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Green in Abilene? Check out these eco-friendly stops

The SoDa District Courtyard is one of the many repurposed historical buildings in Abilene. Courtesy of Tim Smith.

May 10, 2018

You never know where the Lorax will turn up. Even in West Texas.

Like other counter culture movements, environmentalism has seeped into the American psyche. We recently discovered even some folks in Abilene, a city of 130,000 about 150 miles west of DFW, say they are conscious of the need for green.

North Texas farmers focus of sustainable food blog

Amanda Vanhoozier launched Just Picked TX, a website directory and blog, to connect North Texas consumers with local farmers. It aims to deepen ties in the sustainable food community by promoting fairness, quality, and consumer–producer connections, fostering collaboration and community support for local food producers.

Plant-inspired sculptures powered by wind at Arboretum

A row of wind sculptures, modeled after tulips, are part of exhibit by Lyman Whitaker at the Dallas Arboretum. Photos courtesy of the Dallas Arboretum.

April 25, 2018

An artist who gets his inspiration from plants and wind power recently opened a whimsical outdoor exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum

City of Fort Worth offering free native plants to residents

Fort Worth residents picked up free native plants and learned about local wildflowers and their pollinators at a Native Neighborhoods event held in September. Photos by Michelle Villafranca.

April 17, 2018

A new city of Fort Worth program aims to teach residents the benefits of native landscaping by giving them a starter kit.

Oak Cliff Earth Day roars back with Run for Environment

Oak Cliff Earth Day returned at Lake Cliff Park in Dallas, featuring the "Run for the Environment." Organized by Green Source DFW and Memnosyne Institute, the event included a Native American opening prayer, green development talks, musical performances, and over 130 green vendors, celebrating community and sustainability.

Two Dallas bars ditching plastic straws

Two Dallas bars, Liquid Zoo and Alexandre’s Bar, are replacing plastic straws with paper ones due to environmental concerns. Inspired by viral videos highlighting plastic pollution's impact on marine life, the move aligns with the Texas Campaign for the Environment’s zero-waste goals, although challenges like higher costs exist.

April in North Texas showered with Earth Day fests

Earth Day fests brighten April in North Texas, spreading across weekends. Highlights include Oak Cliff Earth Day at Lake Cliff Park, April 15, with Green Source DFW's Run for the Environment. Events span from educational fairs in Flower Mound to arts and eco-expos in Dallas, showcasing cultural change.

Native plant sales spread sustainable gardening in DFW

Native plant sales in North Texas promote sustainable gardening, emphasizing drought-tolerant species that support wildlife. The Native Plant Society of Texas, founded in 1981, and Dr. Doug Tallamy advocate for native plants' ecological roles. Various sales occur in the region throughout April and May.

Mid Cities vegetarian cafe adds plant-based brunch

The Healthy Hippie, a vegan-vegetarian cafe in Watauga, offers new plant-based brunch options. Founded by Kelli Myatt, a fitness and nutrition coach, the cafe provides a variety of vegan dishes and aims for zero waste. Myatt promotes a peaceful transition to plant-based eating.

Wolfgang Puck Catering dishes on its sustainable practices

Wolfgang Puck Catering served custom pancakes at a Perot Museum event in Dallas. Photo courtesy of Wolfgang Puck Catering Dallas

Feb. 21, 2018

When you think of Wolfgang Puck, sustainability is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. 

But a spokesperson for Wolfgang Puck Catering Dallas says the company works with sustainability partners across DFW on a regular basis.