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In May of 1853, Melrose's Diary notes that on May 5th, 1853, "garden seeds sown". The next year on Saturday, May 11, 1854 "commenced to fence in the gardens" and on Monday, May 20th they "commenced to plant in the gardens." |
Melrose writes about planting, weeding, and harvesting work on the Farm.
Classroom activity: Make a time line of farming activities at Craigflower by reviewing Melrose's diary. This will give you the 'Craigflower Farm Almanac'.
An Inventory of Products for 1855 notes that Craigflower produced:
Red Astrachan, Esopus Spitzenburg, Lady, Yellow Newton, Rhode Island Greening, Baldwin, Blenheim Orange, Canada Reinette, Golden Russet, Adams Pearmain, Ananas Reinette, Snow, and Victoria.
The delicate "lady" dessert apple dates to the 1700's - "an exquisitely beautiful little dessert apple, cream and crimson. Tender crisp, slightly perfumed from France."
At Craigflower, we have discovered there were many varieties of vegetables grown here in the 1860s that are no longer readily available. Our search for these seeds took us all over North America and finally, to England, where the Hudson's Bay Company originally obtained their seeds. From a Seed Gene Bank in Wellesbourne, England we obtained small samples of seed of the varieties we knew grew here. In 1995 we planted these seeds and hope to grow them to save seed for future crops.
These varieties include White Belgian Carrot, Maple Pea, Banholm Swede, Early London Cauliflower, Early York Cabbage, Early Drumhead Cabbage, Late Drumhead Cabbage, Long Red Surrey Carrot, White Globe Pomeranian Turnip, Green Top Yellow Aberdeen Turnip, Large Weise Carrot, White Welsh Onion and 3 other onion varieties that appear to be synonyms for the original named varieties. Much reference was made to The Vegetable Garden by M.M. Vilmorin-Andrieux (1885) as well as An Encyclopedia of Agriculture by J.C. Loudon (1839).
At Craigflower Farm, we have replanted some of these varieties as part of our efforts to preserve rare, heirloom fruits and vegetables. We share them through the Canadian Seeds of Diversity Program.
Link to Craigflower Farm Garden articles
Classroom activities: Do web research on Heirloom varieties of plants and seeds. Good Garden Links.
Find out about 'Seed Exchanges'. Have a classroom "Seed Exchange" or a School "Seed Exchange."
Find out about a rare or hierloom variety of vegetable; seek out the seeds, grow them and save some seed to plant or trade next year.
You have now reached the end of the Craigflower Farm Tour. Perhaps you would like to visit Craigflower Farm or Schoolhouse for Real to learn more about the people and life at colonial Craigflower Farm.
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