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This is like asking if that old trunk from Grandma is an antique, or just old. Part of the answer is age. An heirloom is generally 50 years old.
Oral and documented histories are the other parts to the answer. To determine heirloom status, many gardeners take into account stories that have survived along with the seeds.
Seeds have passed hands over the course of time in order to make their way into your dirt. The heirloom gardener keeps the story of our foodways alive!
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With generous support by the Virginia Foundation For the
Humanities, Chippokes Plantation State Park has grown an African Virginian Heritage Garden, which is an example of what enslaved people would have grown on this plantation. This provisional garden is located along Quarter Lane. The garden produced all African heirloom varieties. Many varieties did very well: Long Horn Cow okra, Cayenne pepper, Georgia Rattlesnake watermelon, and Stripped Cushaw pumpkin.
We hope that you enjoy the Hearth Cooking Demonstrations that are held in the Brick Kitchen. The garden is the foundation to hearth cooking. Our garden has also allowed us to tap into the local knowledge of our regional traditions through oral histories. Elders of our local community help to guide and direct the process of seed to table and back to the soil again. This spring, we wish to expand this knowledge to the community. Let’s share our knowledge of the garden with each other. Workshops will feature ways to choose varieties to best suit your spot; improve plant success; try new recipes with your harvest; and the best ways to collect and preserve seeds. Become more self-sustaining. The possibilities are endless! . |
Chippokes Plantation State Park will offer exciting workshops throughout 2010 that will support your efforts in your home garden. Do you have a green thumb or just like to play in the dirt? We need your help! Skills of all sorts are needed.
Please contact:
Chief Ranger Interpreter, Beth Roach at Beth.Roach@dcr.virginia.gov
Volunteer Coordinator, Kathy Thompson at Kathy.Thompson@dcr.virginia.gov
Park Interpreter, Jennica Waggoner at Jennica.Walker@dcr.virginia.gov
(757) 294-3625
(757) 294-0705