Grimm Farm – Three Rivers District

Three Rivers District

Grimm Farm

Victoria, MN

Grimm Farm, is a place that most of you have probably never heard of, but it’s the home of one of the greatest agriculture discoveries in the US – winter hardy alfalfa.

Wendelin and Juliana Grimm moved to Carver county in 1859 from Germany and brought with them a small box of everlasting clover seed. Over the next 15 years Wendelin would plant the seeds and save seeds from the plants the survived the winter (called seed saving) which resulted in the first winter hardy alfalfa in North America. Today, Grimm alfalfa is the source for all alfalfa grown in the United States.

Today all that is left of the Grimm Farm is the house that the Grimm’s built in 1876. The house sits in Carver Park Reserve (part of the Three Rivers District park system), which offers a lot for a good day outdoors. They also have special programs at the house during certain times of year where you can get a look at what life was like in the late 1800’s and see the inside of the house that Grimm built.

Grimm farm is located in Victoria just a short drive west of the Minneapolis, so if you’re in the area bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a day at the park. The park is open 5am-10pm daily.