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BASTROP RETREET V
February 7+8, 2015

Last weekend, 37 RETREETers from 5 different states and 2 foreign countries planted 163 trees at 33 homes in Bastrop, TX, in the wake of the 2011 wildfires, and 21 trees at Dove Springs Recreation Center in Austin, which serves an area severely affected by the Onion Creek Flood of 2013. It was an amazing effort made by a fantastic group of people.

Three weeks leading up to BASTROP RETREET V, we released a promo film that was shot by Shoot First Pictures and edited by FistCloud Productions. A moving piece that deftly showcased our ongoing efforts in Bastrop, it went a bit viral online. Give it a watch!

Aside from planting trees, RETREETers rode bikes, acquired skills, made friends, listened to live music, and enjoyed Texas history over the weekend. In partnership with TreeFolks, we hosted our third annual community event on Saturday night, February 7. Dubbed the MILLION TREE SHINDIG, it commemorated the planting of 1,000,000 pine saplings by TreeFolks and 767 hardwoods by RETREET, to date.

MILLION TREE SHINDIG featured live chainsaw carving by Griffon Ramsey, this year's People's Choice Award Winner, as well as performances by Raina Rose, The Lost Pines, Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies, and Trái Bo.

We want to thank all members of The communiTREE who contributed to BASTROP RETREET V, which would not have been possible without their support. These wonderful companies and organizations deserve our collective gratitude.

To the Eugene McDermott Foundation, Felvis Foundation, Texas Urban Forestry Council, and City of Bastrop for their financial support, and ArborGen for sponsoring the trees, THANK YOU!

To Miller Family Automotive & U-Haul for loaning us a truck to make deliveries, Richardson Bike Mart for gifting us bicycle rentals, Bike World for supporting us on the ride to Bastrop, Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard for donating 15% of proceeds from their food sales the night of MILLION TREE SHINDIG, H-E-B for bringing lunch on Sunday, RECOVER for hooking us up in the merchandise department, and all of the RETREETers for giving of yourselves both physically and financially, THANK YOU!

Can't wait to see you all on the next one. OKC RETREET is March 28+29!

View the album of BASTROP RETREET V by clicking the photo below.

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.15

Which came first, the rain or the rain forest?  You might be surprised.  Into DIY?  Check out the cardboard bicycle project.  Finish up SS&T with a look at how Hamburg, Germany plans to have a city without cars within 20 years.  Talk about bike friendly! 

Be sure to click the images below...