Green Talk®

Whole Body, Healthy Home, and Sustainable Garden Inspiration

  • About
    • Press
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • New Here?
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Hire Me
  • 5 Reasons to Subscribe!
  • Build Green
  • Gardening
  • Green Business
  • Green Living
  • Green Home
  • Recycling
  • Tech

Austin, Texas: Fun, Green, Veggie Friendly. Should I Move There?

April 19, 2013 By: Anna1 Comment

During our three year leave New Jersey plan, we have visited many places in search of a new home.  With a big list of criteria from being green to weather, Austin, Texas seemed to fit the bill.  Everyone loves Austin.  So, off we headed to Texas sans our cowboy boots and hats.  Listed below are my pros and cons of Austin.  Weigh in with your thoughts as well.

What I Love About Austin:

There is lots to love in this town:

  • +3000 food trucks!  No lie. (Well, that is what I was told.)  Those trucks are everywhere.  Hubbs and I ate at Schmaltz, a vegetarian Jewish style food cart.  (See sign above.) Hubs ordered the vegetarian Ruben seitan sandwich, which was to die for.    Heck, if you are a vegan or vegetarian, this place has some great “eats.”
  • The Whole Foods in Austin is such a trip. (Okay, down right amazing.)  There were so many bins.  My local Whole Foods store has very little bins.  I felt like a kid in a candy store.  They even offer a  bean, grains, and greens counter.  Yep.  Pretty awesome.
  • Home town of  in.gredients, which is an all bin store!  No plastic waste!  (See picture below of their liquid laundry detergent container.)
  • People were so outdoorsy.  On the weekend we visited Town Lake, where people canoe and paddle board.  Also, everyone was running or walking around the lake.  Exercise must be mandatory to live in Austin.
  • Very dog friendly.
  • Recreationally Friendly
  • Music oriented.  A concert was going on the same time we there.  In fact, the hotel we stayed at had live music as well.
  • Has that hip mentality.  Some people would call it grunge or alternative lifestyle.  (Woodstockish, etc.)
  • Love South Congress cool hip stores.  Amy’s ice cream was amazing.
  • University of Texas!  You know I want live in a college town.
  • I could garden in the fall all the way until the beginning of December.  In NJ, my frost date is October 15.
  • People were openly friendly. Seriously.

in.gredients-Austin, Texas, the ultimate bin store.

What I didn’t like about Austin:

  • I would die in the summer.  It gets very hot there.
  • Can’t grow much in the summer.  The heat would kill my plants unless I watered them all the time.  Now, just as an aside, I didn’t look into heat tolerant plants for the summer.
  • Traffic!  (Lots of  traffic.)
  • I am a four seasons girl so I was looking for greenery.  Due to the climate, there just didn’t seems to be much landscaping.    The locals told me they don’t plant since everything dies due to the heat.  (I am sorry, Austin.  Gardening is in my soul.)
  • Drought issues.  Honestly, I worry about water wars in the west.   According to Pacific Standard Magazine, seven states share the Colorado River.   Since 1920 until 2000, population in those states have increased from 5.7 million to almost 50 million.  It is predicted by 2030, 23 million more people will be moving to the 7 state area.  Texas is already in a drought situation.
  • Real estate taxes are higher than New Jersey but they don’t have a state income tax.  In addition, their sales tax is  8 1/4 %.

We haven’t taken Austin off the list but the heat and water issues are a little disconcerting.  However, I know we would have fun there!  Yep, I would be bin shopping and eating lots of vegan food from the food trucks.

So for all you in favor of Austin, convince me!

Join the Conversation:

  • Have you visited Austin?  If so, what are your thoughts?
  • Do you live in Austin?  If so, how do you deal with the heat?
  • What do you love most about Austin?
  • Don’t forget to weigh in on where I should move. Comment here.

P.S.  I re-read this post and it looks like all I like to do is eat….(and garden….)

 

 

Similar Posts:

  • Best City to Live? Tell me Where I Should Move. Pin on My Map.
  • Fragrant Roses. In search of the smell.
  • Vegetarian Diet: Why I left.
  • Recycled Content Vast Pavers Offer New 4 by 8 Pavers
  • Green Scenes from Washington DC

Grow From Seed Mini Course

Grow From Seed Mini Course

About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of The Naked Botanical and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

Chat with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest , and Google+.

Trackbacks

  1. Vegetarian Diet: Why I left. says:
    April 30, 2013 at 12:59 am

    […] reached an all time low while in Austin by eating a quiona veggie salad and within 40 minutes, I couldn’t stay awake.  I feel asleep […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Shop from Anna’s Farm– The Naked Botanical– Farm Fresh Teas, Salts & Body Products

The Naked Botanical Click HERE

Save Money By Growing Your Plants Indoors.

Three Must Have Equipment "

Grab My Free Mini Course

Connect with Me

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Popular Posts

  • Organic Color Systems: Wash those Grays Away with a Safer Hair Color

  • Coffee Grounds in the Garden: Friend or Foe?

  • Celery Leaves: Cook or Discard them?

  • Freeze Cucumbers & Learn How to Use Them.

  • Hydrogen Peroxide + Ears = Bye to Colds. A Remedy that Works

  • Orange Peel Vinegar Cleaner. Make Your Own Green Cleaner

  • 15 Ways to Recycle or Repurpose Your Underwear

Recent Posts

  • How to Grow Grains in a Small Garden
  • Proper Lighting to Grow Seeds Indoors.
  • Gone Vegan: And Loving My New Life
  • Sleep On Latex: A Healthier Mattress to Sleep Better
  • Eco-Friendly Multi-Use Yard Living. Eat and Enjoy.

Popular Posts

  • Organic Color Systems: Wash those Grays Away with a Safer Hair Color

  • Coffee Grounds in the Garden: Friend or Foe?

  • Celery Leaves: Cook or Discard them?

RSS Green Talk TV

  • Hibiscus in the high tunnel and some discoveries I found.
  • Turmeric indoor sowing time!
  • Short snippet of creating a rose hydrosol
  • Elderberry, more uses than just for health
  • The Naked Botanical's Gift Boxes

Copyright Green Talk © 2025 · Website Designed by Clever Kiwi