River Farm

Congratulations to Save River Farm on their Merit Award in the Public and Non-Profit Projects Category for their for their conservation and advocacy efforts at River Farm in Alexandria, VA.

River Farm’s connections and influence on the practices of agriculture, horticulture, garden design and landscape architecture are historic.

In 1973 River Farm became the home of the American Horticultural Society after being saved from a proposed sale to the Soviet Union for use as a retreat. In 2020 the property needed saving again from a possible sale and drastic change in program.

The Save River Farm team worked on two tracks – to protect the valuable historic and cultural resources associated with River Farm, and to ensure that public access to the gardens and open space will continue as envisioned by the original benefactor. Of course, to all of our benefit, these efforts to Save River Farm were successful.

This multi-year project, emphasizes the importance of the role of stewardship in protecting natural and historic/cultural resources and the important role Landscape Architecture and Historic Preservation play in this work.