the highlights so far is our mortgage lifter tomatoes. These heirloom plants have sturdy, healthy leaves and are growing fast. They were first developed during the Great Depression, and they earned their name because the farmer who created them was able to sell enough of the large, tasty tomatoes to pay off his mortgage. We grow them not just because they produce great tomatoes, but also because they share an important connection to West Virginian history.
Our Three Sisters crops - corn, beans, and squash - are also doing really well. This traditional method, first used by Native American communities, is a smart and sustainable way to grow food. The corn grows tall and gives the beans something to climb, the beans add nutrients to the soil, and the squash spreads out to keep weeds down and hold in moisture. It’s a great example of how plants can support each other, and it fits perfectly with our mission to teach about traditional farming techniques..
Sugar Snap Peas climbing a trellis
We’re also happy to report that our potatoes are thriving, with strong, leafy tops that promise a good crop underneath. And our peas, always one of the first plants to come up in spring, are climbing quickly and starting to flower. They’re a favorite with visitors, and a great reminder of how exciting those first fresh vegetables of the season can be.
Over in our herb garden, things are looking just as good. This part of the garden helps us share how people in the past used plants for cooking and medicine. Our sage is growing rapidly with its soft fragrant leaves along with the wormwood, which is a great herb for your digestive system. Another popular herb is the lamb's ear with their soft and fuzzy leaves. They are always popular for visitors to touch and even purchase from the garden.
Everything we grow in the Heritage Garden connects back to our mission: to keep the history of this land and the people who lived here alive. Whether it’s a tomato that helped a farmer survive tough times, or a herb that once filled a pioneer’s medicine cabinet, each plant tells a story. And thanks to the good weather and some hard work, this spring is shaping up to be one of our best seasons yet.
We hope you’ll come by, take a walk through the garden, and see how it’s growing. There’s always something new to discover!
an oriental poppy
potato patch
