Our Ancient Rhubarb Patch

 It lay hidden under entangling briars, tree limbs, and brush. We moved here in 2007 but did not discover that we had a nice rhubarb patch on our land until Kristin and I did a proper survey of the overgrown Western border of our property in 2020. 

I have called this find an “Ancient Rhubarb Patch” because its origin must be a garden associated with a time, long ago, when these fields were occupied by now forgotten farmers. The only hard evidence that this land was inhabited and heavily used are a few deep ruts in the open field and a long roadway depression leading straight down towards Penobscott Bay. No tell-tale stonework foundations have ever been found. However, rhubarb is a tough, persistent plant that never gives up its position in the earth. It survived to tell its story.

For completeness, I should mention another very small rhubarb patch that touches the Eastern side of our cottage. That concrete wall dates from 2000 when Larry Dean poured a new foundation for the original farmhouse that stood on this land and physically moved that structure from the spot where the new house now stands. The little rhubarb patch probably was in their garden. Over the years, we have enjoyed many rhubarb pies from this serendipitous gift.

Speaking of pies, here is a photo of Nonni’s recipe for rhubarb pie. 

We had a small rhubarb patch at our New Canaan home and this pie has had a long history as a proud pleaser. The green card relates to making her piecrust. You can see the wear-and-tear on the orange card holding the pie recipe itself.

Robert Barnes - 5 August 2021