Garrison Garden & Grounds at Fort Ticonderoga
On the Garrison Grounds of Fort Ticonderoga, where the Pavilion and 1920’s era
King's Garden are now located, is the Garrison Garden where three occupying armies grew vegetables to feed the troops. Produce from the gardens, along with wild game and fish supplemented the soldier’s daily rations. The garrison gardens of the French, English, and Americans were remarkably similar. They were planted mainly with leafy greens and root vegetables. Root vegetables, such as turnips, keep longer into the winter than the leafy greens. The leafy green vegetables such as cabbage are high in vitamin C, which would protect the soldiers against the disease scurvy, which is caused by a deficiency of the vitamin. A journal account from 1759 reports a scurvy problem: “I have had the same application indirectly from Fort Stanwix, where the men begin to feel effects of the scurvy, having had no vegetables or scarcely any fresh provisions during the winter, or likely to have any for some time.”
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Garrison gardens were associated with permanent settlements, such as forts. Soldiers were often given “gardening duty” as one of their responsibilities around the Fort. Another journal reports in June: “This day fair and pleasant. I had the care of 100 men to work in the King’s Garden, which is the finest garden I ever saw in my life, having at least 10 acres inclosed & mostly sowd and
improud.”
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A sample of vegetables found in
the Garrison Garden.
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18th century journal accounts are often vague regarding specific vegetables, however radishes, cabbage, lettuce, parsnip, turnip, pumpkin, squash, peas, parsley, and onion are all mentioned.
Today, visitors to Fort Ticonderoga can visit the demonstration garrison garden and see the types of vegetables that were grown in the French, British or American gardens. The demonstration garden is located
next to the King’s Garden at Fort Ticonderoga and is open to the public 10 am to 4 pm June
1-October 13, 2008. First purchase your general admission ticket at the Admissions Desk in the Log House adjacent to the Fort. Ask for the map to the
King’s Garden and either walk down (5-minute walk) or drive down to the
King’s Garden parking lot. For handicapped access please call ahead.
