​
Our Purpose
 
The Learning Fields is home to 27 distinct demonstration gardens and a wide range of programs that promote gardening, beautification, environmental stewardship, and lifelong learning. Visitors are invited to engage through hands-on demonstrations,
workshops, lectures, seasonal events, and self-guided exploration—each designed to inspire creativity, calm, and a deeper connection to nature. 

Programs and activities may include plant propagation, fig tastings and swaps, flower pounding, plant sales, pollinator festivals, rock painting, winter sowing workshops, tomato tastings, herbal education, and garden tours.

Recognized as the River Valley Master Gardeners’ 2025 Sanctioned Project of the Year, The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing continues to inspire curiosity and build practical knowledge about garden types, plant species, and cultivars that thrive in the River Valley.
 
Our Organization
 
Founded in 2008 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2009, The Learning Fields is operated entirely by dedicated volunteers. Many of our volunteers are River Valley
Master Gardeners, though participation is open to all who share a passion for gardening and education.

The River Valley Master Gardeners are affiliated with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and receive extensive horticultural training through the University.
In return, they volunteer throughout the River Valley and pursue continuing education annually—bringing both expertise and enthusiasm to The Learning Fields.

As a nonprofit organization, donations to The Learning Fields are tax-deductible as permitted by law and play a vital role in supporting our gardens and programs. To support our work, visit the Donate section on our homepage. 

Our Beginning

The Learning Fields was born from a unique opportunity for community growth. In 1995, the U.S. Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended the permanent closure of Fort Chaffee. Of the 72,000 acres once
designated for military use, 65,000 acres were leased to the Arkansas Army National Guard for training, while more than 7,000 acres were released for redevelopment by surrounding communities. 

To guide this transformation, the Arkansas Legislature established the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority in 1997 with a mission to ensure the land would provide the greatest possible benefit to local residents. In support of that vision, the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority donated 4.59 acres to The Learning Fields, followed by an additional 2.81 acres—creating today’s 7.5-acre educational garden campus.