Greetings from the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University!

One of the more recent developments in our Department is the Holistic Garden, a trail of teaching gardens located around the Horticulture/ Forest Science Building. Our mission is to create and maintain a gardening environment which will promote an improved quality of life for persons of all ages and abilities. The Holistic Garden has become a significant part of our teaching program. Each year more than 700 students representing a variety of disciplines conduct projects in the garden, lead interactive tours for children, and help with planning and maintenance. A dedicated group of student workers' and volunteers halp with maintenance of specific gardens along the trail and with production of plants for sales, a primary source of funding for student workers wages. During the past year nearly a thousand gardeners from around the state have taken tours in the garden or have attended workshops. The Holistic Garden is also used for programs by the Texas Master Gardener program and Cooperative Extension Service and the Junior Master Gardener Program.

Most of the financial support for the Holistic Garden has been generated through plant sale funds and student course fees. Additionally, we have received a few grants, private gifts, and some funds allocated by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The team assisting in maintaining the garden and conducting plant sales is a group of student workers, students taking courses that use the garden and master grardeners and other volunteers from around the community.

Our current goal is to improve and enhance the Holistic Garden as well as the programs offered to numerous participants. Our vision includes such things as:

  • Increasing student scholarship and internship opportunities
  • Expanding our program of workshops and children's tours
  • Creating an informational center and entryway for the garden
  • Improving accessibility to new areas of the garden complex
  • Adding new signage and maintaining existing signage in the garden
  • Adding a parking area for visitors and volunteers
  • Obtaining Equipment needed to maintain larger areas of the garden
  • Expanding the vegetable and fruit research/demonstration areas
  • Improving displays in the Tropical Rainforest and Desert in our greenhouse

We invite you to join us in support of this vision. The "Pave the Way" project allows donors to support our programs by putting the names of family, friends and/or businesses in a place of honor in the garden. Professionally engraved paver stones, of two sizes, will acknowledge your contribution and commitment of support for the Holistic Garden. Bottom in this letter you will find a form outlining the opportunities to contribute to our vision.

  • $100 Gift
    4 in. x 8 in. engraved paver in the Donor's Walkway - located in the Sensory Garden near the main garden Gazebo

  • $250 Gift
    8 in. x 8 in. engraved paver in the Contributor's Plaza in front of the Garden Cottage located in the Heritage Garden

In closing, we would like to say that monetary contributions in any amount are always welcome. Each of the special garden areas offers a unique naming opportunity that would be considered for an individual, family or business making a large contribution to the Holistic Garden. Feel free to share this information with others who might enjoy helping us to "Pave the Way" for continued success, and be sure to visit the Holistic Garden whenever you are in the area.

Sincerely,

Joe Novak
Senior Lecturer

Click here for:

Pave the Way form (pdf)

Holistic Garden Brochure (pdf)