Grassmere Historic Farm at the Nashville Zoo
Approximately 20 acres are dedicated to the Grassmere Historic Farm Exhibit, complete with barn and farm animals.
Behind the 1800 brick mansion, Davidson County Master Gardeners are in their ninth year of restoration of the gardens. Five generations of the same family lived and tilled the soil on the 200 acres in south Nashville that is now of 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. Display plantings of cotton and tobacco are also included.
This project uses companion planting methods of planting, 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.
The Grassmere Historic Farm and Gardens restoration is entering its twelfth year as a major project of the Master Gardeners of Davison County. During the past year alone, over 3,000 volunteer hours were contributed to this endeavor with added assistance from Master Gardeners 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.
Master Gardener interpreters have the task of insuring that visitors have some understanding of why the Gardens appear the way they do and how the grounds, former residents and structures interact. It is important for visitors to recognize that the gardens as interpreted [1850-1880] were in fact the main source of food for the families residing at Grassmere.
Throughout the years more and more visitors watch and question the whys, why nots and what fors as crops are planted and picked throughout the seasons. This interest from many of the regular/repeat visitors has impressed upon the MGs that there is an opportunity to share even more knowledge of gardening.
Starting on Saturday morning March 7th from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. certified leaders of this project will meet with Zoo visitors at the front garden path and discuss the topics needed to consider in growing a garden. The session will be about ten minutes followed with questions and answers along with interpretation of activities going on in the Gardens as the crops are being started for the year. Each Saturday’s topic for March and April have been chosen to provide a general knowledge of just how to begin gardening and have some vegetables to eat this year. Hand-outs, soil sample kits, etc. will be provided so there will not be a lot of note taking to be done. 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 Master Gardeners and Interns are found 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 20,000 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 volunteers share the vegetables and extras are welcomed by the Zoo’s animal commissary. Elephants love okra, even the stalks, turnips and sweet potato vines.
"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.