Getting Back to Our Roots: Gardening Shaker Style

June 5, 2011 – September 30, 2011

The North Union Shakers once resided on the land that is now the Shaker Historical Society property. The Center Family, one of the three North Union families–Center, Mill and East–occupied the land where they had apple orchards, a large vegetable garden, an herb garden, apiaries and fruiting bushes. They supplied the North Union Shakers with all their produce and sold the surplus to the other “world’s people” who lived nearby. The Shaker Historical Society is recreating the gardens to restore the gardening heritage of the North Union Shakers. The two part exhibit will include an interactive component featuring the life and behaviors of the honeybee. We are partnering with Queen Right Colonies of Spencer, OH, the largest beekeeping showroom and warehouse in Ohio.

Antique and modern beekeeping artifacts will demonstrate the very interesting science of life in a bee colony. The second feature focuses on the Shakers and their highly successful gardening industry including seeds, herbs, and botanical remedies. The Shakers were the first people in America to introduce botanical medical practice in a public context. They also devised a famous system for reducing medicinal extracts “in vacuo” and their vacuum apparatus was a model for the modern medicinal industry. As early as 1832, the Shakers needed to expand their herb house facilities because of the growing national and international demand for their extracts, syrups, ointments, and other pharmaceutical products.

Programming and events will be held throughout the duration of the exhibit including programs on beekeeping and candle making presented by the owners of Beecology and Root Candles; workshops on permaculture and planting; and cooking classes utilizing fresh, local produce.

Call 216.921.1201 for more information.

To learn more about beekeeping visit the Queen Right Colonies website.