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Reevesland Learning Center

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Reevesland Learning Center

The Reevesland Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, established in 2011, inspired Mr.

The Reevesland Learning Center, a 501(c)(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. Reeves ended the dairy 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,just a few weeks short of his 100th 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.

08/30/2026

🎉 HAPPY 126TH BIRTHDAY, NELSON REEVES!
(1900–2000)

Yesterday, August 29th, we celebrated the birthday of Nelson Reeves. 🎂 In honor of Nelson, we’d love to share a little bit of the history behind Reevesland Learning Center for those who are new to our page:

Louise & Nelson Reeves were the last dairy farmers in Arlington, VA. Three generations of the Torreyson-Reeves family lived and farmed on the land now known as Boulevard Manor.

Louise and Nelson lived in the historic farmhouse at 400 N. Manchester Street in Arlington, which is now being lovingly renovated by Habitat for Humanity and L’Arche. Soon, we will “Welcome Home” four adults with physical and/or mental challenges. ❤️

Louise and Nelson were kind and generous neighbors whose love of the land and community left a lasting legacy. Their story and their garden inspired the founding of The Reevesland Learning Center — “Growing Food, Knowledge, & Community.” 🌻

In 2011, neighborhood volunteers came together to re-establish the Reeves’ iconic vegetable garden. Today, that garden continues to serve as a place for hands-on learning, growing, gathering, and connecting for students and community members!

The RLC is so grateful to continue growing the legacy of the Louise & Nelson Reeves family. 🌱❤️🎂 Happy Birthday, Nelson!

06/16/2026

The garden always has surprises - some good and some not so good. We just noticed our first spotted lantern fly nymphs as we were working in the garlic bed at Ashlawn last week. And later that afternoon, a student pointed out a Monarch butterfly visiting the milkweed. Oh, no! and . . . Oh, yes! 🙌🏼 🦋

We were also surprised by about ten mature daikon radish plants growing in the potato bed. And there were two Swiss Chard plants in there, too. How did that happen?

We pulled out one daikon radish when the 2nd Graders visited to examine the carrot-shaped white root and all the seed pods that were forming on the stems topped by little white flowers that had attracted lots of bees to fertilize them. 🐝

The students also measured their garlic and identified any garlic scapes which were removed to keep the plant's energy focused on the developing bulb underground. Students sampled sugar snap peas they planted in March and checked on the progress of The Three Sisters Garden they planted in April.

We noticed in The Three Sisters Garden that the beans were growing aggressively -- some already climbing to the top of the tomato cages placed there to give more support to the corn. Hopefully the corn will shoot up soon before the leaves from the beans give too much shade. The race is on!

05/31/2026

What an extraordinary celebration we had with our RLC Fiesta Salad-bration! We were thrilled to serve our freshly harvested lettuce salad to nearly 700 Ashlawn Elementary students and staff, spreading joy and nourishment to young minds and bodies. The staff raved about it being the 'Best Day of the Year!!!', while students proudly devoured 5, 9, or even 12 servings! We're deeply grateful to the amazing community members who lent a helping hand in the Church kitchen, tirelessly sorting, washing, spinning, packing, and serving the FIESTA SALAD at Ashlawn. Your selflessness and dedication made this remarkable event possible. Thank you for contributing to another resounding success! 🎉

05/16/2026

Our Fiesta Salad-bration will be Wednesday, May 20th, in the Ashlawn Cafeteria during lunch! 🥗

If you grew some lettuce to add to our Fiesta Salad, please deliver it on Sunday, May 17th, to the front of Ashlawn Elementary School between noon and 2:00pm. Thank you! 😊

05/13/2026

This week at Ashlawn Elementary there were vinaigrette salad dressing demonstrations in seven classes and a vote in each class after the students watched Ron Battocchi make a “simple” and a “fancy” vinaigrette! While there were fans of both versions, the fancy won pretty decisively. Ron will make the fancy version for our “Fiesta Salad-bration” on May 20th during school lunch, and we can’t wait! 😋 🥗

04/30/2026

In advance of the Ashlawn Elementary Second Graders planting the “Three Sisters Garden” at Reevesland, Reevesland Volunteer Educator, Doug Warnecke made four holes under each of our CORN mounds, and we placed a fish at the bottom to provide extra nutrients during the growing season. (see photo below)

On April 28th and 29th four Second Grade classes planted Cherokee white flour CORN, black and white "Skunk" BEANS traditionally used by the Abenaki and Haudenosaunee peoples, and a variety of winter SQUASHes: orange Cinnamon Girl Pumpkins, dark green Cha-cha kabocha, banana-shaped North Georgia Candy Roaster, and Butternut.

To plant the CORN, we used the four cardinal points: North, South, East, and West to "double plant" four corn seeds. We will keep the strongest seedling at each direction on the compass. 🧭

04/26/2026

We will have double the “Three Sisters” this year with Ashlawn Fourth Graders planting in the Ashlawn Courtyard last week and Second Graders planting at Reevesland Learning Garden this week. We are using the Cherokee white flour corn with a fish buried under each mound for fertilizer for CORN, a heavy feeding crop!🐟

Students rotated between preparing the planting bed, shelling drying beans from the fall, and thinning the multitude of maple seedlings in this "mast" year. Afterwards, the students put their hundreds of seedlings and the dried bean shells in the compost along with dried leaves and some kitchen scraps.

04/13/2026

Last week we worked in the Ashlawn Elementary Courtyard to clean out the shed - washing out and realigning the floor and removing some of the screws. There were lots of maple seedlings to remove as well!

We harvested about two pounds of overwintered lettuce, sorrel, and cilantro from the barrels. The "Deer Tongue" lettuce is one of our VA 250 varieties, the pink radishes have sprouted, and the "lemon lettuce" (sorrel) is thriving. The overwintered lettuce pictured is "speckled bibb" - one of the hardiest varieties we grow!

04/08/2026

Attention RLC Neighbors! We invite you to be a part of our LAWNS 2 LETTUCE 4 LUNCH project -- a collaboration between the Ashlawn Elementary PTA, The Reevesland Learning Center, and the three neighborhoods that make up the Ashlawn community.

We provide the FREE organic seeds and planting instructions. You find a place in your garden or in containers to plant the lettuce seeds. When we send you a harvest date in late May or early June, you will be invited to share part of your crop with Ashlawn, so we can serve a FIESTA SALAD at lunch to the whole school!🥗

There is still time to plant lettuce! Our FREE organic lettuce seeds are still available! Join other neighbors in support of healthy eating and plant some seeds for our LAWNS 2 LETTUCE 4 LUNCH project! Plant before April 15th. Lettuce is a cool weather crop. 🥬

Your support is greatly appreciated! The time to plant is NOW! If you’re in the neighborhood and interested, “Comment” below and we can reach out and deliver the organic seeds and growing instructions.

If you already have seeds, hopefully they have been planted, and you are seeing the baby sprouts growing into seedlings in your garden or in containers. Remember to keep them watered!💧

Garden Fun Facts! ….

When daffodils and forsythia bloom it's time to plant lettuce, radishes, peas, beets, potatoes, onions, and carrots and other early spring crops. 🌼

As the daffodils and forsythia fade and lilacs bloom it's time to plant snap beans, cucumbers, sunflowers, and sesame. 🪻

04/06/2026

Earlier this week we gathered at The Reevesland Learning Garden to begin our celebration of 15 years of ‘Growing Food, Knowledge & Community!’ We shared refreshments (including Marcia Reeves 4-H Coffee Cake!) and had a Composting at Home demonstration. 🎂

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400 N. Manchester Street
Arlington, VA
22203

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