BATH — Leigh Swain carefully reaches through a maze of vines and extracts a plump, sun-ripened tomato.

The fruit (yes, a tomato is a fruit) is part of this summer’s bountiful harvest in the garden plot located at Historic Bath State Historic Site.

The garden is attractive, informative and a source of fresh produce, according to Swain, who is Historic Bath’s site manager. Signs erected in the garden show what is growing and how it relates to colonial life in the area.

“That was something that Bea started,” Swain said, referring to the late Bea Latham, who served as assistant site manager until her death last December. “The signs explain what we are growing and why we are growing it … what its historical significance is.”

For instance, Native Americans grew an abundance of what is known as the Three Sisters, that is, corn or maize, beans and squash. Other crops found in the garden over the course of the seasons include two varieties of heirloom tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, zucchini and even a stand of brilliant yellow sunflowers. One of the more unusual crops is a variety of corn called Cherokee Eagle; its colorful purple and yellow kernels were harvested and ground into corn meal by Native Americans.

The newest addition to the garden is a small crop of pumpkins to be harvested in the fall.

“The garden is in a constant state of change,” Swain noted. “We continue to have faithful volunteers who work even in the worst heat of the summer.”
Those volunteers, who have adopted the project, include Bill and Jane Lenhardt. The couple have worked the plot since early spring.

Once harvested, the fresh produce is placed in a basket inside the Historic Bath visitor center. Shoppers may purchase the items for a donation.

“A lot of locals might pop in a couple times a week to see what the day’s harvest was,” Swain said. “And I love seeing the visitors walking around the garden and reading the signs, knowing they are learning more about our multicultural garden’s operation and contributions.”

Funds collected during the distribution of produce are recycled right back into the site, according to Swain.

“The money is used for living history programs and for the purchase of new seeds for the garden,” she said. “So that helps keep the garden self-funded.”