The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Early American Women and Their Kitchen Gardens
Each spring, the History organizations in Westfield come together and present a Spring Assembly which is open to the public. This year, the Miller-Cory House Museum is organizing the program to be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at the Assembly Room of The Presbyterian Church in Westfield. Lesley Parness, a columnist for Gardener News Magazine, and a featured writer in many print and online gardening publications will present the program: “The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Early American Women and Their Kitchen Gardens”.
Did you know kitchen gardens in the 1700’s fed, healed, and clothed Early American families? The 18th century housewife, also known as “hussif”, skill set included physicke, cookery, distillation, perfumery, the making of wool, hemp, flax, dayries, brewing, baking, and, of course – gardening. Growing plants both Native American and from their homelands, these women turned their soup pots into the “melting pot” that is America and exemplified all the best qualities of plantswomen and patriots. Find out more about these topics at the lecture.
Garden historian and writer, Lesley Parness, has worked in public gardens in America and abroad for the past four decades. She is a popular speaker throughout the mid-Atlantic region, offering illustrated lectures and hands-on workshops to garden clubs, historic societies, Master Gardeners, public garden professionals, libraries, and institutions with rare books collections of horticultural merit.
The Spring Assembly programs are offered to the public, each Spring, through the efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Westfield Chapter; The Genealogical Society of the West Fields; The Miller-Cory House Museum Volunteers; The Sons of the American Revolution, West Fields Chapter; the Westfield Historical Society; and The Westfield Presbyterian Church.
The program will begin at 7:30 pm at The Presbyterian Church’s Assembly Hall located at 140 Mountain Avenue in Westfield, NJ. The meeting hall entrance is by the parking lot. Light refreshments will be served following the program. Admission is free.
The Miller Cory House Museum is located at 614 Mountain Avenue in Westfield, NJ. Call the museum at 908-232-1776 or email millercorymuseum@gmail.com for more information.
Since 1968, the 501(c)(3) non-profit Miller Cory House Museum/Westfield Historical Society has worked to preserve, interpret and encourage interest in history, Westfield, and its residents through educational efforts and community outreach programs. For more information on the Miller Cory House Museum/Westfield Historical Society and their events, millercoryhouse.com or westfieldhistoricalsociety.org and , like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram.
