The groundbreaking for the Grass Roots turf exhibit project is scheduled for Friday, November 15 from 10 am. Dr. Frank Rossi from Cornell University will be the featured speaker.

Grass Roots turf exhibit to break ground next month in Washington, DC

The groundbreaking for the Grass Roots turf exhibit project is scheduled for Friday, November 15th from 10 AM – 1 PM. Dr. Frank Rossi from Cornell University will be the featured speaker.


What is Grass Roots?


Grass Roots is a four-year Initiative that focuses on turf – the uses of turf, the management of turf, the benefits of turf, the value of turf. Grass Roots will be developed, organized and managed by the U.S. National Arboretum.


What is the National Arboretum?


The U.S. National Arboretum is a 446 acre research and education facility in NE Washington, DC, two miles from the U.S. Capitol. The Arboretum is a part of the Agricultural Research Service, the in-house research arm of USDA. 500,000 people visit the Arboretum annually.


Why is the National Arboretum interested in turf?


Besides informing the public and generating interest, the National Arboretum wants to demonstrate the value of its research, and science in general to the public. In addition, turfgrasses and turf management are often presented as evil and harmful to society and the environment. The National Arboretum intends to interject scientific based information into the discussion concerning turfgrass and its use in the landscape.


What are the components of Grass Roots?


Grass Roots consists of the following five components:


 


An outdoor interactive exhibit


 


Extensive information on the web provide more detailed information to complement the outdoor exhibit


 


Workshops, product demonstrations and symposia


 


The development of the National Greenscape Corridor, a cooperative effort linking the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery and the National Arboretum


 


A tabletop book of ‘Personal Grass Roots’ stories, i.e. stories from many well-known persons on their early childhood experience with lawn mowing or grounds keeping and how this shaped their future


Read more here