I'm disappointed to be writing this, but I had an upsetting experience at the farmers market last…read moreSunday. Farmers markets are supposed to be welcoming, family-friendly spaces where local vendors, farmers, nonprofits, faith groups, and community members can come together safely and respectfully. Unfortunately, I witnessed something that made the environment feel anything but welcoming. There was a small religious group with a table at the market, and as someone passed by, they shouted offensive racial and religious slurs at the men working the table. It was completely uncalled for. Rather than engaging in any kind of respectful conversation, this person chose to be hateful and intimidating in a public community space. I understand that the organizers may not be able to identify or remove every person who behaves this way, but I do think the market should be more proactive about making its expectations clear. A farmers market should feel safe for everyone, including vendors and community organizations that may be more likely to face harassment. Clear signage, public reminders, or stronger policies against hate speech and intolerance would go a long way. I hope the organizers take this seriously and make it clear that racism, religious intolerance, and harassment are not acceptable at this market. The community deserves a space that truly feels supportive, inclusive, and safe for all.

Beautiful and big! Right next to nice park (and a dog park) , trails, and children's play areas…read more Great spot for locals and visitors alike - a nice Austin experience as you meet local farmers and small merchants.

If you understand that eating LOCALLY GROWN foods means you are putting LIVING ENZYMES into your…read morebody, you would never purchase fruits, veggies, meats, poultry ANYPLACE else than a LOCAL Farmers Market. This one has Wonderful Farmers like the LADY FARMERS at Richardson's Farm who bring fresh meat, chicken, eggs & Chicken Livers. They raise their animals underfoot and don't supplement with nasty gmo feed. The chickens eat worms, bugs, grass, lol, just like BEFORE CORPORATE FARMING began. Whether you select Arugula (yes, with that lovely "bitter/hot" taste, figs picked the night before, or eggs taken from the chicks that morning, I promise you that your body will thank you! I am a Pescatarian for 30+ years, but every other month I get a container of Richardson Farm's Chicken Livers, and they are to die for! Tasty, fresh and nutritious too!

I come here for Green Ritual! They have the best Hojicha and Matcha. Yes, I said what I said. This…read moretime I tried the Mango Sunrise matcha and it's perfectly not that sweet. It does take a minute to wait, however, worth it since it's a process and the quality is perfect.

This uniquely Austin business recently popped up at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market sampling…read moresoups, sauces, cheese and the most decadent Potato Salad (with a twist) that I have EVER had. The twist: Maytag bleu cheese, bacon and white truffle are all in the potato salad. Truffles and Potato Salad... WOW - what a combination. My taste buds will never be the same. They cater to vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike. If you are Vegan, you will love their Roasted Carrot and Fennel Soup and their Pumpkin Ginger soup. Hot or cold, as vegan fare, it is the creamiest soup I have experienced, sans the cream. Their Smoky Tomato soup is out of this world, and dare I say, much healthier than the local chain restaurant alternatives. Cheese lovers, get ready with the bread and your spreader, they make a cows milk lemon infused fresh cheese, soft, spreadable and melts in your mouth. I have never had anything like it. I walked away with 2 soups, the cheese and the potato salad. I almost forgot about the potato salad because it was in my fridge less than 24 hours before gobbled up. For local, artisan foods, they were priced very reasonably. One pint containers of soup were $5 each. Potato Salad in same sized container (not filled to top) was $6 and 6 oz of cheese was also $6. Chef Blake Moffitt is truly an artist and the name of his business: Elevated Artisanal Goods, Inc. clearly fits the caliber of food he is creating. A must add to your Saturday morning stops. I am hooked! They do not have a website - but do have e-mail: elevatedartisan@gmail.com

I stopped by their booth today at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market not really looking to buy…read moreanything. After several samples of cheese, sauces and soups I attempted to walk away; but, quickly returned for a pint of the Potato Leek Soup. The soup was thick and spicy and a bit pricey at 5.00 but worth every penny. It was the perfect treat on a cold morning while listening to folk music!

I wholeheartedly recommend Rain Lily to anyone looking for a landscaping change, be it massive…read more(like our project), or small. We asked our trusted irrigation gal who she would recommend for the big job of removing our huge, ugly retaining wall and replacing it with something - anything - better, and Rain Lily was at the top of her list. From day one, it was a pleasure working with Kim (the owner), and Michelle (on-site Jill of all trades/crew leader). We had landscapers just shake their heads at our wonky retaining wall and steep slope, but Kim dove right in and pretty soon we had some amazing plans drawn up. Seeing the plans was exciting enough, but months later, after much hard work, heavy equipment, and behind-the-scenes contractor wrangling, the final result was almost unbelievable. It was a big job, and there were many points at which things could have gone wrong, but didn't. Kim and Michelle really knocked it out of the park. Also worthy of mention is the crew - they worked tirelessly, carefully, and professionally. Nothing sloppy or second-rate about the work they do. The job site was always pristine at the end of the day. We now use Rain Lily for maintenance, and they do a bang-up job keeping everything ship-shape. Every day I look out onto our front yard and do a little dance of happiness inside. The plants they selected are thriving and filling in beautifully, and it really looks like a different property. Best call I ever made!

My plan was to use RainLily to design and implement their plan for my yard. I was very pleased and…read moreexcited about the design and plant/tree selection. Their plan met all of my goals and objectives and, so I was let to believe, within my budget. I was very clear what my budget was. So, I was very disappointed when I found out that executing the design I was excited about was going to cost WAY more than what I was willing to spend. I ended up purchasing most of the plants, grass, and trees from Natural Gardener myself--which saved me a bunch b/c RainLily marks everything that they buy up. Then I hired some friends help me put every thing in over a weekend. So, I would highly recommend RainLily for their design/plant selection. Based on my one experience, I wouldn't recommend them for anything else. I don't see any value in having them procuring plants, soil, gravel, grass, or trees. Go to NG with a list and have them deliver it for $50. As far as the implementation, that's a judgement call, but there's no sense in paying $30 or $40/hour for one of their staff to dig a hole and move some dirt. If your project requires a higher level of skill, then you may want to consider it.

Seriously the most photogenic and delicious squash I have ever layed eyes on or tasted!read more

If you're craving dumplings at the farmer's market, this is IT…read more We got half chicken, half pork and it was a great way to fuel our morning.

The staff was so nice that they allowed me to mix & match 3 flavors in my order. I had the…read morepork&cabbage, chicken&shiitake, also the seasonal chicken satay flavor with peanut butter sauce. All the dumplings were so fresh and flavorful. As a Chinese I have to admit that it's def the best dumplings I've had in Austin! Their chicken satay one was also surprisingly good and interesting to try!

Boot Scootin'! This is a fun place to come and hang out on…read morethe street corner and check out the lovingly curated selection of western ware that they have picked out. They set the wares out on racks so you can check them out from traffic or afar. They offer a bunch of denim and some boots, and some western accessories. The spot is rented from the local church, and they've turned a previously brown patch of grass into a fun and inviting place. There's no restroom. When I went, the clerk was pretty aloof, which was alright with me, since I was just browsing. Didn't get anything. This is all kinda impulse buy stuff. I don't think anyone wakes up and says that they're gonna come here for some bedazzled purse or something. Parking here is a serious challenge. There's only back-in parking along this section of South Congress.