Tilled by Hand, Grown with Heart: The Garden of Abram Todd

Abram Todd: A Gardener’s Touch on the American Frontier

Abraham Todd brought with him the skills of a trained English gardener when he settled in America, and those talents soon transformed his land into one of the most admired farms in the area. West of his home, he planted a flourishing orchard filled with apple, peach, and pear trees, alongside rows of currant bushes, strawberries, gooseberries, and raspberries. He grew hardy vegetables like cabbage, carrots, onions, and potatoes—staples for pioneer survival—as well as herbs and flowering plants that added color and fragrance to his garden beds.

In the early days, he even cultivated sugar cane—a rarity in this region—and would hire laborers from American Fork to help press the stalks and boil them down into sweet, golden sorghum syrup. His land reflected not only productivity but beauty, with shade trees, grapevines, and carefully tended pathways winding through the greenery. The Todd farm was a testament to Abraham’s deep knowledge of horticulture and his lifelong love for growing and nurturing the earth. His garden wasn’t just a food source—it was a place of peace, purpose, and pride.