Gardens were very important during the colonial period, in fact the
second most important book for early settlers was one about herbs and plants. Early
colonist prized their Bible and their herbal encyclopedia. These gardens provided seasonal
herbs and medicines key to the colonists’ survival.
During our garden tour the children participated in chores colonial
children might have done. They learned how to pick stinging nettles that were made into
tea. If some of those nettles stung them, the students learned how to use yellow dox to
cure the rash. Students carried water from a well to place on the growing plants. They
picked lemon balm and rubbed it between their fingers and tasted it if they wished. The
children ground seasoning herbs with mortars and pestles so these plants could flavor
colonial dishes. We even tried on aprons and bonnets that colonial women used gather herbs
from the garden while protecting their faces from the hot sun.
