Here we are in the b-bbrrrrrrrr-rr of winter and gardening events are already
all a-bloom in this green li’l community. While our particular thumbs come in
so many colors of the rainbow (except the requisite green, usually), we can’t
help but wonder if this is a testimonial to plucky, wishful thinking: If you
plant it, it will grow!
[[perthousand]] South Austin Community Gardens, 1001 Cumberland (at S. Fifth)
hits its terrific twos with a second anniversary party, Sat., Jan. 20, 11am.
The general public is invited to the free bash, which features music by Leeann
Atherton and Larry Wilson, tours, refreshments, and composting demos(!). There
will be garden plot sign-ups for future farmers. This seems guaranteed not to
be your garden-variety shindig. 443-1117.
[[perthousand]] Ironically, the epitome of out-of-context design, the
Austin Convention Center, is the site of the Annual Xeriscape School, Sat.,
Jan. 20, which will dig into the dirt of Xeriscape design, water-conserving
plants, soils and compost, and Xeriscape maintenance. As last year, they will
have both a beginner and advanced track. For each of the two main classes, only
175 slots are allowed, and space is filling as fast as a roadside in wildflower
season. Both tracks are $25 per person. 499-2199 or 499-3514.
[[perthousand]] For a mere $10 membership to the National Arbor Day
Foundation, the big tree coalition will send you 10 free flowering
trees, plus a newsletter subscription, and a copy of The Tree
Book as a bud of thanks for the support. They can’t possibly be making
money off of this deal. Send $10 before Wed., Jan. 31 to: Ten Free Flowering
Trees, National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor AV, Nebraska City, NE 68410.
The trees will be shipped at the right time for planting between Feb. 1 and May
31. Any trees that don’t grow will be replaced free of charge, guaranteed. That
type of support doesn’t grow on trees.
[[perthousand]] Okay, it’s a different type of green, but it kinda
fits… The Austin Greens meet Wed., Jan 24, 7pm, at Terrazas Public Library,
1105 E. Cesar Chavez, to discuss concerns like ecological wisdom, social
justice, nonviolence, and grassroots democracy. 707-0804.
Go Dog, Go
The National Runaway Switchboard and Greyhound Buslines provide free ridesfor runaways between the ages of 12 and 18. Okay kids, don’t get the wrong idea
— you must be heading back toward home, not away. Home Free merges the best
of both organizations to better facilitate a good program initiated by
Trailways in 1984. Instead of having to go to the local police department, now
runaways, parents, police officers, or social service agencies can start the
bus rolling by simply calling the hotline. 800/621-4000.
Heed the Call Up
It’s the time of year when social service agencies are recovering from holidayhangovers (caused by work, not play) and year-end budget realities. Don’t wait
for the fancy-schmancy galas; you can help now by volunteering.
* Texas Runaway Hotline has training classes for volunteers starting Wed., Jan
24. 800/392-3352.
*Parents Anonymous needs caring, non-judgmental listeners for the HEARTline, a
statewide, 24-hour crisis line. Training begins Sat., Jan. 20. Spanish speakers
needed. 459-5490.
* Communities in Schools needs child abuse prevention educators for their
Pebble Project. Training begins Thu., Jan 25. 462-1771.
* Help One Student to Succeed (HOSTS) needs tutors in the following elementary
schools: Barrington — 836-3884; Dawson — 448-2930 or 442-2143;
Ortega — 926-7461 or 926-4112; and Zavala — 474-0955 or
472-0505.
* The next classes for Austin Rape Crisis Center volunteers begin Tue., Feb.
13. Spanish or Asian-language speakers encouraged. 440-7273.
Cartographer of Love
300 Years of Texas history is mapped out in a new exhibit, This WondrousTexas: The Mapping of Texas 1570-1860, jointly curated by the Texas General
Land Office and San Jacinto Museum of History. The exhibition of over 40 Texas
maps is at the Capitol Complex Visitor Center, located, interestingly enough,
in the old General Land Office at 112 E. 11th St. 305-8400. n
Email: pnotice@auschron.com Mail to: “Public Notice,” The
Austin Chronicle, P0 Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765. Deadline: Wednesday, 6pm,
eight days prior to publication. Phone calls have a .001% chance of being
returned.
This article appears in January 19 • 1996 and January 19 • 1996 (Cover).