The Reevesland Learning Center, a 501c(3) nonprofit, was established in 2011, inspired by the legacy of Nelson Reeves and his family who operated the last dairy farm in Arlington County.   Mr. Reeves ended the diary operation in 1955, but he continued to plant a large iconic vegetable garden on his property until near the time of his death in 2000,when he was a few weeks short of his one hundredth birthday.  His farmhouse and two-plus acre property was purchased by Arlington County in 2001.

 

Although local history usually refers to Nelson Reeves as a dairy farmer, he was much more than that.  He was a beloved neighbor and teacher, using his sumptuous vegetable garden as an outdoor classroom where he shared his knowledge about agriculture and growing food with children and adults.   The leaders of The Reevesland Learning Center, inspired by Nelson Reeves legacy, adopted a motto that captures his spirit and values:  "Growing Food, Knowledge & Community."

                      

The founding president of The Reevesland Learning Center is Joan Horwitt, a former Washington Post restaurant reviewer, high-school Spanish teacher and civic leader.  Her work has been recognized by Arlington County http://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlington-county-board-names-2011-232497/, in Washington Post news stories and in other publications. The Reevesland Learning Center is governed by a ten-member board of volunteer directors who are Arlington County residents.

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