COUNTY OF LOUISA
Willie L. Harper Dale G. Mullen
Chairman May 20, 2009 County Administrator
Contact:
Amanda L. Reidelbach
Public Information Officer
County of Louisa
(540)967.3461 Direct
areidelbach@louisa.org
Brackett’s Farm – Restoration of the Gardens
The Elizabeth A. Nolting Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Louisa Master Gardeners and Louisa County Tourism Department, celebrated the restoration of the Gardens at Brackett’s Farm on Wednesday, May 13, 2009.
The farm dates to the 18th century and is a 515 acre working farm, raising a Black Angus beef herd as well as a Tarentaise bred herd of 200+ animals that exemplifies "best practice" in raising grass-fed cattle.
Mike Seaton, Master Gardener and member of the board of directors for the Elizabeth A. Nolting Charitable Foundation, stated “Brackett’s Farm is the only property in the Historic Green Springs National Landmark District that is open to the public.”
The Foundation entered into a cooperative partnership with the Louisa Master Gardeners to restore the raised bed herb garden, the first part of a two year program to restore the gardens and grounds. A fully encompassing restoration program of Brackett’s Farm is planned and expected to take several years to complete.
A wildlife and birding trail, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, encircles a 12-acre fishing lake at Brackett’s Farm, which is open to the public during daylight hours year round. There is no fee to fish in the lake or enjoy the wildlife and birding trail.
The manor house was remodeled and enlarged by David Watson, a member of the first Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, in the1790s, and is a beautiful example of Jeffersonian architecture. Watson was a lawyer, educated at William & Mary, and known to have been a confidant of Thomas Jefferson and other notable figures of the period. He was elected six times to the General Assembly and represented Louisa at the 1829 Constitutional Convention.
To learn more about Brackett’s Farm, visit www.bracketts.org. To find out more about the garden restoration, call Mike Seaton, at (540) 894-0853, Martha Neff-Smith, at (540) 832-7332.
