ECA celebrates 100 years
Members of the Neuse Extension and Community Association held their annual luncheon and fashion show in March.
Modeled outfits were provided by Lynn Faulk of Alluring Illusions in New Bern. Proceeds from the luncheon and show fund college scholarships for local students and support other activities to enhance life in the county.
The ECA also had a special cake to celebrate 100 years of the organization's service in the community.
The Gardening Guru: Experimenting with food
Do you know what you are eating? Two times recently, I have discovered that weeds and look-a-like plants can fool gardeners. They assumed the plants growing were a result of their efforts, only to be told they were actually harvesting plants frequently called weeds.
Peter J. Hatch, director of Monticello Gardens and Grounds, spoke to master gardeners and Extension agents at a recent conference in Monroe. Hatch is responsible for the remarkable renovation of the terraced vegetable garden at Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson. Hatch said the 1,000-foot Revolutionary Garden was the area where Jefferson grew 70 different species of garden vegetables.
The former president was a unique Virginia gardener, planting 15 types of peas, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, Brussells sprouts, radishes and nasturtiums; 18 varieties of cabbage, endive, corn, salad, orach, asparagus, artichokes, sea kale, eggplant, cucumbers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, rutabaga, salsify and peanuts; many tomatoes, peppers, more than 20 varieties of beans, squash and okra.
He kept detailed gardening notes covering 57 years of planting. Below the vegetable garden were 170 varieties of fruit planted on six acres. Fruits included at Monticello were figs, currants, gooseberries, peaches, apples, apricots, almonds, raspberries, plums, grapes, cherries, pears, nectarines, strawberries and pomegranates.
Jefferson experimented with many vegetables and fruits brought from Italy, France and Mexico. He used scientific methods to do away with varieties that were poor producers. He enthusiastically shared his horticulture finds from the western world with farmers, family, friends, neighbors, politicians and plants men.
Hatch said we could thank Jefferson for introducing new dishes to the American diet, including French fries, Johnny-cakes, gumbo, mashed potatoes, sweet potato pudding and fried eggplant.
Jefferson’s experiments helped introduce us to many new plants. I wonder if he was ever as surprised by his results as the two gardeners who found out they were growing weeds.
Peg Godwin is horticulture agent, Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Center. Reach her at Peg_Godwin@ncsu.edu or 252-527-2191.