From Slavery to Freedom Garden

From Slavery to Freedom Garden. . , In order to promote understanding of the African Diaspora, the Heinz History Center and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy have collaborated to create this Slavery to Freedom Garden. The garden honors authentic historical accounts and highlights African-American connections to the natural world and influence on it., From 1501 to the 1880s, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade transported over 440,000 people from Africa to North America. But more than just people came over on the ships during the slave trade. The enslaved brought a wealth of knowledge and skills, including metal work, agriculture, and textiles., Coming from Africa to the United States, the enslaved were completely unfamiliar with their new environment. Gradually the enslaved familiarized themselves with the land and this knowledge with essential to a successful journey from slavery to freedom. The freedom seekers used this knowledge as they crossed the Cumberland, Allegheny, and Blue Ridge Mountains. They had to avoid slave hunters, find food and shelter, and face harsh climate and terrain., They hunted and cooked at night so they would not be seen. They used wild plants that they found for food as well as medicine, which they used to create their own remedies for various ailments. They mostly ate greens, roots, and small game while they were traveling. Many of the edible plants can be found in this garden, as well as throughout the rest of Frick Park., Plants Tell a Story , A landscape can tell us as much about ourselves as it does nature. How people have used plants, both wild and cultivated, opens a window to understand our roots., The black gum tree, which you can see here as a double row of trees between the gate houses and the fountain, provided a durable but flexible wood. Found growing in swamps and floodplains with saturated soils, these trees form a cork-like bark. Used to make anything from wheels to dishes, the wood was ideal for shoes to prevent foot disease., Jack-in-the-pulpit is another woodland wildflower. It was used to treat inflammation in cases of pertussis, asthma, and sore throats. Powder from the root was mixed with honey or syrup and applied to the tongue. The starch of the plant could be added to bread to improve nourishment., Dandelion, although considered a weed today, had many uses for freedom seekers. The leaves were eaten in salads or as herbs, and the roots were used medicinally to treat numerous ailments ranging from jaundice to hepatitis. Dandelion was typically available in the spring and summer months., Raspberry, a greatly appreciated fruit eaten today, is commonly recognized by its purple stem, thorns, and red or black fruit. However freedom seekers used this fruit for more than just food. During the Civil War, raspberries and blackberries were combined to create a drink to rid infections that caused diarrhea and common illnesses at the time.