Nourish Coalition Newsletter - Vol. 4

Welcome to another edition of the Nourish Newsletter! We see spring all around in the cornucopia of colors lining the highways. As the colors of the season progress, so too does the school year and believe it or not, we’re looking to summer vacation; more specifically, summer meal programs in Bastrop and surrounding counties. Read on below to find out what we’ve been up to so far in 2024, what we’re working on as well as community events and food system updates.

NOURISH NEWS NOW

First Ever Gumbo Cook-Off

Thanks for the support of our sponsors, community members and registered teams we netted over $3,500 with our first-ever fundraising event! This money will be used to seed volunteer appreciation and other small initiatives for the coalition. We’re excited to bring this event back in 2025 bigger and better than this year!

Thank you again to our sponsors: City of Bastrop, Bluebonnet Electric and HEB
Congratulations to the winners!

1st Place + People’s Choice - Boggy Bayou Festival

2nd Place - Gardener’s Roux’l (Master Gardeners)

3rd Place - Dat Creole Cook-off Team (Classic Bank)

Sector Meeting Updates – we have been busy building the capacity of three out of the six sectors. So far we have regular meetings for our Local Food Infrastructure, Food Security and now, Food Waste and Recovery.

These meetings happen on a monthly basis rotating from one month to being 60-minutes virtual “down to business” format to a two-hour in-person tour, educational session or volunteer opportunity.
If you would like to learn more about the sectors or join the Coalition, check out our website and email Krissy@bastropcares.org

Coalition members have been working to strengthen partnerships with existing food system organizations in Bastrop County and beyond:

We’re in talks to get a Community Needs Assessment completed with Central Texas Food Bank – this would launch in July 2024
Planning for the Bastrop Local Food Fair in concert with Texas Center for Local Food – Hosting on November 10, 2024 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm – Save the date!
We said thank you to Bastrop County ISD nutrition program staff with flowers and cards during National Nutrition Month. We were also able to celebrate the occasion by sponsoring nutrition-based kids' activities at the Elgin Farmers Market. Check out eatright.org for a list of nutrition resources that you can use throughout the year! Picture of Smithville ISD Nutrition Team

Members of the coalition presented to the Episcopal Health Foundation on food security at the In Common in Camp Allen, TX.

Click Here to Get Involved

Wellness, Creativity, and Friendship Grows in Smithville Community Gardens

Community gardens associated with public libraries are a mostly forgotten history that dates back to the victory gardens of World War I and II. That synergy is alive and well in Bastrop County between the Smithville Public Library and the Smithville Community Gardens (SCG). Over the last decade-plus, Smithville Public Library has received various community grants that support activities at the Library, the Community Garden, and arts activities that take place at the community garden house at the site of the Community Garden -- 107 SW 2nd Street in Smithville.

Keep reading...

Upcoming Summer Master Gardener Training

Announcement by: Debbie Mikel, MG Director of Education

Bastrop County Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and gardens. They are enthusiastic, willing to learn and to help others, and able to communicate with diverse groups of people.

What sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture through Texas A&M Extension Services. In exchange for their training, persons who become Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through their Extension office to provide horticultural-related information to their communities.

Do you want to know how you can get involved? Be a part of our upcoming Master Gardener Program starting in August.

See more information on our Facebook Page