Texas Urban Conservation Project

The NRCS Texas State Office, an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture(USDA), is seeking support from and opportunities to partner with like minded natural resource conservation partners. The overall intent of this notice is to solicit partnerships to help enhance the implementation of key conservation objectives and priorities outlined further in this document.Texas NRCS is a federal agency that works hand-in-hand with the people of Texas for the purpose of helping bring about the conservation and sustainable use of land, water, wildlife, and related resources.The Texas NRCS Urban Conservation Project is an effort to challenge States, political subdivisions, or agency thereof, a public or private agency, organizations, educational institutions and federally recognized Native American tribal governments to establish vegetable and fruit gardens, rainwater harvesting systems, pollinator habitat and high tunnels across Texas. The simple act of planting a garden can help unite neighbors in a common effort and inspire locally-led solutions to challenges facing our state. Challenges that can be addressed with locally-led solutions can be diverse in urban settings. Addressing hunger with a garden can bring communities together and initiate other positive outcomes for people. Pollinator habitat planned with urban gardens can provide an increase in harvest potential while providing food and habitat for declining insect communities in Texas.The Texas NRCS Urban Conservation Project will provide technical and financial assistance to eligible entities to establish or improve gardens for food production, rainwater harvesting systems, for attracting and maintaining pollinators like monarch butterflies and the establishment of high tunnels to extend the growing season of fruits and vegetables.