I turned my front yard into a Historical Garden this summer

[@hollymiller4155]

A couple of tips from a lifelong gardener: 1. Plant dill by itself in a container. It goes nuts and can be hard to get rid of. 2. Root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, radishes, turnips, etc. all grow the big root to store extra nutrients. If you rough up and break some of the leaves, they usually grow a bigger root. 😅

[@k80_]

Tip 1 goes for mint, rosemary and lemon balm as well. Basil is a little too hard to keep alive in my climate but if you live somewhere that gets enough rain it could also pose a problem

[@jadedjhypsi]

Tip for your planting labels, next time put them on the front of the row with the info facing away from the crop itself. That way when you water (in either direction) it will not splash up onto the area with the writing =)

[@MorganDonner]

Omg, it sounds so obvious now that you say it, 100% using this next year.

[@jjudy5869]

Another great idea for planting labels I've seen was rocks with the plant names written with sharpies.

[@jadedjhypsi]

oooh yah, or painted pictures would be cool too@@jjudy5869

[@doglover1neo]

Also take a picture!

[@Catchandelier22]

I, personally, use ceramic ones; simple tiles, with the names painted on the tile in slip or glaze, fire them, et voila.

[@mistymoon883]

My mother in law is in Brasil and I’m so jealous of the growing conditions she has! She accidentally grew a garden a few years ago because the family kept throwing stuff with seeds into her new compost pile and suddenly there were a bunch of tomatoes, watermelon, and strawberries growing there so she decided it was now a garden and planted some lettuce and green onions too. She doesn’t do a single thing but every year now she has this beautiful tiny garden that keeps coming back.

[@bettyjotatum6115]

When I was about your age (I'm an ancient 76 now) I had a wonderful 25' x 40' garden, plus other beds in my yard of asparagus and grapes. I lived close enough to Cornell University to get their wonderful advice on things. I had a mostly organic garden and there was, at that time, a method of planting certain plants next to each other that did a great job of benefiting each other. Then they suggested I plant certain beneficial flowers sprinkled through the garden for vegetable gardens that attract bees, keep down insects, improve the soil. and provided some beautiful blooms. It was a fascinating time for me. You might want to do a little research to find about them. You did an enormously heavy job of gardening here. I hope you have a restful time between now and next gardening time. Cheers.

[@Maraaha55]

Well done, you. I love the tradition of companion planting to inhibit pests and support each other. It was so efficient, and of course, a component of the 'traditional' cottage garden, where every inch of soil was used. That (theoretically) inhibited weeds and other pest plants, so you got a double whammy of labour-saving benefits. I suspect you actually need to know quite a lot about plants to do it and really optimise the effects, but I wish people would relearn those skills and knowledge. I also love the interspersing of vegetable, herb and flowers, because very often the flowering plants not only benefit the veg, but can also be edible.

[@bettyjotatum6115]

It worked very well. I was able to rely on the knowledge at the University, plus I had some very good books. I grew enough vegetables and fruits to supply my family of four from harvest until about March. Very low pest damage. Plus I had a wonderful red tailed hawk who decided to spend a lot of time in the black walnut tree at the back of my lot so he kept the animal pests at bay a bit too. There was a woods behind us so we would have had a lot of problems without his help. A lot of work but fun . @@Maraaha55

[@Hannah_Becton]

Companion planting, definitely, and a lot of these methods sound like permaculture/food forest gardening! It's a wonderful method! Also! Morgan! Mulch your vegetable beds with leaf litter that you rake up on top even in the summer, not just for overwintering! The leaves will shade out weeds from coming up!

[@amykathleen2]

For anyone in the US, your nearest USDA extension from the land grant universities is required to give you gardening advice! Take advantage, they all know what they’re talking about and they all have information online, but each individual university knows its own area and can provide personalized advice or even send an expert to look at your garden if you just ask.

[@ixchelkali]

​@@Hannah_Becton, yes to mulching year round. It will also enrich the soil and keep the soil microbiome healthy.

[@kathyjohnson2043]

Fun fact: an ancient method of finding a horizontal level, rather than the plumb bob method that shows vertical level, is to use water in a wide container or tube. The modern bubble level is the modern equivalent of that method.

[@josi_k.]

Water in a clear tube (its important that there are no bubbles inside and the tube needs to have the same diameter everywhere) is even still used today to transmit hights, especially over longer distances, its called a hose level, I learned how to use one today in my job training (but mainly for theoretical purposes in my job). The former bricklayer at work told me that even the ancient Egyptians used something like this to build their pyramids, so it really is ancient like u said. Funny thing is a plumb line is even at the front of my table book, so now I just learned what its called in english.

[@basementdwellercosplay]

If I don't have a bubble level I put a cylinder or sphere and seeing it rolls, if it don't then we good

[@kathyjohnson2043]

@@basementdwellercosplay thus no round pencils for carpenters

[@watthaile2053]

You're extremely pleasant to watch. Enjoyed it. Thank You.

[@watthaile2053]

I liked that you were fiddling with your hair and just kept talking like we were old friends having a casual chat.

[@ChatsWithChris]

How do I nominate you for a KZbin award? You put out the most original content I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing.

[@daalelli]

For real! This is a stellar idea!

[@dabbyabb]

Yes! My first Morgan Donner video was the Viking hair tools, and I was hooked ever since. Even amongst the Costubers, Morgan's content is unique.

[@bettyjotatum6115]

I would second that if you figure out how. It's wonderful interesting content.

[@romystumpy1197]

Yes I totally agree with you,Morgan is on another level,I don't know how she does it

[@sushreeshashwata]

totally agree, the evolution of hair video and the epic choose your adventure series...she is at some other level

[@emmaberry2532]

FYI carrots get sweeter after a few frosts so no rush to harvest those at all!

[@e.c.5994]

Yeah, in my garden we leave them in the ground over winter and have fresh, sweet carrots until April at least! (We pull them on nice days, and cover them with 10-15 inches of leaves to keep them from freezing)

[@marissabulso6439]

“And my very first thought was…how do I make this medieval?” And THAT, my friends, is exactly what I like to hear. 😂👏🏻👏🏻

[@ixchelkali]

As an avid gardener who can no longer garden, this made me happy. Your garden is beautiful! And it really does have a historic vibe. I will offer a few tips for your consideration. When you thin the seedlings, don't throw them out. Toss them into a salad or soup or stir-fry or even on a sandwich. When they're little like that, they're very nutritious. The carrot and pea sprouts are especially tasty; once you try them, they probably won't make it into the kitchen. Keep a garden journal. Besides recording what you planted where, write down things like what varieties did well and what didn't, things you learn (no dill + carrots), significant weather like first & last frost, rained all summer, etc. What you want to plant more or less of. It will be a great reference for you and help you to see patterns. Consider an asparagus bed. It's historically correct, attractive, and perennial. When you plant summer squash (and sooner or later you will), plant half as much as you think you'll need. Trust me on this. Gardening is so rewarding and therapeutic. Gardening is hopeful. And there's always something new to learn.

[@ragnkja]

Why shouldn’t dill and carrots be planted together?

[@ixchelkali]

@@ragnkja Two reasons: for one, the plants look alike, so it can be hard to tell which is which. For another, they are closely related, so they may cross-pollinate, though this is only a problem if you are growing heirloom varieties and want to save the seeds.

[@emese_p]

I usually have loads of carrot seedlings and I usually freeze them and use them in soups :) they are a lovely addition to stews as well!

[@srlee203]

As a gardener, I live by my seed start chart and my garden journal. So. Helpful.

[@caesar98]

There's a paint called "falu röd färg" (swedish copper oxide paint) that's a natural snail / pest repellent that you could paint the beds themselves with. There are multiple of colours but the OG one is the traditional/stereorypical swedish cabin red

[@MorganDonner]

Towards the end of the video, you might be able to see a bit of red peeking out behind the trees that might look familiar 😉

[@caesar98]

@@MorganDonner Hmmm interesting, looking forward to see what that's about hehe

[@The_Ashling]

For next years planting, you may want to check crop rotations, since different plants take different soil nutrients, and you'll save a fortune on replacing dirt.

[@catface101]

Crop rotation is a bit of a myth. You're not farming at scale, it's not much of an issue

[@richmondvand147]

and dont discount the native technique 3 sisters a good combo to restore soil

[@makemecry6604]

@@catface101 thats not true things like beans are good for soil health so rotating those for exemple helps keep your beds healthy. Theres a bunch of reason why crop rotation is especially good for small scale gardens

[@catface101]

@@makemecry6604that's not rotation tho, that's cover cropping.

[@e.c.5994]

@@makemecry6604 Add to that, crop rotation allows certain soil-borne diseases to die out between rotations (though some diseases, especially ones that affect potatoes and garlic, can last up to 20 years in soil). Nightshades such as tomatoes and peppers and cucurbits - cucumbers and melons - are especially susceptible, which is why crop rotation is considered best practice.

[@kirstenpaff8946]

Thanks for letting us apartment dwellers live out our garden dreams vicariously.

[@lunatonkens7933]

For real!! 😭😍 I can't wait till I own a garden one day. It sounds so silly but it's pretty much my biggest life goal 😂

[@annapruitt5546]

@@lunatonkens7933fr gardens are so happy!!

[@ellw7830]

so true

[@flyfly29]

If you have even a little bit of space, you can start your garden dreams. Check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZyZhYiMeL18btE (Epic Gardening container gardening for apartment/small space/balcony gardeners.

[@Ren-kw8cg]

When I lived in an apartment, I regrew lettuces and green onions etc. It's pretty light on work and if you've got a bit of space, you could try it!

[@MojoShoujo]

The sticks and mulch in the bottom are a fantastic addition! You've created something like Hugelkultur beds, that decomposing organic matter will continue to nourish the beds as they slowly break down over the next several seasons! Hearty congratulations!

[@ERYN__]

Watching potatoes grow makes me so happy! When it was harvest time, there was a little toad that looked like a potato (a potatoad, if you will), and I thought, "Did that potato move?" Sure enough, the toad hid by the carrots and watched us pull up potatoes.

[@k.s.k.7721]

For anyone thinking of a Medieval style garden, I recommend the book "Medieval English Gardens" by Teresa McLean. Very readable, and it also offers ideas on adding fruit trees to a small garden. The explanation of espaliered fruit trees is especially enticing, and the author does talk about the theories and attitudes towards gardens in general during the time between the Norman Conquest and the Renaissance.

[@saramanning3868]

I think it would be super interesting to approach your next garden from the lens of the same time frame but on this side of the Atlantic. What did the indigenous peoples of your area grow? With your home in the northeast you're likely in the birthplace of the three sisters tradition. A bed of corn, pole beans and a squash would be a fun trial. I love gardening so I loved seeing your success this year! You'd probably grow killer potatoes in your climate too! Happy gardening!

[@Kiwisan8]

Thats a great idea!

[@Strider_Bvlbaha]

Apologies for the pedantry, but: Corn and squash really haven't been grown all that long in the Northeast (in Indigenous terms of "not that long," anyway). It took quite some time for cold-adapted, short-day strains of those two sisters to be bred. All three sisters were grown together as a trio far longer further south than they have been grown at all in the NE. Just riffing off plants mentioned/visible in this video: Lambsquarter/goosefoot was grown as a green & as a 'grain' crop by most agriculturally inclined Tuttle Islander societies before corn came up from the south. Wild strawberries have particular cultural significance to the Indigenous folx of the NE/Great Lakes regions. Stinging Nettle has been used both to make textiles from & as a food source (Indigenous peoples had textile industry before colonization! We wore more than just buckskin, it just doesn't preserve as well).

[@daalelli]

​@@Strider_Bvlbahasuch good info here! Thanks for sharing it!

[@misstweetypie1]

@@Strider_Bvlbahato add to this, the three sisters method was used to grow dry goods… meaning the corn and beans were grown, and left to dry on the stalk for winter consumption, rather than eating fresh. Then they would grind up the corn for whatever they were using it for (polenta, cornmeal, etc.) which is a lot different than how we usually use those crops these days. I wanted to mention it because it isn’t very well known that that was how the three sisters were used, and a lot of people try that method and then are frustrated with the results.

[@Lauren.3.Cooper]

Absolutely wonderful video! So beautifully shot and narrated, not to mention the actual content which is so, so interesting and fun. Your videos are such a joy to watch! Thank you for sharing ❤❤

[@TitillatingCosplay]

I would LOVE yearly garden update videos, showing what you planted, how it grew, and what worked and didnt work. This was such a fun and soothing video topic!

[@cherylstraub5970]

You might plant thyme or Corsican mint between the stone, to prevent the grass from taking over.

[@brightcopperkettles]

Is Corsican mint less invasive than regular mint?

[@cherylstraub5970]

it is aggressive about pushing out other plants which is good between stones.@@brightcopperkettles

[@adaddinsane]

My wife says use mint and peppermint because of the colour combinations and scent. Also you can put the mint in containers in the ground to limit their rapacious and predatory growth.

[@poonyaTara]

Ms. Donner, fetching water from a stream with a bucket was a common way for women to drown by, so I'm glad you avoided getting your woolen skirts wet enough to be too heavy to lift. Thank you for avoiding starting a dangerous trend by opting to take a modern solution to watering. And not only because we need more videos. Your life is precious, dear, and thank you for sharing your talents with us.

[@saberg1082]

What? That sounds like a terrible way to die - pulled down by your own clothing. Was there no way ro prevent that? Perhaps I am thinking to simply, but, like... a rope to hold on? A jetty or even just a plank of wood?

[@mirjanbouma]

​@@saberg1082you grossly underestimate how heavy waterlogged wool and linen skirts get. Put a bit of movement in the water too and you are done for.

[@saberg1082]

​@@mirjanboumaThanks, I think the washing machine is my new favourite modern appliance... And since watching that video I have dragged around some huge freshly laundered linen sacks and I think I am beginning to understand...

[@mirjanbouma]

@@saberg1082 same! I still don't like doing laundry, but if I think about how it used to be...

[@bluebrrypie]

There’s plenty of ways to get water for a stream without drowning. She’s not stupid, nor is it that common anymore.

[@heartscapesreiki1496]

From a long-term gardener to a passionate new gardener, welcome to this amazing club! Your garden is gorgeous, and so thoughtfully created. May she continue to delight and nourish you!

[@ERYN__]

Last year, my spouse grew a lovely garden, and we didn't get around to eating much of it. This year, they made wonderful garden beds that we didn't use because we were so busy growing a human. The human needs about 2 and a half months more growing before picking, but we're hopeful that she will get to sit and watch how the garden grows, even though she won't really understand. Hopefully, we will grow some really good baby food for the time she's ready to eat solid foods. Grandpa's garden will probably have a good kale patch for her to be a kale patch kid in.

[@mjgbabydragonlet]

Congratulations!

[@freyagreen29]

Congratulations! Your little one will have a wonderful time helping in the garden as she grows up. Fun tip my child didn't grow out of eating soil until he was 18mo so be careful haha

[@mx.noname4710]

10:06 that map has been updated very recently! It’s the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, for anyone wanting to look it up. Many places have shifted a half-zone since the last map a decade ago

[@aeray3581]

​@Ni-dk7ni Magnetic poles are constantly shifting, slowly.

[@gloriaash7511]

❤ The joy I get when I see that you’ve put a video out was much needed today. S.A.D. Has had me in a chokehold lately.

[@kathyjohnson2043]

I hope that joy continues everyday.

[@IonIsFalling7217]

Only 34 days until Solstice! We can make it!

[@MorganJ]

1:17 The fence is really rather artistic! I like how the tops seem to have varying designs. The fence is rather ornamental on second glance, and I love the attention to detail in the whole picture.

[@spoplehughes]

My father always grew nasturtiums as an edging flower for colour but also the leaves go well with cheese

[@nine9nines9s]

O the flowers! gobble the flowers. so peppery and perfect! [and also: marigolds. marigolds are peppery yum as well]

[@juliehenry5353]

Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster Pa has a Heirloom Seed program if you want to grow veggies and things from seeds from plants that were grown over 100 years ago

[@llswink]

You've done the exactly right thing for your garden beds! Piling in all the wood, sticks, leaves, etc. will allow them to compost down and also provide a bit of a sump for moisture when it gets hot and dry. Rotten logs are like sponges! Also, save your abundance of soil in a protected spot for when your beds' contents settle. They will settle over time and your will appreciate your reserves! Morgan, you are always fun to watch and I appreciate your hard work in whatever you choose to create. Keep it up!

[@JAMcRae]

I'm so happy you planted garlic for next year. I hadn't reached the end of the video when i thought "omg, it might not be too late where she is to plant garlic. I should mention it" and i typed up a comment. Then returned to the video to see you did plant it! Yay! (That will teach me to watch all the way to the end first ;) ) And if you think pea tendrils are "so dang cute", i can't wait till you see the curly garlic scapes (the flower stalk).

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

According to a friend of mine, as long as you can get the stuff into the ground, it's not too cold to plant garlic.

[@angelamatthews8190]

Oh the joy of looking through my you tube feed, which is mostly historical sewing and vegetable growing, to find a video that combines the two!

[@LMJ2788]

Right? It's like the best crossover between my two favorite categories! So fun!

[@annapruitt5546]

Do you have any other channel recommendations?? I’d love to watch more!

[@matiasthered]

This woman's dedication to her videos is incredible. Morgan deserves an award for sheer hard work.

[@romystumpy1197]

I agree she's amazing

[@emmimiller3677]

The glorious thing is that you never get the feeling that Morgan is making content. She's doing things she loves or wants to try and we're along for the journey, no worries about just making content for content sake ❤

[@SimpleDesertRose]

I'm really digging the authentic of your medievalish garden. Super cute. You could start planting your lettuce and carrots now and they will be happy to over winter in the garden and pop up in the spring. If it doesn't mess up things too much plant some sunflowers to help attract pollinators to the garden in the spring. Don't plant mint of any kind in your beds unless you plan for it to take over. Rosemary can planted and pruned into neat geometric hedges that you could put around the edge of the garden. Chickens are also great for composting. We give ours all the various weeds and dead plant stuff and give UT to tem in a compost ring. They are happy to scratch through it and turn mulch into beautiful compost for us. Given we are in AZ and the middle of the desert, our ground needs all the help it can get.

[@jenninstitches]

Thinking Me: I can do things in dresses and skits Reality Me: Girl, no. Coveralls or not- at-alls : Mogan Goes about doing all the things looking adorable : Me: Aww, so dang cute and inspiring is our modern medieval mushroom queen!

[@MorganDonner]

❤️❤️❤️😭 I love my dresses and skirts, but there was definitely also a lot of pants wearing in this video! This garden is part of what inspired me to make my overalls that I love so much from a couple videos back!

[@jenninstitches]

@@MorganDonner I loved those. I'm in winter hiber-sew-nation mode here in Norway and got some really great denim that I think I'm going to make some with. Maybe a gardening apron is in your future?

[@meldixj]

​@@MorganDonner as soon as I started watching this video, remembered of the green overalls, and was waiting for the moment it would pop in the screen!! 💚💚

[@charlieleelee]

A few inches of good mulch will help a lot with the weeds. It'll also help with the soil settling you're going to get

[@MorganDonner]

Yeah, I read that that would help but for some reason I just didn't quite understand when I should apply it because it kept worrying that it would suppress the plants I *did* want as well! Now I think I get the whole process a bit better, and should be able to use mulch to my advantage next year 😉

[@LittleGreenCar514]

Have you considered making a living fence or hedge using willow branches/rods? They take root easily and absolutely refuse to be removed, but are woven together to make a basket or crisscross pattern. As the willow grows, the branches graft/grow/meld together where they cross. It's quite neat! You could even build a giant arch if you are patient enough.

[@kiragarvie]

Peas are my favorite! My mom grew almost all our vegetables when I was a kid - our garden at it's largest was probably an acre? - and she planted a ton of peas as kid snacks - I remember her saying, eat all the peas you want, but leave everything else so we can freeze it for winter! I really enjoyed seeing you do this, it brings back lots of wonderful memories of growing up in the NE!

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

Haha, peas as a sacrificial crop was a great idea!

[@drummerlovesbookworm9738]

There is NOTHING more heavenly than an heirloom tomato sandwich in the Summer and jars of home canned tomato sauce lined up in the pantry for a blast of Summer during the Winter months ~and~ herbs growing in the Spring and Summer and then dehydrated for the rest of the year! My focus is always basil, thyme, chives, rosemary, parsley, and cilantro. I have a tiny Amazon-ordered greenhouse where I move my herb plants and I had fresh basil on our pizza last night! Fresh herbs elevate anything. Some plants survive the Winter, some don’t. But I have lots of dried herbs to fall back on. (I also grow stuff for decorations. Chinese Lanterns and Lunaria and Love-in-aPuff for Autumn. Dried hydrangeas, lavender bunches tied with dried rose buds and velvet ribbons, and corn husks dolls are on our Christmas tree! It makes me happy!!)

[@catherinemcnamara1141]

*waves from the Southern Hemisphere*. A lot of those historical garden layouts are great for efficient use of space, with walkways so the soil in the beds doesn't get compacted by being walked on. Keyholes and small boxes are great - I've been using those in my garden, but with smaller gaps between (max 2 ft/60cm cos that's all I need to kneel or to get the wheelbarrow between them) so that I can maximise my growing space. Organic matter under the soil is great - in a couple of years, your soil will be full of the microbial life that your plants need to be healthy. Keep it mulched to keep it healthy (Maritime Gardening on KZbin is a good man to help you think about mulch options and how to sow seeds around them). Enjoy your gardening journey - I get so much satisfaction from my garden, and it's a fascinating topic that will keep you learning for years and years as you get to know your climate and soil better.

[@alis49281]

Simple advice about linseed oil (we use it for our medieval 500 y.o. wood frame house here): Linseed oil doesn't dry, it is absorbed into the wood and what is left on the surface oxidises. It can also be modified by cooking it in absence of oxygen. Medieval people were really good at craftsmanship. There are two tricks to speed up the process: 1. Manganese or other minerals speed up oxidation, they are contained in some natural pigments. 2. Wipe of excess oil, especially when the wood doesn't absorb it well (e.g. too fresh). The surface sheen of the linseed oil is modified by mixing cooked oil with raw oil. The cooked oil is very shiny. It is a quarter or half cooled oil added to the mix. Have fun!

[@brannmacfinnchad9056]

With you on the lettuce...I somehow ended up with 18 varieties of lettuce (including a couple period varieties, which can be used as a cooked green) because "ooh, shiny". I don't eat salads... I would recommend if you're paring down next year, divide each bed into an "X", with a different plant in each, a taller plant in the middle, and possibly onions as the divider of the X. Also....fava beans. Period veggie, and super easy to grow.

[@emmariem5568]

The layout of the beds reminds me of the Elizabethan Gardens at Kenilworth Castle. You’re in good company!

[@helenwright413]

I wish I could "like" this video a thousand times over, ya know, a "super like" option or something? This video is the crossover I didn't know I needed in my life. I'm always on KZbin watching you costumier/historical dress makers, or watching gardening videos 💚 And now I have both in one video?! Ugh HEAVEN! I Love your channel by the way, Mrs Donner, I've been subscribed for a while but never commented before. I've often dreamt about having my own historical herb garden, and I like to visit the gardens of the National Trust/English Heritage houses whenever I can. Thank you for making my dream a reality, and seem "do-able"! 🤞I'm looking forward to seeing where your little slice of heaven goes from here! 💪You got this! Oh and huge props to Mr Donner for all that epic woodwork! Such a beautiful garden, I'm so proud of you guys. Big love from Manchester UK xXx

[@Lillkatzino]

I think I just discovered my love for gardening!! Do you maybe have recommendations for channels to check out? :)

[@LMJ2788]

@@Lillkatzino You Tube videos are what got me started in growing vegetables some odd years ago! You might check out Roots and Refuge, Garden Answer, Epic Gardening, Gary Pilarchik (The Rusted Garden), Calikim29, & MIGardner to see if any of those appeal to you. They all have very different styles and content and have evolved over the years, but, personally, I've learned from &/or enjoyed each channel at various points in my own gardening journey. CaliKim & MIGardener were the most helpful in the beginning, but I watch Roots & Refuge and Garden Answer the most consistently now. I like Jess and Laura's presentation styles, and the sheer size of their properties means I'm watching for inspiration on what I might try on a smaller scale in my own space as well as for entertainment. 😃

[@Lillkatzino]

@@LMJ2788 ah tysm!! I‘ll check them out asap :)

[@johannasaninocencio7458]

“Do a bed, plant a thing and see what happens”. That should be a t-shirt!

[@JMeixsell]

I'm a landscape and vegetable gardener in my retirement years and am impressed with your successful first garden. All your advice is dead on and so very important for new gardeners to know and look forward to. You were right in saying that each season's garden will be different; different pests, different weather, different plant growth depending on the state of your soil. All your advice about preparing beds for winter is helpful and your garden was lovely as well as fruitful. Congratulations! Here is a tip: for lettuce greens that may be a bit bitter, like Arugula or dandelion (picked young in the spring) try preparing a hot bacon dressing to pour over the greens, ( and spinach). If you make a big batch you can keep it into the fridge and reheat what you need instead of making a fresh batch each time. I like us to sit down and say the prayer and then get up, pour the hot dressing over the greens to wilt them, and serve it up. Oh-seriously-yum!

[@JHaven-lg7lj]

*Really* good idea to write down what you planted where and in what order. A garden journal is priceless! Edit: My *gosh* you did a lot of work! The pavers and wood chips are a great combo. Two tips for thinning: use secateurs to snip out the extras, especially of root crops, so you don’t risk pulling up the others. And you can eat most of your thinnings in a salad or stir-fry! Radishes, beets, carrots, peas - all good :) Edit 2: mulch! It cuts down on weeds, makes the ones that do show up easier to remove, and helps maintain consistent moisture and temperature

[@sweetlorikeet]

I scored a free book on historical gardens recently, lots of great inspiration in there. "There's so many plants ya'll!" I FEEL IT. That is exactly what goes through my head when a customer (I work at a garden center) is like 'I want a shrub about this big.'

[@cathyhogue9180]

I also use a sled to move things in my yard.They are so handy and last forever. I have never seen anyone else do this lol, Great minds think alike!

[@instantnoodleskun9336]

Love your homesteading era 🥺💖

[@matthewcraver9917]

Ah, yes. "Rocks everywhere": the immortal lament of the New England gardener. I actually envy you because I live in the footprint of Glacial Lake Hitchcock and so I get not only the glacial rock deposits that all of the region gets but an extra dose of outwash rocks. New England gardeners have to have patience and toughness in equal measure. Welcome to the club!

[@mjgbabydragonlet]

I painted a few rocks this year and made them my herb labels...

[@Marialla.]

For me the best plant labels are bits of those plastic mini-blinds that are so common everywhere. They don't look very medieval, of course. =( But they do last forever, are very clear to read, easy to write on with a Sharpie, and easy to cut to any size you like. And basically free, if you have a few extra layers of mini-blind puddled at the bottom of any window. Just remove a few as needed and the window will only look better for the trim.

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

My mom uses sharpie on unused white plastic cutlery! I used to write on popsicle sticks but they become unreadable and get lost in the garden so I actually buy plastic plant tags, but I wash and reuse them year to year.

[@barbarabrasted-maki875]

I'm re-doing my garden beds this year, and I'm dismayed at how many random bits of plastic I'm finding. Plastic really is forever, and I think any decision to use plastic in the garden should include a commitment to removing said plastic when its use is over. Personally, I've decided to really limit my use of plastics in the garden.

[@mjgbabydragonlet]

I write on mine with pencil as it lasts longer than sharpie in my location. UV rays break down even the most expensive "water proof" garden marker.

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

@@mjgbabydragonlet Yeah I switched to paint pens this year because certain colours of sharpie completely disappear.

[@teakatt8462]

Use the Sharpie oil paint pens for best results! Sharpie will eventually fade where I am, however I have mini blind tags I wrote on in oil paint sharpie that are still completely clear 2.5+ years later

[@firebugg2917]

Hey Morgan, if you want any new inspo for your working garden, the Chateau de Prangins in Switzerland revived their own garden into a kitchen and medicine garden from when it was used in the 18th century. They might have some good tips and tricks published (and lots of pretty pictures)

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I don’t know why but it brings me so much joy to see you out there in your dress doing that gardening thing 😂 I guess women don’t wear dresses a lot anymore and it brings me joy. Also, the thought you take in your videos is beyond amazing, to think all of this out and wait that long to show us must have killed you 😂

[@Chibihugs]

This is absolutely adorable and a great idea.😊 We usually have flowers and some produce in summer but I never considered a historical garden. Very cool

[@sinntax1647]

For some reason I totally thought you were going to make a monastic garden. Even so this is so freaking cute! As a horticulturist I can’t wait to see what you grow next! Hopefully some dyeing plants?!

[@Summers.Little.Studio]

That looks amazing! Also just a tip from my mom and I, if you ever wanna plant squash or patty pans, make sure they have their own bed all to themselves or else their leaves will cover over all the other plants 😭🤣. Also growing jalapeños and seranos are fun 👌🏻😌

[@ragnkja]

They can presumably be combined with beans, since maize, beans and cucurbits were the traditional Three Sisters that were always planted together. The maize stems served as beanpoles while the leaves of the squash plants discouraged competitors.

[@Summers.Little.Studio]

@@ragnkja Oooooh that’s good to know, I’ll tell my mom about that and maybe we can change how we plant things this next spring! 😄

[@veracyning5572]

Props to a woman who can get her hands dirty and look super adorable doing it! 😍 I've done a vegetable garden 3 years in a row now. Most things were good, but my poor carrots were about pinkie size. I'll have to work on that 😅

[@yaninity]

Winter prep aint no joke! I was going to put off installing a flowerbed but I think I'll get it done before it gets even colder. The native seed mix I got says I can sow the seed onto the snow and it'll melt into the beds in spring. Exciting stuff!

[@JankoWalski-hz3lu]

If birds don't eat them before spring xD

[@cynthiadugan858]

I saw nasturtium!❤! Love those! and it’s probably the plant I miss the most since we quit gardening. We put the flowers and a few leaves in salad and I would just sit next to the plants and search for seeds to graze on right next to the garden. They remind me of a mild radish an I adore them 😂. Thyme would be lovely planted between your stepping stones and I have mixed dill and fennel in with the flower beds.

[@aloeme]

You and Mr Morgan Donner did a fantastic job! Really makes me wish I had a garden to plant things in. I might have to convince a friend (who's also subbed to your channel) to let me 'help' set up a historical garden at her house. By the way, in case you're curious, Epic Gardening is a really good channel for all things gardening including raised beds.

[@suzanneschulte4539]

Why am I not surprised that you'd be interesting in gardening? :) I've been gardening about 10 years, so not all that long, but I'm amazed at how much I've learned. You are going to be so glad you have this documentation to look back on and see how far you've come in a few year's time.

[@elelse883]

we still use plumbobs today in construction when setting up things like theodolites, very useful for eyeballing a level surface before you fine-tune using spirit levels :)

[@sarahwatts7152]

I think it needs an appreciation bench! You can store carrots over the winter in a bucket with sand in it, plonked in the garage

[@lunatonkens7933]

As someone without a garden, I LOVED THIS VIDEO!! Pretty please do more of these the coming years 🥲😍🌱

[@bearfuls]

This entire video was fascinating - what a fantastic achievement! I hope you do regular updates on what you're planting in the future and what you thought after each harvest!

[@nikigunn]

When my mom used to keep a garden, she grew her own tomatoes and peppers, but bought onions, to make her own salsa! The neighbors also had tomatoes and would bring them to her so she'd make salsa for them, too. One year her partner tried to draw a skull and crossbones on her hot salsa but we thought it looked like Bullwinkle, so now we call hot salsa Bullwinkle salsa.

[@TheAChristineS]

This is amazing. Your range is unparalleled, and I’m so impressed by how hard you work to make things not just beautiful but functional. I’m so inspired!

[@cyrillian13]

PLEASE make videos for next years garden! i adore garden videos, and you make a lovely version of them!

[@christineherrmann205]

You did inadvertent hugelkultur! Go you! How did my gardener self miss this one!?

[@LarixLyalliiAlpine]

Hooray for gardening! It looks like you did a great job in your first year! Top tip: keep an eye on the air temperature. Lots of herbs and greens will bolt if it gets too hot. Also, there are peas that get up to 8ft plus! It took me years to over shoot the height for trellising my climbing plants. 😂 ETA oh! Hairy vetch is a great cover crop top affix nitrogen into the soil - just wanted to put that out there

[@mellfraze8112]

The historical small geometric beds actually make a ton of sense & would totally work with square foot gardening. Love seeing the process of this garden.

[@foxnoxness4989]

Love your dandelions 💛 they tell you where the earth needs extra help. And used a lot in the medieval times as well ❤ Also, I've grown things since I was a baby, and there are a LOT of varieties that look exactly the same when sprouted, so label your darlings, it's way easier 😅 So happy you have the wood in the bottom as well, very wise!

[@mirih5368]

If you're going to plant tomatoes next year, you NEED to get some netting to make a netted enclosure over the entire bed. Elsewise, you won't ever get to eat any because every bird and insect within a 5 mile radius will have gotten there first. Also, if you like potatoes, especially the little ones, a few potato plants can go a long way. If you want to plant gourds, give them their own bed and make sure to spread them out because they're trailing vined plants that grow out rather than up. You will have way more gourds at the end of the season than you ever thought possible.

[@annahackman2539]

I very much agree. My mom planted tomatoes and right before they would get ripe, a bird, chipmunk, or squirrel had toted them off so we hardly got to eat any of them. Gourds definitely spread. Some squash and zucchini can go up a trellis like the peas.

[@Marialla.]

I'm super excited to see how your landrace peas (and any other seeds you saved) come along next year! I've heard they should only get stronger and better able to outcompete weeds or pests. Selecting for favorite flavors and high yield will also be interesting someday.

[@ar3dhel662]

Speaking not as a medieval peasant, but as someone who did grow up in the middle of nowhere rural Ireland, my family grew most of our own food from seed every year. So I did grow up doing that, and we absolutely always used labels! When they haven't come up yet it's very possible to forget what you put where, and when they have come up, a lot of seedlings look very alike until they've grown in their adult leaves. Cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprout etc all have the same baby leaves, as do all the pumpkins, squashes, melons, courgettes etc, and lots of other plant groups too!

[@Tvianne]

You say weed, I say salad… dandelions FTW!!! Btw, to me, garlic and onion are very nice looking (and in my area, northern Italy, chives grow wild, it's fantastic) 🥰

[@Brion57042]

That blue sun-exposed dress always makes smile. I loved watching and learning about the chemistry of it, and it looks wonderful on you, too.

[@lancasterose]

The charmingest garden. Have you ever been to the Cloisters in NYC and visited their medieval gardens? If not, highly recommend! Btw, Italian Renaissance Mushroom Lady is a total vibe.

[@lovingLANA20]

I can't imagine how much work everything was and also filming it! Thanks so much, it's gorgeous ❤

[@countessa222]

I just got a plumbob!! It has its own box, and it’s so pretty😂! I thought it was a pendulum, so I was like mom …why do you have this? And her boyfriend was like, it’s not what you think, it’s used for leveling. I was like oh my goodness that’s such a smart idea!!Can I have it? (They’re moving so they were trying to get rid of stuff) and he was like yeah I don’t care. I don’t know if I will ever use it, or what for but it’s just so old and cool and I love it.😂 it’s my first old “antique” type tool.

[@josi_k.]

How nice, what material is it made of? There is one at the cover of my table book, I also wanted one for decoration as soon as I learned about it!

[@debrab8109]

Excellent for wallpapering when you don't have a level for a straight line.

[@blueberry_lemon]

So cool! I love old things, too, whether I know what they are or not lol!

[@rd6203]

Oooh, be careful. Old tools are addictive.

[@mackea1]

Most people who grow plant from seed. Start growing them inside the house to avoid the late spring frost. Plus if you start growing them early in the house you will give the a better chance of survival outside 😉

[@Ella-iv1fk]

The best foods are nightshades, pre-columbian exchange Europe food must have been so different. Tomatoes and yellow courgettes were our best crops this year, who knows what next year will bring! I want to try colourful carrots though. Hopefully it won't rain all year

[@ragnkja]

It’s honestly pretty rare that I have a dinner that could have been eaten before the columbian exchange, so much so that I struggle to think of a dinner that doesn’t have both Old World and New World ingredients. The only examples I can think of are porridges (which aren’t strictly dinner-dishes) and some traditional fish dinners (especially late winter ones) that are eaten with flatbread rather than potatoes.

[@roxannern9393]

Some friendly suggestions from experience: Put straw over the carrots and they will store through winter. Plant dill with cucumbers for supportive usage. Pick together. Place 1 garlic clove, 2 dill sprigs (1 flower if available) and cucumbers in a quart jar and top with a mixture of 2 Tbsp salt (Redmond real salt) and 1 quart of water. Place a tea towel over the top with a ring or rubber band to hold into place. Taste between 5 and 21 days. The longer they ferment, the more dilly they become. Green beans can be fermented the same way. And all of those carrots well, I like carrots fermented (covered with salt water) shredded / julienne with a piece of fresh ginger. This way you have delicious, extremely healthy food each day throughout the winter months. Oh and the cabbage sliced and covered with salt water for yummy sauer kraut--absolutely nothing like the store bought! Lettuce can also be used in soups like spinach and kale.

[@reay1864]

it looks amazing!! makes me so so so excited for when we can finally have a garden of our own and I can put it to good use. your videos are always such a joy to watch and i really appreciate all the work you put into them! thank you so much :)

[@MichiruEll]

I grew up watching my grandmother taking care of her vegetable patch, and so I can't imagine automatic watering systems. She had a giant watering can and every day that it didn't rain she would fill it twice and carry it into the garden to water the plants. I don't have a garden and possibly never will, but with my indoor plants, it brings me great joy to give them water. It also gives me the opportunity to check on them.

[@effieshead]

Definitely was the Summer of Rain in VT this year! Which, at least in my neck of VT, meant the Summer of Voracious Mosquitos, and consequently the F* It, Weeding's Not Worth This season. Not my best garden year, but congratulations on yours. Love the fence especially :)

[@samariamccord4302]

Gardening is some of the most rewarding hard work there is, and you've already done the hardest part, the first year. Resist the urge to add too much more next year. Also you can leave the carrots in the ground as long as you don't have a lot of freezing and thawing (or mice), they'll store just fine in the ground. Once it thaws they will start to rot or regrow their greens, you can't eat them after that, but you can let them bolt and collect the little seed pods.

[@aficklefangirl2566]

This couldn't have come out at a better time, it is summer where I am and I was planning on getting my planting done this weekend! I'm a bit late I know! Also, if you don't mind, where is that gorgeous sweater you wore in the ad segment(or the pattern for it) from?

[@MorganDonner]

That is awesome, I hope you have as grand a time with your garden as I did! The sweater is from thredup, and the tag says Prologue!

[@L-Destroyer]

Potato buckets are the best way to grow them! can be to the side of the garden too. Love that you talked about how many plants are from the New World/Americas, lot's of people don't know that tomatoes and peppers and potatoes and more aren't from europe and asia. Same with so many flowers. Everyone should garden! even small!

[@HarmonyinTime37751]

Canning your veggies for winter will be useful

[@Rebecca.Greene]

I’m an avid gardener, and I looove historical content, so this is just perfect!! Also, for your first year growing veggies you did so well! And I’m impressed by your planning haha

[@stefaniegiglio]

It looks fabulous!! The green fence is so cute! The only question I have is: no turnips!?

[@MorganDonner]

There were totally turnips! They were a lil small and sad, but they were totally there!

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

@@MorganDonner turnips and radishes grow so well for me, they can be planted weeks before last frost date, hardy critters that they are!

[@KateandBree]

Yes, bulbs like garlic love overwintering! I grow irises and tulips, so they love our harsh winters and bloom like weeds come spring!

[@turihenderson7755]

Renaissance gardens are the sh*t, and you know it Morgan. 😉

[@turihenderson7755]

Also, I miss you! xx

[@brettpolach1687]

Great idea having the outer rim flower garden. If you fill it full of wildflowers and herbs that you let seed out it’ll bring in a bunch of pollinators and good insects.

[@annechenlowey7462]

Since you're getting into more than European foods for next year - try a marinara garden bed, because tomatoes and basil generally like growing together, and try to find some heirloom tomato varieties that do well in your zone (Roma and Cherokee Purples were great in zone 7). If you're into green beans at all, I remember Granddad planting a tall tent of beanpoles in the center of the garden, and he had marigolds around nearly all beds for pest management. If you have another sunny spot that's accessible, the herb spiral was something Granddad cobbled together from spare building materials, with the things that hate wet feet (like rosemary) at the top. Mint stays in a pot or it will choke out everything else.

[@CosnerCoPiloting]

When you go to dry your seeds, I suggest using a dehydrator, where you make actually get the seeds to mold. Additionally, depending upon the plant and their source, you may not be successful bringing them to plant form. Great job doing your first garden! We always plant some fun random vegetable/fruit for fun, peanuts, loofahs, specific kinds of squash, etc I suggest looking up companion plants, where you have tall and short plants that grow great together. For your plant labels, a fun suggestion is getting the slab sheet cut offs from your local stone quarry processor and make a fun video of painting them up!

[@lyllydd]

Two things: 1. You need to start canning and /or freezing what you grow. Those carrots can be blanched and frozen pretty easily. Ditto for the peas. 2. If you're interested in slightly earlier period gardening, I recommend the book Brother Cadfael's Herb Garden: An Illustrated Companion to Medieval Plants and Their Uses by Robin Whiteman and Rob Talbot.

[@AN-ep6jd]

I absolutely love your entire aesthetic. The dresses, the hair, your attention to your medieval garden. Everything came out so cute! ❤

[@MorganDonner]

👒🔎: Download June’s Journey for free now using my link: woo.ga/0oq5khdq And purchase the June’s Journey interactive diary here: woo.ga/JJDiary_MorganDonner EDIT: The giveaway deadline has passed, thanks and good luck to everyone who entered!

[@sebeckley]

I saw a video on pea shoots and you need to do vertical strings because they will curl around and around horizontal ones and you'll spend hours pulling them off vs. a few minutes stripping pea shoots straight down a vertical string.

[@badzootus]

soil, not dirt. well done!

[@annbrookens945]

I love June's Journey! I started playing it on your recommendation 2 years ago and play every day. I'm really excited about this journal! I stopped the video to enter the drawing. Now I'm going back to the rest of your gardening saga!

[@greenecrayon]

I absolutely love gardening videos, historical videos, and puzzles... this video was pure serotonin for me.

[@SIC647]

Be aware that putting twigs and leaves in your garden beds will use nutrients as they break down (and only later release them). So you will need to add more fertiliser to counter that.

[@MorganDonner]

I have heard about that! I look forward to experimenting with it next year

[@Marialla.]

But she put the twigs and leaves way underneath her growing dirt. It would only be a problem for her plants if it was mixed in with the dirt the roots needed to get nutrients from.

[@RainnKenyon]

Basically reinvents Hugelculture in the beds. This is wonderful.

[@thundercloud755]

It's actually recommended to bury logs in the bottom of your raised beds because they provide way more nutrients than they absorb and definitely add more than dirt alone.