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Calling All Cooks

Walk into any Austin restaurant from Torchy’s Tacos to Jeffrey’s and you’ll most likely find that it’s understaffed. In early March 2018, Poached Jobs, a website that posts jobs in the food and drink industry, listed 689 open positions locally, and the Food, Beverage and Hospitality section of Austin’s Craigslist had more than 2,000 posts. We took a quick survey of some of Austin’s most spotlighted restaurants and found that 80 percent had open line-cook positions, and all had at least one open position from hostess to dishwashers. In a lightning-fast-growing city seemingly teeming with eligible people seeking employment, what could be the disconnect?

Something About Berries

Humans have long had a love affair with berries—both wild and cultivated—for their deliciousness, versatility and beauty. Native Americans first used berries in tinctures to treat pain, heart ailments and infections, and they may have even invented the first energy bar known to man—a nutrient-dense food called pemmican made from protein (most likely from elk, deer or bison), animal fat and the ever-present berry. Today, we have the privilege of easily picking up multiple varieties of seasonal berries from our markets, or harvesting them from wild patches all around Central Texas.

The Lone Star State of Rosé

If Texas has a state wine, could it be rosé? It’s true, the exceedingly popular pink vino may not seem like the ideal dance partner for our leathery and larger-than-life Texas swagger, but this dry, crisp wine keeps up every step of the way with its versatility, big flavor and body that’s light enough to tame our oppressive heat.

The Broken Spoke

In “The Broken Spoke: Austin’s Legendary Honky-Tonk,” author Donna Marie Miller leads us around the dance floor (always, always counterclockwise) of one of the only remaining authentic honky-tonks left standing in Texas. Other than a few inside counters, a coat or two of paint and an added dance floor, things around the Spoke simply haven’t changed that much, and that’s just the way owners James and Annetta White have always wanted it. Once inside the door, the music, smells, atmosphere—sometimes even faces—are pretty much the same now as they were when the doors opened in 1964.

Come and Give It

Hunger is a serious issue in Central Texas, where one in six of our neighbors doesn’t know where their next meal will come from. That’s why the Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) is always looking for fun, creative ways to engage the community in helping us serve those in need.

Rain Lily Farm

From the street, Rain Lily Farm looks like a typical prewar bungalow. You wouldn’t know there’s an urban farm there at all, and for most of the property’s history, there wasn’t. Before Stephanie Scherzer and wife Kim Beal bought the property in 2001, the triangular 4 acres that fanned out behind the East Austin rent house were covered in trash, junked cars and brush. Bordered by Boggy Creek on the north, the land was never developed due to flooding concerns—not even after Boggy Creek was straightjacketed into a safe (albeit ugly) concrete runoff channel.

What's On Our Counter

We’re always trying new local products. Take a look at what our staff is enjoying this month.

Sill-Life with Herbs

Summer windowsill herb gardens offer easy access to fresh, delicious herbs without melting in our brutal heat, but just like any garden, getting started takes a little preparation. If you want to be top-tech about the endeavor, then by all means, invest a few dollars in a spectrometer and gauge the actual sunlight entering your windows. This might be critical knowledge, actually, depending on the age of your windows. Some newer varieties limit UV-spectrum so effectively that not even Mary’s garden will grow. If this sounds like your case, you can still grow indoors! Look into the many options for indoor plant-growing light systems. Our local community has amazing resources for this sort of horticulture. If, however, you have a sturdy, wide sill below a south-facing traditional-glass window, or a bump-out garden window, then you’ll just need to obtain containers, a growing medium and some seeds or starts for your indoor summertime herb garden.

Edible DIY: Peaches

When I was a little girl in Southern California, I routinely turned up my nose at fresh fruit. Like many kids, I preferred the soft, unidentifiable, brightly colored fruit cubes that came so conveniently out of a can. (I know I wasn’t the only kid partial to that sweet, syrupy fruit from the ’70s, but the irony of walking to school through orange groves in the agricultural capital of the nation, paired with my chosen career as a fruit preserver, is not lost on me.)

10 Frozen Treats for a Summer Sweet Tooth

As the last days of summer approach us, so do some sweltering temperatures. But fear not, these 10 frozen dessert recipes will help keep you cool and content until autumn arrives.

Critter Condos

Austin has long been a haven for urban wildlife, but because of our recent rapid development, local habitats continue to shrink. A simple way to support our critter friends—especially our beneficial flying critter friends—is to add low-maintenance, locally made nesting boxes.

A Time for Giving

When Operation Turkey founder Richard Bagdonas gave away his Thanksgiving leftovers to a homeless man in downtown Austin back in 2000, he didn’t realize what he was putting into motion.

A Day in the Life

Sustainable Food Center (SFC) runs two weekly farmers markets every Saturday—one in downtown Austin and one in Sunset Valley. We shadowed the market crew of one of our oldest vendors—Johnson’s Backyard Garden (JBG)—to see what it takes to prepare for our favorite day of the week!

Beverages

Becker Vineyards

Bending Branch Winery

Bloody Revolution

Civil Goat Coffee

Craft Pride

Growler Express

KTonic Kombucha

Messina Hof

Republic Whiskey

Spec's Wine Spirits and Finer Foods

Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Texas Coffee Traders

Texas Keeper Ciders

Tito's Handmade Vodka

Summer 2007

First let us define local. We’ve already been amazed at how many meanings that word can have. Within our 30-county area called Central Texas, local is the organic-vegetable-and-lemonade stand run by seven-year-old Alabel Chapin, her five-year-old brother Henry and their six-year-old friend Ford Martin.

(We happened upon them in Austin’s Travis Heights neighborhood—see “1,000 Words,”)  Local is the family ranch outside of Fredericksburg owned by Chuck and Teppi Schmidt, who raise pastured, grassfed beef using organic principles. Local is the soon-to-open Big Top Candy Shop on South Congress Avenue—independently owned by Brandon Hodge—featuring an old-fashioned soda fountain.

It may appear counter-intuitive, but lingering over a rare treat of a real egg cream soda counts as the art of slow food. Local is Jesse Griffiths and Tamara Mayfield’s Dai Due supper club where lucky diners are served an all locally sourced menu, family style, at Rain Lily, a gem of an urban farm in East Austin. Tamara met Jesse delivering Rain Lily’s vegetables to Vespaio where he used to work as a chef. Local is exactly about making that kind of connection.

Garden / Lawn / Farm / Landscaping

This is a selection of services, businesses and products that are committed to ecologically sound practices. If you know of a business that you would like to see included on this list please contact Edible Austin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Local Household Resources

This is a selection of services, businesses and products that are committed to ecologically sound practices. If you know of a business that you would like to see included on this list please contact Edible Austin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

All in One Bake Shop
Austin's retail supply source for baking supplies, products and accessories for home and professional bakers and decorators
8566 Research Blvd.
512-371-3401
allinonebakeshop.com

Bark ‘n Purr
Organic pet supplies
4604 Burnet Road
512-452-3883
barknpurr.com

BabyEarth
Boasting one of the largest selections of eco-friendly baby products
107 Old Settlers Blvd, Round Rock
888-868-2897
http://www.babyearth.com/

Blue Avocado
512-461-1603
blueavocado.com

Breed & Co.
Hardware, plus the finest housewares, garden, and gourmet food you’ll find anywhere.
Central: 718 W. 29th St., 512-474-6679;
Westlake: 3663 Bee Cave Rd., 512-328-3960
breedandco.com

Callahan's General Store
An Austin landmark for more than 30 years! We're not just a feed store, or western wear, hardware, tack, housewares, or gifts -- we're all of that and more!
501 Bastrop Hwy
512-385-3452 or 800-950-8602
callahansgeneralstore.com

Chez Poulet
Building affordable, well-made chicken coops for small backyard flocks
chezpoulet.com

Climb On! Products
100% Pure skin care products
691 La Buena Vista Dr. Ste. B, Wimberley
1-877-966-2600
skinourishment.com/collections/climbon

Der Küchen Laden
Der Küchen Laden is all about inspiring the little chef in all of us. One step inside and you’ll see why people call it the candy store for kitchen geeks. Packed floor to ceiling with everything from cookie cutters to small appliances, and a veteran sales staff that feel more like friends than hired help.
258 East Main Street, Fredericksburg
830-997-4937,
littlechef.com

Eco Box
Moving & shipping supplies and box recycle
ecobox.com

EcoClean of Austin
Non-toxic dry cleaning and laundry.
2915 Guadalupe Street
512-236-8645
ecocleanaustin.com

Eco-Wise
Local source for building, home, kitchen, cleaning, baby, furniture, bedding, bath and body, clothing, and other products.
110 West Elizabeth Street
512-326-4474
ecowise.com

Faraday’s Kitchen Store
Your source for a full assortment of everyday kitchen and specialty gourmet items, from cutlery to bakeware, cookware to gadgets! 
12918 Shops Parkway, Suite 540
512-266-5666
faradayskitchenstore.com

Fleegal Farms Soap
A healthy, natural alternative of full range face & body skin care products
512-301-7627
fleegalfarms.com

Gary Weeks & Co. Furnituremakers
We are artist craftsmen in Wimberley making dining chairs, tables, and rocking chairs from Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods.
112 W. Spoke Hill Dr., Wimberley
800-986-3187 / 512-847-3187
garyweeks.com

The Herb Bar
An extensive array of natural health and bodycare products
200 W. Mary
512-444-6251
theherbbar.com

House + Earth
Austin's locally owned and operated green building material store
1214 W. 6th St., Suite 100
512-300-0484
http://houseandearth.com/

Hummingbird EcoCleaning
Locally owned eco conscious cleaning company
512-368-2268
http://hummingbirdecocleaning.com/

MWCleaners
A more environmentally friendly way to dry-clean your wardrobe. 
Multiple locations in Austin and Houston
mwcleaners.com

Mobile Chicken Coops
512-756-7537
mobilechickencoops.com

Olive: Green Goods for Modern Dogs
Dedicated to bringing you the largest variety of healthful and environmentally conscious dog products on the Internet
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.%20">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
toll free: 877-654-8355
olivegreendog.com

Organic Carpet Care
All-natural, high performance carpet cleaning
512-203-7051
organiccarpetcare.com

The Purple Fig Cleaning Company
Natural and non-toxic cleaning services and products
512-351-1405
cleanfig.com

Rick's Refills
Re-filling virtually any cartridge or toner
512-443-4465
ricksrefills.com

Salon Austin
Organic hair color and perm systems
2105 Justin Ln, #109
512-832-6721
salonaustin.com

Texas Green Clean
Natural and non-toxic cleaning services
512-243-8385
txgreenclean.com

Texas Natural Supply
Natural Herbal Bath and Body products made with high quality herbal ingredients & botanicals
4506 Weletka Dr. Suite 200
866-975-9753
texasnaturalsupply.com

TreeHouse Home Improvement
Helping build smarter homes and homeowners
512-861-0712
tree.house

Wildflower Linens & Home
Home decor, textiles, linens and gifts dedicated to eco-awareness
908 North Lamar
512-320-0449
wildflowerorganics.com

Summer 2008

350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the safe upper limit for atmospheric CO² to sustain life as we know it on the planet. It’s the number that could define our future.

When you consider that we’re already at 385 parts per million, according to data presented by scientists at the American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco last December, now is the time to start paying attention and 350 is the number not to beat.

When author (The End of Nature, Deep Economy), educator and grassroots organizer Bill McKibben visited town this March, Austin Green Art founder Randy Jewart hosted a roundtable discussion with Bill and a roomful of Austin’s sustainability crowd. McKibbon, who also founded Step It Up 2007, which organized hundreds of rallies in support of curbs on carbon emissions, explained his latest project—the 350 Campaign (350.org), an international undertaking aimed at further raising awareness about global warming. Bottom line, we all need to do our part or we’re all gonna die, as in global death.

Basket of Pearls

By Bridget Weiss
Photography by Carole Topalian 

When I was four, my older brother and sister won a free trip through the Sears toy department in the Hancock Center. They had 15 minutes to fill two large baskets with anything they wanted. Observing this unfathomable privilege ruined me for years, and it all but destroyed the work ethic my parents had tried so hard to instill. As a result, I became the kind of adult who waits for checks in the mail from kindly strangers, who hopes to win a lottery for which I forgot to buy a ticket, who stands ready to move into a house left to me by a deceased, previously undiscovered, relative.

Root Causes #7