24 Septembre, Monday

71 degrees F

Sunny, Light-Moderate Wind SSE

The change of seasons is upon us and with the coming of fall, cooler temperatures and some precipitation have followed. The travails of this past summer season seem almost an unpleasant dream; the memory of unrelenting heat and drought, a nightmare. But as in all things of this world, transition is upon us, and we embrace this new season with a wish for a kinder journey through the months ahead. The fall garden has been planted with beet, carrot, lettuce , pea, radish, spinach, and turnip. We look forward to harvesting and preserving the last harvest of our garden for the winter ahead.

The ability to water the vegetable and herb beds in the midst of a terrible drought was the garden’s saving grace. In some cases, no amount of water could save the plantings of beans, lettuce, leeks—all failing early in the summer. The native garden, located too far from a water source, was another causality of this fierce summer, with very little of the corn, beans, and winter squash surviving. But as always in the garden, as some plants struggle with the conditions fate has delivered in a growing season, others thrive. Crookneck and scallop squashes, watermelons, cucumbers and peppers managed a decent harvest. Cabbages and our red onions also seemed to be relatively unaffected by the harsh conditions, finishing their seasons with good success. Another garden bright spot, withstanding the summer’s heat, the 18^th century heirloom flowers planted among our heirloom vegetable and herbs managed to slip through the worst of the heat and continue to bloom this fall.

The approach of cooler temperatures encourages us to step outside and enjoy the fall season in the Illinois country. We will have our last Heirloom Produce Saturday at the Fort de Chartres jardin potager on October 13, 10 AM-Noon. Recettes, seeds and, hopefully, some produce will be available. The weekend previous will be the 3^rd annual Save Illinois History Brewfest on Friday, October 5^th and Saturday October 6^th.  The Brewfest will be held on the Fort grounds with activities featuring 18^th  century reenactors, which includes natives, French Marines, British soldiers, and cannon crews. Early in November, the Fort de Chartres French and Indian Winter Rendezvous with accompanying encampments and sutlers, is an open invitation to the public to enjoy the sights and sounds of the 18^th century. Please check the events page of this blog for more information concerning these events.

Finally, October 7, a birthday celebration will be held honor of the first lieutenant governor of Illinois Pierre Menard in the Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site in Ellis Grove, IL. Actually, this event is being held in honor of two special persons, Pierre Menard and former Menard Home site staff member, Linda McDonald. Pierre Menard’s successful contributions to the Illinois country are well documented and well known. Earlier this summer, staff member Linda McDonald proposed a birthday celebration to be held this fall honoring this legendary merchant and statesmen of Illinois. Plans were finalized but Linda suddenly became ill and passed away shortly thereafter. Not only Pierre Menard will be remembered in this event, but Linda’s contributions as well. In her quiet way, she was earnest in her support of this region’s history—always interested, sincere, and helpful. She will be missed.

This event is to be held on October 7, 10 AM-4 PM, and is sponsored by the site staff and Randolph County Historical Society. Interpreters of the Menard Home will be on hand to greet the public. A cooking and baking demonstration will take place in the Menard Home summer kitchen, by the friends of the Fort de Chartres jardin and bake oven. A celebratory birthday meal of the period will be prepared featuring the kitchen’s hearth and bake oven. Take an afternoon’s drive through the beautiful terrain of the Illinois country and join us as we remember the past, enjoy the present, and look forward to the new seasons of the future.

You are invited to the Fort de Chartres Jardin Potager and sample heirloom produce on our next Heirloom Produce Saturday, September 8, 10 AM-Noon. Some produce and recipes available. Please note: Due to a heavy rain prediction for this Saturday, September 1, we have moved our event to September 8.

Welcome to our Jardin Potager outside the walls of Fort de Chartres! This garden has been planted in the style of a French l’habitant kitchen garden generally tended by the women of the Illinois Country. Join us in exploring the heirloom vegetables and fruits in our garden.

Last Heirloom Saturday, 18 August

Produce currently in season: Cucumber, Summer Squash, Watermelon, Various Herbs

Jardin Flower & Herb Seed Packets will be available.

Visit the Recettes page of this blog for 18th century recipes featuring our summer produce.

Cornflowers

28 June, Thursday

104 degrees F

Sunny, Light S winds

Weeding and watering early this morning, the jardin is struggling in the oppressive heat. Spring in the bottom land of the Mississippi River saw very little rain and has made the challenge of gardening in these extreme conditions a real struggle. Much time has been spent watering and nurturing the last of the spring harvests and proceeding cautiously with planting for the summer ahead. The garden managed to produce fair amounts of asparagus, beet, lettuce, radish, and spinach in May and early June. Our gooseberries, peas, and later sowing of lettuce and radish were causalities of the constant climbing temperatures and dryness. Our seed germination rates tumble as the temperatures rise. As an example, seeds of lettuce rarely germinate when temperatures reach 80 degrees. As a precaution, I have decided to leave two White Doyenne heirloom pear trees heeled in a garden bed, to be held until the fall when cooler air returns and they can be safely planted in our small growing orchard. Currently the red onions and cabbages are reaching their prime, and we scramble to make sure the remaining plants have enough water to reach the completion of their season. Work now focuses on nurturing the new growth of beans, cucumber, melons, and squash in these unrelenting conditions.

Suffering the travails of this climate does not dim the beauty of the land and helps one accept the notion of each year progressing at its own tempo. Life and the garden will continue to move through the maze of days, no matter our desires and participation. The season’s cycle dictates whether each plant thrives or declines, depending on the moisture and temperature of the year’s rhythm. And so it has ever been, in spite of the hardships of this region’s climate, the inherent quality of the land was much remarked upon by early visitors to the area. Reading early accounts of the Illinois Country, one is struck by the universal admiration of the beauty and harvests of the land.

André Penicaut, in service as a carpenter of the King’s ships, ascended the Mississippi from the French outposts of the Gulf of Mexico in 1711, and seven years before the founding of New Orleans wrote: “This region . . . is one of the finest of all of Louisiana and possesses some of the richest soil. There is wheat that is as good as French wheat, and there are all sorts of vegetables, tubers, and herbs. . . “ Continuing, he remarks, “This country is one of the most beautiful in all Louisiana. Every kind of grain and vegetables are produced here in the greatest abundance. It is in this country that you may behold the most magnificent prairies in the world.”

Traveling through the Illinois Country, one cannot but see the blessings of the land and be comforted by it. As we work to fulfill the promise of this land, one can only reflect upon those that first settled here. We echo the prayers of those who have preceded us and struggled under adverse conditions. We remain ever hopeful, that a new day will bring much needed relief in temperature and precipitation to allow us to cultivate and share in the bounty of the Illinois Country.

On Saturday, July 7, 10 AM-Noon, you are invited to the Fort de Chartres Jardin Potager and explore our early summer heirloom garden. I will have six or seven varieties of heirloom flower and herb seeds harvested from the jardin available for those interested. Please check the Evénements au Fort de Chartres page of this blog for information. Look for newly posted recipes for Cabbage and Apples and Carrot Pudding on the Recettes page.

You are invited to the Fort de Chartres Jardin Potager and explore our spring heirloom produce on Saturday, May 26, 10 AM-Noon. 

We welcome you to our Jardin Potager outside the walls of Fort de Chartres! This garden has been planted in the style of a French habitant kitchen garden and generally tended by the women of the Illinois Country.  Some produce, plants, and recipes available.

Heirloom herbs, vegetables & fruits currently in season:
Beet, Dill, Lettuce, Radish, Rosemary, Spinach, Peas.

The transition from winter to spring has been very dramatic this season.

Spring Flowering Black Mustard

The very warm temperatures enabled an early start to our garden year, with the cool weather crops not quite confident in how to proceed. Late winter’s garden work began at a leisurely pace and with the coming of a warmer than average spring, the garden sprang into nonstop activity. We had a wonderful weekend in February, sunny but cool temperatures allowed much work to be accomplished. Beds were turned for the last time and six beds were planted. Blue Podded Snap, Snow, and Tom Thumb peas were soaked overnight and planted the next morning with spinach, Oakleaf and Speckled Trout lettuce. Other beds contain Flat Headed Dutch and Couer Boeuf Des Vertus cabbage companion planted with Long Red radishes, leeks and Early Wonder beets. Now that the temperatures have cooled, the frenetic pace has slowed a bit, with progress continuing in a more traditional manner. Soon new postings and photos of the jardin’s spring growth and progress will be posted.

Other news associated with the garden includes the Fort’s stone bread oven’s much needed repair this past March. This was a collaborative effort by Les Amis de Fort de Chartres, Save Illinois History, tribute donations  from Ken Brigman’s family and friends, and Les Coureurs de Bois du Fort de Chartres. Randy Warnecke, of Warnecke Building Restoration, did an excellent job and we look forward to many years of the oven’s continued use.

Bread Oven

We thank everyone for their cooperation and willingness to restore and protect the oven from future damage. On May 19, at 10 AM, a class will be held to demonstrate proper firing technique for the Fort’s 18th century reproduction bread oven. Please check the Evénements au Fort de Chartres page of this blog for Bread Oven class and sign up information.

Another project undertaken this spring was assistance to Waterloo’s Peterstown House Pioneer Garden project. The Fort de Chartres Jardin donated heirloom seeds and plans for their new community garden, to be created in conjunction with this summer’s Smithsonian Institute traveling display, The Way We Worked – Monroe County, IL. We wish our neighbors the best of luck recreating their heritage garden.