Grass Roots Initiative

How much do you like grass? Well, if you like it a lot, entering into the "Grass Roots" exhibit, opening October 16th at the U.S. Arboretum in Washington DC, could be likened to entering a wonderland of grass. If grass brings up bad memories of countless hours spent mowing your five acre lawn with a push mower when you were nine years old than you may want to avoid this attraction when you make a visit to the U.S. Arboretum. One thing I can guarantee however, is that whether you really like grass or hate its' guts, this new exhibit will prove to be extremely educational and interesting to all.

The Grass Roots exhibit hosted at the arboretum is part of a larger scale project called the "Grass Roots Initiative" which is a collaborative effort by U.S. Arboretum (run by the USDA Agricultural Research Service) and the National Turfgrass Federation (NTF). The purpose of this initiative is to increase the awareness of the importance of turfgrass to the environment and our society, demonstrate new technologies that improve maintenance practices, address and update national turfgrass research priorities, and have an impact on policymaking by bringing policymakers together on the topic of turfgrass. For the average homeowner, the Grass Roots exhibit is sure to be a very comprehensive and interactive experience with turfgrass. It should be very practical, to the point where information learned at the exhibit can be taken back home and used in the home lawn.

The 10 exhibits that will be on display at the U.S Arboretum include:

•  A golf display featuring a USGA green, a tee, and a fairway
•  A sports field featuring a comparison of natural grass and artificial surface
•  A lawn display featuring seven species of warm-season turf and six species of cool-season turf
•  A Kentucky blue-grass mowing “demonstration” area and information about proper mowing techniques
•  A “History of the Lawn” walk
•  A rain garden with grasses demonstrating grasses’ ability to absorb water and filter nutrients
•  A display featuring USDA research on poverty oat grass (Danthonia spicata)
•  A fertilizer display
•  An irrigation element showing common components of irrigation systems and an interactive   irrigation pressure demonstration
• And agricultural grass crop displays which will include a display of how perennial ryegrass is grown for seed production

 In addition to the physical exhibits, the initiative will potentially include a symposium on turfgrass sustainability and resource efficiency, numerous workshops, public policy forums, and demonstrations as well as updating scientifically vetted content on its website.

If I have a chance to visit this exhibit during its duration I will not pass it up. I'm sure that discussions and debates will be stimulated as to whether you agree or disagree with the information provided by this initiative which I believe is healthy. As a student studying turfgrass culture it is important to be aware of the current events happening in the industry such as the Grass Roots Initiative. To those who are homeowners seeking to manage their lawns with excellence, it is also good to know about these opportunities for fun and interactive education!


Sources:
The Grass Root Initiative: A Science-Based Focus on Turgrass
Grass Roots Main Webpage
Grass Roots Initiative Launched at the National Arboretum