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About Replant The Prairie
Replant The Prairie is a citizen-led initiative that aims to preserve and restore natural ecosystems in Travis County, Texas. We provide resources, education, and advice for individuals and organizations who wish to support Texas prairies by growing native plants at home and in their communities.
History
A vast, sprawling prairie once dominated the land where the city of Austin, Texas now stands. 10-foot tall grasses, vibrant wildflowers, and dense woody shrubs made the perfect year-round home for millions of invertebrate, reptile, bird, and mammal species.
Today, less than 1% of our prairie land remains. Over 2/3 of the wildlife native to this land has been lost to habitat destruction from development and agriculture. Without these ecosystems, we can't grow food, keep water in the ground, or clean our air.
Fragmented remnants of the prairie still house thousands of unique species, but they are being rapidly destroyed for highway expansion and commercial developments. It's up to the residents here in Austin to grow native plants at home and give the last of the prairie a fighting chance.
Purpose
Our natural world is disappearing in front of our eyes. I've watched small country roads expand to 4-lane highways that disrupt neighborhoods. I see "For Sale" signs on all the local farms left in the area because the rent is too high to continue leasing the land.
On this path, nothing wild can stay here much longer.
The latest projection the Texas census suggests that around 750,000 more people will live in Austin by 2040, putting us at nearly 2 million residents.
The environment can't support many more of us if we don't support the environment. It's more important than ever for Austin residents to share the land and peacefully coexist with the wildlife that still lives on it
The Native Landscape of Texas
The city of Austin lies at the junction of what was once the Edwards Plateau and the Texas Blackland Prairies.
The sprawling land was dominated by tall grasses that could grow up to 10 feet high.
Bison, black bears, antelopes, and big cats roamed the land while river otters and beavers claimed the wetter areas. Large birds and swaths of butterflies feasted and hid among tall, bright flowers while smaller insects took cover in the dense greenery. Learn more about the unique natural landscape of Texas here.
Texas Blackland Prairies
(brown region)
Edwards Plateau
(green region)
Austin
Find your exact eco-region using the Native Plant Society of Texas' ecoregion map
Indigenous Peoples in Texas
It's impossible to talk about native plants and animals of the land without talking about the Native people of the land. Historical records of Native American peoples are scarce for a reason.
Most of the records of Indigenous peoples that are widely available are firsthand accounts from settlers, so they tend to be extremely negatively biased. Additionally, cultural practices, stories, and teachings were destroyed along with the villages and homes of the native people.
Before European colonization, an estimated 600 groups of Indigenous people lived on the Texas prairies and worked in harmony with nature. These groups included the Caddo, Comanche, and Apache peoples. Indigenous Americans lived on the prairie for centuries, coexisting with nature and working with the land.
Indigenous people foraged and gathered plants that grew on the landscape to make food, drinks, medicines, dyes, and textiles. They fished and hunted large game like buffalo for meat, then used the rest of the animal bodies to make clothing, art, tools, and housewares. Indigenous peoples placed the utmost importance on treating the land and animals with respect and reverence. We are not separate from or superior to the land, but part of it.
Indigenous Americans still live in Texas and the rest of the United States. They are working to reclaim their ancestry and culture. Most Indigenous groups work with organizations and governments across the state to advocate for the environment and pass important legislation about land stewardship.
Please take the time to learn more on The Indigenous Cultures Institute website. This organization aims to preserve and restore cultural practices for the Native peoples of Texas and Northern Mexico. I urge you to find ways to hear or read Indigenous stories firsthand instead of settler accounts.
Read the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Follow organizations like @ctx_cherokee_township, @kalpulli_texas_quetzalcoatl, and @karankawachicharra on Instagram and attend an event. There are regular community events to learn about traditional practices, participate in celebrations, and help in the gardens. Read archives from The Texas Historical Commission, and then read archives from Texas Beyond History.
I am not an expert on the Indigenous people of Texas. Their stories are vital but they are not mine to tell. That being said, if you see incorrect information or something that should be included here, please let me know. Thank you!