What Early American Cookbooks Tell Us about Gardening

In this program on 19th century gardening, we will explore what our ancestors really grew in their gardens by looking at early American cookbooks from the Northeast U.S. as well as information about early Pennsylvania German foodways and the Landis Valley Farm Museum heirloom seed project.

This program will be of interest to anyone who enjoys cooking, gardening or local history.

 

About the Presenter
Michael Cassidy is a former state legislator from Blair County. He received a BA in Political Science and a MA in American Studies from Penn State. He retired as a policy analyst and staff director from the Pennsylvania State Legislature. He also served as long-term adjunct faculty at Penn State and Temple Universities.

Mike and his wife Jeanne restored two log homes in Maytown (built c.1790s and c.1810) and designed gardens and outbuildings appropriate to the 19th century providing a friendly habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies.

As a Master Gardener with Penn State Extension, Mike focuses on historic gardens, pollinators, and native plants, and now jumping worm education. 

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners
Penn State Extension Master Gardeners are volunteers who have an interest and enthusiasm for gardening and are trained in a broad range of horticultural topics. In return, Master Gardeners use unbiased, research-based information to educate our communities on best practices in sustainable horticulture and environmental stewardship.