Wow how inspiring to see that I'm not the only soul in Tx that is interested in permaculture! I've been feeling a bit lonely in that most of the books I have read on permaculture (not that I've read very many) seem to revolve around areas with a proper winter or areas in the tropics. We face special challenges as central Texans with too much frost for several tropicals and too much heat for several temperate climate plants.
My name is Chris, I live in Cedar Park, Tx, which is a bit north of Austin. I have an east-facing balcony with a smidgen of railing that faces south. Currently I have a Kumquat tree in a pot there. I was first exposed to permaculture when I was in college, I ran across the book "Edible Forest Gardens" while looking for a different book in the library. I was totally floured by what plants are able to do when they work together as a team. At the time, I only had a room in an apartment, but it definitely got me thinking. A couple years later, fast forwarding to today, I finally have my own balcony to fill with plants, and I'm hoping to use as many permaculture principles as I can.
I currently have about 100 or so plants indoors, but I'm carefully planning an edible balcony forest that will hopefully be both a great source of fresh food, a wildlife habitat, and a colorful, beautiful garden, all in one space.
My dream is to have an acre or more of land to grow most of my own food, and live a sustainable life. Of course, land and house require lots of money, which I don't have, but I'm really hoping to find a community of people to share my harvests with once I get growing and also help with whatever I can. It's hard to meet people after college, especially people with similar dreams and/or values.
I'm so glad that this forum is here and I hope that I can be part of the community even though I don't yet have a piece of land to call my own.
