Hello All,
Green $elf! has added a new feature besides the recycle box and the swap table –
Each meeting we will share “Free Thoughts”. Here are a few Free Things to Do in Austin that Green $elfers suggested last Monday:
Collecting fossils after a heavy rain, swimming at Barton Springs before 9:00am and after 9:00pm, volunteer to make meals after work at the University Baptist Church downtown, hiking, biking, and walking dogs on the greenbelt trails, visit Texas Memorial Museum at UT, and finally play ping pong at Newcomer’s Night, the first Friday of every month – (Austin Table Tennis has a brand new facility on Research Blvd. and is open to the public.)
Our presenter, the multitalented Gretchen Janzow led us in an upbeat discussion concerning the recent recuperation and nascent uptick of the area’s real estate market. She took us on a talking tour of green real estate from earthships in Taos to cob houses and eco homes in our area, sharing photos of local green homes that she has represented. Two of her current listings in Rollingwood were voted among the “Healthiest Homes in America” with over 4000 sq.ft. and utility bills under $200.
Long drawn to sustainability, and having become involved early in Austin’s Green Building organization, Gretchen is now in her fourth year in real estate. One of Gretchen’s talents is networking, and connecting people and businesses together. If you visit her beautiful and informative website at www.ecobrokeraustin.com you’ll see that she also represents homes in Costa Rica and Italy as well as Austin.
Different green floorings and their advantages were discussed, such as plyboo. For a great example of the use of bamboo in a peaceful setting, Gretchen suggested Casa de Luz.
A very green thing to do is to share what you have in abundance that others don’t possess, and Gretchen as a Singer/Songwriter delighted us all by taking up her guitar at the end of the meeting and sharing a fantastic song with us “A Night Like This”, by Steve Fischer. That one tantalizing song created a room of instant fans. We look forward to hearing more of her enchanting voice once she releases her album in the Fall.
The band she is with, “Austin Family Jewels” will be performing at Patsy’s Cowgirl Café (also known as Patsy’s Roadhouse) in the coming months. As a fourteen year volunteer and aficionado of the Kerrville Folk Festival, Gretchen also wanted to remind everyone that it is right around the corner in time and space. In fact it has already started, and will run through June 7th.
Gretchen, thanks for spending time with Green $elf!
Green $elf! meets upstairs lunchtime at the Westbank Community Library http://www.westbank.lib.tx.us/ each month to educate , encourage and inspire each other in an energy saving, environmentally friendly and budget limited way of life. It’s a local support group for Going Green.
If anyone needs more information, would like to present material or has ideas for upcoming meetings, email Beth at plowes@austin.rr.com.
Or email me if you would like to be added or removed from the distribution list.
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