Sod and Sustainability: Cornell’s Top 5 Turf Installations

Lawn and sod surfaces are not just for playing fields or ornamental landscapes, they have also been used as art and sustainability at Cornell University. Over the years, the campus has become home to several striking turf-based installations, blending horticultural science with public art and environmental consciousness.

“Inside Out” at Olin and Mann Libraries

Students at Cornell’s Olin and Mann Libraries found something unexpected inside: grass. Thick carpets of sod were installed indoors, transforming study areas into lush, green spaces. The project, inspired by research from the Human Ecology department, aimed to give stressed students the restorative benefits of nature during finals season. The temporary installation became a campus sensation during Fall semester finals, organized in December 2012. 

“Misty Sue” the Sod Cow

Passersby near Morrison Hall encountered a life-size cow made entirely of turfgrass. Named Misty Sue, the sculpture was the final project of Danielle Hodgins ’08 for her Art of Horticulture II class. The cow’s body was sculpted from earth and chicken wire and carefully covered in sod, while the ears were formed from burlap and seeded with ryegrass. To keep Misty Sue green and healthy, Hodgins watered the sculpture twice a day and planned to re-sod parts as needed, in spring 2006. The project was overseen by Marcia Eames-Sheavly, a senior extension associate in the Department of Horticulture.

Tall Grass, Small Gas on Libe Slope

Part of the Cornell Sustainable Landscapes Trail, the meadow on Libe Slope isn’t just a pretty view, it’s a functional bioswale designed to reduce runoff and recharge groundwater in heavily developed areas. Managed by the Grounds Department, the site is mowed only once a year, typically between August and October, using a remote-controlled slope mower for safety.

The switch from traditional turf to meadow management eliminates the need for irrigation or chemical treatments and significantly reduces labor. Though some concerns were raised about ticks and appearance, educational signage and well-maintained pathways have helped the community embrace this low-maintenance, high-impact landscape strategy. As the sign says: Tall Grass, Small Gas.

The Turf Sofa

What began as a playful experiment in 2013 has become a decade-long fixture near the permaculture garden behind Trillium Dining Hall. Students sculpted five cubic yards of soil into the shape of a full-sized sofa, then layered it with sod to create a functional piece of “grass furniture.” Complete with smaller pods, a loveseat, and chaise-like seating, the Turf Sofa invites lounging. Frank Rossi, associate professor and turfgrass specialist, provided guidance on sod-laying techniques, while Kevin McGraw from Cornell Grounds helped coordinate materials and construction. The project remains visible on campus more than a decade later — a testament to creative turf engineering.

Sod Sculpture at Bluegrass Lane

Students in Art of Horticulture course created a large sod sculpture at the Bluegrass Lane Turf and Landscape Research Center. With support from turfgrass professor Frank Rossi and his team, students brought their living artwork to life using turf grown and managed on-site. The 2007 project was documented by teaching assistant Chad Miller, capturing yet another chapter in Cornell’s long-standing tradition of merging turf science with artistic expression.

Many turf based projects were developed and organized in the undergraduate course, Art of Horticulture,  taught last in 2023. Today, Hands-On Horticulture for Gardeners (PLHRT 2010) is taught for non-majors by Marvin Pritts, professors in the School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section. The course  instill in students a lifelong appreciation for how gardening can enhance individual well-being through aesthetics, culinary experiences, and mastery of techniques. Emphasizes hands-on learning and practice of key gardening skills and techniques in the greenhouse and the field, such as landscape management, garden design, propagation, pruning, grafting, pest management, and flower arrangement.