Wimberley Lions Club presents Bamberger Ranch Preserve Program
On September 17, the Wimberley Lions Club will present a program on the Bamberger Ranch Preserve in Blanco County. The program will be led by Colleen Gardner, Executive Director of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve and Dr. Andrew Sansom, Meadows Center for the Study of Water and the Environment at Texas State University, who wrote the book, Seasons at Selah: The Legacy of Bamberger Ranch Preserve.
Half a century ago, J. David Bamberger, who made his fortune as an executive at Church’s Chicken, bought what he saw as the most worn-out expanse of ranchland in Blanco County. He removed unwanted species, planted native grasses, and nurtured the property, slowly bringing the dry, eroded land back to life. Today the Bamberger Ranch comprises 5,500 acres of lush waving grasses, flowing creeks, and rolling Hill Country landscape. It serves as an example of success in land conservation circles. Students visit to learn about nature or participate in studies, and landowners attend workshops to study land stewardship.
According to their website, the mission of the Bamberger Ranch is to teach ethical land stewardship by example and outreach. The Ranch offer seminars for landowners and serves as a research lab for botanists, zoologists, and other scientists. It provides hands-on science classes and nature camps for school children — 2,000 children attend in a typical year. Public tours and workshops attract birdwatchers, photographers, and animal and plant enthusiasts. After leaving the Ranch, many visitors are inspired to change consumption habits and better conserve natural resources. They leave with a vision of harmony with the land. They realize that the Ranch tells a story of hope: “Given the chance, Nature can heal itself. Nature can heal us.”
The Wimberley Lions Club is proud to present this program in their on-going series of programs on Water in the Wimberley Valley. The Lions meet on the first and third Tuesdays at the Wimberley Community Center, starting at 6:00 p.m. For more information, visit their website at shopmarketdays.com and follow on Facebook at facebook.com/wimberleymarketdays.