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The urban landscape is often dismissed as a disruption of ecology and devoid from the natural world, but in a society where our population is growing exponentially and technology is moving forward without regress, we must accept to a degree the permanence of man made architecture on our earth. Urban gardens have both combated and celebrated this marriage of industry and ecology for centuries, providing a platform where life and community celebrate one another. The gardens at Versailles stand as an archetype of such an intervention. Beyond implementing a park landscape as a means to unite the public, Versailles is also home to a hidden gem of agriculture. The Potager du roi, or ‘Kitchen Garden of the King’, was created for the tables of Louis XIV’s court by Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie.  Now under the direction of Antoine Jacobsohn, the garden is kept in the tradition as it was first conceived, producing fresh fruits and vegetables year round. Sheltered from harsh winter climates, the garden’s carefully plotted chambers create individual microclimates that promote out of season growth for even the most tropical and rare varieties of fruit. The Potager was and is as functional as it is social, still entertaining visitors of the grounds and their appetites alike.

In partnership with I.D.E.A.S. UrbanGreen project, high school participants in YouthBuild Louisville, Sierra Preston and LiQuiyion Mitchell were selected to make the ten plus hour flight to Versailles not just as tourists but ambassadors of community and sustainability.  Chosen for their aptitude, willingness to learn, and dedication to empowering their friends and peers, Preston and Mitchell took up residency in the Potager to learn the science and methodology behind the coveted kitchen garden. The teenagers hail from Smoketown, Kenntucky, a suburb settled on the outskirts of Louisville and home to some of the area’s most problematic housing projects. Upon their return, the teens will work closely with YouthBuild peers and faculty on implementing elements of Potager in the rejuvenation of Smoketown’s vacated lots and existing parks. It is the hope of many that this project will promote community cohesion through providing education opportunities for families and young adults, as well as the chance to live by the land while still inhabiting an urban landscape. The garden will also place an emphasis on public art, sustainability, and reaffirm the historical connection between Louis XVI and his name sake, Louisville.

If you would like to learn more about IDEAS UrbanGreen project at Versailles, you can view their blog here.