The Founding Fathers saw agriculture as key to the success of the young nation. They encouraged soil replenishment and sought crop varieties that would support a strong economy. Jefferson sought rice that would grow in drier, “upland” areas instead of the malaria-ridden swamps. He famously smuggled samples out of Italy in the lining of his coat.
Courtesy Royalty Free Pixabay
The subjects of gardening, the environment and the American struggle for independence might seem unrelated but in fact, they are tightly entwined. While nearly 90% of the colonial population were farmers, the key players in the creation of the new nation were agricultural visionaries. Their passion for plants and thirst for knowledge of the natural world was fueled both by their personal interests and by their collective desire for the country to endure and prosper. Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison and Franklin all agreed that sound agricultural practice was essential to the economic success of the new nation. The Founding Fathers were on the forefront of scientific research and were as equally passionate about gardening, agriculture and botany as they were about the battle for liberty. The more we discover, the more we understand why.
Agriculture is King: Ben Franklin was many things: scientist, inventor, writer and diplomat, just to name a few. He was also an innovator and made no bones about the fact that the colonies needed to focus on agriculture. In 1769, he wrote “Positions to be examined concerning National Wealth,” in which he listed and opined upon three ways a nation could acquire wealth. “The first is by War… This is Robbery. The second is by Commerce, which is generally Cheating. The third by Agriculture is the only honest Way.”
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George Washington was an early advocate for planting native trees. From his encampment in New York, he ordered tulip poplar trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) to be planted at Mount Vernon. Native to the East Coast, these deciduous trees can grow to 90-100 feet tall. Early peoples used the trunks of this soft-wooded variety to make canoes.
Courtesy Royalty Free Pixabay
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Thomas Jefferson’s garden at Monticello was a living laboratory for all kinds of seeds. Due in part to his dietary habits (he considered meat a mere condiment) Jefferson was very fond of peas. He experimented with different varieties and staggered planting to be able to enjoy fresh peas for months.
Courtesy Royalty Free Pixabay
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