First Lady Crissy Haslam on Thursday hosted HGTV at the Tennessee Residence to film the building of the kitchen and cutting garden, kicking off Phase II of the Tennessee Residence Foundation’s project to help renovate and restore the Tennessee Residence grounds. The kitchen and cutting garden will promote local agriculture and farm-to-table sustainability at the state’s executive residence. 

HGTV filmed the groundbreaking of the garden, as well as interviews with Governor and First Lady Haslam, the Tennessee Residence chef, the project’s landscape architect, and other special guests.

The garden will be featured on HGTVgardens.com and in a special, “HGTV Yard Takeover,” to air in May 2013.

“Tennessee has unique traditions in agriculture and home gardening,” Ms. Haslam said.

“Phase II of the landscape renovation project, which includes the addition of a kitchen and cutting garden, will provide an exciting opportunity to highlight these special traditions with visitors from across the state and country.”

As chairwoman of the Tennessee Executive Residence and Preservation Foundation, Ms. Haslam has been helping to generate private funds for the landscape renovation project. Phase I of the project was completed in fall of 2012, which included the restoration of the historic lily pond garden, the entrance to Conservation Hall, and the Great Lawn. Tennessee companies Nissan North America and Scripps Networks Interactive, HGTV’s parent company, will partner to assist with Phase II of the project, donating funds towards the building of the kitchen and cutting garden.

“We are very grateful for Nissan and Scripps’ help in building a kitchen and cutting garden at the Tennessee Residence,” Ms. Haslam said.  “I have been so proud of the support generously given by a host of Tennessee businesses, organizations, family foundations and individuals who have contributed towards this next phase of the project to restore the grounds of an important landmark for our state.”

Headquartered in Franklin, Tn., Nissan North America coordinates all operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, including automotive styling, design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and marketing.

“Nissan North America and our companies across the world have a vision to enrich people’s lives by offering unparalleled products and services and improving the communities in which we operate,” Scott Becker, Nissan North America senior vice president of Administration and Finance said. “We are excited to partner in this work to improve Tennessee’s home, making it an excellent representation of the state for business recruitment and for visitors to enjoy.”

Headquartered in Knoxville, Scripps Networks Interactive is the leading developer of high-profile, lifestyle-oriented content for many media platforms including television, digital, mobile and publishing. Their media portfolio includes popular lifestyle brands HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and country music network Great American Country (GAC).

“Scripps Networks Interactive is dedicated to positively impacting the communities in which we live and work,” Ken Lowe, Scripps president and CEO said. “We are proud to partner in a project that restores a beloved treasure for Tennessee and shares our values and vision for agriculture and farm-to-table sustainability.”

Scripps’ financial contribution to the landscape project will be supplemented with social media and on-air TV promotion, including the special ground-breaking feature filmed at the Tennessee Residence on Thursday.