Demonstration Gardens
Established in 1974, our demonstration gardens are the site of small-scale experiments that showcase organic growing methods for the home gardener.
The gardens are split into three sections: a medicinal garden, cut flower and pollinator garden, and homestead garden.
Boiron Medicinal Garden
Sponsored by Boiron, the Boiron Medicinal Garden is where we grow plants known for their healing properties like calendula, arnica, and chamomile, many of which can be used in homeopathic preparations.
For a closer view of the garden, check out the following series of gardening how-to’s:
Learn More at Boiron
Cut Flower and Pollinator Garden
In our cut flower and pollinator garden, we plant a mix of annual and perennial plants that attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, which then provide natural pest control for crops.
Homestead Garden
In the homestead garden we plant a mix of vegetables, flowers, and herbs using different chemical-free techniques:
- Raised beds allow growers to start their season earlier because the soil warms quicker in a raised bed than in the ground.
- Natural mulching is a practice of covering the soil with material like straw or wood chips to prevent moisture loss and smother weeds.
- Companion planting is a practice of growing certain crops next to each other for mutual benefit. For example, corn, squash, and beans are often planted together—the squash vines climb the cornstalk; the beans fix nitrogen in the soil that the corn and squash feed on; and the broad leaves of the squash plant shade the soil and prevent weeds.
- Season extending methods include covering plants with cloth and using glass frames to protect crops from frost.
Living Green Roof
Our demonstration garden includes a green roof planted with succulents, which require minimal care. Green roofs reduce energy use, reduce air and water pollution, and provide habitat for wildlife.
