JOHN FORTI
Executive Director

John Forti is a nationally recognized lecturer, garden historian, ethnobotanist and garden writer. He comes to us from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, the oldest horticultural society in the nation, where he was the Director of Horticulture. Before taking on this new position, he was the Curator/Director of Historic Landscapes at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, NH. He previously served as the Director of Horticulture at Plimoth Plantation Museum where the gardens and seed program he created brought international attention to the preservation of Pilgrim and Wampanoag heirloom crops.
John co-founded and served as the board chair for Slow Food Seacoast. He serves on the bio-diversity committee for Slow Food USA and is a governor for Slow Food in New England. He also served as chair of the board for the Herb Society of America’s New England Unit, and won the 2014 Award for Excellence in Horticulture from the national office. He was also recently granted the award for “Civic Improvement through Gardens” from the Garden Club of America.
Thousands on Facebook follow his posts where he blogs as The Heirloom Gardener - John Forti.
John co-founded and served as the board chair for Slow Food Seacoast. He serves on the bio-diversity committee for Slow Food USA and is a governor for Slow Food in New England. He also served as chair of the board for the Herb Society of America’s New England Unit, and won the 2014 Award for Excellence in Horticulture from the national office. He was also recently granted the award for “Civic Improvement through Gardens” from the Garden Club of America.
Thousands on Facebook follow his posts where he blogs as The Heirloom Gardener - John Forti.