Find printable maps of Carver on the Carver Park Reserve page.

In 1859, immigrant German farmers Wendelin and Julianna Grimm purchased a plot of land in northern Carver County. Among the possessions they brought from their native land was a small wooden box containing the seeds of everlasting clover, which they planted on their farm.

For the next fifteen years, Wendelin Grimm religiously collected and planted seeds from the plants that survived the harsh Minnesota winters. This selection practice, called seed saving, resulted in the first winter-hardy alfalfa in North America. Today, Grimm alfalfa is the source of all modern varieties of alfalfa grown on more the 25 million acres in the United States and valued at $10 billion annually.

Sign up for email newsletters to stay up-to-date on the latest in exploring history.