Tried and True Techniques for a Successful Vegetable Garden 

Vegetable gardeners of the 21st century can profit from the techniques practiced by 19th century gardeners. This workshop will explore traditional kitchen garden designs and cultivation techniques that promote effective use of space, better crop production and healthier plants. Christie Higginbottom will highlight garden practices valuable for today’s family kitchen garden such as crop rotation, bed preparation, inter-planting and succession sowing, and creating homemade tools. Learn how to start seedlings in a garden frame, and support tomatoes and beans with attractive trellising and staking. Glean tips for harvesting and curing winter storage crops, and more.

Christie Higginbottom has worked as a costumed interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village since 1981. From 1984 to 2004 she coordinated the historic horticulture program researching, planning and planting the re-created kitchen and flower gardens at the museum’s historic households. She also supervised the Village’s Herb Garden collection, a garden exhibiting over 300 varieties of historic herbs. Now retired, she continues to work in costume part-time – most often in the gardens, and to present garden programs for the Village. She also writes and consults on historic gardens and their interpretation, antique plants, and herb use; and she lectures at museums and historic sites, garden clubs, historical societies, colleges and libraries. 

Members: $12
General Admission: $20