“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checked by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” --President Theodore Roosevelt, Victory Brewing Company Headquarters 2010 was a great year for the SHIRE. We had three full seasons of educational engagement with our local and surrounding communities In the Spring:KIPP Rainwater Collection and Field Trips From their website: “KIPP is a national network of free open-enrollement, college prepatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life.” The SHIRE works with Austin’s local KIPP branch to make learning sensational. The volunteer built rainwater catchment on their school building was only the beginning. Throughout the spring, KIPP 8th graders participated in field trips and workshops, from natural building, to seed planting, to following the nitrogen cycle. “It was wonderful to watch and interact with a group of adolescents excited to get muddy and learn about natural building.” -Jessi Devine, instructor, straw clay insulation -Gracklefest The first annual Gracklefest soared into existence in late May. It was the SHIRE’s first major fundraising event, attracting hundreds of visitors and dozens of artists from all over Texas. Music, camping, performing arts, swimming, and Frisbee golf were all part of the gathering. The SHIRE set the bar high for its first event, an experience widely enjoyed by everyone who came out. “This was the first festival I was involved in. It was an eye opening experience in terms of logistics, and a heart opening experience from all the positive interactions and comments from participants. Can't wait to do it again next year!” – Jessi Devine Summer: -Outreach Cross Country The SHIRE’s first interns, Elizabeth Burke and Patrick Reck, reached out across the country to observe and experience the sustainability movement in coastal California, Denver, CO, Pennsylvania, Adirondack Park in New York, and New York City. Their first building project was a composting toilet in northern California. They also worked as sustainable consultants for a property in Friends Lake, NY, where they renovated a century old house. -On-Site Shop Braden headed the reorganization of the Wood’s garage into a fully functional tool shop. With a major donation from Braden's mom, we installed a floor, a fire safety cabinet, and a fancy new Miter saw. We also acquired a drill press and a variety of tool cabinets, as well as an entire arsenal of tools to expand volunteer days. Fall: -Art Outside Eco Area The SHIRE served as Sustainability Coordinators for the 6th annual Art Outside, with an educational booth, over 20 speakers and 5 workshops, including tincture, the art of eating bugs, and a demonstration of cob construction. We collected funds to offset carbon produced by the festival, and reduced waste by sorting recycling and compost. -Fall Frolic Fall Frolic was a camp-out on a grand scale. The dancefloor thumped and fire spun and the night stayed warm. Many came with tents and left with smiles. “Fall Frolic was an amazing event, a few hundred people came out for good clean family fun and lots of live music and dancing.” – Braden Delonay, Event Coordinator -Bicycle Superheroes Do-gooders on bikes assisted the SHIRE in early December. They cleared trails and sites for camping, taking out deadwood and invasive yaupon hollies, cut used vinyl tents into canvasses to decorate the stage pavillion, repurposed old fence posts to finish the lakehouse, dug post holes and leveled the ground for a storage shed, and built an octagonal tree bench out of old lumber. One Hero in particular, Night Shade, even rewired our breaker box so that we would have more power for the shop. All together they clocked over 350 man hours. Amazing! Ongoing: HOPE Famer's Market On Sundays, the SHIRE sets up an educational demonstration about the switch from conventional to sustainable, in areas like energy, food, and shelter. Thanks to graphic designer Ross Connard for these amazing posters. We share a space with horticulturists Bert and Will. Branch Grove Farms We assisted Branch Grove Farms in the initial installation of water systems, as well as assisting with weeding and maintaining crops. Our plans for the future include the development and implementation of a greenhouse and a bunkhouse for WWOOFers and farm hands, as well as expanding the CSA program. “Who knew peppers could be this much fun?” – Lizz Burke, farmhand volunteer |
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