THE HOLY EARTH & THE NATURE STUDY IDEA, JOHN STEMPIEN ON THE LEGACY OF LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY
- Jennifer Jewell
- Apr 17
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 28
For many religions, Spring is a sacred season of renewal and regeneration. I feel it, don’t you? With this in mind, I am so pleased to focus this week’s episode on the legacy of a man who identified as a gardener, who is considered by many to be the founder of modern [Western] horticulture, and who is the author of a beloved book to me: "The Holy Earth", among his many titles.
Liberty Hyde Bailey Jr. is the gardener, and we’re in conversation with John Stempien, the emeritus director of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum in South Haven, Michigan, and the co-editor of "The Liberty Hyde Bailey Gardeners’ Companion", essential writings, published in 2019 by Cornell University. The Museum is LHB’s birth home, surrounded by gardens. Bailey died in 1954 at the age of 96. Across his long career, he authored more than 66 books, among them "The Nature Study Idea"," The Holy Earth", and "Gardeners' Companion".
"Above all, old and young, we must never lose faith in the soil. It is the source and condition of our existence. It never grows stale and it never wears out. The earth is always young."
-Liberty Hyde Bailey (a favorite quote of John Stempien's)
Liberty Hyde Bailey Jr. grew up on a farm in Michigan in 1858. He was a lifelong gardener and advocate for gardeners and their power in this world. He went on to be the Dean of the College of Agriculture at Cornell University, chair of the Country Life Commission under President Theodore Roosevelt, and is considered the Father of Modern Horticulture—helping to envision such mainstays as 4-H and the County Extension Agency model, leading the development of the longstanding Master Gardener programs across the country.
It is a pleasure to be in conversation with John about Liberty Hyde Bailey in this season!
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All Photos courtesy of John Stempien, Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum, and Life Magazine. All rights reserved.
HERE IS THIS WEEK'S TRANSCRIPT:
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JOIN US again next week, when Guest host Abra Lee rounds out April in conversation with the UK’s beloved soil expert and award winning Garden Designer Juliet Sargeant. Her show gardens have taken top awards for the past nearly ten years at both Hampton Court and Chelsea Flower Show. Her book: Start with Soil, Simple Steps to a Thriving Garden publishes this May! That's right here, next week. Listen in!
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Thinking out loud this week...
Hey, it's Jennifer-
I love how John Stempien was not a gardener per se until he met the legacy of Liberty Hyde Bailey. And I especially love how Liberty Hyde Bailey, Jr., from beyond this lifetime, is still growing new gardeners—thoughtful, plant, earth, and people-tending gardeners. I hope my legacy - all of our legacies - does a tiny fraction of that. That is— in my opinion— holy, holy work.
In our Public Growing Announcements for this week, first up:
The CP team is relaunching our View From Here monthly newsletter starting on April 27th—with this month’s new moon. Make sure you are subscribed
to the mailing list (which you can do HERE) because you definitely want to connect more regularly with all things CP, and most especially because we know you want to complete the survey about your most longed for Cultivating Place branded objects: gardening ball caps, mugs, seed storage packets, tote bags, t-shirts, tea towels or stickers? We want to know how you’d like to publicly demonstrate your love of CP and get to see the lovely CP logo in your everyday garden life.
In other PGAs this week:
Starting April 17th, the Denver Botanic Garden kicks off a three-part Thursday evening an-in-depth, virtual and hybrid online learning experience for those looking to grow in the Front Range. Regardless of your location, transportation, or time constraints, they can prepare you for your best growing season yet with a better understanding of Colorado's ecology and how to have a successful garden with stunning native plants despite Colorado's short growing season and extreme weather. Whether you are looking to break into the world of horticulture or want a stunning backyard, DBG has something for you.
Tuesday April 22nd in Atlanta, Horticulturist and research historian, Abra Lee, is speaking on her work known as Conquer the Soil – documenting and sharing the untold stories of Black Garden history and our country’s gardeners, farmers, and grower, That’s from 6 – 7:30 pm at the Auburn Avenue Research Library.
April is California Native Plant Month and if you don’t follow The California Native Plant Society on line or on Instagram you will love the 30 days of Native plants they have going this month. You will love them and you will learn them. A good combo.
May 1: To kick off May and National Gardening Month,
The Andalusia Garden Symposium brings together garden enthusiasts from near and far to hear from some of the most influential and innovative voices in the global gardening community. This year, the full event will be held on the beautiful grounds of Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum in Pennsylvania and features speakers Kelly Norris, Jo Thompson, Asa Gregers, Charlotte Harris
On May 4th The Garden Conservancy and The Smithsonian' Museum of African American History in DC partner for the world premier of the GC's newest film- Earth, I Thank You: Ann Spencer Documentary Premier!
Free, in person and open to the public
Ann Spencer was one of the great American Gardeners. Her sanctuary in Virginia was truly beautiful but the cultural significant of her work is unparalleled. The garden provided rest and respite to countless Black freedom fighters in the Jim Crow South from Langston Hughes to W.E.B. Du Bois. She provides a wonderful model for us to think about gardens now. Follow the Garden Conservancy for updated info and when the film will be more widely available.
On May 7 in Tarrytown NY Perfect Earth is hosting another full day symposium held in person and open to the public, featuring ecological gardener Rebecca MacMackin on Managing Invasives - Mindful Ecological Approaches new approaches to managing plants that cause ecological damage, alongside researchers and practitioners who will teach on: managing Mugwort, woody plants, and asses how nurseries promote the spread of harmful plants.
Finally, on May 30th, it is my great honor to have been invited to be the graduation speaker for this year’s all female cohort of the Longwood Fellows Program – a year long residency and leadership accelerator focused on advancing the skills and knowledge of public garden professionals.
Fellows live and learn together through a combination of coursework and practical experiences. T
hey study with experts in hot topics such as nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, master site planning, board relations and governance, nonprofit finance, and more—all tailored to the needs of public garden professionals.
They apply their knowledge through a departmental immersion in one of Longwood’s core areas, a two-month externship at a partner garden, and a cohort project that is typically presented at the American Public Gardens Association annual conference.
I want to offer these good growing humans something precious and meaningful – I want them to know how needed they are in this world.
If you were me – what advice would you offer?
What blessings would you bestow on them? I would love to hear your thoughts – if you’re called to share please send me an email: cultivatingplace@gmail.com.
Happy End of April Gardeners – Big G Gardeners. Enjoy this sacred spring growth spurt.
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