Evans Chigounis is a horticultural professional, community educator, artist, photographer and creative director whose career began in the gardens of his childhood home in Clifton, New Jersey.
Growing up on acres of land filled with organic fruit trees, vines, vegetables and herbs, he developed an early love of nature and a keen eye for creative design. “I learned horticulture before I even knew the word,” he often says.
His first job at a garden center during high school laid the foundation for a career that spanned nurseries, landscaping and hands-on gardening work. Over the years, Evans has worked in nurseries, worked as a gardener and landscaper, and even spent time in the horticulture department at the Kansas City Zoo. He has also applied his skills to carpentry and graphic arts, reflecting his belief that patience, craftsmanship, and careful attention and creativity apply in all areas.
In addition to his work with plants, Evans is known for bringing people together through music. A lifelong drummer, he leads drum circles, teaches Native American drumming and flute, and volunteers as a facilitator for the Asbury Drum & Dance Community in New Jersey. His sessions focus on connection, creativity and shared experiences.
Evans has a long history of success, including coaching for the Special Olympics, supporting recreational programs for residents with special needs and volunteering for environmental restoration efforts. These experiences strengthened his belief that communities become stronger when people engage in simple, meaningful actions.
Today, Evans Chigounis is valued for his steady leadership, broad range of skills, and commitment to helping others reconnect with nature, rhythm, and community life.
Interview with Evans Chigounis
You grew up surrounded by gardens. How did this early environment shape your career?
Growing up on a one-acre property in Clifton was like living in a small ecosystem. We had fruit trees, grape vines, vegetables, herbs – everything. I didn’t see it as work. I saw it as an exploration. I later realized that I had learned a lot about the soil, the seasons and how things grow. This early contact stayed with me and ensured that the horticulture industry felt natural when I entered.
What was your first step into professional horticulture?
My first job in high school was at a garden center. As a teenager, I learned how to repot plants, talk to customers, and understand what different species need. I liked the pace of the work and the care involved. This job confirmed that I could build a career in this field.
You have worked in various fields over the years. How has your career expanded beyond kindergarten?
I have worked in landscaping, gardening, carpentry and graphics. I also spent time in the horticulture department at the Kansas City Zoo in 2017, which was one of the most interesting jobs I’ve ever had. The plants there support animal habitat, and we have grown animal-nourishing herbal crops like prairie bunch flowers and wild vines, so your work impacts the entire environment. It showed me how valuable gardening is in public spaces and for other animals around the world.
You also have an artistic background. How did this start?
I’ve always been good at drawing since I was young. After high school, I took illustration classes at Bergen Community College and majored in art. That led me to pre-press and graphic work. I became a Mac retoucher and worked in that field for 13 years. It taught me precision. Whether you’re editing artwork or pruning a plant, you’ll need patience and attention to detail.
Music is also an important part of your life. How did percussion become a part of your identity?
Every New Year’s Eve, our parents allow us to bang pots and pans with spoons on our porch to ring in the New Year. Over the years, real instruments such as shakers and tambourines developed from this. For my 11th birthday, my father bought me a drum set, which over time I learned so well that I was able to play in a small band with my brother as a teenager. What emerged most importantly from this experience was my unique sense of recognizing rhythm patterns and melodies in music and reproducing them with percussion. Years later, my desire to teach developed. Now I facilitate drum circles, teach and perform. Percussion has become second nature to me.
“Music lives in all of us, an instrument is just a tool to communicate to the world.”
You now volunteer as a facilitator for the Asbury Drum & Dance community. What does this role mean to you?
It means connection. Each circle brings together people with different backgrounds and ideologies. “Making music together gives strangers something to create. Together we build bonds and friendships.” I have made so many meaningful friendships in the drum circles I have played and facilitated across the country. I know that I can move to any state in the union and as long as there are drum circles there, I will always be able to make friends, feel at home and welcome. Being able to create space for this kind of connection feels meaningful.
You have done a lot of community service. What motivated you to dedicate yourself to this work?
Service was a part of my life from an early age. At the age of nine, I was already distributing food to those in need. My uncle drove my brother and me to the homes of elderly relatives and friends who he knew were on fixed incomes, or drove out to buy basic necessities for himself, such as bread and milk. I learned the value of giving from the heart and receiving nothing in return other than a smile. In my twenties I was a coach for the Special Olympics in Clifton. I also helped the Recreation Director organize events for children and adults with special needs. I later volunteered for the Passaic River cleanup in Morris County. These experiences have shown me how small actions can make a real difference.
You mentioned that you tried to start an organic basil company in the early 80s. What did you learn from it?
It taught me timing. I was ahead of the trend. Today there are organic herbs everywhere, but back then people were not yet prepared for them. Nevertheless, through this experience I learned something about production, quality and bringing a product to market.
What do you think people misunderstand about gardening today?
People often view plants as decoration rather than as living ecosystem systems that provide not only beauty but also sustenance, sustenance and medicine. A healthy landscape requires planning and research to meet individual needs, good soil, and consistent care that should not be a chore but a joy. It’s not just about making something look beautiful. It’s about long-term growth and development for the sake of your own soul.
“You can learn everything in the garden if you are willing to open your eyes to possibilities and have patience, because gardens don’t happen overnight.”
How are your skills in gardening, art, carpentry and music related?
They’re all about building something and letting your creativity flow – be it a garden bed, a drum rhythm or a restored piece of wood. You use your hands, your imagination, you pay attention and you try to create something beautiful that will last and that you can share with the world. These values remain the same in all fields.
What motivates you after so many years in your industry?
Growth. Not just plant growth, but personal growth. I enjoy learning new things and also helping others learn. When someone joins a drum circle for the first time and expresses childlike joy or plants their first garden and feels pride and success, I can see that spark. That inspires me.
What advice would you give to someone interested in gardening or community arts?
Start small. Plant one thing you love. Learn a rhythm. Attend a community event. People think they need big plans, but progress happens in simple steps. If you remain curious and patient, the rest will fall into place. “If you have courage, imagination and persistence, anything is possible.”
