Revitalize the Monacan Indian Garden

Approximately 2,000 years ago, the Monacan Indian people began growing gardens. Their primary crops were corn and beans, but they also grew squash, pumpkins, gourds and tobacco. Food from their gardens was used to help supplement their hunting and gathering.

Before colonization, most villages moved frequently, which prevented overuse of the soil. Because the gardens were planted on the flood plains, high flood waters would bring new layers of dirt, replenishing the soil.

 

The Monacan exhibit at the Natural Bridge Park has been growing traditional crops in the same location for 15 years. The garden allows students and visitors to learn about how the Monacan Indians cultivated crops and how they were utilized. Due to overuse, the garden soil has become depleted of the nutrients necessary for crops to grow.  

 

To continue offering this educational opportunity, the garden needs to be naturally revitalized with fresh topsoil and heirloom seeds. It is unacceptable to use heavy fertilizer, which would run off into Cedar Creek, and ultimately contaminate the James River and Chesapeake Bay.

 

With your help and support we can bring the Monacan Exhibit garden area back to life this spring! If you would like to make an in-kind donation please contact Victoria Ferguson, the Monacan Exhibit Manger, at vferguson@naturalbridgeva.com. Please see our in-kind wish list below:

 

Soil and Seeds

Topsoil

Indian Corn

White Corn

Pole Snap Bean

Pole Lima Bean

Connecticut Field Pumpkin

Summer Squash

Birdhouse Gourd

Hopi Dye Sunflower

Tobacco, Midewiwan Sacred

 

Tools

2 gardening hoes           

1 pick/mattock                

1 gardening shovel

1 gardening rake

1 gardening water can

 plant food