Grass Roots Initiative exhibit and much more

Geoff Rinehart is a turfgrass specialist and works for the National Turfgrass Federation. His primary responsibility is coordinating the Grass Roots Initiative. Rinehart can be reached at geoffrey.rinehart@ars.usda.gov for more information.

Q: What is the Grass Roots Initiative?

The Grass Roots Initiative is a turfgrass industry effort coordinated by the National Turfgrass Federation that seeks to promote the environmental, recreational, economic and aesthetic benefits of turfgrass.

Currently, there are four programs in place to meet the goal of the Grass Roots Initiative. The first was the creation of an exhibit at the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. to educate the public about the benefits and value of turfgrass to society. This exhibit opened in October.

The second program is a website that complements the exhibits and provides much more detailed information about the exhibit displays. The website can be found here.

Educational events are the third program. We have presented lawn care workshops directed to homeowners. We plan to also offer professional and academic symposia and equipment field days.

The fourth program is the National Greenscape Corridor and encompasses the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery and the National Arboretum. The goal of this program is to place signage on each site to explain the benefits and functions of the turfgrass stand at each site.

Q: Describe the Grass Roots exhibit at the National Arboretum.

There are 12 displays at the Grass Roots exhibit; each display targets one or more aspects of the turfgrass industry. The displays are: 1) a scale model of a golf hole complete with green, tee, fairway, rough, sand bunker and water hazard; 2) two sports fields; one natural grass and one artificial turf; 3) a collection of lawn grass species; 4) a rain garden; 5) the science of turf with a focus on breeding poverty oat grass; 6) a fertilizer demonstration; 7) an irrigation demonstration; 8) a history of lawns; 9) illustration and information about grass structure and growth; 10) an agronomic crop collection featuring grasses that are grown for food, feed and fiber to help visitors make the connection that grasses have many uses; 11) a pest management kiosk; and 12) ornamental grass collections throughout the space that educate visitors on the use of ornamental grasses in the landscape.

There are signs that accompany each display and QR codes that a visitor can scan to download more in-depth information on the displays.

Q: How was this project funded?

The vast majority of funds have come from the turf industry. Private industry, associations, foundations and individuals in the turf industry have contributed to the National Turfgrass Federation, which oversees the Grass Roots Initiative.

The National Arboretum has provided the space for the exhibit and labor to help with exhibit installation.

Q: Where do visitors go to see the project?

The National Arboretum is located three miles northeast of the Capitol building at 3501 New York Avenue NE in Washington D.C.

It’s a peaceful oasis from the hectic life in Washington D.C. and has a tremendous collection of plants in addition to the Grass Roots exhibit.