Herbs and Spices: Fresh or Dried? Domestic or Imported?

Number of Herbs and Spices at Any Given Point

1. Lack of Mentioning of Herbs and Spices in Chadds Inventories
2. Tea Warr Mentioned in Elizabeth Chadds's Will (Implied Use of Herbs and Spices in Tea)
3. Household Goods and Kitchen Furniture Mentioned in John Chadds Inventory (Spice or Herb Box?)

Productivity of Herbs and Spices

1. Influenced by When They were Grown by the People Who Grew Them
2. Lack of Clear Indication of How Much Herbs and Spices the Chadds Family Grew

External Factors

1. Weather
1. Climate Determining Whether or not Herbs would be Available Fresh or Dried and When Imported Spices would be Available
2. Influence of Natural Disasters: August 11, 1765: Flooding Destroying Cellers (Elizabeth Drinker Diary p121)
2. Animals
1. Chickens Protecting Gardens from Pests
2. Animals Destroying Gardens; Lack of Conclusive Evidence on Damages to the Chadds House
3. War Losses: Battle of Brandywine
1. "Other Garden Stuff" Mentioned in Damages
2. Lack of Clear Indication of Herbs and Spices in the Damage Report
3. Survivability versus Pleasure in Taking of Food Items

Time of Year

1. Varied Times throughout the Year in which Spices are Available Fresh
2. Finite Supply of Dried Herbs throughout the Year
3. Time of Year Affecting when Imported Spices can be Purchased

Other Uses for Herbs and Spices

1. Use of Herbs and Spices for Medicinal Purposes (Example from Elizabeth Drinker Diary)
2. What Dishes the Herbs and Spices were Used For

Domestic versus Imported

1. Increase the Length of Time Required to Gain Access to the Herbs and Spices
2. What Herbs and Spices are Available for Purchase at Any Given Time

Sources: The Diary of Elizabeth Drinker p121; Chadds Ford Historical Society's Guide Training Manual p72-75, A-32-A34; The Pennsylvania Housewife p14-15;"Here a Chick, There a Chick, Everywhere a Chick, Chick."; and Pennsylvania Agriculture and Country Life p229 (See Bibliography)