Demonstration Gardens

Deutschheim's four-square Gemusegarten is planted with heirloom varieties, just as 19th century German immigrants would have done, incorporating flowers among the vegetables for both beauty and practicality.

"So much of today's organic methods are very old traditions that were abandoned in the 20th century," says Deutschheim Administrator Cynthia Browne.

For example, the Germans rotated their crops each year from one plot to the next to break the pest cycle and enhance soil fertility. Water was collected in cisterns, as many gardeners do today in rain barrels. Garden squares were separated by paths, making it easy to tend and harvest crops without compressing the soil.