My husband is helping the environment by conserving the earth's most precious resource, water. I live on 25 acres of land in the Hill Country of Texas. Annual rainfall is 24 inches a year. However, the area is subject to frequent droughts. The once native grasslands have been replaced by thick forests of juniper trees, which use a disporportunate amount of water, in addtiion to preventing water from reaching the ground through their canopies. He is removing the juniper and terracing the hills, thereby creating water catchment an allowing sunlight to enter. The native grasses have returned. These grasses are deep rooted and cause the water to be drawn into the acguifers and preventing runoff, which removes precious top soil. He also uses our property as a model for others. We have had tours of our property from conservation groups as an example of how to manage a small acreage. When guests visit our property for the first time, we take the opportunity to teach them about water conservation and show them the results of juniper clearing and restoration.

In additon my husband is installing a rainwater catchment system that will allow us to harvest rainwater for use in watering the yard, growing vegetables and herbs. This will result in less water taken from the acquifer and more to go back into the streams for wildlife, birds and riparian areas.