HausBar Farm goose stars in new children’s book
Dorsey Barger might be the head farmer at HausBar Farm, but Gustavo is the star.
Barger is the co-founder of Eastside Cafe who went on to start HausBar Farm in 2009. Gustavo, a large, off-white goose, came to live on the farm seven years ago when he was 2 days old, Barger says.
“He arrived in a box from the hatchery. I had to drive to the post office to pick him up,” she says. “When I got him back to the farm, he jumped out of the box and took over the whole farm with his enormous personality, his huge heart and his gift for making people feel loved.”
On any visit, you’ll see Gustavo following Barger around the East Austin farm, keeping tabs on the rotating seasonal crops, which are sold to local restaurants. It’s a sweet story in real life that Barger knew would make a sweet book, so she teamed with her mother, Barbara Adams, a painter, to create “On Gustavo’s Farm,” a new children’s book coming out this fall.
The authors are hosting several events in coming months to celebrate its debut, including a private dinner at 6 p.m. Oct. 13 in the farm’s outdoor kitchen space with chefs Michael Castillo and Emily Davis. The first general book signing event is “Cocktails with Gustavo” ($125) at 6 p.m. Oct. 20 that will feature drinks with Paula’s Texas Spirits.
At 10 a.m. Oct. 27, HausBar will host a kid-friendly book signing ($100 donation for 2 adults and up to 2 kids) that will include the Tiny Tales to You mobile petting zoo, a book signing and “Gustavo on the Go” coloring activity station. Barger is selling copies of the book and tickets to the book events through Indigogo over the next month; the book will be available in other locations in November.