Edison Public Library
Real Housewives of New Jersey
Early American Women & Their Kitchen gardens
Saturday, August 15
2:00pm - 3:00pm
North Edison Branch
Multi-Purpose RoomA talk with educator and garden historian Lesley Parness
Kitchen gardens in the 1700's fed, healed, and clothed Early American families. The 18th century "huswife" skill set included "physicke, cookery, distillation, perfumery, the making of wool, hemp, flax, dayries, brewing, baking," and, of course, gardening. Growing plants both Native American and from their homelands, these women turned their soup pots into the "melting pot" that is America and exemplified all the best qualities of plantswomen and patriots.
Lesley Parness has worked in public gardens in America and abroad for five decades. Lesley is a feature columnist for Gardener News Magazine, and is a member of the Herb Society of America, The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries, and Garden State Gardens.
More information can be found at lesleyparness.com