Gardens for Cultural Heritage

Presented to

The Gulf South Summit

March 25-28

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Jeanne L. Gillespie, Ph.D.

The University of Southern Mississippi

"Every view of the world that becomes extinct, every culture that disappears, diminishes a possibility of life." - Octavio Paz

Food as a Culture Transmitter

• What are the most important ingredients in Italian food?

Where did they come from?

China! Mexico!

Where do our favorite foods come from?

Junk Food Archaeology

IDS 301

Spring 2009

2nd 8-weeks

Molasses

• http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=118

• http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/molasseshistory.htm

• http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/molasses.html

• http://edp.org/molasses.htm

Cane Syrup

• http://www.syrupmakers.com/cane_syrup.html

• http://www.sugarcanemills.com/index2.htm

• http://www.syrupmakers.com/guy/

Peanut Butter

• http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/pbutterhistory.htm

• http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blpeanutbutter.htm

• http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1879180,00.html

Potatoes

• http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/PotatoHistory.htm

• http://www.history-magazine.com/potato.html

• http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/potatochips.htm

Mexican inspiration

Plant what our neighbors eat….

Asian comfort food

• Plant what our ancestors eat…

Shakespeare Gardens

• Plant what we read in literature class...

Monet Gardens

• Plant what we see in art class…

• Monet's inspirations

• Gardens inspired by Monet

Victory Gardens and our History (Herstory?)

Women’s Efforts in the Garden

• Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden

• Michelle Obama’s Edible Landscape

• Curriculum resources about history and gardening

USM’s Medicine Wheel Garden

What are your ideas?

• Peace Gardens• Community heritage

gardens• Ancestor or Family

History Gardens• Neighbor Gardens• World Cultures

Gardens