If you're anything like us, you'll agree that a mid-morning stroll through one of Austin's many farmers' markets is one of life's unique joys. And it's the time of the season for such sojourns, with summer crops such as peaches and tomatoes joining their cool-weather counterparts (such as greens, sweet potatoes and carrots) in markets. There are a few new farmers' markets in town to check out. more ›

As farmer's markets gain popularity nationwide, Austinites can stand proud as the Austin Farmer's Market does its part to support local farmers. Greenlight Magazine highlights the top 10 markets in the nation in its most recent edition, and Austin hits the list. According to the magazine: This growers-only market is limited to local (within 150 miles) farms, and boasts a distinct Southwestern flavor. Pick up Creole pralines, pecans, as well as heirloom zipper, cream, black-eyed,... more ›

Anyone interested in learning about the farm bill, buying some sustainable grass-fed beef and fresh local eggs and long beans, or just finding somewhere nice to walk around with a fair-trade, locally-roasted coffee should consider heading to one of Austin’s farmers markets this Saturday. Figs, apples, pears, purple long beans, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, squash blossoms, greens, basil, garlic, shallots, onions, and summer squash are among the fresh seasonal picks available at the markets this... more ›

SustainLane's annual rankings of America's Most Sustainable Cities came out yesterday. Austin, which was ranked #6 in 2005 in SustainLane's similar "US City Rankings," plummeted to #14 this year. Other Texas cities among the fifty fared worse, including Dallas (24), El Paso (31), Houston (39), and Fort Worth (46). As far as SustainLane.com -- an "online community site for healthy and sustainable living" -- is concerned, most of our -ist brethren cities (SF, Seattle, Philly,... more ›

Central Texans have a new device for navigating their dining outings and it is called Food Hawk. The website describes its services as a tool "to help people select restaurants and find other area food resources based on their personal interests in cuisine, dining experience, location and price through a searchable Web site." Works for us. Hungry Austinites can search for restaurants by name, cuisine, or neighborhood. An advanced search allows one to enter a zip code, price range or even an ambiance. Are you in the mood for cozy or quaint? Black cloths or white cloths? Also notable is the listing of personal chefs, cooking classes, wineries, and farmer's markets. more ›