Jefferson Farm & Gardens

The Jefferson Institute is developing a new educational farm on the southeast edge of Columbia, Missouri. Jefferson Farm & Gardens will provide information and inspiration on contemporary Midwest farming and gardening topics. Work on the farm and gardens is underway. The grounds are tentatively projected to open in late Summer 2008, followed by a grand opening in Spring 2009.

Learn more by visiting the Farm & Gardens website at www.jeffersonfarm.org.

Overview

Jefferson Farm & Gardens will help school children, families, farmers, landowners, and other visitors throughout the region understand the important role agriculture and horticulture play in their daily lives through interactive exhibits and classes on topics such as crop cultivation and use, land management strategies for protecting wildlife and water quality, energy conservation, and biofuels use. Exhibit kiosks and a library in the Visitor Education Complex will explore these and other topics, while farm tours and science education programs will utilize a year-round greenhouse, barnyard with farm animals, and a range of demonstration fields and gardens including:

• A Children's Garden of food & fiber plants;
• Demonstration fields of traditional and alternative Midwestern field crops;
• A fruit orchard with apple, pear, peach, cherry and other varieties;
• The Thomas Jefferson Gardens featuring economically diverse vegetables & grains;
• Demonstration areas with varieties of grapes and berries; and
• A wildflower meadow showcasing native plants.

Walking paths and special learning trails will wind through the farm to encourage visitors to exercise while they learn about agriculture and conservation. A 7-acre lake adjacent to the demonstration gardens and fields provides the opportunity to observe and learn about aquatic life and water quality.

Cultivating interest in agriculture and horticulture with young people will be one of the primary goals of Jefferson Farm & Gardens. A special emphasis on curriculum-based educational programs for K-12 school groups is planned. Elementary and high school science classes, FFA, 4-H clubs, Boy & Girl Scouts, and other diverse youth organizations will utilize the Farm for tours, activities, and special events. Other youth will be involved through summer camp and internship programs.

Jefferson Farm & Gardens will be open to the general public six days a week on a year-round basis, attracting many visitors through special events and festivals. Conservative estimates indicate that our education programs will reach 32,000 visitors and 10,000 Missouri schoolchildren in our first year, playing a crucial role in agricultural and science education in central Missouri.

Learn more

For more information, please visit the Farm & Gardens website at www.jeffersonfarm.org.

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