The Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern’s capital campaign is beginning to blossom a year into its launch. Dr. Todd Beasley, director of Garden, calls the local retreat “native and cultural heritage wrapped up into a beautiful gem.” The Garden launched this capital campaign to preserve its lush legacy, connecting people to plants within place and time.
At a time when farmland and greenspaces are disappearing at alarming rates, the Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern has used these societal issues to launch its transformative capital campaign. Director Dr. Todd Beasley explains that the Garden recognizes it must stay ahead of this social cause, offering safe and welcoming introductions to the outdoors.
The urgency is clear: society is experiencing growth that is not always sustainable, and with it comes a widening disconnection from nature. The generation Richard Louv famously described as “nature-deficient” is now entering adulthood, raising families, and shaping communities. Through fruit and vegetable gardening paired with culinary education in a new teaching kitchen, this project will not only reconnect people to plants but also open new avenues for revenue generation that sustain the Garden’s mission.
Beasley emphasizes that the campaign is deeply rooted in the Garden’s mission, a synergy of humans and nature.
The Garden in the Afternoon
“Our underlying mission is to connect people to plants within place and time. We have to reach a growing diverse audience in new ways and food is that pathway to connect to the diversity of plants,” Beasley explains. “With progressive programming, the Garden becomes recognizable as a hub of learning in a beautiful setting, more than it already is.”
The centerpiece of the campaign is the construction of a 2,800-square-foot barn-style building with glass curtain walls and a teaching kitchen. Climate-controlled and versatile, the facility will serve as an educational and event space year-round, offering refuge from summer heat, winter chill, and inclement weather. Beasley notes that the campaign seeks to raise approximately $4 million to fund the building and essential infrastructure improvements.
Among these is the replacement of the Garden’s aging perimeter fence, which will provide both security and noise reduction as traffic increases around the property. The campaign proceeds will also fund additional need for staffing, generating local job opportunities.
Growing Vegetables and Young Minds
Currently, the Garden lacks a fully enclosed structure capable of hosting large audiences. The new facility will change that dramatically, enabling hands-on gardening experiences that seamlessly transition indoors to culinary exploration. Programs such as Gather and Grow can expand beyond seasonal limitations, fostering healthy minds, bodies, and spirits throughout the year.
The building also opens new opportunities for weddings and special events. Beasley paints a vivid picture: imagine exchanging vows in a barn-style venue with glass walls overlooking lush gardens—a modern conservatory that is easier to cool and more accessible to the community.
These enhancements not only enrich visitor experiences but also generate revenue to support the Garden’s broader mission.
Another conceptual rendering of a structure that could be made a reality by the upcoming fundraising campaign
“Gardens are for all ages, all demographics and the stories of plants in the lives of people can be captured so eloquently through food and culture,” Beasley posits.
Membership at the Botanic Garden carries unique significance. Beasley points out that Statesboro, with a population of roughly 50,000 (excluding the university), is fortunate to host a public garden—a rarity among towns of its size. While operating on a modest budget, the Garden has the potential to draw visitors from across the region, positioning Statesboro as a cultural destination.
Membership provides access to a living plant collection unmatched within a two-hour radius, while also supporting educational initiatives that inspire citizens to contribute positively to their communities.
Gather & Grow: Catching Orchid Fever
Beasley envisions the Garden as more than a university resource—it is a community anchor. As schools face reduced teaching time in sciences, social studies, and the arts, the Garden steps in as a living museum, offering cultural and educational enrichment.
Statesboro, like many small towns in Georgia, has untapped potential for tourism. With attractions such as the Garden, local museums, wildlife center, and downtown shops, the town can become a destination for day trips in the style of Southern Living or Garden & Gun. The Garden’s blend of native heritage and cultural storytelling makes it a gem worthy of recognition far beyond campus borders.
The presence of a public garden in Statesboro is extraordinary, and its preservation and growth depend on community support. Beasley stresses that a gift to the Garden is more than a donation—it is an investment in inspiring future stewards of the earth. As development encroaches on natural spaces, the Garden stands as a reminder that we can do better. This campaign is not just about buildings and fences; it is about recapturing the simple joys of nature while simultaneously safeguarding a legacy of connection to nature for generations to come.
The Garden helped make this Camilla Foundation event unforgettable.
“Membership to our garden means seeing a living plant collection that nobody else has in a two hour radius. It means supporting education to increase knowledge, skills, attitudes and motivations about doing your part as a productive citizen to help improve our communities,“ Beasley says.
Becoming a member of the Garden comes with perks, which Beasley is perpetually striving to increase, partnering with local businesses.
“All members now receive a 10% discount on gardening supplies at McKeithen’s Hardware as well as floral arrangements at the Flower Girl (excluding wedding and major holiday arrangements),” Beasley notes. “All members also get gift passes to bring their friends and loved ones.”
Community members can support the campaign in many ways: by visiting, becoming members, volunteering, or making donations. Admission is modest at $5, but membership unlocks deeper engagement and opportunities. Beasley recalls his father’s proverb: You can’t take it with you. Instead of more “stuff” for Christmas, he urges the residents of Statesboro and surrounding areas to consider a gift membership this year. The Garden welcomes larger contributions, whether they be end-of-year gifts or legacy donations.
The Pollinator Garden
“If you are in a position to help the Garden with perhaps an end-of-the-year gift or are considering a future legacy gift, contact us and schedule time to talk,” Beasley says.
The Garden’s community call to action isn’t just about enhancing itself, it’s about preserving a way of life that is rapidly diminishing amid the designing, paving, and erecting that is our current reality. Beasley acknowledges this wistfully, while focusing positively on the future of what is within our control.
“Every time I drive into Statesboro, I think about my dad. He passed away in July of 2025, but I remember his last visit in April that year. He was a bit disappointed as he saw the vast, uncontrolled development going on. He would point out, ‘I used to duck hunt there and deer hunt over there.’ I saw the sadness in him. So, every week, I am hopeful that I am working hard to help push people to think about their time and place in that we can do better. This campaign echoes that in new ways.”
For more information about the Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern, please visit their website and their Facebook page.
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