Cultivation of Interesting Plants of a Primarily Culinary Nature
Listed here are mostly native herbs and plants known more for culinary uses, but some may have medicinal value as well. In some cases I gathered seed or plants from the wild, some seed was purchased and some were gifts.

American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) - Contrary to popular belief, they aren't all gone.  Hugh Heclo collected seeds of survivors, cultavated them and gave me one eight years ago.  It produced its first chestnut this year, fall 2008.  Yep... chestnut, not chestnuts.  But you gotta start somewhere. In2009, the county botanist said this was a Chinese chestnut.  Maybe so, but the leaves don't look like Chinese chestnut.

Bergamot aka Oswego tea, bee balm (Monarda didyma) - Some started outside in late winter and some in the refrigerator in sand in 2007.  Both worked but germination was much better in the refrigerator due to dry conditions locally. Making tea in 2008 and 2009.

Jerusalem artichoke - I planted pieces of root from some purchased for consumption, spring and summer, 2009.  The flowers are really pretty.

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) - Trees growing fine even though they would probably prefer being wetter.  Might be many years before they produce fruit, but I like native trees in my yard.

Ramps aka wild leeks (Allium tricoccum) - Produced seeds in 2007, but none germinated in 2008. Two summer droughts in a row may put stress on them. I believe these plants grow just fine at lower altitudes, but I do live in the Potomac River drainage as do large patches of ramps in the Appalacians.

Spicebush (Lindera genus) - My plant died way back in the 2007 drought.  It's barely hanging on in 2008, don't know it it will survive to 2009. It did not.