Lower (Kitchen) Garden (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this trailside historical marker:

Lower (Kitchen) Garden
"…as vegetable is the best part of our living in the country."
—Martha Washington, 1792

Before grocery store existed, most homes maintained kitchen gardens that provided the produce. Since the 1760s, Mount Vernon's kitchen garden has been continuously cultivated and today includes many of the same vegetables, fruits, and herb regularly used by the Washingtons. While this space was not intended to be ornamental, the gate on the bowling green allowed visitors to admire the terraced spaces with squares and rows of fruits and vegetables.

The kitchen garden was overseen by Mrs. Washington, and maintained by enslaved and hired gardeners. Mrs. Washington's domain included other areas close to the garden that played a role in the estate's food preparation and preservation. Meat was cured and stored in the smokehouse. In the Mansion's cellar, kitchen, and dining room food was preserved, prepared for meals, and finally served to the Washington family and their guests.