Wendelin Grimm Farmstead
Encyclopedia
The Wendelin Grimm Farmstead is a farm near Victoria, Minnesota
listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The farm is located within the boundaries of Carver Park Reserve.
The owners of the farm, Wendelin and Julianna Grimm
, immigrated from Germany
and settled in Carver County, Minnesota
in 1859. Wendelin Grimm cleared a section of land, which was part of the Big Woods
, and established his farm using native farming methods from Germany. He practiced seed saving
and brought a box of seeds named "everlasting clover", which was actually alfalfa
. Over the next 15 years, he selected the seeds of the alfalfa plants which survived the harsh Minnesota winters
. The result of this process was the first truly winter-hardy alfalfa in North America.
By 1890, Carver County had more than 1000 acres (404.7 ha) of alfalfa under cultivation. Grimm convinced some of his neighbors to use his seed, and after a number of severe winters around 1895 when all the common alfalfa died, his alfalfa crop started to attract more attention. In 1900, two professors from the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, Willet M. Hays
and Andrew Boss, visited his farm and were impressed by the thriving crop. A few years later, Hays, who had become the assistant United States Secretary of Agriculture
, named the variety "Grimm" alfalfa. Hays recommended the continuing improvement of alfalfa through breeding efforts through the United States Department of Agriculture
, and Grimm alfalfa provided the germplasm
that provided winter hardiness to new cultivar
s.
Grimm alfalfa became a very important crop, and is now the source of all modern varieties of alfalfa grown on 25000000 acres (10,117,150 ha) of the United States
(an area only slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Kentucky
), with a value of $10 billion annually. University of Minnesota
agronomy
professor Lawrence Elling called Grimm alfalfa the most important crop development in North America until the invention of hybrid corn
.
Hennepin County Park Reserve District (now Three Rivers Park District
) acquired the farm property in 1962 when Carver Park Reserve was established, and the farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Since the land was no longer a working farm, the farmhouse was in a process of decay, and trees had begun to grow in the former pastureland. In 1993, the Minnesota Historical Society
noticed that the state was losing historic agricultural sites, and it identified the Grimm farm as a high priority for stabilization and preservation. The Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office and the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources conducted a reuse study and soon began emergency stabilization of the farmhouse. This involved vandalproofing the windows and doors, replacing the roof, and rehabilitating the foundation. In 1998-99, the interior restoration began, and was completed in 2001. On October 6, 2001, the completion was celebrated with an open house.
Located in Carter Park Reserve, the site is now known as Grimm Farm Historic Site and is open to the public during education and special programs.
Victoria, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,025 people, 1,367 households, and 1,141 families residing in the city. The population density was 575.4 people per square mile . There were 1,410 housing units at an average density of 201.6 per square mile...
listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The farm is located within the boundaries of Carver Park Reserve.
The owners of the farm, Wendelin and Julianna Grimm
Wendelin Grimm
Wendelin Grimm was an American farmer. Grimm is best known for his innovative seed-saving techniques that resulted in North America's first winter-hardy alfalfa.-Personal life:...
, immigrated from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and settled in Carver County, Minnesota
Carver County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 70,205 people, 24,356 households, and 18,778 families residing in the county. The population density was 197 people per square mile . There were 24,883 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
in 1859. Wendelin Grimm cleared a section of land, which was part of the Big Woods
Big Woods
Big Woods refers to a type of temperate hardwood forest ecoregion found in south-central Minnesota. "Big Woods" is a direct translation of the name given to the region by French explorers: Grand Bois.-Trees:...
, and established his farm using native farming methods from Germany. He practiced seed saving
Seed saving
In agriculture and gardening, seed saving is the practice of saving seeds or other reproductive material from open-pollinated vegetables, grain, herbs, and flowers for use from year to year for annuals and nuts, tree fruits, and berries for perennials and trees...
and brought a box of seeds named "everlasting clover", which was actually alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
. Over the next 15 years, he selected the seeds of the alfalfa plants which survived the harsh Minnesota winters
Climate of Minnesota
The climate of Minnesota is typical of a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. Minnesota's location in the Upper Midwest allows it to experience some of the widest variety of weather in the United States, with each of the four seasons having its own distinct characteristics...
. The result of this process was the first truly winter-hardy alfalfa in North America.
By 1890, Carver County had more than 1000 acres (404.7 ha) of alfalfa under cultivation. Grimm convinced some of his neighbors to use his seed, and after a number of severe winters around 1895 when all the common alfalfa died, his alfalfa crop started to attract more attention. In 1900, two professors from the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, Willet M. Hays
Willet M. Hays
Willet Martin Hays was an American plant breeder and U. S. Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.-Education:Hays was born 1859 on a farm near Eldora, Iowa. He graduated from Drake University in 1885 and obtained a master's degree in agriculture from the Iowa State College at Ames...
and Andrew Boss, visited his farm and were impressed by the thriving crop. A few years later, Hays, who had become the assistant United States Secretary of Agriculture
United States Secretary of Agriculture
The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
, named the variety "Grimm" alfalfa. Hays recommended the continuing improvement of alfalfa through breeding efforts through the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
, and Grimm alfalfa provided the germplasm
Germplasm
A germplasm is a collection of genetic resources for an organism. For plants, the germplasm may be stored as a seed collection or, for trees, in a nursery.-See also:*Germ plasm, the germ cell determining zone...
that provided winter hardiness to new cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s.
Grimm alfalfa became a very important crop, and is now the source of all modern varieties of alfalfa grown on 25000000 acres (10,117,150 ha) of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(an area only slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
), with a value of $10 billion annually. University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
agronomy
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
professor Lawrence Elling called Grimm alfalfa the most important crop development in North America until the invention of hybrid corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
.
Hennepin County Park Reserve District (now Three Rivers Park District
Three Rivers Park District
Three Rivers Park District is a "special park district" serving the suburban areas of the Twin Cities metro including suburban Hennepin, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Ramsey counties...
) acquired the farm property in 1962 when Carver Park Reserve was established, and the farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Since the land was no longer a working farm, the farmhouse was in a process of decay, and trees had begun to grow in the former pastureland. In 1993, the Minnesota Historical Society
Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a private, non-profit educational and cultural institution dedicated to preserving the history of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was founded by the territorial legislature in 1849, almost a decade before statehood. The Society is named in the Minnesota...
noticed that the state was losing historic agricultural sites, and it identified the Grimm farm as a high priority for stabilization and preservation. The Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office and the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources conducted a reuse study and soon began emergency stabilization of the farmhouse. This involved vandalproofing the windows and doors, replacing the roof, and rehabilitating the foundation. In 1998-99, the interior restoration began, and was completed in 2001. On October 6, 2001, the completion was celebrated with an open house.
Located in Carter Park Reserve, the site is now known as Grimm Farm Historic Site and is open to the public during education and special programs.