Community Garden on Campus

Lamar University has a community garden on campus: the South Park Community Garden. Come join us at any of our garden days, which are hosted monthly on Saturdays throughout the semester.

 

South Park Community Garden

LU students work in the garden

The South Park Community Garden, located on the northwest corner of Jimmy Simmons Blvd and Vermont Street, Beaumont, Texas, is a partnership between the South Park community and the Lamar community.

South Park Community Garden’s mission is to improve community health:
  • Physically by increasing accessibility of fruits and vegetables as well as providing education on nutrition and food preparation.
  • Socially by providing opportunities for fellow-ship, education and opportunities for the disadvantaged.
  • Economically by developing a sustainable local food system.

The South Park Community Garden provides fresh healthy food for anyone, brings diverse people together and provides education empowering the community to grow its own healthy food.

Native Gardening

Most gardens and lawns need regular upkeep: watering, weeding, seeding, spraying, mowing...  But an easier way, that's also better for the environment, is gardening with native plants.

Native plants provide food and shelter for birds, bees and other wildlife. Also, plants that occur naturally in a region are uniquely adapted to the local climate. After a little initial help, they mostly take care of themselves without pesticides, fertilizers, or irrigation. Less mowing also means fewer carbon emissions. 

For more information, visit a native garden center,

St Julian's Crossing http://www.stjulianscrossing.com/,

the Native Plant Society, and A&M's Texas AgriLife Extension Office https://jefferson.agrilife.org/.

If you would like to donate to the garden, please contact the Lamar University Foundation at (409) 880-2117, (800) 880-7742, or foundation@lamar.eduFor information on how to volunteer or general inquiries, please contact the Garden Manager, Dr. Michael McAndrew at mmcandrew1@lamar.edu.