There are indigenous peoples in Mexico who spent last winter risking their lives against cartel hitmen and illegal loggers to defend the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. https://www.vox.com/climate/24006471/cop28-rising-danger-environmental-activism. The butterflies they defended are returning now after devastating overwintering losses. https://xerces.org/press/eastern-monarch-butterfly-overwintering-area-in-mexico-drops-precipitously. We are in the critical migration path for this creature, which needs us to protect it from pesticides and habitat loss here. https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2024-03-04/monarch-butterflies-spring-migration-texas. You can provide a lifeline for Monarch butterflies and honor the efforts of their indigenous defenders by providing the native milkweed that they need to survive: https://xerces.org/milkweed/milkweed-seed-finder.

The Americas are uniquely blessed with hummingbirds, who are also undertaking their epic journeys: https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/. Hummingbird populations are declining, and these tiny victims of climate change need us to protect them from our glass and domestic cats. https://www.uwyo.edu/news/2024/02/uw-researcher-studies-why-hummingbird-numbers-are-declining.html. Hummingbird feeders require proper cleaning and solution, but you can help just by hosting one easy shrub that can thrive in our brutal summers and continuously feed hummingbirds on its own: Flame Acanthus. https://txmg.org/hendersonmg/plant-library/flame-acanthus-or-hummingbird-bush/.

Finally, we have another butterfly here whose reliance upon a specific plant explains why it is also known as the Passion Butterfly. https://biodiversity.utexas.edu/news/entry/austins-other-orange-butterfly-the-gulf-fritillary. Gulf Fritillary Butterflies depend upon passion flower vines, so you can directly help by providing a native passionflower that you protect from pesticide. https://www.nurturenativenature.com/post/passionflower-vines-are-the-only-game-in-town-for-gulf-fritillary-caterpillars. The caterpillars in this month’s photo were amongst a dozen feeding on a single Purple Passion Flower vine, which they stripped bare but which is re-growing just fine.

We moved to North Loop in August 2023, and quickly fell in love with the area, and especially our street. The street is a place of community — people walking their dogs and babies, kids playing basketball, strangers stopping for a chat as we amble up and down.

55th Street neighbors welcomed us to the area, and we enjoyed the Halloween Trick or Treat closure between Chesterfield and Link. In November, when the City of Austin revamped the Healthy Streets program (more information here), I worked with a team of neighbors (thank you to Eileen, Steve, Link, and Jan for taking time on their weekend!) to get signatures supporting a pilot activation on our street from Avenue G to Guadalupe.

The 55th Street Healthy Street Pilot officially launched on Friday, February 23rd at 5pm, on the corner of 55th St and Chesterfield! Representatives from the City of Austin were there to answer any questions about the pilot, which will be active on 55th Street from late February to at least late August 2024 (pending potential extension opportunities). Neighbors, you’re invited to come bike, roll, or walk down anytime!

-Kurt L.

Our state wildflower adorns highways throughout Texas in the spring. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/bluebonnet. Some North Loop yards also feature bluebonnets, but these members of the legume family “are adapted to the rocky, alkaline soils of the Hill County” and “can be tricky to get established.” https://www.wildflower.org/learn/how-to/grow-bluebonnets.

There are other native wildflowers growing happily in our local soil conditions without any effort whatsoever on our part. They may not be as famous as bluebonnets, but they are also beautiful and valuable to wildlife. Lesser-known native wildflowers deserve our appreciation even if we didn’t sow their seeds and if they came up in unexpected places. That is the grace of wildflowers—not everything has to be planned, curated and contained.

Carolina Geranium is coming up all over the neighborhood, although it is most visible in alleys where it has been spared so far from indiscriminate mowing: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=geca5. Windflower can be spotted popping up in many local lawns: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=anbe. False Garlic, also known inauspiciously as Crowpoison, arrives early in many yards: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=nobi2. Finally, another poorly named native wildflower called Widows Tears (also known slightly more cheerfully as False Dayflower), will attract bees if we simply let it grow: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=TIAN.

Plants are critical to our lives but we tend to be indifferent towards them. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190425-plant-blindness-what-we-lose-with-nature-deficit-disorder. Even if we try to connect with them, our relationship with plants isn’t always healthy. Plant trends can harm specific species and habitats. https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/22935166/succulent-plant-poaching-jared-margulies. The resources required to grow houseplants are environmentally significant. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/01/03/sustainable-houseplant-care/.

There are native plants awaiting your discovery: https://www.npsot.org/our-work/nice-native-plant-partners/. There are also opportunities to prevent waste by purchasing an overlooked or struggling plant. Over the years, our family has purchased wonderful plants discounted 50-75% from Shoal Creek Nursery and The Great Outdoors Nursery. Many of them still survive to this day. Even those that didn’t were a much better investment than cut flowers. Likewise, we have purchased clearance plants from some HEB stores, frequently at the end of a consumer-perceived gardening season (but when our area still has months of growing time remaining).

Some plants are entirely free! We are blessed with a plant stand in our neighborhood and in Hyde Park. Sometimes generous neighbors offer spare plants on our neighborhood email list. Commercial centers, responding to our collectively unreasonable appearance expectations for plants coping with extreme weather, frequently clear out recoverable landscaping. The yucca in this month’s photo was ripped out of the ground by a crew years ago, but permission was granted to take it for transplant instead of the landfill. Finally, not everything that grows on its own in our yards is a weed. It is worth investing some time to identify plant “volunteers.” The easiest and cheapest way of all to acquire plants is by not mowing them all down!

The City of Austin’s website states that: “More than 170,000 tons of storm debris were collected from Winter Storm Mara. That's enough to fill Q2 stadium four times!” https://www.austintexas.gov/stormdebris. We don’t need to have all of our tree limbs, branches and leaves hauled away when our stripped and compacted urban soil is desperate for nourishment. If we have a freeze this winter (or even if we don’t), embracing yard decay promotes life.

There are many options that leave our urban homestead soil better equipped to capture carbon and endure drought. Regenerative gardening “is a style of garden management and planting that is conscious of emissions and waste,” in which tilling is avoided and soil is enriched by adding back organic matter. https://www.gbbg.org/regenerative-gardening-for-soil-health. Spent mushroom blocks from local farms can be used to help process our yard refuse: https://www.centraltexasmycology.org/block-giveaway.

Hügelkultur uses decaying logs and plants to create mounds for cultivation: https://www.almanac.com/what-hugelkultur-ultimate-raised-bed. Even if one doesn’t want traditional mounds, yard debris can be used to construct and/or fill raised garden beds (thereby reducing the need to purchase garden soil). https://www.permaculturenews.org/2012/06/24/raised-beds-and-soil-rehab-with-yard-waste/. A compost wall or fence, such as the one in this month’s photo supporting an alley pollinator garden, also provides habitat for birds. https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/garden-and-yard/compost-fence-zm0z23jjzawar/.

Although the City of Austin offers Christmas tree recycling, https://www.austintexas.gov/treerecycling, there is no denying that our holiday décor impacts climate change. Noting that Christmas tree farms are suffering crop losses from extreme weather, Green Matters concludes that: “While Christmas tree farms are in danger from climate change, cutting down a Christmas tree for a month’s use isn’t necessarily sustainable.” https://www.greenmatters.com/weather-and-global-warming/christmas-trees-climate-change. Among earth.org’s suggestions for a more environmentally friendly holiday, they recommend decorating: 1) a secondhand artificial tree, 2) an outdoor living tree or 3) an indoor potted tree. https://earth.org/real-vs-fake-christmas-tree-environmental-impact/. There are living trees that can be transitioned from the home into our own local landscape: https://tngaustin.com/december/. You don’t even have to miss out on the holiday home fragrance because Christmas tree sellers, including big box stores, frequently offer free cuttings that can be used for centerpieces and wreaths.

Poinsettias are not annuals, and they should not be left outdoors in our cold winter weather: https://aggie-hort.tamu.edu/newsletters/hortupdate/hortupdate_archives/2005/nov05/Poinsettias.html. Although it is best to purchase native plants, there is no reason to waste what can be used as a houseplant in our area. Unwanted poinsettias are frequently offered for free on Craigslist after the holidays, and they can revive if given a little patience and rudimentary care. The poinsettia in this month’s photograph came from our very own neighborhood plant stand last season, and it does not have colorful bracts because its lighting was not controlled.

The early arctic cold front, imminent “fall back” from Daylight Saving to standard time and upcoming holidays have a tendency to shift our focus indoors. This is actually, however, a very important time for action in your urban wildlife habitat. For example, now is the time to plant wildflower seeds to be able to enjoy them next spring. https://tngaustin.com/november/. Animals will be seeking shelter from the cold, and failure to prevent their entrance into our homes can lead to unnecessary future humane dilemmas. Austin Wildlife Rescue therefore recommends for this month that we proactively: “Secure attic and crawl spaces before animals move in seeking warmth.” https://www.austinwildliferescue.org/learning-resources/wildlife-calendar

It is also prime tree planting season here. Texas Arbor Day falls this year on Friday, November 3. As explained by Keep Texas Beautiful: “Here in Texas, we experience a variety of climate extremes, such as drought and flash flooding, extreme heat and often extreme cold in the north and desert regions. Texas heat can start as early as late spring (including April) and last as long as late Fall. We don’t often cool off until late October. This makes early November the perfect time in Texas to plant and establish a tree. While our northern friends are planting in the spring, Texas trees do better when planted in the Fall.” https://ktb.org/ktb-blog/the-tale-of-texas-arbor-day/

On Tuesday, October 3rd, around 70 attendees converged on Bruning Green for the annual National Night Out. There were many new faces, and many families with young kids, in attendance. The crowd benefited from a steady breeze that kept flying insects away.

City representatives included police, emergency medical technicians, fire fighters, and code enforcement. City Council Members Chito Vela (District 4) and Zo Qadri (District 9) stopped by as well. Neighborhood businesses Home Slice and Zucchini Kill supplied refreshments.

The Climate Committee table and voter-registration tables were focal points for many attendees. Carrie did an outstanding job assisting neighbors with their plant selections. Kaye helped more than a dozen residents renew their North Loop Neighborhood Association membership and raised much-needed funds for Bruning Green and other endeavors.

Please help us maintain Bruning Green as a vibrant gathering place for neighbors: save the date for It’s My Park Day on Saturday, November 4th. Volunteers are needed to help spread mulch and/or compost.

House Concerts are a great way to spend a Sunday evening right in our North Loop neighborhood; they feature amazing local music, a delicious potluck, and camaraderie with like-minded people. Steve and Mary Jo at 5414 Duval Street host these concerts quarterly, and the attendance continues to grow. At the latest North Loop House Concert on September 24th, Giulia Millanta and Matt Giles, who play well-known Austin venues as well as all over the United States and internationally, were the main attraction. Their songs, guitar playing, and stories had the listening room spellbound. Serena Guthrie, Woody’s great-granddaughter and Arlo’s granddaughter, opened for them. You will be hearing much more from her as she is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter. Many of our guests travel from South or North Austin and are thrilled to have a House Concert venue in this iconic Central Austin neighborhood.

To find out about upcoming events, subscribe to the North Loop Neighborhood Association listserv, or send an email to maryjooneal [at] gmail [dot] com to be added directly to the North Loop House Concerts mailing list. Come join us next time as this is a jewel in your own backyard, and we love to meet new neighbors.

As we head into the fall season, it is a good time to reconsider our yard “refuse” practices. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation urges us to: “Think twice before you rake, mow, and blow this year. Invertebrates rely on fallen leaves and other organic debris to cover and insulate themselves from the elements.” They explain how “fall cleanup in moderation” can be orderly while providing crucial overwintering pollinator habitat: “Leaving the leaves and other plant debris doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your yard to the wilderness. The leaves don’t need to be left exactly where they fall. You can rake them into garden beds, around tree bases, or into other designated areas. Too many leaves can kill grass, but in soil they can suppress weeds, retain moisture, and boost nutrition. Avoid shredding leaves with a mower. Raking or blowing are alternatives that will keep leaves whole for the best cover and protect the insects and eggs already living there.” https://xerces.org/leave-the-leaves.

Another consideration this month is Halloween décor. Precious natural resources are utilized to grow pumpkins, over a billion pounds of which are ultimately sent to landfills to rot and generate methane. https://www.keepaustinfed.org/blog/pumpkins. Organizations like Hubbub urge you to select smaller edible pumpkins, decorate rather than carve, and then “Eat Your Pumpkin”: https://www.hubbub.org.uk/eat-your-pumpkin.

The meteorological summer has ended, but the Autumnal Equinox remains weeks away and our drought has deepened. Considering how difficult it is for newly planted trees and shrubs to survive increasingly extreme weather, it makes good sense to preserve already established native and adapted vegetation. Now that we have lost a watering day, it is worth exploring simple tools to sustain the precious tree canopy that offsets our urban heat island.

You can help birds right now by turning off all non-essential outdoor lighting between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. because fall migration began last month and is expected to continue through November 30, with peak night migration from September 6 through October 29. At our last neighborhood association meeting, we learned about the importance of dark skies for the health of so many creatures, including people! DarkSky International’s website can be searched for products that meet their standards to combat light pollution.

Migrating birds that have survived flying through the entire night face yet another hazard in our neighborhoods: colliding with glass. American Bird Conservancy explains that: “migratory birds that have flown all night are usually in a state of exhaustion as the sun comes up and as they look for a place to land and refuel. Those that land in and near cities find themselves in a maze of deadly glass…Fall is worse than spring due to the larger number of birds in flight. This is because fall migration includes both adult birds and juveniles that were born over the summer.” There are, however, inexpensive and unobtrusive products that compassionate owners and renters can use to protect exhausted birds that are unfamiliar with our area.

Not all pollinators are graceful colorful butterflies or cute fuzzy bees, and some are admittedly challenging co-residents of our yards. Nonetheless, less celebrated creatures like wasps are indeed pollinators who also perform valuable pest control functions, and they too are hurting from climate change. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/apr/wasps-are-valuable-ecosystems-economy-and-human-health-just-bees

Rather than indiscriminately killing these beneficial insects, one might carefully identify the species and assess risk to exercise tolerance and mercy whenever possible. For example, the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides notes in “Living with Bees & Wasps” that native paper wasps “can be left alone in many cases,” and that mud daubers have been described as “extremely docile”: https://www.pesticide.org/bees_wasps. Even if a nest is deemed an actual safety hazard, ethical home environmental stewardship might involve considerations of time of day and season (to reduce numeric impact) as well as non-chemical removal.

On the subject of creatures affected by our home pesticide decisions, the nocturnal chirping you hear may not be crickets, but, rather, tiny insect-eating amphibians: https://biodiversity.utexas.edu/news/entry/cliff-chirping-frog.

The other living creatures that share our yards do not have respite from extreme heat, and they are potentially in distress. https://www.npr.org/2023/06/29/1185092056/squirrels-splooting-heat-wave-climate-change. Sharing water with struggling wildlife is especially important right now.

Different species have, however, different water requirements and safety concerns. For example, Monarchs benefit not only from insect-safe watering dishes with stones (to prevent drowning), but also from puddling areas. https://www.nwf.org/-/media/Documents/PDFs/Garden-for-Wildlife/Tip-Sheets/Water-Butterfly-Gardens. Garden-friendly toads benefit from mini-pools placed near a “toad abode.” https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2006/Backyard-Houses-for-Toads. Noting that bats, swifts, swallows and nighthawks must all drink in flight over increasingly scarce open water, Bat Conservation International provides guidance for providing water troughs with wildlife escape structures: https://www.batcon.org/wp-content/uploads/bciwaterforwildlife.pdf.

Non-hazardous sanitation and mosquito control are also essential: https://www.audubon.org/news/why-you-should-keep-your-birdbath-clean.

Although the Summer Solstice is still weeks away and the transition to El Niño is not yet manifest, water is an urgent concern. Before the marathon of 90- and 100-degree temperature days, there are still preparations that one can take to avoid the unnecessary death of plants and trees (and the myriad creatures that depend upon them) later this summer--while respecting watering restrictions ( https://www.austintexas.gov/department/find-your-watering-day).

Apart from free tools like soil moisture readers for residential customers and free irrigation system evaluations for qualifying customers, Austin Water has many valuable rebates (https://www.austintexas.gov/department/rebates-tools-programs). Due to specific installation periods, one has to plan ahead to take advantage of the WaterWise Landscape (turf grass conversion) and Rainscape programs, but there are also year-round programs for rainwater harvesting, watering timers, irrigation upgrades, and “laundry-to-landscape” greywater reuse. The Landscape Survival Tools Rebate helps with mulch, compost and core aeration service.

It is important to get the maximum life-sustaining value out of all precious water. The Natural Gardener has helpful guides concerning how to properly water trees and plants considering their type, whether they are in containers or in the ground, whether they are newly planted or established, the season, the soil type and microclimate: https://tngaustin.com/how-to-water/. One local company offers modern ollas of varied sizes to make the ancient practice of clay-pot irrigation convenient for container or other small gardens: https://drippingspringsollas.com/.

Bee City U.S.A. advocates for “No Mow May, Low Mow Spring” because less-frequently mowed lawns support greater numbers and diversity of bees and butterflies. They point out that: “Lawns cover 40 million acres, or 2%, of land in the US, making them the single largest irrigated crop we grow…When we think of habitat loss, we tend to imagine bulldozer and rutted earth, but acres of manicured lawn are as much a loss of habitat as any development site.” https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/#

The City of Austin’s website includes “Grass/Weeds Over 12 Inches” on its list of “Five common Code violations.” https://www.austintexas.gov/department/common-austin-code-violations#tallgrass. PennState Extension explores the history of Noxious Weed Laws, however, and debunks “myths” that natural landscapes: are fire hazards, attract vermin, harbor ticks, breed mosquitos, worsen allergies and reduce property values. https://extension.psu.edu/neighborly-natural-landscaping-in-residential-areas. Noting the “ongoing issue of municipalities misunderstanding the benefit of native plantings and their benefits to landscapes,” Wild Ones recently published “What to do when the ‘weed police’ knock on your door”: https://wildones.org/native-plant-ordinance/..

Yard equipment directly and significantly contributes to climate change. Environment Texas cites staggering national statistics that gas-powered lawnmowers produce five percent of total U.S. pollution, and Americans use three billion gallons of gasoline for yard maintenance (while spilling another 17 million gallons during refueling): https://environmentamerica.org/texas/articles/pollution-from-leaf-blowers-and-lawn-equipment/.

Birds are already nesting in our yards. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service states that: “Most bird nests are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). This law says: ‘No person may take (kill), possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such bird except as may be permitted under the terms of a valid permit…’ Under the MBTA it is illegal to destroy a nest that has eggs or chicks in it or if there are young birds that are still dependent on the nest for survival.” https://www.fws.gov/story/bird-nests

There are also baby mammals in our yards right now. Austin Wildlife Rescue (AWR) shares that well-meaning people can inadvertently “rescue” a mammal or bird that does not actually need to be rescued (and can be better cared for by its parents). They have an excellent flow chart explaining what to do if you find a baby bird or baby mammal: https://www.austinwildliferescue.org/foundawildanimal.

One mammal deserves special mention, and that is North America’s only marsupial, the opossum. During our Neighborhood Association meeting last month, we learned from AWR that opossums control our local tick populations. They also eat rats and cockroaches. They are transient, unsung backyard heroes, and they are sometimes struck by cars. Recently killed mother opossums may still have live young in their pouches. If you see an opossum on the road, the Opossum Society of the United States suggests that: “If safe to do so, pull over and move the body to the side of the road. If alive then seek immediate assistance. If it is a deceased female then check the pouch for any live young. If found then wrap in a soft, ravel-free towel and transport to a wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Young opossums cannot survive long outside the pouch environment.” https://opossumsocietyus.org/faq-opossum/#I%20saw%20an%20opossum%20on%20the%20road

Finally, now is the time to properly mulch trees (using natural materials in a wide, flat circle and never “volcano mulching”) to prepare them before our summer heat. Earth Day can be observed all month, and “TreeFolks has named Earth Month ‘Mulch Month’ because that is the very best thing you can do for your trees right now”: https://www.treefolks.org/2023/03/28/mulch-month-2023/.

Migrating birds need our help right now because urban light pollution is a hazard. “Travis Audubon and a coalition of other local and state organizations want us to flip the switch for birds this spring! Nearly two billion birds migrate across Central Texas skies each spring and fall, and many of them fly at night. Spring migration is already underway and we want to make their journey as safe as possible. Artificial lighting can cause birds to be disoriented and collide with buildings, and these avoidable collisions kill up to one billion migratory birds annually in the United States. The good news is that everyone can help. Let’s turn off all nonessential indoor and outdoor lighting from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. March 1–June 15, but especially during peak migration dates of April 22–May 12. Please shut off porch and garage lights, close your curtains and shades, and ask your office building management to shut off their lights at night, too. You’ll be protecting birds while also saving money on energy. Learn more at https://travisaudubon.org/lights-out-texas

Native grass seeds can be planted in the spring, so this is a great time to start a pocket meadow. Native American Seed in Junction, Texas, sells native seeds and seed mixes designed to be an “ecosystem in a bag.” https://native-american-seed6.mybigcommerce.com/ For example, non-native turf can be replaced with their “Thunder Turf.” There is even a “Pocket Prairie Mix” specifically designed to increase biodiversity in urban landscapes. Those who do not have a yard can still help restore lost habitat by following Homegrown National Park’s “Container Gardening With Keystone Plants” guide: https://homegrownnationalpark.org/keystone-container-gardening?gclid=Cj0KCQjwtsCgBhDEARIsAE7RYh1DkLJ9m2fxUapyqkUDUfWjqdsEZkWfxAy9Hea2FxK_Gl5OtaRLgzEaAio1EALw_wcB.

Urban wildlife habitats are also hurting after the recent ice storm, but a lot can be salvaged through proper care. Please see Texas A&M Forest Service's "After the Storm" resource under the Homeowners tab for tree care: Urban and Community Forestry | After the Storm (tamu.edu). The Natural Gardener prepared an excellent resource after Winter Storm Uri for landscape plants in general: https://tngaustin.com/freeze-maintenance/

February is a good time to support wildlife that will be migrating or having young soon. Because cavity-nesting native birds are losing nesting sites to development and tree removal, providing a nesting box in your yard can really help local wildlife. The National Wildlife Federation recommends placing nesting boxes out by the end of the month in our area, and they have helpful guidance about selection, placement and care: https://www.nwf.org/en/Garden-for-Wildlife/Young/Nesting-Box. Purple Martins, who provide valuable mosquito control, are already on the move. They rely entirely on humans for their nesting cavities, but becoming a “landlord” for these graceful birds requires attention to their specific requirements: https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_0254.pdf

These are desperate times for the migratory Monarch Butterfly. Your kindness in providing milkweed plants for returning butterflies to lay their eggs here starting next month makes a real difference in the survival of this species. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation cautions home gardeners, however, that “nurseries—even those producing pollinator plants—may have treated their plants with pesticide,” so they offer a “Buying Bee-Safe Plants” guide: https://xerces.org/pesticides/bee-safe-nursery-plants. Although milkweed seeds are best planted in the fall like other wildflowers, Monarch Watch’s “Milkweed Market” for native milkweed plugs opens this month: https://shop.milkweedmarket.org/

Finally, for those still seeking to plant a tree during this most advantageous time of year, the TreeFolks NeighborWoods program is offering two free tree adoption events this month: https://www.treefolks.org/neighborwoods/

Climate change can be daunting. Even if individuals cannot personally solve the crisis, they can choose not to contribute to the problem by a “do no harm” approach in whatever balcony, patio or yard they can control. The quote often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” is relevant even here in our North Loop Neighborhood.

This column focuses on concrete, timely and frugal measures to support the struggling pollinators and wildlife that are also a part of our urban density. Many of these creatures are suffering from habitat loss, pesticide, pollution and extreme weather. Compassionate urban land stewardship matters to our native flora and fauna.

January is a good time to take care of work that might otherwise interfere with wildlife or risk tree health in the spring/summer. For example, is there necessary certified arborist work that might be accomplished now (before birds build their nests starting as early as next month)? January is regarded as the last safe month to prune oak trees (always painting pruning cuts) before the risk of Oak Wilt increases. If trees suffered severe damage during last summer’s drought, might they still safely provide precious habitat?

January is also a good time to prevent germination of spring weeds without harming the environment.The Natural Gardener recommends purchasing corn gluten early this month to apply to lawn or garden beds later as soon as sunny days return.

Spending time in nature is such a good thing for mental health. Taking a hike through the woods can improve your mood, help lower anxiety and depression, increase motivation, improve your immune system and also help you concentrate better. Getting outside and away from technology helps us to connect back to our roots, get grounded, and take a breath of fresh air. Spending time in nature helps us to be mindful and more present in our own lives.

Ecotherapy is a type of therapy that involves spending time in nature with a trained therapist to process what’s on your mind while at the same time getting all of the mental health benefits of being in nature. Local North Loop therapist Mallory Beckwith, LPC-Associate (Supervised by Sarah Arnold, LPC-S) is now offering ecotherapy for anyone interested in getting outdoors and improving mental health.

Here are a few simple techniques you can try to bring ecotherapy techniques to your holiday season:

• Go for a stroll to local neighborhood park Bruning Green. Try sitting still and meditating on the bench for 5 minutes.
• Observe the beautiful leaves on North Loop trees as they change colors this fall and winter
• Walk barefoot in your backyard as a grounding technique
• Plant and grow a winter crop such as lettuce in a raised garden bed
• Pick up a beautiful bouquet of flowers at HEB and enjoy the aesthetics of natural flowers in your home

If you are interested in learning more about ecotherapy and its benefits, reach out to:

Mallory Beckwith, LPC-Associate

https://www.therapywithmallory.com

contact@therapywithmallory.com

512-265-6607

It is our responsibility to take care of our environment so we have a refuge to go to when feeling overwhelmed. Connect with the North Loop Neighborhood Association’s climate committee to engage in Waller Creek clean-ups and local environmental advocacy.

On September 29, 2022, neighbors lost a vital community leader and long-time Ridgetop resident Martha K. Ward, aged 73. A native Austinite with a fiery spirit and playful wit, Martha modeled active, inclusive participation in civic life. Her decades-long efforts have shaped the past and present of Ridgetop, North Loop, and surrounding neighborhoods.

A resident of Ridgetop since 1994, Martha was instrumental in advocating for a new neighborhood planning process that would bring extensive community involvement into the City’s development plans. She organized the North Loop Neighborhood Planning Team (NLNPT) from August 2001 through May 2002. For her service to the community, the Neighborhoods Conference presented Martha with a Neighbor of the Year Award in 2001.

Martha took other key leadership roles around affordability and transit in Central Austin. Martha’s neighbor Judy Farley notes that “Long before Austin’s affordability became a common complaint, Martha championed working with Travis County to build Travis Flats,” an affordable-housing complex at 53 ½ and Helen Street. Martha also served as the Ridgetop representative to the North Central I-35 Neighborhood Coalition (NCINC), a group advocating for more neighborhood input into the Texas Department of Transportation’s proposed widening of I-35 through Austin./p>

Aside from her ongoing civic engagement, Martha cultivated relationships and practiced neighborliness in more informal ways. At Martha’s invitation, former North Loop resident Don Smith would join Martha in a monthly “reading aloud” ritual at her house, a practice they kept up for nearly two decades. NCINC Chair Brendan Wittstruck recalls meandering walks, coffees, and conversations together, along with Martha’s penchant for connecting people: “I have friends to this day I wouldn’t have met but for her introductions.” Sharing of people extended to the sharing of plants. Neighbor Donna Boyter still tends to a pot of Cast Iron plant from Martha in a part of Boyter’s garden that she plans to rename “Martha’s garden” because they would regularly sit out there together “during the COVID times.”

A remembrance of Martha would not be complete without a nod to her Texas-sized personality. Friends and neighbors described her as “a force of nature,” “a bit of a maverick,” “bigger than life,” and “outrageous in the best sense of the word.” Martha’s Austin roots ran deep, and she would often regale neighbors with colorful stories of Austin’s history. As former neighbor Bill Yoder puts it, “I can’t recall a time when Martha wasn’t smiling and laughing and telling jokes, and simultaneously castigating the incompetence and selfishness of Texas politicians.”

In her eulogy, Martha’s daughter Mary Alice Kuykendall observed that one of the many lessons she learned from her mom was “the strength and power that comes from community.” Neighbor Patrick Goetz agrees: “People like Martha are the glue that create community and hold society together.”

Below, neighbors share their memories of Martha Ward in full:

“Martha was bigger than life, wasn't she? So full of joy, enthusiasm, good will, good humor--colorful, and outrageous in the best sense of the word. I am sorry to see her leave us too soon and will miss her.”

“I met Martha during the neighborhood planning process. She called me a couple of weeks later and asked if Alberto and I would like to come to her house for dinner on Saturday night, warning that there was a catch--we had to bring something to read. "It can be a seed catalog", she said. For the next 19 years we did 'reading aloud' at her house once a month and she came to our house for dinner every Friday night for a little over nine years. We developed a very close friendship and never missed more than a couple of weeks without getting together at least once. (People go on vacation from time to time.) She was all about connections, never knew a stranger, and worked tirelessly to make our community better. There's a Martha-shaped hole in my world that can never be filled.”

“Martha was such a force. A bit of a maverick with wit and boldness and creative force. And she did really, deeply care about our community so much and really wanted it to be a better place. She brought so much to the process in the neighborhood planning times. And she was also a great supporter of the arts and intellectual pursuits. Her roots were really deep in Austin history. I'm sad that she's gone and I'm sad that I haven't seen her in so long and didn't get to say goodbye. She definitely left her mark, though. More power to her. May she be at peace now. Glad she's no longer suffering.”

“I cannot picture Martha without also recalling her insatiable curiosity and her love of connecting people to one another. I first met her through our work with NCINC--trying to get more neighborhood input into TxDOT's widening of I-35; immediately, she started reaching out, usually just to say she knew something she thought I'd like to meet. Indeed, I have friends to this day I wouldn't have met but for her introductions. Sometimes, she would convene small groups at her treasured Arpeggio Grill. Our conversations meandered without agenda and I reveled in the stories she and others told of Austin. I will miss our walks and coffees, similarly without agenda, as if only to be expressively present in the neighborhood and ever learning how to listen.”

“The first time I met Martha was at the inaugural neighborhood planning team meeting. This was in fact the first neighborhood planning meeting in the entire city, as Martha and a couple of long time neighbors had cleverly negotiated this with the city in exchange for tamping down opposition to a planned day labor facility at the corner of 51st and IH-35. I was immediately struck by what a force of nature she was; always ebullient, positive, diplomatic, and inclusive. I suspect it was literally impossible for anyone to not like Martha. People like Martha are the glue that create community and hold society together. Over the years I have enjoyed working with her on many, many schemes to make the neighborhood and the city a better place. Her heart was always in the right place, and she will be sorely missed.”

“Martha Ward moved to Ridgetop in 1994, and she proceeded to become an essential participant leader in this community. Long before Austin's affordability became a common complaint, Martha championed working with Travis County to build Travis Flats, the affordable housing apartment complex at 53 1/2 and Helen. She was so very proud to see the complex completed.”

“Martha K. Ward was an organizer of and participant in the North Loop Neighborhood Planning Team from it's onset in Aug 2001 through it's completion (COA adoption/approval of the Plan) in May 2002. In doing so she attended every meeting (every two weeks for over a year), provided humor , insight, and sensitivity to the process and dedication to the development of a vision and plan for a vibrant, friendly, and liveable community .In June 2001, Martha was presented with a Neighbor of the Year Award at the Neighborhoods Conference. In the 20 + years since , Martha continued her engagement with the Northloop Neighborhood lending her support, guidance, humor, and socialization to frequent events. In her Eulogy, Martha's daughter, Mary, said it best when she said that (among other qualities) she learned from Martha is "the strength and power that comes from community". Martha will be deeply missed.”

“Martha was a good friend, always sharing tickets to cultural events. I was fortunate enough to connect with Marha and her siblings in Santa Fe for a fun day of wine and stories. They were a very loving group. Martha's accent is of old Texas and quick being lost. She called people Darlin' in a sweet and inclusive way. We went to the polls together a couple of times and shared a love for truth and fairness.Martha shared a big pot of Cast Iron Plant that grows in a part of my garden I will call Martha's garden because we sat out there during the COVID times and had a beverage. I will miss her.”

“I can't recall a time when Martha wasn't smiling and laughing and telling jokes, and simultaneously castigating the incompetence and selfishness of TX politicians. She was a keeper, a strong community resource, and a wonderful woman. R.I.P. Martha. We'll miss you.”

On October 22, Greg Smith joined residents at Bruning Green for the final North Loop District 9 city council candidate meetup series. According to Smith, the 2019 lifting of the ban prohibiting people experiencing homelessness from camping in certain public spaces pushed him to get into the race. Smith told residents that the city council did not adequately discuss or plan for the effects that lifting the ban would have on public safety in Austin, and that this revealed a crisis of leadership. (As reported in Austin media, the 2019 camping ban modifications were discussed and debated in a series of public meetings, including opposition from incumbent District 9 council member Kathie Tovo, who requested delays to allow for further deliberations on some measures.)

The camping ban was reinstated in May 2021 in response to a successful ballot initiative sponsored by the Save Austin Now PAC, who recently endorsed Smith for the District 9 council position. Smith said the city must work carefully with nonprofit community organizations to make housing or shelter available to all who want it. However, he added that once housing becomes available, then he favors giving people experiencing homelessness the option of (1) accepting housing assistance and abiding by the rules, (2) leaving the city, or (3) being arrested.

On another public safety issue, Smith cited the worsening problem in fully staffing the police due to challenges in recruiting and retention. He said the city should be offering high pay to ensure that all positions, including those in and outside the police, are fully staffed. To improve the relationship between the city and the police workforce, he added, the city should apologize for attempting to defund or “reimagine the police,” which he believes should not have happened.

He supports steps to increase the housing supply, including streamlining the permitting process and increasing development on city transportation corridors, where the city should incentivize developers to build properties that are “higher, bigger, denser.” He also said he favors reducing the ability of environmental groups, like Save Our Springs, to obstruct pro-growth development.

Concerning TxDOT’s proposal to widen I-35 in central Austin, he said he is the only District 9 candidate who supports cap and stitch. (Actually, candidate Linda Guerrero has also expressed support for cap and stitch.) He said he has talked to Adam Greenfield of Rethink35 multiple times, but he believes TxDOT will do whatever they are going to do. According to Smith, the cap and stitch effort may cost the city as much as $500 million, but it will help eliminate the racial barrier created in 1928 that separates east from central Austin. When asked how the proposal would affect the barrier between North Loop and Windsor Park, he said he did not know because he was only familiar with the plans for downtown.

When addressing what distinguishes him from the other candidates, he said the other candidates were far more experienced and educated about government policy than he is. According to Smith, what distinguishes him is his unique professional experience and leadership skills, which included supervisory positions in golf course management and the insurance industry.

Early voting is available October 24-November 4. Election day is November 8. Read up on our past conversations with Tom Wald, Joah Spearman, Ben Leffler, Zohaib Qadri, and Linda Guerrero on the blog. For more candidate information, watch the KUT-sponsored October 21 District 9 Virtual Forum.

Linda Guerrero met with North Loop residents at our latest District 9 City Council candidate meetup on October 8. Guerrero, a lifelong Austin resident, has extensive leadership experience in the Hancock Neighborhood Association as well as on various Austin boards and commissions. In discussions with residents, Guerrero highlighted her experience negotiating with developers and building community coalitions.

Guerrero acknowledged housing affordability and displacement as the greatest challenge facing Austin residents. As a recently retired AISD teacher, she elected to return to work for financial reasons in response to rising property valuations and taxes on her 1930s bungalow.

Guerrero advocated for a number of ad hoc steps to expand the housing supply or improve affordability, including reviewing current codes and regulations for potential updates, rezoning properties from commercial to multiuse, reducing short-term rental units, and moving houses targeted for demolition to city-owned property or land trusts. She also supported incentives to obtain additional housing units for occupants at or below the 60 percent Austin median family income threshold.

In contrast to candidates from previous District 9 meetups, Guerrero did not voice support for comprehensive changes to Austin’s land use code--one of the most restrictive among large U.S. cities. This approach is similar to those taken by three council members who have endorsed Guerrero’s candidacy. Guerrero said she considers herself to be a neighborhood preservationist, but that she is willing to work with others to find middle ground. As an example, she supported the University Neighborhood Overlay that increased density and affordability in West Campus and nearby areas.

Concerning the TxDOT proposal to expand I-35 through central Austin, Guerrero said that she supported proposals to Cap and Stitch sections of I-35 between Cherrywood and Downtown in order to help heal the social divisions to which I-35 had contributed. When asked about actions to help reconnect St. Johns and Windsor Park with Ridgetop, she noted that these neighborhoods were not part of the current Cap and Stitch plan and that residents would have to make a lot of noise to get them added.

On a final topic, Guerrero expressed support for a coordinated effort to clean up and improve Waller Creek above the UT campus, including the section in North Loop. Guerrero closed by pledging to have an open door for her constituents and to work with them cooperatively to find the best solutions.

Our final North Loop Neighborhood Association District 9 candidate meetup, with Greg Smith, is scheduled for 9 a.m. October 22 at Bruning Green. Read up on our past conversations with Tom Wald, Joah Spearman, Ben Leffler, and Zohaib Qadri on the blog.

On Saturday, September 24th, the Neighborhood Association welcomed City Council D9 candidate Zohaib “Zo” Qadri to North Loop as part of a series of candidate meet-and-greets.

As with previous candidates, Qadri cited housing affordability as a key issue facing Austin. Qadri noted that despite their relative privilege as young professionals, he and his wife are unable to buy a house in Austin, which they would like to make their “forever home.” He also observed that affordability has many dimensions that need consideration when weighing solutions: it includes not only the cost of housing but also transit options, nearby groceries, and living wages.

When asked about police issues, such as understaffing and slower response times, he said it was important to increase support for other first responders, such as EMS and firefighters, as well. The city could reduce police workload by diverting mental health incidents to EMS rather than the police. Qadri also wants to see equitable transit for communities of color, which would address public safety and climate change. Qadri called I-35 “a scar that divides Austin.” His campaign is taking a “no higher, no wider” position on the proposed I-35 expansion and supporting community alternatives like Reconnect Austin and Rethink35.

Qadri cited his education, experience, and supporters as elements that distinguish him from other candidates in the field. Qadri has earned Masters degrees in both Public Administration and Global Affairs. He has worked in various city governments, big and small, and has done policy work at the Texas Capitol. He has further experience organizing both in the advocacy space and in elections. Qadri is running a pro-labor, unionized campaign and is proud of the support of labor groups, along with the number of grassroots and first-time donors contributing to his campaign.

Throughout the conversation, Qadri expressed his love for this “big small city” where, as a South Asian Muslim, he has “always felt very protected.” He added that, while he is not running for this reason, it would be meaningful to be able to represent “a group often unheard” in Austin politics.

Qadri rounded out his visit to North Loop with a Flightpath coffee and conversation event the next morning, followed by canvassing around the neighborhood.

We have two additional opportunities to meet the candidates before early voting begins on Oct. 24th. Save the dates for Linda Guerrero’s visit on Sat., Oct. 8th and Greg Smith’s on Sat., Oct. 22nd. Both meetups will take place at 9 am on Bruning Green.

Read up on our past conversations with Tom Wald, Joah Spearman, and Ben Leffler on the blog.

Ben Leffler met with residents at the latest North Loop District 9 City Council candidate meetup on September 10. Leffler identified priorities for the new council similar to other progressive candidates in the race, such as addressing affordability, transit, and equity. Ensuring all residents can afford to live here, Leffler said, is more important to preserving our neighborhoods than limiting what can be built here. As such, Austin’s current land use and building codes, which incentivize urban sprawl and building expensive homes, need to be changed, he said.

When asked what distinguished him from other candidates, Leffler identified his unique experiences having worked in a council member’s office and for the city’s audit office. He also cited his experiences, including being raised in a “working class” family in central Austin, as a UT student, someone who struggled to buy a home, and a parent concerned about his child’s future.

Leffler said he is hopeful that November’s election will bring changes in the council that will build momentum for addressing the city’s challenges. We need city leaders who are willing to make the tough decisions necessary to address the issues we face, he said. Leffler has a Masters in Public Affairs from the LBJ School.

The Leffler meetup was the third in our series for District 9 candidates. Previous events included candidates Tom Wald and Joah Spearman. The North Loop Neighborhood Association’s next meetup, with Zohaib Quadri, is scheduled for 9 am on Saturday, September 24 at Bruning Green.

See below for the full schedule of upcoming events with D9 candidates, running now through October:

Joah Spearman had a lively discussion with local residents at the North Loop-sponsored District 9 City Council candidate meetup on August 28th. Attendees included long-term residents of Ridgetop and North Loop, who discussed issues such as TxDOT’s proposal to expand I-35, park and sidewalk deficiencies, excessive trash in Waller Creek, and a general need to make the city more responsive to citizens.

Spearman is an entrepreneur, community activist, and author. He identified affordability as the most pressing issue facing Austin, with the climate crisis as another growing concern. As an example, he described how the cost of living increasingly forces essential city workers, such as EMS technicians, to live outside the county. As such, according to Spearman, the city loses the benefits of having these workers embedded in our communities and also bears the increased environmental costs of extra traffic and urban sprawl.

Spearman said he opposes TxDOT’s plans to expand I-35 through central Austin. He said there were multiple design-related objections to the project, but that he believes the central objections are related to the climate crisis and racial justice.

Spearman also shared his views on the city’s political culture. He said the city has a mixed record when it comes to following through with strategic plans. Too often, the city delays implementation of long-range plans, such as the Imagine Austin Plan, because the Council hesitates due to a lack of consensus, according to Spearman. He also observed that the establishment of the current single-member Council districts in 2012 induced some members to focus mostly on the preferences of their political bases, rather than the welfare of the diverse city as a whole..

Spearman declared it is imperative for the Council to focus on developing solutions to the challenges we face. To increase momentum to address city-wide problems, Spearman recommended building diverse coalitions across neighborhoods, districts, and demographic groups based on shared concerns. To address some issues, he advised, it will be necessary to develop partnerships between governments, businesses, and additional sources of private funding.

The Spearman meetup, which occurred at Bruning Green, was the second in the series of meet-and-greet events for District 9 candidates sponsored by the North Loop Neighborhood Association. Our first meetup featured candidate Tom Wald on August 6. Our next District 9 candidate meet-and-greet, featuring Ben Leffler, is scheduled for 9 am on Saturday September 10 at Bruning Green.

See below for the full schedule of upcoming events with D9 candidates, running now through October:

On Saturday, August 6th, the North Loop Neighborhood Association hosted District 9 candidate Tom Wald at Bruning Green. Residents of North Loop, along with neighbors from Ridgetop, Hancock, and Hyde Park, raised questions around housing affordability, park space, and diversity and inclusivity in Central Austin. Participants ranged from newcomers to the city to residents of over 30 years.

Wald identified housing affordability as a major campaign issue, along with mobility and racial and socioeconomic equity. He explained his motivation to run as not just about advancing progressive views but about effectiveness in government. Wald cited his 20+ years of experience as a community organizer, from the House of Commons co-op to Safe Streets Austin to People United for Mobility Action to the Red Line Parkway Initiative, as central to his ability to build the coalitions needed to implement solutions.

While acknowledging the role that City Council can play on key issues, Wald also underscored the power of Austin neighborhoods to make change.

Save the date for our next D9 candidate meet-and-greet: Sunday, August 28th at 9 am at Bruning Green. We’ll be joined by Austin entrepreneur, activist, and author Joah Spearman.

See below for the full schedule of upcoming events with D9 candidates, running now through October: