Hosted by Exit and Build Property Solutions, the Exit and Build Land Summit will bring together leaders in sustainable farming both within and beyond Bastrop County.

The fourth annual event will take place from May 17-19 at the Bastrop Convention and Exhibit Center. This year, the summit will host about 30 speakers to present on a variety of sustainable farming strategies.

What to expect

The event will include presentations from permaculture experts, a panel of local food producers and workshops. Agricultural author and lecturer Joe Salatin will also speak at the event.

As part of the conference, ticket holders can take part in immersive tours of five farms in the area on May 16 and 20.
As part of the event, ticket holders are welcome to attend hands-on tours of farms in the area. The summit toured Dirt Candy Farms in 2023. (Courtesy Rebecca Bush)
How it started


The summit was inspired by events such as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the Texas snowstorm in 2021, said Rebecca Bush, chief experience officer at Exit and Build Property Solutions.

“After those events, it was like, ‘Wow, we go to the grocery store, [but] there's no food on the shelves,’” Bush said. “What if we could run an event teaching people how to grow their own food and have a little bit more reliance?”

The summit focuses on teaching people how they can engage in their local farming community and not depend on international trade distributors.

“It's hard to break out of your comfort zone and try new things, but it's even more difficult to do that alone,” Bush said. “Our main goal is to help people build community because it's no fun to do these kinds of activities alone.”


Also of note

A live concert will be held at The Community Gardens on May 17 to help kick off the event. The event starts at 6 p.m., and is free and open to the public.