News and Events

This week in Our Big Backyard… We Alphas knew that Austin-soil depends on our native grasses and forbs to build it up, as well as to HOLD ON TO IT with its long root systems to prevent it from eroding. We knew that grasses produce seeds – and so do forbs – and in fact – that’s one of their big purpose in life – to reproduce! We remembered that when we went and collected the Lindheimer Muhly grass seed, the grass grew up and out like a fountain, with the seeds at the top. That’s because when it’s ready […]

This week in Our Big Backyard… We began with the Blackland Prairie imagining the sea of native grasses that grew in this area we now know as Austin. We took a look at how tall the grass stood from 3’-10’…taller than most of us (we measured). But what was astounding is that their roots reach down 10 or more feet (we measure that too!) to create an amazing interweaving of roots. We learned that grasses and their roots were and are what keeps the soil in place. Native grasses created soil so rich it was black and full of minerals,