Tourism « Around Dripping Springs

Week of Online Giving:
April 20-25, 2014

The 2014 Givin’ Where I’m Livin’ (GWIL) campaign provides support and publicity for local non-profit charitable organizations competing for GWIL matching funds during the campaign’s Week of Online Giving, April 20-25th.

Around Dripping Springs is pleased to feature this series of GWIL non-profit profiles to help publicize their unique missions to the community. We invite you to get to know these wonderful organizers and learn more about the important work they are each doing to enrich our community. Please share their stories, and be sure to donate to your favorite during the Week of Online Giving! Learn more at: http://www.GivinWhereImLivin.org

NOW MEET THE FRIENDS OF THE POUND HOUSE FOUNDATION WITH DIRECTOR, ANDREA LARSEN:

WHEN, HOW, AND WHY WAS YOUR ORGANIZATION FOUNDED?

The Friends of the Pound House Foundation is operated by a board of 14 volunteers that was established in 1990 to preserve and restore the historic Pound home and other buildings on the farmstead and to serve as an educational resource for current and future generations.

WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY MISSION?

Our mission is to protect, preserve and develop the Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead Museum for the use, education, enjoyment and benefit of present and future generations. Our intent is to serve the entire populace of Hays County and surrounding areas.

The population served within the community includes school children with tours of all second graders conducted annually and adults of all ages.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION’S EFFORTS?

The “light that goes on” in children’s eyes when they experience the lives of one of Dripping Springs first families by being inside the actual log cabin built in 1854 and seeing the toys, medical instruments, kitchen stove, beds and other personal heirlooms Dr. and Mrs. Pound and the children really used.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS IN 2014?

Our goal in 2014 will be to continue the preservation efforts of the farmstead by restoring the gardens and “underground green house” and cataloging and restoring the numerous Pound family collections that remain to be unpacked from original containers.

HOW CAN FOLKS DONATE OR VOLUNTEER YEAR-ROUND?

Please contact Andrea Larsen, Executive Director, at 512-858-2030. You may also email Andrea at poundhouse@verizon.net. Our website address is drpoundhistoricalfarmstead.org.

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WEEK OF ONLINE GIVING:

APRIL 20-25, 2014

GIVIN’ WHERE I’M LIVIN’ http://www.givinwhereimlivin.org

DS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION http://www.dscommunityfoundation.org

GWIL2014 IS SPONSORED BY:

The Texas Hill Country Olive Company is set once again to celebrate all things olives, along with local foods, wines, art and live music, at the landmark Tuscan-styled Tasting Room and Mill House set in the middle of 17 acres of Hill Country acreage-turned-organic olive orchard in Dripping Springs. In this online series, meet some of the local providers coming together on Saturday, April 5th, to present the 2nd Annual Texas Olive Festival. Here is Jack Allen’s Kitchen with co-owner and head chef, Jack Gilmore:

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED, AND WHAT IS YOUR ROLE?

I am the co-owner (along with my managing partner Tom Kamm) and head chef at Jack Allen’s Kitchen, a restaurant located in the Oak Hill neighborhood in Austin, as well as in Round Rock. At Jack Allen’s Kitchen, you’ll find refined, Southern-inspired flavors, crossed with the spice of southwestern cuisine, using the freshest of farm ingredients.

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?

I begin my culinary career working with old school Cajun chefs in South Padre Island and eventually relocated to Austin to help open Chez Fred’s and Louie’s on the Lake, before moving to Louisiana. I returned to Texas in the mid-190s and worked under master German chefs in Fredericksburg, and eventually came back to Austin in 1990, working as the founding executive chef at Z’Tejas Grill. In October 2009, my business partner Tom Kamm and I created our dream project, Jack Allen’s Kitchen, focusing on farm to table fresh ingredients and spirited Texas cuisine.

WHAT WILL YOU BE PROVIDING AT THE TEXAS OLIVE FESTIVAL?

We will be doing a Pickled Shrimp & Hard Boiled Egg Salad, using Texas gulf shrimp, and incorporating Texas Hill Country Balsamic Vinegar and Texas Hill Country Olive Oil.

WHY IS THIS EVENT A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

At Jack Allen’s Kitchen, our food is made from the bounty yielded from our local farmers and purveyors, who are a daily inspiration to us. Using the Texas Hill Country Olive Company’s products in our cuisine just adds to how important it is to us that we create these dishes with local ingredients.

WHY IS THIS EVENT IMPORTANT TO THE LOCAL SUSTAINABLE FOOD MOVEMENT?

We think the Texas Olive Fest is important to the local sustainable food movement because every year it is becoming more and more important to know where our food is coming from and utilizing the amazing products farmers and purveyors are putting out. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the incredible food that Texas farmers put out each season.

Visit Jack Allen’s online:

http://www.jackallenskitchen.com/

Become a Facebook fan: facebook.com/JackAllensKitchen

Follow on Twitter: @jackallens

Advance discount tickets for the Texas Olive Festival are available online at:

http://www.texasolivefest.com

FESTIVAL PREVIEW

www.tinyurl.com/OliveFest2014

SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTER

http://tinyurl.com/OliveFest2014SFC

TEXAS HILL COUNTRY WINERIES

http://tinyurl.com/OliveFest2014TxWineries

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Visit the Texas Hill Country Olive Company online to learn more about the Adopt-A-Tree program, and shop a full line of artisanal organic olive oils, flavor-infused balsamic vinegars and olive-based spa products:

http://www.texashillcountryoliveco.com

The Texas Hill Country Olive Company is located at 2530 W. Fitzhugh Road in Dripping Springs, TX – about 30 miles southwest of Austin, in the Central Texas Hill Country!

Become a Facebook Fan: Facebook.com/TexasHillCountryOliveCo

Follow on Twitter: @TXHillCtryOlive