Comments for Green Austin Homes https://texasorganichome.com/ Green Homes and Real Estate, Events, Resources, and more in Central Texas. Mon, 26 Jun 2017 20:26:31 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 Comment on With Drought & HEAT Xeriscapes Should be the Next Yard Fashion by Betty Saenz https://texasorganichome.com/with-drought-heat-xeriscapes-should-be-the-next-yard-fashion/comment-page-1#comment-1443 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 17:27:49 +0000 https://texasorganichome.com/?p=146#comment-1443 I hope you have had some relief by now! I am so happy that Senate Bill 198 as well as House Bill 449 passed allowing homeowners in neighborhoods with HOAs to conserve water by limiting lawn grass and using xeriscaping. I have added more rain gutters and about 355 gallons of rainwater storage at my house. Thanks for all you do Scott to conserve our water in Texas! My family has been in Texas since before it was a Republic and I aim to do as much as I can to conserve water and provide habitat- being a good steward of Texas!

Lawn grass is simply unnecessary to have a beautiful yard. There are many grasses that provide beauty and habitat but don’t guzzle water. Today I am planting our State Grass, Sideoats grama, that I bought at the Wildflower Center Plant Sale. I also have some other grasses that provide seed for Painted Buntings.

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Comment on Austin Texas Christmas Traditions by Scott R Hamilton https://texasorganichome.com/austin-texas-christmas-traditions/comment-page-1#comment-1257 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:21:08 +0000 https://texasorganichome.com/?p=438#comment-1257 Betty! I love your blog. I have always thought this church in New Sweden is beautiful!

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Comment on Commuter Bus from Austin to San Antonio by Jody Ares https://texasorganichome.com/commuter-bus-from-austin-to-san-antonio/comment-page-1#comment-1252 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:45:11 +0000 https://texasorganichome.com/?p=135#comment-1252 How much would it cost to go from New Braunfels to Austin airport

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Comment on The Need for Clean Air in Our Homes by Anne Freeman https://texasorganichome.com/the-need-for-clean-air-in-our-homes/comment-page-1#comment-1248 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:37:59 +0000 https://texasorganichome.com/?p=119#comment-1248 Not many are aware of the benefits of having plants indoors. Many find placing plants inside as another added chore which is true but considering the good and health effects they could bring, it is worth the effort.

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Comment on Pickett Trail in Georgetown Texas by Sarah moller https://texasorganichome.com/pickett-trail/comment-page-1#comment-1243 Thu, 24 May 2012 15:42:55 +0000 https://texasorganichome.com/?p=351#comment-1243 Even looking at the pictures of Pickett Trail it calms the soul. I love to be out in nature so much. For me nothing beats it. Thanks for sharing.

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Comment on Urban Beekeeping in Austin Texas by The Beehive Journal https://texasorganichome.com/urban-beekeeping-in-austin-texas/comment-page-1#comment-1237 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:35:57 +0000 https://texasorganichome.com/?p=310#comment-1237 More bees for Texas, YES. Stop by and see over three hundred hive designs and many DIY projects.

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Comment on Simple Composting by Terry https://texasorganichome.com/simple-composting/comment-page-1#comment-1235 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:59:46 +0000 https://texasorganichome.com/?p=68#comment-1235 Everyone should compost. You make it sound so simple and it is! A great way to give back to the earth what is produced from it. Composting daily :0)

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Comment on Pickett Trail in Georgetown Texas by John Littner https://texasorganichome.com/pickett-trail/comment-page-1#comment-1234 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:16:12 +0000 https://texasorganichome.com/?p=351#comment-1234 I’ll actually be heading to Texas this spring and have been interested in doing some hiking over there (hiking is one of my favorite activities when going on vacation). Judging from your description and pictures, this looks like a pretty incredible hike to go on. Thanks for sharing!

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Comment on Austin Texas Cool House Tour 2009 by Liam https://texasorganichome.com/austin-texas-cool-house-tour-2009/comment-page-1#comment-1233 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:24:11 +0000 https://texasorganichome.com/?p=115#comment-1233 Wow, that’s pretty cool. I must say, when I think of Austin, I don’t normally think of green building. Good job, texas.

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Comment on With Drought & HEAT Xeriscapes Should be the Next Yard Fashion by Scott McMillen https://texasorganichome.com/with-drought-heat-xeriscapes-should-be-the-next-yard-fashion/comment-page-1#comment-1227 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:56:58 +0000 https://texasorganichome.com/?p=146#comment-1227 My wife and I bought a Lennar home in Magnolia Springs subdivision in New Braunfels in July 2010 and moved in during November 2010. Being snowbirds and conscious of the severe drought, I immediately began planning to redo my front yard. I thought it was important to help conserve water and keep it as maintenance free as possible. After turning in landscape plans to the Homeowner’s Association (Associa ProComm) and having them approved, I removed all the turf in the front yard and Xeriscaped it in March of 2011. Shortly afterwards, I received a letter from ProComm stating that the execution of my plans did not conform to the plans. We evidently have a difference of opinion on this. They told me that I must remove my Xeriscaping and replace it with approved turf.
My landscape water usage has diminished from a high of 43,000 gals/month to an average of around 2,600 gals/mo. When I began a discussion with ProComm through letters, they immediately contacted their lawyer who sent me threatening letters.
During the past summer, I have discovered that there are actually two city ordinances in New Braunfels requiring new builders (Lennar) to offer Xeriscaping as a landscape option and requiring the builder to install Xeriscaping if they have even one model home. When I talked to Lennar about why they didn’t follow the ordinance, their reply was “we don’t follow it because it is not enforced”. Apparently, Lennar is not at all concerned with the water shortage either. There are many homes in New Braunfels with Xeriscaping. I have also found another recently built home in the Mockingbird Heights subdivision who has done Xeriscaping very similar to mine, and his yard has been approved unconditionally by his HOA. Some of my neighbors have expressed an interest in Xeriscaping to conserve, but after finding out all the problems I have encountered, they decided against it. That would have amounted to more conservation that will not now happen.
I have written the state Texas State House representative and the State senator for this district and due to their lack of response, it seems that they are not really concerned with water conservation either.
I have met with the Water Department and they approved my yard for a rebate they offered for replacing turf with Xeriscaping. When I asked them for help, I was told that what I had done was very beneficial, but they didn’t want to get involved.
My city councilman has been helpful, but it seems that even he does not have the authority to override the decisions made by ProComm. I have a meeting with the Architectural Control Committee of ProComm, but I am sure that I will be forced to reinstall turf grass and go back to wasting water again. This really makes no sense at all.
It seems that all this talk about water conservation is just that: lip service. It looks like there is no one here in the state who actually wants to do something about conservation. It is either that, or that they are all too afraid of the power possessed by the ProComm. Had I know that I would have this much trouble trying to conserve water, I would probably purchased a house in a development not controlled by ProComm.

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