In our November blog, we revealed how Thomas Jefferson became the “Founding Father of gardening innovation” at his beloved Monticello. He was a grand experimenter, a disciplined scientist and an extraordinary gardener. That, in addition to all we know of the man as one of the founders of the nation, writer of the Declaration of Independence, Vice President, President and Ambassador to France!
His innovation and research led him to design and create a vegetable garden that introduced plants, bulbs and seeds to America from all over the world. In addition, he introduced important planting, cultivating and soil preservation techniques. While we will never know to what extend Jefferson himself physically worked in his garden, it goes without saying, that the actual work of carving out, creating and maintaining the “revolutionary” vegetable garden of Monticello was the amazing result of the labor of his enslaved people of Monticello.
The Garden Site
The vegetable garden evolved over many years, beginning in 1770 when crops were first cultivated along the contours of the slope of the land. Terracing was introduced in 1806 and by 1812 gardening activity was at its peak. The 1000 foot-long terrace, or garden plateau, was literally cut from the side of the mountain where Monticello sat, and is supported by a massive stone wall. Perched on top of the wall, at the half-way point of the garden, is the garden pavilion. It was used by Jefferson as a quiet retreat for reading. It overlooks an eight-acre orchard of 300 trees, a vineyard and Monticello's berry squares—plots for figs, currants, goose berries and raspberries.
Nineteenth-Century Vegetables
The character of garden vegetables has been altered since the early 1800's due to the technology of commercial production, the taste of the consumer public and even how vegetables are used. Some of the variations that distinguish modern varieties from their nineteenth-century counterparts include insect and disease resistance, vegetables suitable for shipping, more consistent harvesting dates and more cosmetically pleasing vegetables. Plant names have been changed for commercial purposes. Jefferson often listed varieties according to the person from whom he received the seed--“Leitch's pea”; its place of origin-- “Tuscan bean”; or else he noted a physical characteristic such as color--“yellow carrot”; or season of harvest, “Forward pea”. The collection of Jefferson's 250 vegetable varieties is a complex challenge.
The Garden Today
The recreation of the Monticello vegetable garden began in 1979 with two years of archaeological excavations that attempted to confirm details of the garden as it was in Jefferson's day. The garden recreation attempts to show, as best as possible, the garden as it existed between 1807 and 1814. Its goal is to reveal Jefferson's experiments in horticulture and landscaping, and to serve as a site for the collection of both Jefferson's and nineteenth-century vegetable varieties. Today, modern tools are used for ease of maintenance. Organic fertilizers, natural pesticides and irrigation are used to preserve the varietal collection. Where possible, nineteenth-century techniques—such as the use of brush for staking up the peas, the manuring of perennial vegetables, and the construction of composted hills for squashes, melons and beans-- are used.
THE BIG REVEAL
Most of us assume that Jefferson's Monticello went straight from him to his heirs in perfect condition. And that perhaps, after his death the heirs somehow gave it or sold it to an historical conservancy organization.
(Cue the movie reel screeching to a halt!) Here is the real story—lost to history for decades.
On July 4th 1826, Thomas Jefferson past away at his beloved Monticello—in dire debt.
His heirs had to sell all of his possessions in order to pay off most of this debt…including all of his slaves and Monticello! The first buyer owned it for a brief two years where he let the house and land deteriorate beyond recognition. He even tried a failed silkworm farm, planting mulberry trees on the property before he gave up, abandoned the property and then sold it for a pittance.
The second buyer was a highly patriotic US career naval officer, Uriah Phillips Levy, who held Jefferson and his ideals of liberty in the highest esteem. Levy purchased the now completely dilapidated landmark in 1834 and set about restoring both the land and the property. Upon his death, it was bought by Uriah's nephew, Jefferson (yes, Jefferson!) Monroe Levy.
As did his uncle, Uriah, Jefferson Levy dedicated his time, energy and fortune to the continued restoration and maintenance of Monticello. As a US Congressman and influential business man, Jefferson Levy and his family hosted many dignitaries of the day. In 1923, under his own financial stress, he sold Monticello to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. The Foundation continues to own and maintain Monticello as we know it today.
The bigger reveal of all: the extended Levy family owned, lived in, restored, maintained and cherished Monticello for far longer than Thomas Jefferson did...a whopping 89 years!
A recent documentary film, “The Levys of Monticello”, has brought this incredible story to light. It can be seen on Amazon Prime and is jaw-dropping intriguing adding an amazing chapter to the Thomas Jefferson story.