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What a successful season it has been for the Kitchen Garden and the Grow & Gather Series! This season we supplied 37 varieties of produce to the Riverview Terrace Cafe, offering fresh greens, herbs, teas, and other seasonal produce. In total, we grew 97 varieties this season! This biodiversity, and the incorporation of more native companion plants, has increased the health and resiliency of the Kitchen Garden tremendously. This biodiversity also ensures a constant succession of blooms for our pollinators. Speaking of—we had a good number of endangered Rusty Patch Bumble Bees visit our garden this year, which was lovely to witness!
Our Grow & Gather foraging and gardening classes were a hit! I had so much fun teaching these classes, and everyone who attended was so lovely and excited to learn. I also held informative sessions at the Kitchen Garden for A Day at Taliesin, Savor Farm & Food Tour, Wright in Wisconsin’s All Wright event, as well as for private groups and student groups visiting the estate. I absolutely love the wonder and excitement in people’s eyes when they step into the garden. It is a magical place, and I love to share the knowledge and wisdom it holds.
Our success this year would not be possible without our amazing crew of Kitchen Volunteers. In total, our volunteers logged 196 hours this season! Whether it was a harvest day or maintenance day, rain or shine, these fine folks were there to help me complete my tasks, and I am incredibly grateful for them. Our 2025 “MVG” (Most Valuable Gardener) volunteer award goes to Allyson Skoien, for giving a total of 57 hours to the Kitchen Garden! Thank you, Allyson! We held a special Volunteer Appreciation party at the Taliesin home to honor our volunteers and celebrate a successful season. We offered culinary delights and teas right from the Kitchen Garden, including horseradish, bruschetta, pesto, globe basil finishing salt, and Three Sisters with Sorghum.
Final Mulching
The autumnal winds and hurried murmurations of birds whisper a quiet chaos into the valley now. The trees have turned, and the last bees search fervently for blooms amongst the final asters. Roots have been harvested and seeds collected. The garden now lays quietly under a thick blanket of mulch, holding all the energy, hopes, and dreams for next year. As another season comes to an end, I give thanks for all the blessings this special piece of earth called the Kitchen Garden has given us. Much more than food, the garden has provided us with community and fellowship. It has become a place where we can gather to learn, work, and grow together. I encourage everyone to visit the Kitchen Garden or volunteer next season if you have time. Come see what the magic is all about!
Until then…I wish you all a peaceful, positive, and productive Winter.
