Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Dr. Jared Barnes, associate professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University, was featured in a New York Times article that allows him to share his gardening expertise and the resources he uses as an educator.
From Barnes’ experiences gardening as a boy to his current position as a faculty member in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, the article addresses Barnes’ passion for teaching through his newsletter, “plant-ed,” and the insights he gains from other horticulturalists’ newsletters.
"I was so honored that The New York Times reached out to profile me and my efforts to help gardeners and horticulturists cultivate the skills they need to grow through my newsletter,” Barnes said. “I love teaching and inspiring students in the classroom.”
In the piece, Barnes remarks on how his students’ curiosity has inspired him to search for new information and data, which he extends to a broader audience through “plant-ed.” The newsletter also aims to increase recognition of SFA’s horticulture program.
“As educators and advocates for agriculture and horticulture, we have to make those connections with the public, too,” Barnes said. “In doing so, we share that SFA is a great place to prepare for careers in the green industry.”
The article also highlights the Plantery, a project that Barnes has helped build alongside his students.
“I was thrilled that the article featured the Plantery, our student botanic garden on campus where we just built our new native plant trial garden last year with the help of more than 30 students,” Barnes said. “In the 10 years I’ve been here, students and colleagues in the Department of Agriculture have worked hard to help me reinvigorate the horticulture program and turn this space into a living lab for students across campus.”
Those with a New York Times account can access the article in which Barnes is featured. For more information about Barnes’ newsletter and research, visit his website.
ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 37 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at the SFA website.