Farm at the Arb

Visit the iconic red barn by entering the door by the silo! Carefully restored to preserve its history and beauty, interior banners celebrate the legacy of 30 varieties of northern fruits and grains developed by the University of Minnesota. On the lower level, the interpretation explores the history of the barn. The barn is open seasonally and is not temperature controlled.

Watch the honey bee hives in action and explore the interactive exhibit hall. Learn about honey bees, native bees, monarchs, and more!  Open selected weekends in September and October, 2021.

Stroll through today’s agricultural crops such as soybeans, wheat, corn, oats, barley, rye and sunflowers. Check out potential crops of the future such as Kernza®, perennial flax, perennial sunflower and camelina. Visit each of the stop-and-learn interactive stations along the way.

Visit a garden for growing vegetables on a homeowner or urban agriculture scale. Learn helpful tips on how to maximize vegetable production per square yard anywhere you want to grow. The Market Garden is also home to the Arboretum's job training program in Agricultural production.

Explore fruits that can thrive in your Minnesota yard or community garden such as apricots, plums, apples, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and currants! See plantings of hardy perennials that feed pollinators essential to these fruit crops.

This exhibit garden will serve as a rotating stage to showcase diverse crops and growing practices, envisioned and managed by a different Guest Curator each season.

Enjoy the pastoral vistas from these two green oval “lawns” below the Red Barn. A great place for on-the-grass picnics, events, or community gatherings.

photo Norbert Lucas

Bring a lunch and enjoy a picnic under this shelter next to Bee Center. Capacity 80 people.

A short meandering walk beyond the Farm and Bee Center is the scenic small amphitheater overlook. Look outwards for stunning elevated views over the natural landscape, or face backwards for views of the Barn and Bee Center looming above.

This corner highlights the crops of the future: perennial grains and other future crops. It also features the most up-to-date apple and grape growing techniques.

• Apple Demonstration Plots Explore how apples are grown commercially in Minnesota and view a living history University of Minnesota apple variety introductions, from the first apple developed through First Kiss.
• Grape Demonstration Plots View how grapes are grown commercially in northern climates, showcasing University of Minnesota varieties.
• Orchard & Vineyard Walk Adjacent to Eastern Drive, this accessible walkway loops around the demonstration Orchard & Vineyard that showcase apples and grapes