Join us as we travel back in time and examine 15 traditional garden features that were once common in American backyards but are now essentially gone. These lost treasures, which range from cloche covers and cold frames to onion braids and stink buckets, depict a more independent and uncomplicated era. This video will evoke memories, ideas, and perhaps even some inspiration to revive some of these customs, regardless of your level of gardening experience or simply your love of nostalgia.
00:00 Intro
00:36 Cold Frames
01:31 The Backyard Bean Teepee
02:20 Victory Gardens
03:06 The Rhubarb Patch
03:54 Companion Planting
04:38 Root Cellars
05:18 The Backyard Grape Arbor
06:00 The Asparagus Bed
06:43 The Buried Clay Pot—Ancient Irrigation
07:24 Cloche Covers
08:10 The “Stink Bucket”
08:46 The Onion Braids Hanging from the Rafters
09:25 The Strawberry Patch That Took Over
10:15 Clothspin Herb Hanger
11:05 The Tomato Parade
#gardening #nostalgia #retro #features
There was a time when American backyards weren’t just for mowing, grilling, and the occasional Fourth of July fireworks. They were full of life, lush with vegetables, herbs, and traditions passed down through generations. Gardens weren’t just hobbies. They were practical, feeding families, and ensuring no food went to waste. But somewhere between fast food, supermarkets, and suburban lawn culture, we lost touch with these backyard essentials. Today, we’re digging into 15 classic garden features that were once a staple of American life, but have all but disappeared. Before green houses became common, gardeners had a simpler solution, cold frames. These were like miniature low to the ground green houses made of wood and old window panes. They worked by trapping heat from the sun, creating a warm microclimate that let gardeners start seeds earlier in the spring and keep greens growing well into winter. You didn’t need electricity or fancy equipment, just a little knowhow and some scrap materials. Many families repurposed old storm windows or glass doors, setting them at an angle over a wooden box to maximize sun exposure. A well-built cold frame could turn a chilly spring morning into a cozy 70° paradise for lettuce, spinach, and carrots. But as store-bought produce became more accessible, the need for cold frames dwindled. Today, you’d be hardressed to find one in a suburban backyard. Though there’s still a smart way to stretch a growing season. Long before plastic playhouses and jungle gyms, children had something better. A bean teepee. With just a few tall sticks or bamboo poles tied at the top and runner beans planted at the base, this simple structure became a shady living hideaway by midsummer. The vines climbed the poles, covering the teepee with bright green leaves and dangling bean pods. Not only was it fun for kids, but it was also practical, providing a steady harvest of green beans throughout the season. Parents loved it because it kept kids entertained and engaged with nature. But as gardening became less common and plastic toys filled the backyard, bean teepeees started disappearing. Today, they’re a rarity. But if you’ve got grandkids, this is one garden feature worth bringing back. During World War II, nearly every American home had a victory garden. The idea was simple. Growing your own food helped reduce pressure on commercial food supplies and supported the war effort. It wasn’t just about patriotism. It was about self-sufficiency. Families grew tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, and potatoes in their backyards. Even city dwellers used rooftops and community plots to do their part. After the war ended, the habit stuck for a while. But as grocery stores expanded and processed foods became the norm, the backyard vegetable garden started fading away. These days, people are slowly rediscovering the benefits of growing their own food. But victory gardens as a national movement, that’s been all but forgotten. Every old garden had one. The rhubarb patch. Tucked away in some forgotten corner near the garage or fence line. These hearty plants came back year after year, no matter how much neglect they suffered. Rhubarb is tough. It can withstand harsh winters, requires little care, and produces thick, tart stalks, perfect for pies, jams, and sauces. Back in the day, it was a staple ingredient in homemade desserts, often paired with strawberries for that perfect sweet tart combination. But today, rhubarb has vanished from most backyards. People either don’t have the patience to wait for it to establish or simply don’t think about growing it. If you ever visit an old farmhouse, though, there’s a good chance you’ll still spot a forgotten rhubarb patch hanging on. Before chemical pesticides and fertilizers, gardeners relied on something much simpler, companion planting. The idea was that certain plants helped each other grow when planted together. Maragolds kept bugs away from tomatoes. Basil made tomatoes taste better. Beans fixed nitrogen in the soil for corn, while squash provided ground cover to prevent weeds. This wasn’t just an old wives tale. It was knowledge passed down through generations and it worked. But as commercial farming took over and backyard gardens shrank, this wisdom faded. Today, companion planting is making a quiet comeback. But most modern gardeners rely on store-bought solutions instead. Before refrigerators became standard, families stored their vegetables the old-fashioned way in a root seller. These underground storage areas stayed cool year round, preserving potatoes, carrots, onions, and other root crops for months. Some even had separate sections for apples, cabbages, and canned goods. It was a practical, energy-free way to keep food fresh. But as modern homes were built without basement, root sellers became a thing of the past. These days, some homesteaders and off-grid enthusiasts are bringing them back. But for most people, the concept of a root seller is little more than a history lesson. There was a time when many backyards had a wooden arbor covered in thick, twisting grape vines. By midsummer, they were dripping with juicy fruit. Perfect for fresh eating, juicing, or wine- making. These grape arbors provided natural shade, attracted pollinators, and looked absolutely stunning. They were a source of pride for many gardeners. But somewhere along the way, fresh grapes became something you bought at the grocery store. Backyard grape vines started disappearing, replaced by fences and flower beds. If you have the space, though, planting a grape arbor could be one of the best ways to bring a bit of old-fashioned charm and fresh fruit back into your garden. Another plant that became part of almost every garden was asparagus. But asparagus isn’t like most vegetables. You don’t plant it one year and harvest it the next. It takes time, usually about 3 years before it really starts producing. But once it’s established, an asparagus bed can last for decades. Some old garden patches are over 50 years old and still grow fresh spears every spring. In the past, families planted asparagus because they knew it was a long-term investment. Today, with everyone wanting quick results, most people don’t have the patience to wait. And that’s too bad because if you start an asparagus bed today, it could still be feeding your family 20 years from now. This one’s ancient and rare, but it popped up in old American homesteads, especially in the Southwest. Gardeners would bury unglazed clay pots, olas, with just the top exposed and fill them with water. The water slowly seeped out through the porous clay directly into the soil where roots could drink as needed. It saved water, encouraged deep root growth, and required almost zero effort. In a time before timers and drip irrigation, this was pure genius and mostly forgotten. Now, some permaculture folks are rediscovering it, but your great-grandparents may have used it without ever giving it a name. Before there were plastic tunnels and garden fabric, gardeners protected young plants with clo, small bell-shaped covers made of glass or even cut off plastic jugs. They worked like individual mini green houses, shielding seedlings from frost, pests, and sudden weather changes. It was common to walk through a spring garden and see rows of little glass domes glistening in the sun. They looked almost magical, like snow globes sitting in the soil. But as gardening became less hands-on, the cloch went away. These days, people rely on commercial row covers or more often just plant later in the season. But still, there’s something special about the old method as it is simple, elegant, and effective. All right, this one’s for the truly hardcore gardeners. The infamous stink bucket. People would toss nettles, comfrey leaves, or even fish scraps into a bucket of water, let it sit and rot for a few weeks, then strain off the liquid. The result, a potent liquid fertilizer packed with nutrients. It smelled awful, but the garden loved it. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t store-bought. But man, did it work. These days, folks are more squeamish, and garden centers have rows of odorless plant food. But old school gardeners knew the stinkier the bucket, the better the soil. After harvest, onions weren’t tossed into plastic crates, but they were carefully braided together by the tops and hung in cool, dry places like sheds, basements, or even kitchen pantries. These long twisted ropes of onions weren’t just practical, they were beautiful. A good onion braid was a point of pride and a visual reminder that the garden had provided. Today, you’re more likely to see onions in mesh bags from the store, but some homesteaders and heirloom gardeners still carry on the tradition. If you’ve ever seen one hanging in an old farmhouse, you know it’s a work of art as much as a storage method. If you ever visited your grandparents house in the summer, you might remember finding tiny sunwarm strawberries growing in a patch that seem to spread every year. Unlike store-bought strawberries, which are bred for size and shelf life rather than flavor, homegrown strawberries were smaller, juicier, and packed with real sweetness. The problem was that strawberries need a little patience. The plants take a year to establish before they really start producing, and once they do, they spread aggressively, sending out runners to create new plants. For older generations, this was a feature, as it meant endless strawberries without much effort. These days, people will spend $5 on a plastic clamshell of berries rather than grow their own, never knowing that a single strawberry patch can provide fruit for years. When herbs like thyme, oregano, sage, and rosemary were ready to be preserved, people bundled them and hung them upside down from the rafters or string lines clipped with old-fashioned clothes pins. The smell was incredible, like walking into a natural apothecary. The bunches would slowly dry over the weeks, and then they’d be crumbled into jars or reused for stews and teas. In many homes, these bunches doubled as decoration, hanging in kitchens or mudrooms like rustic leafy chandeliers. Today, we often reach for neatly packaged herbs from supermarket shelves sealed in uniform tins and jars. But not so long ago, dried herbs carried personal stories and a sense of place. One of the best parts of old school gardening wasn’t what you grew, it was what you shared. When tomato plants exploded in August, you didn’t let the extras rot. You packed up a basket and brought them to the neighbors. It wasn’t uncommon for people to leave zucchinis on porches, trade cucumbers for eggs, or swap canning jars with friends down the street. Today, we post pictures of our harvests online, but back then the joy was in giving, feeding your community from your own backyard. That kind of generosity, it’s one of the best garden traditions we’ve ever had, and maybe the one we need most right now.
41 Comments
Both rhubarb and asparagus are in my garden. Rhubarb is so big and indestructible I'm thinking of adding one or two to the flower border.
So odd to watch this from Finland. Rhubarb and berry bushes are still common here, there's no break in the tradition. Veggie gardens are a bit less common (they take more work after all), but bushes and other perennials are so easy.
My sister just announced locally some rhubarb plant to dig up and take for free (as they have more than one and one is in the wrong place), and there was instantly a queue.
Some believe that America's forgotten garden features—like grape arbors, sundials, and wildflower borders—should stay in the past, replaced by modern, low-maintenance designs. Others argue that reviving these old elements could restore charm, biodiversity, and a deeper connection to nature that today’s gardens often lack.
Nowadays the front lawn is bigger than the back lawn.
Because of laws….
The lack of education outsise of home gardening and knowledge of the world combined with old people bitter arrogance in this comment section is creepy.
80% of humans l7ve in big cities and don't own a garden. How is everyone supposed to go back to gardening when the vast majority of people l7ve in high rise appartement buildings?
50+ year old rhubarb still growing in our garden
I’m 37 and my grandmother and mother were avid gardeners- however, they did not pass that knowledge down to me. I learned how to companion plant, I have bean teepees every year, and rhubarb. I use a lot of old school practices and like to think they would be proud.
I literally just bought an old farmhouse and found a forgotten rhubarb patch still hanging on
I have a free fruit stand in front of my house. The neighbors love it. I'll find a dollar or some change once in a while. At $5 an avocado… neighbors are appreciative.
suburban white middle class people are so funny. They vote for psychopaths to kill random villagers around the world to afford cheap commodities so they can buy their produce from factory farms, then let it rot in their fridge as they eat junk fried in seed oils from a drive-through, and then they pretend to be migrant workers as a hobby, spending 12,000 dollars on equipment, soil, fertilizer, materials, to save 12 dollars on their weekly groceries.
Normal people don't have the time, energy, funds, or resources to work another 60-hours a week job farming, on top of having to go to their 40 hour a week soul-crushing job, then drive Uber, and then go home to an efficiency apartment and get in bed alone for the third year in a row.
Abolish government, abolish public schools #voluntaryism
No mention of the main thing: DDT.
Used as either a plant fertiliser, cleaner, literal vermin poison, beauty product or a cooking ingredient. You cant make this shit up.
None of these have been forgotten in my part of Canada (Prairies) pretty much see all the rural areas doing or having many of these things. And many in the urban area with backyard planting
Homegrown strawberries are smaller and swertier!!!
With the economy in the condition it is now, victory gardens will start coming back into style. I have always loved gardening. I grow heirloom plants only.
As part of my work as a field archaeologist, I would occasionally record historic mining camps. Invariably, I would find rhubarb patches around some of the old cabins.
I read that in Russia the home garden was not generally abandoned; Russian families still grow 40% of their vegies in their own gardens. Fresh food has a lot more nutrients and life force in it, much better for health – and you can make it organic. Anyone planting asparagus (great idea, a vegie that keeps on giving) needs to read up on its particular soil and nutrient requirements and water needs.
Thank you for talking about rhubarbs, they are a rare source of K-vitamin and extremely important for healthy bone growth.
LOL at swiss chard in the rhubarb section.
I grew up on a mini farm with ducks, chickens, geese and rabbit. Which were for the eggs and meat. 1/2 acre garden and a stamp size fruit orchard. 56 years later I still have my garden except for 2 years. This will be the first year my garden is getting a long time up grade and I'm starting my stamp size fruit orchard. I'm proud to say my garden has not only fed my family, but 2 other families and the local food bank.
Imagine if all of us took a step back when corporations took over farming and grocery stores , we’d all be healthier and more self sufficient today .
I use ollas in my garden here in Las Vegas. It’s the only way I can keep my garden alive in the summer!
There was a community garden in our neighborhood when I was a kid in the early 60s. I garden now, but not seriously. Mostly herbs, peppers, and tomatoes. Since I’ve recently retired I plan to try more substantial crops like beans and zucchini.
I did learn that using a microwave to dry herbs does a far better job of preserving flavor and color than hanging or using a dehydrator. The difference is significant.
Back in the day deer had been hunted nearly to extinction. In recent years there is no way to grow a bean trellis that isn't eaten down every night by deer.
It explains why backyards were very big in proportion to the house before the 1960s unlike modern houses yards are much smaller.
Gardeners are special kind of people.
I'd love to grow strawberries but I can't keep the deer away from them. The deer killed the plants last year.
So disgusted and now scared of the produce in EVERY grocery store. Rotting fruits and vegtables get returned EVERY trip now, for the ladt 6 months. GROW YOUR OWN FOOD.
I am doing a food forest in disguise, I have huge garden bed and mix food in the flower. Getting bamboo this fall for shade and building material. I companion plant, almost everything I plant double what I need and let half seed so I don’t have to replant
Rhubarb was a multi generational institution where I'm from. I still have a patch that produces more than I can use and I can't even give it away. So I satisfy myself with a few pies and some sauce every year. Chop N Drop or compost. I'm happy to have it along with my grape vines and apple trees and my other zone 5 perennials.
Good luck even having a backyard now. Need to have a house to do that.
You mean "Back in the day when Americans owned their own homes and thusly some land on which to garden…" Nothing has been forgotten, dude. Plus, the expense of everything. Gardening is crazy expensive like everything else. Just to grow plants in the home–not to mention HOAs and the like…creator clearly made out before money disappeared along with home ownership. Out of touch.
The reason we don't have much in the way of backyard gardens is because World War 2 ended. They weren't big prior to WW2 because suburbia wasn't really a thing, and most people lived in cities or on farms. People planted Victory Gardens because food rationing was in place.
I grew up with Depression Ear parents. Except for one house, every house they lived in from 1959-1992 had a garden. It was a bad year if my mother canned less than 120 qts of beans a year. My 2 oldest siblings still have gardens in their yards, and I'm trying, and am cultivating corn and potatoes in my wildflower garden. We never grew rhubard but there were marigolds planted around the paramenter of the garden.
Rhubarb doesn't grow in the South United States 😢
I often plant vegetables and herbs plants within my flower beds because they add foliage interest, and produce food. On top of this, pollinators are attracted to the other flowers in the bed, boosting production from the vegetables and herbs.
Just loved this video! So many fantastic ideas! Thank you!
Still see alot of this in Virginia…
Pray this can be my life! ❤🙏🏻
The welfare system helped to destroy the backyard gardens and chickens.
I have a cloche.❤
Cold Frames 🖼️ work well 🌱We grew up with a bean teepee 🫘 ⛺️ and our grandparents victory garden🪴