Natural Garden Supports: Live Talk & Hands‑On Demonstration
Join Carol Kuntz, volunteer curator of the Fort de Chartres Jardin Potager, and Jennifer Duensing, of Illinois Country Harvest Farm, on Saturday, May 16th from 10 a.m.–2 p.m., in the Jardin Potager (KItchen Garden) at Fort de Chartres State Historic Site for a talk and demonstration on natural garden supports.
Fort de Chartres is located at 1350 State Route 155, Prairie du Rocher, IL 62277
Carol will explain the traditional apple‑tree espalier system used around the jardin potager. This ancient horticultural method widely practiced in 18th‑century French kitchen gardens and across Europe, trained fruit trees to grow flat in flat planes against fences or frames, creating living walls that saved space, increased fruit production, and added beauty to formal garden designs. Carol will demonstrate how simple garden supports can be made from the pruned apple branches and how other natural "found" materials were utilized in the potager.of the 18th century-
Jennifer will demonstrate the art of weaving natural garden supports with willow, a technique also common in French colonial and European potagers of the 1700s. Willow’s flexibility made it ideal for crafting trellises, cloches, and woven edging that supported vegetables and herbs while blending seamlessly into the landscape. She will also share how she grows and harvests willow on her heritage farm, following traditions that echo those early French gardening practices.