**Introducing the Landscape** On Turtle Island, a great river marks its tail. Proceeding east and north from the river this “tail” is further distinguished: where ancient mountains have faulted into a gracefully curved band from the weight of massive deposits of many rivers at their feet. North and west the land is karst and hilly still, with aquifers spouting waters into streams; while the east and south are rich in soils, beside rivers running to the near, gulf sea. This bioregion is thus a collaboration between twin geologies in four ecological zones: closely associated by many factors, yet bisected, with each defined by the “Balcones Fault Line or Escarpment”. These four are the Edward’s Plateau and Crosstimbers to the north and west, and the Blackland Prairie and Post Oak Savannah to the east. When the Spanish first visited the region five centuries ago, a few tribes were living in permanent riverside settlements. They were welcoming of these strangers; so much so that, the explorers retained their word “teysha”, which means friend or ally. A century later, the word had been altered slightly for Spanish and appropriated for the tribe itself, with the tribes’ homeland noted as “The great kingdom of Tejas”. Still later, this indigenous word for friends and allies was anglicized, giving us the modern name “Texas”. **The Club** The Balcones Tejas Bioregional Club is a group of neighbors, land stewards, educators, farmers, artists, and others who care deeply about the future of Central Texas. We believe that taking care of our place—its land, waters, and communities—starts with showing up, listening, and working together. **Functions of the Club** The Club helps people connect and collaborate across Central Texas. Our work is focused on six key efforts: 1. Organize Confluences — Host gatherings that bring people together to share what they know and need 2. Collect Stories and Case Studies — Document local efforts so others can learn from them 3. Educate — Offer community workshops and peer learning opportunities 4. Coordinate and Co-Design — Help people work together on shared land- or water-based projects 5. Store Knowledge — Keep track of tools, lessons, and place-based practices 6. Build Prototypes — Support real projects that show what’s possible when people work with the land **Why It Matters** Central Texas is changing quickly. Our springs are drying up. Small farms are disappearing. Many people feel disconnected from where they live. There’s no single solution to these problems—but we believe something important happens when people come together, listen closely, and take care of the places they live. The Club creates space for that kind of work: slow, steady, grounded in trust and place. The Balcones Tejas Bioregional Club Manifesto
Bioregional Governance