- Writer: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, adam.russell@ag.tamu.edu
- Contact: Greg Grant, 903-590-2980, greg.grant@agnet.tamu.edu
TYLER — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Smith County will continue its East Texas Garden Lecture Series at 9 a.m. Nov. 12 at the Tyler Rose Garden, 420 Rose Park Drive in Tyler.
Dr. Jared Barnes, assistant professor in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, will present “Foodscaping with Incredible Edibles.”
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by the program in the Rose Room.
Tickets are $15 per person and may be purchased at the door or in advance at the AgriLife Extension office in Smith County, located in Suite 116 of the Cotton Belt Building, 1517 W. Front St. in Tyler. Each attendee will receive a packet of heirloom Crawford reseeding lettuce seed.
Barnes will address how to best cultivate plants and connect students with horticulture. He manages the Sprout Garden, a trial ground for edibles and perennials in East Texas.
“Food is an essence of life, and with edible gardens and foodscaping, horticulturists have the opportunity to connect with gardeners of all ages and backgrounds,” Barnes said. “In this presentation, I will share perspectives from food gardens and foodscapes around the world. I will also address fun and engaging projects at Stephen F. Austin State University that are helping connect gardening with students and the community, and techniques and cultivars that will perform spectacularly for East Texans.”
Barnes’ work has been recognized in Organic Gardening, Greenhouse Grower and Ken Druse’s Real Dirt publications. He was recognized with Greenhouse Products News’ 40 Under 40 award and the Perennial Plant Association’s Young Professional of the Year for 2016. His articles have been published in Fine Gardening and Carolina Gardener.
The lecture series is a collaborative effort among the Smith County AgriLife Extension Environmental Horticulture Committee, the Smith County Master Gardeners and the city of Tyler water department.
For more information, call the AgriLife Extension office in Smith County at 903-590-2980 or email Greg.Grant@ag.tamu.edu.
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