December Outreach: Farmers Market, New Braunfels, TX
The CCCA outreach booth was at the New Braunfels Farmers Market. The Farmers Market is a weekly community event held at 186 S. Castell Ave. New Braunfels, TX, next to Krause's Cafe. The market is held Saturday, from 9:00 to 1:00pm and hosts local vendors with a variety of goods to offer. Meet neighbors from all over Comal County as you stroll through the aisles and shop for everything from baked goods, to locally made honey, and to pet necessities such as leashes and toys. And amid the booths, the live music, and the libations, you will find outreach committee volunteers demonstrating the action of the Edwards Aquifer, the importance of land preservation, the need to save our water, and what conservation means to wildlife.
October Outreach: Monarch Fall Festival
CCCA had our outreach booth at the Monarch Fall Festival at Fischer Park, where we shared information about the importance of land preservation, the need to save our water, and what conservation means to wildlife.
The Fischer Park Monarch Waystation Butterfly Garden became a Certified Wildlife Habitat from the National Wildlife Federation. A Certified Wildlife Habitat garden must provide natural sources of food, water, cover, and places to raise young and is maintained in a sustainable way that incorporates native plants, conserves water and doesn’t rely on pesticides. The Fischer Park Monarch Waystation Garden features a milkweed plot for Monarch Butterflies along with many other native plants that attract a variety of pollinator species of pollinators. The Monarch Waystation provides the New Braunfels community with great wildlife watching opportunities daily and is utilized in Fischer Park’s nature programming including being heavily featured in the Monarch Fall Festival. |
October Outreach: Folk Fest
CCCA had our outreach booth at New Braunfels Folk Fest, where we shared information about the importance of land preservation, the need to save our water, and what conservation means to wildlife.
New Braunfels Folkfest is held in April at Heritage Village. New Braunfels Folkfest is an annual Family Heritage Festival sponsored by the Heritage Society of New Braunfels on the grounds of the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture. Starting the second Saturday in October, Folkfest features living history re-enactments, pioneer craft demonstrations, free furniture museum tours, children’s activities, musical entertainment, and delicious food. All proceeds benefit the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture and their historic preservation projects.
New Braunfels Folkfest is held in April at Heritage Village. New Braunfels Folkfest is an annual Family Heritage Festival sponsored by the Heritage Society of New Braunfels on the grounds of the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture. Starting the second Saturday in October, Folkfest features living history re-enactments, pioneer craft demonstrations, free furniture museum tours, children’s activities, musical entertainment, and delicious food. All proceeds benefit the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture and their historic preservation projects.
September Outreach: Comal County Fair
CCCA had our outreach booth at the Comal County Fair & Rodeo, where we shared information about the importance of land preservation, the need to save our water, and what conservation means to wildlife.
Comal County Fair is annually held in September at the fairgrounds in New Braunfels, Texas. The fair was founded in 1893. It is a family-friendly event that offers something for all age groups. The fair features livestock, entertainment, kids events, food, parade, contests, rodeo, and lots of fun.
Comal County Fair is annually held in September at the fairgrounds in New Braunfels, Texas. The fair was founded in 1893. It is a family-friendly event that offers something for all age groups. The fair features livestock, entertainment, kids events, food, parade, contests, rodeo, and lots of fun.
May Program: "It's (Past) Time to Save Our Rural Land Heritage"
David K. Langford is an internationally known wildlife photographer and the co-founder and Executive Vice President (emeritus) of the Texas Wildlife Association. He and his wife Myrna live on their part of the historic Hillingdon Ranch where seven generations of the extended Giles family have lived and ranched.
The Langford family recently put their ranch under a conservation easement with the Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT), an organization David also helped found. David was once a critic, but is now one of the strongest advocates of conservation easements as a tool for preserving a family’s land and legacy. He is also well aware of all the public benefits that protected open space lands provide, including clean air and water, native wildlife, pastoral beauty, and a way of life. |
Rob and Teresa Ohlrich Johnson recently did the same: preserve their family’s heritage on their JO Ranch in Comal County. They too used a conservation easement held by TALT. Teresa’s ancestors were among the first settlers who traveled from Germany with Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels in 1845. Five generations of her family have lived on the ranch her ancestors settled. Through the generations, the ranch has been divided among descendants and some parts have been sold off. The Johnsons have now assured their historic family ranch will remain intact and undeveloped for future generations.
We owe them all a debt of gratitude. |
April Outreach: Earth Day
CCCA participated in Earth Day 2021, setting up our Outreach information table with what to do to preserve our natural environment and our water. It was a free event for the entire community to celebrate our local natural resources. People were able to explore native prairie restoration, stroll along the spring run and see where the Comal River begins, participate in hands-on activities and scavenger hunts, and enjoy some time getting connected with nature. They also had take-home kits and plant giveaways, so Earth Day could be celebrated all year long in our backyards!
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March Program: "Protecting Honey Creek & Impacts to Environmentally Sensitive Hill Country Watershed"
Annalisa Peace, Executive Director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, joined CCCA for a Zoom presentation on Tuesday, March 9th from 6:00-7:00 PM . The presentation addressed efforts to protect Honey Creek and the adjacent State-owned properties, and described how waste water and high-density developments impact our environmentally sensitive Hill Country watersheds.
January Program: "Watershed Protection Initiatives & the Importance of Protecting Our Local Water Resources"
On Tuesday, January 12, Mark Enders, City of New Braunfels Watershed Program Manager, spoke on “Watershed Protection Initiatives & the Importance of Protecting Our Local Water Resources”. Mark’s presentation focused on Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan activities, the status of implementation of the Dry Comal Creek and Comal River Watershed Protection Plan and the City’s MS4 Stormwater Management Program. Mark also discussed ideas for furthering conservation of our local water resources. Time for questions and answers was provided following the presentation.