Nature Done Wright

Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs

April 20, 2014

John Burroughs and the Original Celery Farm

Like many, I am a huge fan of the naturalist John Burroughs.

So when I saw there was an article for sale about how John Burroughs started a celery farm — and a very famous one at that, Slabsides — I jumped at the chance.

The article is from a 1906 publication, "Country Life," written by Burroughs' son Julian. I got goosebumps when I looked at it.

Here's the opening:

"To my father came a man who had an option at three dollars an acre on a hundred acres of wild land.

"He proposed, since he did not have enough money, that my father loan him the balance and take twenty acres of rocky cliffs and swamp that he did not want as part payment.

"From such a chance offer came Slab Sides and the celery growing."