Drought-resistant Landscapes & Healthy Soils Talk with Nessa Spence

October 20, 2026 | 7 - 8 PM

Hold Out Brewing
1208 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78703

Nessa is a horticulturist, educator, conservation advocate, and Central Texas Sales Manager and Educator with MicroLife, serving professionals and communities across much of Texas. As co-owner of Ripples and Roots Wildscapes and Chair of the TNLA Region VIII Board, she brings hands-on experience in ecological landscape design, sustainable maintenance, soil ecology, water conservation, habitat restoration, and green-industry professional development.

Her talk will go over how water conservation begins long before we turn on the hose. It will explore how to create resilient, waterwise landscapes by choosing plants adapted to low-rainfall environments, nurturing living soil, and improving the land’s ability to capture, retain, and absorb rainfall. Through practical strategies in ecoregional plant selection, soil biology, organic matter management, sustainable landscape practices, and rainfall infiltration, you will learn how to reduce irrigation demands, limit runoff and erosion, and support healthier ecosystems. Grounded in the ecology and growing conditions of Texas, this presentation challenges conventional landscaping approaches and demonstrates how working with natural systems can conserve water, build healthier soil, and create landscapes that thrive with less.

Come before 7 pm to order food and drink and to socialize. There is plenty of parking just south of 4th street.