Austin Green Holiday Social

The Second Annual Austin Green Holiday Social is being held Tuesday, December 15th, 2009, 6:00 -10:00 pm at the beautiful and organic Barr Mansion. Tickets are $22.00 in advance by credit card or PayPal on-line and $30.00 at the door. The event is co-hosted by Net Impact Austin, Public Citizen, Design-Build-Live, the Austin Eco-Network, Eco Series, Texas Green Network and the Sierra Club. The Barr Mansion at 10463 Sprinkle Road, Austin, TX 78754 is a showcase for sustainability being the first USDA certified organic events facility in the United States. The Barr Mansion grounds are a NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat. Music for the event will be world fusion by Nelson Saga. The Barr Mansion will be providing organic food for the event. There will also be Theo organic chocolates, New Belgium beer as well as various wines and teas. Guests are bringing canned food items for families in need. There will be a raffle benefiting Mobile Loaves and Fishes.

Austin’s Healthy Economy

Capital croppedAustin, Texas is Poised for a Fast Economic Recovery according to Forbes-

The Austin, Texas, Round Rock, Texas Metro Area is ranked number 3 in a Forbes Real Estate list of America’s Fastest Recovering Cities. San Antonio, TX was number 2, the Dallas-Fort Worth, Arlington, TX Metro Area was number 6; Houston, Sugar Land, Baytown, TX Metro Area was number 8 on the list. The November 19, 2009 article entitled “America’s Fastest-Recovering Cities” by Francesca Levy stated that no area completely escaped the recession but these areas have “diversified industry and relatively stable housing” which provides residents with “comparatively secure standards of living”. The article went on to quote from Texas A & M University Real Estate Center’s research economist James P. Gaines that Texas did not have a housing boom or bubble as much as other areas of our country did so therefore we are not experiencing a big bust. I am thankful to be in Texas and in the Austin, Texas, Round Rock, Texas area. My forefathers settled here when Texas was a Republic. It is sad to look at pictures of what is happening in say, Detroit where whole neighborhoods are simply returning to nature, houses completely covered with vines and vegetation as they slowly rot back into the Earth.

Buying a Texas Organic Home

Did you know that there are EEMs or Energy Efficient Mortgages? THese are also known as GREEN Mortgages.  An EEM or GREEN MOrtgage is a home loan that gives you extra money because the property you are buying is very energy efficient, thereby saving you money on utilities and allowing you to purchase more house.  Please contact me for more information.  I’d love to help you buy a GREEN home and there are many, many GREEN homes, GREEN builders & GREEN architects in the Austin, Texas area!

Holistic Ranch Management

organic ranchInterested in understanding and learning about holistic ranch management?

The Ranch your Texas Organic Home is on should be managed holistically.

Don’t know anything about Holistic Ranch Management? Don’t worry- many classes are being held in October 2009 right here in Texas & neighboring state Oklahoma.

Register for classes on Mob Grazing and Holistic Ranch Management at the Richards Ranch in Jacksboro, Texas. Learn more about making your land healthy using Mob Grazing at the Bear Creek Ranch in Aledo, Texas which is owned by the Dixon Water Foundation.

The Dixon Water Foundation provides education & does research on water issues & ecologically sustainable land management. Sign up for these and more classes on holistic ranch management at the Holistic Management International website.

What? Don’t own a Texas Ranch but want one? Search for Texas Farms or Ranches here.

Electric Car Reality Check Talk

What’s all the buzz on electric cars?electric car

An informative conversation regarding the reality of the electric car: hybrid cars, science, technology, the economy, government, politics, etc.  will be held

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 at 7:00pm to 8:30pm

at Cafe Caffeine at 909 W. Mary St. #A, Austin, TX 78704.

This event is presented in conversation form with Jeremy P. Meyers, Assistant Professor of Engineering at the University of Texas and Garry Golden, Energy Futurist and hosted by Joel Greenburg, Director of Immercio.

Register for this FREE event at eventbrite

2713 Buckeye Trail in Cedar Park, Texas

Second Dining Area
Second Dining Area

Buy a recycled home!

This home in the Northwest Area of Austin, Texas (Cedar Park) has been updated with ceramic tile in the kitchen, half bath & laundry areas. solar screens, a programmable thermostat; lots of windows for natural light and ventilation.  I have lived in this home and loved it!

Exemplary rated Cypress Creek Elementary within walking distance of home.

Mature landscaping and a smaller amount of lawn grass due to a wonderfully large mulched area that you don’t need to water!  Gutters in place- just add a rain barrel or two.  Great sunny area for a garden!  Native stone on 4 sides!

Pet Friendly Dog Bakery in Georgetown

I just love Tail Waggins Dog Bakery in Georgetown;  my two mini schnauzers, Phatti Patti and Baby Girl, love it too.

It’s where I get fresh baked dog treats with fun names like Snicker Doodles, Cream Cheese Danishes and Monkeynut Blossoms.  I personally have never tried them but my 17 year old son has and according to him they are good.  If begging dogs is a way of rating the taste – they must be the best!

My minis also get groomed at Tail Waggins Dog Bakery by Kenny – we have standing 6 week appointments and I don’t stress about leaving my girls in his care.  He does an awesome job.

I’ve taken classes for dog obedience, learned a ton about raw food diets for dogs, what’s really in dog food (Don’t ask unless you REALLY want to know), what table foods dogs can and can’t eat and made friends with the ladies that run the store.  They care about my dogs and are willing to listen to my dog stories – no matter how corny they may be.

If you are looking for a dog bakery try Tail Waggins Dog Bakery in Georgetown – Your dog will be glad you did!

The GREEN Car for Your Texas Organic Home

It’s time to shop for a “green car” to go with my “green lifestyle”.

Toyota PriusHaving been clobbered in Austin by a charging car recently, I am having to car shop.  My 4 cylinder Camry was totalled.  I am now looking to purchas a hybrid aka “green” car.

High miles per gallon is important to me.  As a REATOR I put a lot of miles on my car compared to the average consumer.  Through my Twitter page I found a great California based green car Twitter user site Clean Car Talk for information on hybrid, electric, plug-in and clean diesel cleaner driving choices.

Other websites that I  am enjoying are The Green Motorist site as well the the United States Government fuel economy site.

Avoid Eating Pesticides: Buy Local & Organic Fruit & Veggies

Consumers can avoid eating pesticide residue on fruit and vegetables by buying organically grown at local farmer’s markets or growing your own. According to the report on Yahoo below, there are many pesticides and chemicals that remain in our fruit and vegetables even after peeling them!

It’s not hard to grow your own and Farmer’s Markets are popping up everywhere.  Let’s all try to be as healthy as we can.