About the Garden
Our Mission
The TAMIU Community Garden unites students in order to learn about gardening, healthy eating and caring for natural areas, which allows students to develop leadership skills by serving their community.
Our Story
If you plant it, it will grow. The TAMIU Garden has grown from a 2016 pilot program that saw freshman students build an initial Garden tucked behind the Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center. That first small effort formed a core for student learning about sustainability and environmental issues.
That effort grew substantially with acquiring an 8000-square foot space behind the Kinesiology Wellness and Recreation Center in 2018. Fenced in thereafter, in the summer of 2019 it became home to 24 elevated gardening beds.
In 2020, students and faculty gathered to plant over 60 crops for the summer of 2020 harvest. The Garden has been growing ever since and today affords innovative opportunities for students and community members alike to celebrate the art, learning and service of gardening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone can join! Our garden is open to TAMIU students, faculty, staff, and community members. Contact us at servicelearning@tamiu.edu or at 956.326.3132 for information.
We are working to form partnerships around TAMIU and the community. In the spring of 2020, we held two harvest drive-thrus that were open to the public and donated produce to Bethany House and the South Texas Foodbank.
You can expect to have a lot of fun while you learn about gardening, self-sustainability, healthy eating, and fundraising. You can also expect to gain leadership and teamwork skills.
As of spring 2020, tomatoes, carrots, beets, eggplants, jalapeños, cucumbers, zucchinis, basil and mint are growing in the garden. We are crafting our plan for the fall 2020 harvest.
Get Involved with the Garden Community
Like all things in life, a gift of time or treasure can help things grow…and the Garden is no exception.
If you’d like to grow with us, we’d welcome you. Volunteers meet on site most Wednesdays from 5 – 7 p.m. and we’d love to visit with you by phone or email as well.