Gateway Garden Club was proud to be chosen as a 2026 recipient of The PLANT AMERICA Community Project Grant sponsored by National Garden Clubs, Inc. for club projects in their respective communities. Grants have been awarded to NGC member clubs since 2017, with more than 250 grants awarded, totaling more than $390,000. Empowering communities through green initiatives, PLANT AMERICA fosters a culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship. By providing grants to support public spaces and community gardens, this program aims to educate individuals of all ages about the benefits of gardening and cultivate a sense of pride within neighborhoods.
After discussing the proposed project with the Adam Stephen Association, it was decided that a Colonial Herb Garden would enhance the home of the founder of Martinsburg, Major General Adam Stephen, who served in the Revolutionary War. Built in 1774, the house is located at 309 E. John St., Martinsburg, WV.
After much planning, club members started working on the garden area in April, and the garden was completed by the end of June. One section of the four square garden bed was planted with herbs that were used for cooking, one for medicinal purposes, one for household uses such as dyeing cloth and another for other uses they might need. The Adam Stephen Association will use the garden for educational purposes when they host events throughout the year.
The colonial herb garden also features an authentic, eco-friendly wattle fence built by members of the Gateway Garden Club with instructions & guidance from Abbie and Don Wiles from Appalachian Willows & Brooms. The traditional wattle fence was made by weaving flexible saplings and branches between vertical stakes, mimicking 18th-century gardening practices.
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