After the war, Ellen Call Long took more to traveling and promoting Florida's interests at home and abroad. As a way of supporting herself and her family, she started silkworm cultivation on The Grove property, at first using the first floor of the main house before building a separate cottage for this purpose. She was a leading member of the Women's Silk Culture Association and published a well-received treatise on silk cultivation and emerged as a leading expert on the subject in the state of Florida. During the 1885 gubernatorial inauguration of Edward A. Perry, a large American flag made from silk grown at The Grove was presented. As the growth of mulberry trees were crucial for silk manufacturing, Ellen also became involved in forestry. She was one of the first people in Florida to advocate for controlled burning as a form of forest management.