A Rich Spot of Earth: Thomas Jefferson's Revolutionary Garden at Monticello

Good read. Met my expectations.

This beautiful book, lavishly illustrated and engagingly written, is, I fear, going to fall into the wrong hands. Why? It looks like a so-called coffee table book (lush photos, oversized format). It would be a shame if it ended up on, well, coffee tables, to eventually be covered with old magazines or used as a handy coaster or, in better circles, to perform a merely decorative "house beautiful" function.It deserves to fall into better hands, specifically those of your favorite vegetable-growing friend or relative. Plenty has been written about Monticello, its architecture and beautiful grounds. This book is about Thomas Jefferson's vegetable gardens.Might you be interested in what varieties of lettuce Jefferson grew? What sort of insects attacked his crops? How he saved seeds and swapped them with his neighbors? Then this book is for you. You may never live in a house like Monticello, but you can put its vegetable varieties on your table.The book is divided in two. The first half focuses on Jefferson's interest in gardening and the development and restoration of the Monticello gardens. It presents a well-researched look at the state of American horticulture in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The author, Peter Hatch, Director of Grounds and Gardens at Monticello, also pays homage to the African-American slaves whose labor built Jefferson's gardens and whose own garden plots often supplied the big house.The second half is a detailed look at many of the vegetables grown in the gardens, including cultural information. It is here where Jefferson's passion for experiment becomes clear. He was always trying new seeds, such as varieties of corn brought back by the Lewis and Clark expedition. His frustrating experiences with melon growing will be familiar to anyone who has tried. This section is organized by botanical families.Finally, there is a good index, an extensive bibliography, and a guide to sources of heirloom seeds. It's a lovely book; you can't go wrong.M. Feldman

Having lived in Charlottesville, VA for many years I am familiar with Monticello. Just beautiful and I highly recommend making a point of visiting whether passing through the area or you already live here.The reason I bought this book was because I am a gardener and Thomas Jefferson was a well known gardener and ahead of his time in that arena. I wanted to understand how he planted, what he planted and where he got his seeds and information.This book combines history and gardening. Just imagine what it took to construct a 1,000 ft. garden bed and then adding 60 wagon loads of manure. Not only do you learn the successes but the failures in the garden. Who were the key contributors. Where and what Jefferson learned in both France and England. He was not a big meat eater. In fact, he is quoted as saying he only used meat as a condiment. He loved vegetables and had great success with lady apples (tomatoes). He also had a yearly contest with his neighbors to see who could produce the first peas of the year. The winner had to host a dinner using his peas. Learn what it took to build and maintain Monticello. The labor and construction will boggle your mind.I found this book to be fascinating and well worth the price. Do yourself a favor and order " A Rich Spot of Earth", what a delight.

This book adds another facet to what we know of Thomas Jefferson and his devotion to farming and gardening, admittedly mostly done by enslaved people. Some of them are given names and occupations, which adds to the story. It is about the original construction of the terraced gardens and also the restoration of them, led by William Kelso, of Jamestown fame. Beautiful pictures and also a list of plants favored by Jefferson. A delight!

Well thought out. Lovely photos . As a gardener who loves reading history of gardens, this book is a good combination. I have even ordered some seeds of vegetables mentioned.

A well written and researched book by Peter Hatch, Monticello's Director of Grounds for over thirty years. He recently relinquished this position so he could "retire" and enjoy his own garden.He was able to recreate the vegetable garden as to the way it was in Jefferson's time, especially during Jefferson's later years in life.As a gardener and as someone who loves early American history, the book is a slam dunk.There is much information to be garnered and parleyed into today's gardening techniques. If anything the reader can appreciate the effort that the early farmers of our nation had to endure in order to provide for themselves.Also, the photography is beautiful and uplifting and there are tidbits of history too.I have not yet visited Monticello but this book certainly has made it on my list of places to see.

Recommended for its forward thinking and ideas far ahead of the times, this is a delightful book full of useful and fascinating information from this incredible Renaissance man of our very own US of A--Thomas Jefferson--what an enquiring mind and how very wonderful it must have been to have been privileged enough to know him! Many of the suggestions made and horticultural experiments tried are still honored and practiced now--Jefferson was somewhat of a genius! The pictures and story told in this book demonstrating the complete modern revamp ofthe garden to demonstrate the beauty as it was in the past is worth many afternoons of pleasant reading.

Beautiful book and extremely comprehensive. Worth every penny. Gifted to a great friend: a master gardener and afficiando of Monticello and Thomas Jefferson.

A lovely book - full of detail and excellent pictures

Incredibly researched...makes you want to visit this heritage site!