Enfield Shaker Museum Gardens

Agriculture was at the heart of life in the historic Enfield Shaker community, shaping both daily work and the community’s economy. One of the Shakers’ most successful enterprises was their garden seed business. They cultivated and gathered vegetable, herb, and flower seeds, carefully packaged them in small paper envelopes, and sold them throughout the country. While the Shakers were not the first seed merchants in America, they were the first to package and market seeds in small quantities for retail sale.

The Enfield Shakers were also known for producing herbal remedies and patent medicines using plants grown in their gardens and sustainably gathered from the surrounding landscape. Their knowledge of medicinal plants became an important part of the community’s agricultural legacy.

Today, the Enfield Shaker Museum continues that tradition by cultivating gardens that celebrate Shaker history, sustainable agriculture, and the beauty and usefulness of plants. Whether you’re interested in herbs, history, gardening, or simply enjoying a peaceful walk, our gardens offer something for everyone.

Explore Our Gardens

Herb Garden

Step into our 18-bed demonstration Herb Garden, featuring more than 130 species of medicinal, culinary, aromatic, dye, and everlasting plants. Inspired by the herbs once grown by the Enfield Shakers, the garden showcases the rich traditions of herbal medicine, food, crafts, and fragrance while serving as an outdoor classroom for visitors of all ages.

Community Garden

Our Community Garden provides local residents with the opportunity to grow their own food in an organically managed shared garden. The garden also includes our Giving Garden, where volunteers grow fresh produce that is donated to local food pantries.

Children’s Garden

Designed for young explorers, the Children’s Garden encourages curiosity through hands-on discovery. Interactive sensory and pollinator gardens invite children to touch, smell, observe, and learn about the fascinating world of plants and pollinators.

Heirloom Fruit

Discover the fruits that have nourished generations. Our heirloom fruit plantings preserve historic varieties that reflect New England’s agricultural heritage while demonstrating the diversity, resilience, and flavor of traditional orchard and berry crops.