Osburn Farm – Middle Tennessee
Part of the 25 Projects for 25 Years series.
Twenty-five miles from Nashville lies Osburn Farm, an oasis of rolling hills, fertile agricultural land, and healthy forests that has been in the Osburn family for five generations. Thanks to Mary Louise “Lou” Osburn Benson’s foresight, the 112-acre farm is now permanently protected with The Land Trust for Tennessee. Today, three generations live on this Tennessee Century Farm, producing hay, cattle, and horses, and receiving recognition for agricultural sustainability.
After Lou retired, she began working with The Land Trust to safeguard the farm from development. The farm had been in the family since her father, Leslie Osburn, purchased it at an auction in 1922, and the family had been in the area since 1806. In 2001, with the support of her husband, Dr. Ralph Benson, and her daughter, Ginger Shirling, Lou placed a conservation on the 112-acre property. This decision ensured that the farm would remain protected from development for future generations.
Mary Louise “Lou” Osburn Benson and Dr. Ralph Benson at the dedication of Osburn Hollow as a historical marker.
Ginger Shirling, now the owner and steward of the property, carries on her mother’s vision. Reflecting on her deep connection to the land, Ginger recalled spending her childhood summers on the farm with her grandmother. “The farm was a constant. It was always my secure spot,” she said.
For Ginger, the farm was a world of exploration, vastly different from her life as a self-described “subdivision child.” She spent her days riding mules, driving tractors, and learning valuable skills from her extended family. “Every day on the farm was exciting. It wasn’t anything like what my city life was,” she said.
From left to right: Ginger, her grandparents, Les and Mary, her brother, Les, and her 4 cousins.
In the late 1970s, Ginger and her husband moved back to the farm, a decision driven by her strong attachment to the land. “I always wanted to come back,” she explained. “Then my mother retired and moved back here. It was a great situation to be able to have that family stability.” Ginger fully supported her mother’s decision to work with The Land Trust. She recalled that her grandfather, Leslie Osburn, often told her, “Ginger, they’re making money every day, aren’t they? But they don’t make any more land. If you sell your land and take that money, within a generation or two, that money is gone. Count on it.”
For the Shirling family, the farm is about more than agriculture; it’s about stewardship. Ginger’s mother initiated various restoration projects, including water conservation efforts with the USDA. Ginger continues this legacy by participating in environmental sustainability programs, including a USDA pollinator grant to plant wildflowers in unused areas. “It’s a great little grant,” Ginger noted. “It encourages all pollinators and supports our natural resources.”
Osburn Farm.
Lou’s initial partnership with The Land Trust and Ginger’s stewardship have been essential in maintaining the farm’s character while allowing for necessary improvements. When Ginger’s daughter wanted to build a house on the farm, The Land Trust provided crucial support. “They made it easy to maintain the farm’s integrity while also allowing us to make necessary improvements,” Ginger said.
Ginger often encounters misconceptions about conservation easements. “People think I’ve given up my birthright and that The Land Trust owns my farm,” she explained. “But you still own your farm and control your farming practices.”
Osburn Farm.
Ginger has carried on her mother’s passion for land conservation and sees it as essential not just for their family farm, but for Tennessee in general. Through her work with historical organizations, Ginger has learned that much of Middle Tennessee’s land holds unique features that, once lost, cannot be replaced. “Almost all of the land in Middle Tennessee has something special about it,” she said. “Once you take down a tree or demolish a farm or springhouse, those things are gone.”
By keeping the farm in her family and working with The Land Trust, Ginger wants to ensure that future generations have a place to call home. “It’s a stable point. In an uncertain world, everyone knows they have a place here,” she said. For Ginger, the farm is more than just land—it’s a living legacy that will continue to support her family, just as it has for generations.
Support The Land Trust for Tennessee’s conservation work.