Sep. 24--The recent drought was a heavy reminder to Hays County residents of their close ties to the land around them.

And the upcoming Eco Fest hopes to serve as a refresher course on the importance of protecting the environment year round.

The Citizens Alliance for Responsible Development (CARD) will sponsor Wimberley Eco Fest 2009: Living Greener in the Hill Country on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Katherine Anne Porter School, 515 FM 2325 in Wimberley. The six-hour event, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., features a dozen experts giving talks and answering questions on subjects chosen to offer help to Hays County residents eager to make practical, cost efficient and environmentally sound decisions on their property.

There will also be mini-seminars put on by the Hays County Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists, plus environmental minded booths from businesses and groups, a children's activity room and much more.

"We wanted to create an event that offered free, practical, every day advice for all residents of Western Hays County, advice that would also benefit the land and environment, now and in the future," said CARD organizer Jim McMeans. "Our group was established two years ago to oppose some of the unsound development practices that have been hurting all area residents and which threaten to destroy the very nature of this special place we love. We feel it is just as important for us to promote good practices as to oppose bad ones, and Eco Fest is one way to do that."

Eco Fest 2009's keynote speaker is Austin green architect Peter L. Pfeiffer, of Austin's Barley & Pfeiffer, at 3 p.m. Pfeiffer was featured recently giving a tour of his family's own energy-efficient, home on Discovery Channel's "World's Greenest Homes."

Pfeiffer's firm specializes in green building practices since 1987, and has been published in the Washington Post, New York TImes, USA Today, Fine Homebuilding and Better Homes and Gardens. In 2003 the National Association of Home Builders recognize Peter with the "National Green Advocate of the Year" award for his achievements in "mainstreaming" green building.

In addition, one or more speakers will be featured every hour. Jamie Kinscherff, land manager for Canyon Gorge, and his Argus Ecoservices business partner Karen Archer, will present a program on land stewardship, with practical ideas to protect and enhance our properties.

Bryan Davis, familiar to many Hays residents as a popular former Hays County Extension Agent (currently County Extension Agent for Natural Resources, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, in Bexar County) presents a program on smart wildlife management for the small acreage owner.

Landscape architect and permaculture designer Elizabeth McGreevy, currently writing a book on mountain cedar (ashe juniper), cuts through some of the vast misinformation about this seemingly omnipresent plant and what really should, and should not, be done about it.

Malcolm Beck, founder of Gardenville and a frequent voice on radio gardening shows, gives tips on organic gardening.

Richard Heinichen, co-author of Rainwater Collection for the Mechanically Challenged, a long-time rainwater advocate, owner of Tank Town and bottler of Richard's Rainwater, answers all your questions on how to kick the well-water habit and drink from the clouds.

Eric Beckers of the Texas Forest Service will give advice on the ever-present danger of oak wilt, while Jan Fulkerson, Urban Wildland Interface Specialist for the Texas Forest Service will present ways to protect our homes from fire danger.

A representative of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) brings ideas on energy conservation and home weatherizing. Eco Fest offers free parking and free admission. The Katherine Anne Porter School (KAPS) will supply food and beverages for sale. Booth space is still available for appropriate displays: contact Matt Heineman, (512) 944-4323 or e-mail love4water@gmail.com.

For more information visit www.hayscard.org.

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