Tarleton State University
EN-9: Community Partnerships

Tarleton State University is a member of the Green Thumbs Community Gardens Project along with Erath County Texas A&M Agrilife and the City of Stephenville. This program is now in its second year. Dr. Don Cawthon (Tarleton professor) applied for and received a grant from the USDA to start this program and has taken the lead to help established five community gardens in the area. Tarleton is also working with the Oakdale United Methodist Church and its community garden, and has established a community garden for the Better Breathers Club with Harris-Methodist Hospital. Goals for this project include increasing awareness of local food production options by allowing residents to harvest produce as it becomes available as well as the development of a food sustainability program, including new courses, through Tarleton's Department of Wildlife, Sustainability and Ecosystems Sciences . Plans are being developed for 2018 and beyond to make portions of land available to Stephenville residents who want to grow a vegetable garden but do not have access to a suitable location of their own. In addition to awareness and education, the community gardening initiative calls attention to the importance of reducing food waste and introduces students and local communities to the benefits of life-long gardening through on-campus and community vegetable and fruit plots.

Prairie Oaks Master Naturalist Chapter - initiated May 20, 2017 The Prairie Oaks Master Naturalist (POMN) is one of the newest chapters of the Texas Master Naturalist organization. Texas Master Naturalist is a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas A&M Agrilife Extension sponsored organization; dedicated to serving Texas communities through volunteers in local chapters. The Prairie Oaks Master Naturalist program includes Tarleton State University students and community members from 4 separate counties: - Comanche - Erath - Hamilton - Palo Pinto This is only the second collegiate chapter in the state, the first being the Balcones Canyonlands Chapter at Concordia University in Austin, TX. The POMN also manages the Bosque River Nature Center. The Bosque River Nature Center is the result of a partnership between The Tarleton State University Center for Environmental Studies, the Bosque River Trail Committee, and the City of Stephenville. The City allotted approximately an acre of land along the Bosque Trail to The Center for Environmental Studies for the development of Natural Landscape and Prairie Restoration. Using funds allocated by the Provost for Student-Led Environmental Activities, the project is being developed by student workers and community volunteers. Short-term goals already in process for this site include: restoring natural prairies while also providing habitat for birds, pollinators and other wildlife. Longer-term objectives including using the site for community activities, K-12 and Tarleton State University educational programs; as well as prairie, soil, and wildlife research.