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This year the Quilt Gardens Tour℠ introduces its first official “agri-quilt” garden. The site of this pilot garden, Meadow Brook Farm, is a Civil War era farmstead located just outside the city limits of Goshen. Owner Kori Cripe recently opened her home and farm for public tours.
Planted in a “Grandmother’s Fan” pattern with soybeans, sunflowers, alfalfa, buckwheat, corn and red geraniums, this quilt garden introduces an exciting new element to this year’s tour that perfectly complements the rural heritage of Amish Country. It also marries well with its location, since the farmstead was once the site of Farm Betterment Club Fairs, huge community-wide celebrations that drew the Indiana governor, congressmen and judges to speak at the event.
It seems only natural to feature an “agri-quilt” garden on the tour: it also presents certain challenges that are not experienced in quilt gardens that use ornamental annuals and flowers. This mixed crop quilt garden contains plants that will grow in varying heights. There may be an issue with pattern consistency and view ability, and with shade created by the larger crops such as corn next to smaller plants in the garden. Crops also attract different insects than annuals and must be guarded against worms, grubs and bores. So do you use pesticide? If so what kind? And it must be factored in that crops’ needs are different than those of annuals– watering, feeding – especially during growing season.
Each of the plants in the “agri-quilt” garden will be in different stages of development during the Quilt Gardens Tour℠ viewing season. Even though the garden relies heavily on texture to convey the pattern, color plays a big role. As crops mature their color can change dramatically. So it will be interesting to observe the “look” of the garden throughout the season.
All the Quilt Gardens Tour℠ partners are eagerly looking forward to the introduction of an agricultural quilt garden to the mix, most of all Kori. She wants the garden to be a “home-grown” experience that’s fun and educational. And it will be an education – for all of us involved. We’re all up for the fun and challenges, and we’re just waiting to see “what crops up”!
We’d welcome your comments and suggestions for this “pilot agri-quilt” garden. Leave your comment below.
- Sonya Nash, Class of ’08 and Quilt Gardens Tour℠ Project Manager
The colorful ceramic crazy quilt, “Mystical Window”, created by Nappanee’s Northwood High School art class is now complete and ready to move to a new home. Students will dedicate their beautiful and touchable artwork to the Nappanee Public Library on April 30 during homeroom. Art teacher, Melinda Sharp, is proud of her students’ willingness to share their “labor of love” with the community. Although her classroom may seem a little colorless when the ceramic quilt is gone, it won’t be drab for long; she’s already brainstorming with students about next year’s project.
Featuring: Kaye England, Guest Speaker
This Show will have several special exhibits including:
- “Men of The Cloth” quilts made by men from this area
- Four Bed Turning stations – Guilds telling the history/story of Quilts their way
- Lisa Olinger – Guest Longarm Quilter
- Viewers Choice Awards – your opportunity to enter & vote for your favorite Quilts from the display of over 250 quilts.
There will be a vendor mall for your shopping convenience and a secured “quilt check area” for your Show & Tell items.
Other highlights of the Gathering include the Show Pins available to commemorate your visit, Ugly Fabric Contest, Block Swap, Charm Squares exchanges, Viewer’s Choice Award, door prizes & treasure bags. You will also have the opportunity to fellowship with quilters from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan.
Sonya Miller, official grower/2009 QGT annuals is sipping cinnamon tea & sorting the 80,000 seeds to be planted this year! We’re gearing up for this year’s Quilt Garden Tour! There are tons of fun events and activities planned.
You won’t want to miss the Plein-Air Paint Out, August 8 – 9. At this event artists from all over Indiana and surrounding states will set up their easels and capture the beauty of Amish Country’s Quilt Gardens on canvas and paper at this first-ever outdoor event. Completed works in oil, pastels and watercolor will be on display and available for purchase at Goshen’s Old Bag Factory after the event!
Whether you’ve been to Amish Country before or this is your first time, our all-new Official Quilt Gardens Tour SM is absolutely something you can’t miss! Each gigantic garden and super-sized mural site is conveniently located along the nationally recognized Heritage Trail and takes you to 23 not-to-be-missed stops, many at our most popular attractions.
You’ll find plenty of dining and lodging options and lots of places to shop along way. Make a stay of it at one of our cozy country inns or hotels with names you know and trust! Our quilt-inspired overnight packages offer competitive rates (from just $54.99), and welcoming amenities!
Quilt murals are going up. Vivid splashes of color can be seen adorning the sides of buildings all over the county. Wow, the colors really pop! Look up and catch the excitement! Here’s the schedule of mural installations: Elkhart County CVB, Goshen and Middlebury are complete; May 12-17; Bristol and Nappanee; and May 19-23 Wakarusa and downtown Elkhart.
This year the Quilt Gardens Tour℠ introduces its first official “agri-quilt” garden. The site of this pilot garden, Meadow Brook Farm, is a Civil War era farmstead located just outside the city limits of Goshen. Owner Kori Cripe recently opened her home and farm for public tours.
The colorful ceramic crazy quilt, “Mystical Window”, created by Nappanee’s Northwood High School art class is now complete and ready to move to a new home. Students will dedicate their beautiful and touchable artwork to the Nappanee Public Library on April 30 during homeroom. Art teacher, Melinda Sharp, is proud of her students’ willingness to share their “labor of love” with the community. Although her classroom may seem a little colorless when the ceramic quilt is gone, it won’t be drab for long; she’s already brainstorming with students about next year’s project.
Theme: “If Quilts Could Talk”
