Third president of the US, author of The Declaration of Independence
From flowers and fruits to herbs and vegetables, Jefferson created extensive gardens at his beloved estate, Monticello.
Jefferson created a kitchen garden that blended function and ornament, growing tomatoes, sweet potatoes and peanuts, many unfamiliar in his day.
He also used plants to relate to friends, neighbors, family and political allies by sharing seeds he gathered from around the world.
“His garden functioned as an experimental laboratory, and his role in linking the garden with the kitchen was a pioneering concept in the history of American food.”Source: Peter Hatch, A Rich Spot of Earth