New blog and native grassland prairie.

 I have created a new blog http://butterflyherders.blogspot.com/ in relation to this one, dedicated to the preserving of butterflies, especially the Monarch. I have begun to turn the plot of land next to the houses I live in, into a Blackland prairie/ butterfly preserve. Only native plants will be planted here from now on. I have already planted Antelope Horn milkweed which is native to the Blackland prairie region of Texas and is also one of the most important food sources for the Monarch butterfly.

Not allowed to pick pecans?!

 Well I was out at the local park today picking pecans from a tree with a rake which would normally go to waste. I was in the middle of raking down pecans when a couple of jerk cops showed up and told me there was a city ordinance against using a "stick" to pick pecans like that. Have you ever heard of such ridiculous crap!? I could have gotten into it with the cops about how I am the citizen of Texas Republic and not a US citizen and how I am under the common law rather then statutory or maritime law but I didn't feel like doing that being as how they could unlawfully detain me and also I had work to do, prepping the pecans I collected for planting. Cops should be out chasing REAL criminals rather then trying to enforce petty statutes.
 I took the time to look up the ordinance on picking pecans and it only said no climbing or throwing rocks and sticks to gather pecans, but why even that? It doesn't even explain why. This is infuriating!

Snout Butterflies

 It has been a pleasure this year to see all the snout butterflies swarming here in San Antonio which like to come out when it's hot after a lot of rain and feed on various plants, including Hackberry trees.

Hackberries!

 I have heard a lot of criticism and displeasure with the Hackberry tree here in Texas which is dismissed as a weed tree. It spreads prolifically, the wood isn't very useful, and they can become easily unearthed in a severe storm. What people may not realize however is that the hackberry was an important food to many ancient people as well as the American Indians who would crush up the berries and make them into cakes. The hackberry is a good source of protein and fat which is excellent for foraging or for those on a tight budget. What no one has done as well is try to domesticate and cultivate the species, at least as far as I know. By cultivating the Hackberry, perhaps larger, more substantial fruit could be obtained. I myself have harvested some of the berries and besides eating them, I will attempt to cultivate this underrated tree.

Welcome to the Texas Blacklander blog

 Hello and welcome to the Texas Blacklander. I hail from San Antonio, in the Blackland prairie region of Texas. The Blackland prairie starts in North Eastern Texas near the border of Oklahoma and gently curves down in a funnel shape ending in South central Texas, as well as a small separate part that runs parallel to the main region. The main region encompasses Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.

 I love Texas and I love agriculture. The purpose of this blog is to discuss the Blackland prairie region of Texas, agriculture, and more. I hope that my fellow Blacklanders will be inspired to restoring our Blackland prairie to its original natural state, develop agricultural knowledge that will lead to subsistence, and correspond with each other to create a strong bond between ourselves.