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getting a personal tour because no one else came 
there seems to have been some miscommunication between staff at the ivy creek natural center and the city - the barn is regularly open to visitors from 2-4pm on saturdays. it is NOT typically a tour & they weren’t aware the event had been posted as such.
a wonderful volunteer gave me & another visitor a great half hour presentation anyway - everything from the history of the property to some information about bees!
i’ve visited the ivy creek natural area before but i had no idea it was originally a large farm owned and operated by a freedman, hugh carr. i also had no idea that nearby greer elementary was named for his daughter, mary carr greer.
mary carr greer’s husband, conly greer, was the first african american to serve as a county extension agent in albemarle county. the greers traveled the county teaching other african americans best practices in farming, gardening, and home economics.
i feel a little guilty going for a hike without the dogs, but it’s very beautiful here. (no dogs allowed in the nature preserve)
update: something stung me and i’m really rethinking this whole nature thing
i’ve walked right past these headstones every time i’ve been to ivy creek natural area and never stopped to think about who they were. i’m grateful to the volunteer who told me their story today.
