Grassmere Historic Farm at the Nashville Zoo
Grassmere Historic Gardens,
Winner of the
Search for Excellence Award!
Approximately 20 acres are dedicated to the Grassmere Historic Farm Exhibit, complete with barn and farm animals. Five generations of the same family lived and tilled the soil on the 200 acres in south Nashville.
Behind the 1800 brick mansion, Davidson County Master Gardeners (MGs) are in their 14th year of restoration of the gardens, that is now on the three terraces of heirloom flowers, vegetables, antique fruit trees and grapes. This is in addition to several large iris beds, and gardens in the front and around the mansion, a rose garden and a kitchen herb garden to the rear of the summer kitchen. An entire section contains vegetables, flowers and herbs used for medicinal purposes. A display planting of cotton is also included.
This project uses companion planting methods of planting and composting with no chemicals. A complete listing of heirloom plants grown on this project may be viewed at http://www.nashvillezoo.org/visitor_home_heirloom.asp. During the past year alone, over 3,500 volunteer hours were contributed to this endeavor with added assistance from MGs from surrounding counties. Boys Scouts seeking Eagle and merit badges, and Girl Scouts working toward Silver and Golden Girl awards have been active participants throughout the years.
It is important for visitors to recognize that the site interpretation [1850-1880], show the design of the gardens as used by the former residents to provide the main source of food and medicine for the families residing at Grassmere.
The gardens provide the MGs an opportunity to share even more knowledge of gardening. Throughout the years more and more repeat visitors watch and question the "why's, why not's and what for's" as crops are planted and picked throughout the seasons.
Classes in the Gardens
Starting on the first Saturday morning in March from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. certified leaders of this project will meet with Zoo visitors in the gardens and discuss the topics needed to consider in starting and growing a garden. The sessions will be about twenty minutes followed with questions and answers along with interpretation of activities going on in the Gardens. Hand-outs, soil sample kits, etc. will be provided. All Zoo visitors and guests are welcome. There is no charge for these talks. It is just another way Master Gardeners share their love of gardening with others.
Three days each week from 7 a.m. until noon MGs and Interns work in the Gardens. During the late fall and winter months, they build trellis, fences, etc. MGs interpret this project with the daily visitors and special tours scheduled by the Zoo. To date, over 25,000 volunteer hours have been spent in the research and restoration of the gardens to the 1850 - 1880s. This is one of the most labor-intensive projects of Davidson County Master Gardeners and one of the most rewarding. The MGs reap the benefit of the produce and extras are welcomed by the Zoo's animal commissary.
Harvest Days is an annual celebration held the last weekend in September. This is the 9th year of the festival. Master Gardeners in costume interpret gardening and harvest times to thousands of family visitors who participate in many of the traditional gardening tasks performed on a working farm of the 1800s.