HCRPO
Hill Country Ranches Property Owners
When: Saturday June 7th, 9:00-5:00
Where: At the Henly South Fire Station on FM 2325 at Plainview Rd
across from Hill Country Ranches (White Rabbit)
9:00 “The Dreaded Cowbird and the Many Benefits of Purple Martins"
Presented by Karen Archer, Hays County Master Naturalist, Argus Ecoservices Land and Wildlife Mgt. Co.
10:00 “Harness the Sun"
Presented by Vincent Guerrero, Project Manager, vincent@txspc.com
Texas Solar Power Co. www.txspc.com
Vincent will talk about the benefits and feasibility of using solar power in the home and how the homeowner’s power company can purchase extra electricity.
11:00 “There’s Gold in Them Raindrops”
Presented by Bryan Y. Davis, Agriculture/Natural Resources Agent, by-davis@tamu.edu
Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Hays County. http://hays-co.tamu.edu
Bryan will explain the benefits of rainwater collection systems for the homeowner and show several different styles of wildlife rainwater collection systems.
12:00 Lunch!
Bring a box lunch or buy a delicious lunch for $6.50. Includes sandwich, chips, cookie, and water or tea (limited supply).
Sandwich choices: Grilled Veggie, Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, or Turkey made by Rolling in Thyme and Dough (512-894-0001)
1:00 “Green Building”
Presented by Stephen Colley, Green Building Coordinator, scolley@buildsagreen.org
Metropolitan Partnership for Energy, 118 Broadway, Suite 232, San Antonio, TX 78205, 210-224-7278, www.buildsagreen.org
Stephen will share his knowledge on building and renovating for healthy, efficient, and environmentally appropriate Hill Country living.
2:00 “Fire, cedar, oak wilt, taxes – oh my!”
Presented by Mark A. Peterson, Project Coordinator - Conservation
San Antonio Water System (SAWS), 2800 U.S. Hwy. 281 N, San Antonio, TX 78212, Phone: 210-233-3081
Mark will speak on San Antonio’s successful efforts to curb water use, compare S.A.’s use with other major Texas cities, indoor and outdoor conservation, and land stewardship opportunities.
3:00 “Land Management 101”
Presented by Jamie Kinscherff, Hays County Master Naturalist, Citizen Wildfire Ecology Specialist, jamie@argusecoservices.com
Argus Ecoservices Land and Wildlife Mgt. Co., 830-899-6699, www.argusecoservices.com
Jamie will explain how develop a plan suited to your property and to your goals. He'll also talk about Ashe Juniper (cedar) control and restoration of at-risk rangeland.
4:00 “Irreplaceable Natural Resources”
Presented by Gail McGlamery, Conservation Program Coordinator
COA-AWU - Wildland Conservation Division 512-263-6437, www.cityofaustin.org/water/wildland
Gail will introduce you to the Wildland Conservation Division, its management of 30,000 acres of wildlands, and provisions for educational access.
Dustin Hudson and Donald Conley stand in front of the fire truck at the Henly South Fire Station.
A solar-powered gate makes sense for land owners. There's no need for electric wires, an added expense on the electric bill, and best of all, there's no need to get soaking wet in a downpour (when we have rain, that is.)
The smaller green tank, called an "eliminator," catches accumulated debris from the roof before it can enter the rainwater tank on the left.
Notice the poor land management evident in this picture. To the right of the telephone pole, overgrazed land combined with thick cedars choking other native species out prevent grasses from growing, which in turn allows severe erosion.
The land on the left is better, but could benefit by allowing grasses and understory plants to grow, providing habitat and better soils.
Green builder Stephen Colley includes energy-saving features in his new and renovated construction projects.
Mark Peterson from SAWS encourages beautiful, ecological alternatives to traditional lawns.
