I reported here last October that the American Horticultural Society had decided to sell its historic River Farm headquarters, and mentioned some blowback from the community.
Well! Since then the blowback has turned into a tsunami of opposition, including from local legislators, and now half of the AHS board itself! Yes, despite being told not to speak publicly, five of the ten board members are on record opposing the sale. Their statement includes this:
There is growing evidence that the decision to sell River Farm is not only morally and ethically wrong, but is fraught with serious legal issues.
Morally and ethically wrong? These five are NOT staying silent or coy about what’s going on, and I’m convinced they’re on the right side of this disagreement. Kudos to AHS board members Skipp Calvert, Tim Conlon, Laura Dowling (Michelle Obama’s floral designer), Holly Shimizu (former executive director of the U.S. Botanic Garden) and Marcia Zech. The directors in favor of the sale (asking price almost $33 million) are: Terry Hayes, Bob Murray, Amy Bolton, Nancy Ross, and Cindy Tyler.
Today’s story in the Washington Post (shown above) is just one of many they’ve run on this subject, which is of great interest in suburban Virginia.
The AHS is a non-profit membership organization offering wonderful member benefits — the unparalleled magazine The American Gardener, free admission at many public gardens in North America, discounts on garden books and tools, and more. Join the AHS to receive these benefits, and you will also be helping to solve the financial problems that led to this proposed sale. ahsgardening.org And if you live in the DC area and have enjoyed visiting River Farm over the years, please consider joining at a high level. Too many people thought of River Farm as a public park and never donated a dime during their frequent visits. Better financial support from the community over the years would have kept this situation from developing.
Could someone please explain what the dissenters mean when they say the sale would be “morally and ethically wrong”? What is the evidence for using such loaded words? This process needs to be more transparent in all ways if the AHS board wants community support.
I can’t imagine why I’ve never heard of them, and I’ve been gardening for years. Thanks for the update.
The article alludes to the original agreement for the money given to purchase the farm in 1973. It had a proviso that it remain green space and open to the public. Perhaps not sticking to that mission and allowing it to be sold for development is what could be considered “morally and ethically wrong.”