2009 Updates
2009 promises to be a fruitful year for Green Spaces Alliance! Read on to see what we have accomplished so far.
Events
Smith & Hawken Event - 6/27/09
Green Spaces joined forces with Smith & Hawken in the Quarry Market to present a discussion with horticulturalist Michelle Gorham.
Eco Fashion Show - 4/22/09
Students from the fashion management program at the University of the Incarnate Word celebrated Earth Day in style with a fashion show at Whole Foods Market. The event featured environmentally friendly designs created from recycled material. The sale of these unique items benefitted Green Spaces Alliance.
Leilani's Garden Adventure - 4/4/09
Families gathered at Green Gateways Preserve from 3-6 p.m. for this family fun day, which featured egg hunts, piñatas, food, drink, and more.
Member Hike at Land Heritage Institute - 3/1/09
Members of Green Spaces Alliance got a special tour of the Land Heritage Institute, a property on the Medina River that evinces 12,000 years of human history. Participants also previewed the new hike-and-bike trail and visited the historic Presnall Watson farmstead.
Grants & Awards
Les Dames d'Escoffier Grant - 5/20/09
Les Dames d'Escoffier has generously pledged $10,000 to support the Community Garden Program in 2009.
H-E-B Grant - 4/16/09
H-E-B showed its support for the Picture Your World Youth Photograph Project by awarding Green Spaces $7,500 for the administration of the program.
Beyond the Glass Ceiling - 3/25/09
San Antonio's female leaders honored Green Spaces's executive director Julie Koppenheffer with the Jesse H. & Sue Oppenheimer Award in recognition of her work to keep San Antonio green.
Land Conservation Program
Blanco Creek Properties - 6/4/09
It took a year and half. It took the commitment of eight landowners, the City of San Antonio, Green Spaces, the Nature Conservancy, a fleet of surveyors, appraisers, environmental and hydrogeological experts, title companies, lawyers, and many others to preserve the Blanco Creek watershed in Uvalde County. The conservation of these 5,067 acres will protect water quality and quantity for the citizens of San Antonio for years to come.
Oefinger Property - 1/21/09
As part of the City of San Antonio's Aquifer Protection Program, Green Spaces preserved the 856-acre Oefinger Ranch in Medina County. The preservation of this property will help to ensure that San Antonio's drinking water stays clean for future generations.
Community Garden Program
Community Garden Workshop: Leadership Development and Goal Planning - 5/6/09
Current and aspiring community gardeners met at the Texas Diabetes Institute's community garden to discuss leadership development and goal planning.
Celebration at Jardin de la Esperanza - 4/25/09
Les Dames d'Escoffier joined Green Spaces at Time Dollar's Jardin de la Esperanza on the west side to dedicate the garden.
Starter Grant Awards: Round Four - 2/20/09
Green Spaces Alliance awarded its first round of community garden starter grants for 2009 to the Gardens at Avion Place on the southwest side, the Pittman-Sullivan Neighborhood Garden on the east side, San Jacinto Senior Garden on the west side, and the Cove Garden Project in north-central San Antonio.
Picture Your World Youth Photography Project
Picture Your World Award Exhibit & Ceremony - 5/17/09
The 2009 Picture Your World Youth Photography Contest participants and their families gathered at the Guadalupe Theater to recognize the students' achievements. An exhibit of the winning and honorable mention photos from the contest will hang in the Guadalupe Theater before moving on to the Brookhollow Library and the UTSA Downtown Gallery.
Photography Workshop: Portfolio Presentation - 4/19/09
Students visited SaySí to prepare for the 2009 Picture Your World Youth Photography Contest. Under the guidance of a professional art educator, participants learned to identify their best photos.
Photography Workshop: Exloring Diversity in Nature (Birds & Insects) - 3/22/09
Dozens of students visited Warbler Woods to photograph nature during this spring workshop.
Photography Workshop: Exploring Diversity in Nature (Plants & Insects) – 2/22/09
Green Spaces brought Picture Your World to a new venue -- Medina River Park -- with this February photography workshop.
Watercolor Workshop: Textures and Patterns in Nature – 1/18/09
The Picture Your World program expanded beyond photography with this first-ever watercolor workshop held at the Green Gateways Conservation Easement.
Photography Workshop: Textures and Patterns in Nature – 1/17/09
Green Spaces held its first Picture Your World photography workshop of 2009 at the Green Gateways Conservation Easement in Alamo Heights. The program attracted 40 students.
Other
Green Spaces Office Move - 6/25/09
Green Spaces vacated its office downtown in late June, just ahead of the wrecking ball. Our new office, located in Alamo Heights at 4901 Broadway, Suite 211, is conveniently located between Cappy’s and Central Market and has plenty of room to welcome all of our friends and supporters.