GREENWICH, N.Y. — Thomas Jefferson, our nation’s third president, was a complex man with many facets to his being. A true son of the Enlightenment era in which he lived, he was well-versed in a wide range of subjects, with a never-ending curiosity and penchant for experimentation. This extended into one of his favorite hobbies: agriculture and gardening. At his home at Monticello, Jefferson created not just a profitable farm, but also an ever-growing horticultural laboratory of plants.

Thomas Jefferson was born April 13, 1743 to Peter and Jane Jefferson in Albemarle County, Virginia. Jefferson’s father was an ambitious surveyor and planter, and his mother came from the prominent Randolph family of Virginia.¹ In 1764 Jefferson inherited his father’s 3,000-acre estate which at the time was predominantly a tobacco plantation. In 1770 he and his family moved into their newly built home: Monticello, an Italian word that translates to “little mountain.” The estate was worked by slave labor which had around 130 enslaved individuals each year that lived on the estate.

In the following years Jefferson grew increasingly worried about the fertility of his land. The land, like much of Virginia, had been used to grow tobacco and corn for several decades. Tobacco is notoriously difficult on the soil and he could see its years of effect on the land. To combat this, Jefferson began experimenting with manuring and other kinds of fertilizers to revive the soil. He was also one of the first Americans to implement crop rotation and use cover crops. Using a seven-year rotation with specific crops or grasses in each year he was able to create a system that helped his soils remain viable.² Never a fan of the plant, Jefferson eventually phased out growing tobacco, replacing it with wheat and small amounts of cotton.

Gardening was one of Jefferson’s favorite interests and the garden at Monticello reflects this. The vegetable garden on the property was 1,000 ft long and terraced being built into the sides of a hill. While Jefferson did do some work in the garden himself, the garden was predominantly tended to by some of his slaves. During his lifetime the garden would grow around 330 varieties of more than 70 species of vegetables. A particular favorite of his was the English pea. Jefferson was methodical and could be in some respects be “controlling” and this is seen in his garden. The area was divided into 24 growing plots based on the kind of plant that was grown: “fruits,” “roots,” or “leaves.”³ Jefferson also kept incredibly detailed records of his crops in his “Garden Book” which survives today. The daily entries mark the progress of plants, weather conditions, the success or failure of a plant, diagrams of his garden, and more.⁴

Ever interested in science and experimentation, Jefferson grew all kinds of vegetables he encountered in his journeys. Squash and broccoli from Italy, artichokes from his years in France, and peppers from Mexico were some of the foreign crops that were grown. The Lewis and Clark Expedition yielded new species that he was eager to grow such as salsify and types of beans. The garden also came to grow vegetables that were “new” to Americans at the time like tomatoes, eggplant, and cauliflower.⁵

To Jefferson this experimentation was not only fulfilling is curiosity, but it was also taken as a patriotic duty saying once, “The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture… One such service of this kind rendered to a nation is worth more to them than all the victories of the most splendid pages of their history, and becomes a source of exalted pleasure to those who have been instrumental in it…”⁶ Gardening also helped keep Jefferson emotionally connected to his home during his years as Minister to France from 1784-1789. At the Paris home he lived in he kept his own garden growing greens and Indian corn.⁷ While abroad he was always willing to distribute seeds of American varieties of trees and plants, as well as collect seeds of species to grow back home.

Beneath the garden was the orchards of Monticello, known as the “Fruitery” to Jefferson. The eight-acre orchards grew mainly peaches and apples, along with cherries. Most of these fruits were used to make cider, brandy, or livestock feed. Similar to the garden, the orchard was also a laboratory to experiment. Jefferson attempted to grow pears, figs, pomegranates, olives, and almonds with limited success. Near the orchards were also “berry squares” which grew fruits like raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries, and currants. Over the course of his life the orchards would attempt at growing 150 varieties of 31 different species of fruit.⁸

Wine was one of Jefferson’s favorite things and he eventually became something of a “sommelier” for friends such as James Madison and James Monroe, offering suggestions of what wines to serve at functions they hosted. To fulfill this desire Jefferson had two vineyards on the property which attempted to grow grapes for winemaking. However, records show that his vineyards were replanted again and again. Like other winemaking attempts at the time, Jefferson’s vineyards suffered from disease and phylloxera which destroyed the European grape Vitis vinifera. While it is unlikely that he was able to make wine from Monticello-grown grapes, he did experiment with New World varieties of grape showing his passion for the product and the possibility of viticulture in America.⁹

Monticello was also home to hundreds of varieties of trees and flowers. In his later years the flower gardens were cared for mainly by his daughters and granddaughters with the help of a slave named Wormley Hughes.¹⁰ In addition to native species of trees, several more exotic species were attempted, usually with poor results. For instance, the sugar maple was a tree Jefferson fixated on for a while. After trying maple sugar for the first time in the 1790s, Jefferson envisioned a booming maple sugar industry that could rid the U.S. of its dependence on Caribbean-grown sugar which required slave labor. He acquired several trees and attempted growing his own “sugar orchard.” Most of the trees did not last, but he remained a supporter of maple sugar nonetheless.¹¹

Jefferson’s interests in agriculture extended from the field to the kitchen. At Monticello and at the White House during his presidency, guests were often surprised, delighted, or on occasion shocked by what was served. Jefferson loved French cuisine and while living in France he brought one of his cooks along to learn the art of French cooking. Vegetables were the predominant part of dishes at Monticello, many of the ingredients coming from his own garden. Jefferson was also adventurous in cuisine and is credited with introducing or popularizing a few dishes some of which include ice cream, tomatoes, and an early version of macaroni and cheese.¹² Borrowing today’s moniker, Thomas Jefferson could be described as a foodie!

Thomas Jefferson thought farming to be one of the most important professions in the world. One of his most famous quotes comes from a letter he wrote to George Washington in 1787 and reads, “Agriculture … is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals & happiness.”¹³ Jefferson’s home at Monticello provides a look at the ways in which he tried to contribute to the profession he held in such high esteem.

Chandler Hansen grew up and lives in Easton, NY. He is a graduate of Gordon College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in History. He serves as a writer and editor for Morning Ag Clips.