Greener parts of rural TX for potential move to small ranch? (Houston: allergies, live in)

[yishmeray]

I am considering a move for my family and would dearly appreciate input from you who know.

We live in rural colorado, elevation 7200', on a small 5-acre ranch raising goats and chickens, with pigs and possibly cattle in the near future. Wherever we end up we would like to continue at least semi rurally with at least these animals, if not more.

The primary motivator is to find a place that is not desert and is, instead, green. Not talking politics or responsible use of resources here - green, as in growing things, not all brown for months out of the year. This almost certainly means warmer, which is just fine by us, and lower altitude will mean longer growing season, which would be a huge plus.

Just looking at satellite images the state looks greener to the east. We have no real exposure to Texas besides passing through sometimes, so we really don't know where to start.

Air quality is a big consideration too. We have the occasional problem with asthma in the family. We believe these considerations would militate against the Houston area, however pleasant it otherwise seems - though again, we don't really know the state and we're open to being convinced.

It shouldn't matter too much, but in case it does, we are a multi-ethnic family with children adopted from Russia and China. We are also Christians and hope to find a good bible-believing church nearby with people who love the Lord above all - something fairly rare in our experience.

Yishmeray

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by yishmeray

I am considering a move for my family and would dearly appreciate input from you who know.

We live in rural colorado, elevation 7200', on a small 5-acre ranch raising goats and chickens, with pigs and possibly cattle in the near future. Wherever we end up we would like to continue at least semi rurally with at least these animals, if not more.

The primary motivator is to find a place that is not desert and is, instead, green. Not talking politics or responsible use of resources here - green, as in growing things, not all brown for months out of the year. This almost certainly means warmer, which is just fine by us, and lower altitude will mean longer growing season, which would be a huge plus.

Just looking at satellite images the state looks greener to the east. We have no real exposure to Texas besides passing through sometimes, so we really don't know where to start.

Air quality is a big consideration too. We have the occasional problem with asthma in the family. We believe these considerations would militate against the Houston area, however pleasant it otherwise seems - though again, we don't really know the state and we're open to being convinced.

It shouldn't matter too much, but in case it does, we are a multi-ethnic family with children adopted from Russia and China. We are also Christians and hope to find a good bible-believing church nearby with people who love the Lord above all - something fairly rare in our experience.

Yishmeray

You should have no trouble meeting all your needs in Northeast Texas or even Deep East Texas. Check out the areas around Tyler/Longview/Texarkana/Nacogdoches - rolling green hills, mild winters, plenty of water, plenty of friendly towns and churches, etc.

Good luck - keep us posted!

[rynetwo]

I'd draw a line from Texarkana to Dallas, down to San Antonio, over to Houston, back to Texarkana.

That is a lot of Texas territory so good luck.

[soletaire]

Anywhere from Tyler, Longview, Marshall to Nacogoches, Palestine, Huntsville or Lufkin.. Outside of Tyler, and possibly Longview, these are all still going to be very small rural towns though...Tyler should fit the bill quite well though.

[Philip T]

Yeah Northeast Texas.

The Coal Fired Electrical Plants have been getting busted by the EPA, and Natural Gas is under-cutting the price of Coal so the Air Quality is improving.

Now the Green-Nature itself may be the hardest on Asthma. Lot of pollen and such allergies. Our kids get it in the Spring and Fall when out in East Texas -- we call it the Pine Flu.

Heavy to Severe Bible-Thumping out that way, too, so you should find what you are looking for.

[soletaire]

Just trying to sell upper east Texas some more. If you decide on Tyler, this is what you can look forward to.


Visit the East Texas Piney Woods - Review of Tyler State Park, Tyler, TX - TripAdvisor

[Mark Senior]

Originally Posted by Philip T

Yeah Northeast Texas.

The Coal Fired Electrical Plants have been getting busted by the EPA, and Natural Gas is under-cutting the price of Coal so the Air Quality is improving.

Now the Green-Nature itself may be the hardest on Asthma. Lot of pollen and such allergies. Our kids get it in the Spring and Fall when out in East Texas -- we call it the Pine Flu.

Heavy to Severe Bible-Thumping out that way, too, so you should find what you are looking for.

Yep, to some Heavy to Severe Bible-Thumping, is not a bad thing, just saying... or to say they're a lot of "worse" sins out there, lol People are not "in your face" in Tyler with "church" but is readily available but being "readily available" could be "disturbing, a bother" to some...

[Mark Senior]

Originally Posted by soletaire

Just trying to sell upper east Texas some more. If you decide on Tyler, this is what you can look forward to.


Visit the East Texas Piney Woods - Review of Tyler State Park, Tyler, TX - TripAdvisor

Couldn't rep you again. So, rep.!! good photos.

[soletaire]

Originally Posted by Mark Senior

Couldn't rep you again. So, rep.!! good photos.

Thank you sir! And just know, no one appreciates your stewardship and knowledge of all things Tyler, any more than I! Im back for the holidays, and it is a true Texas gem.

[yishmeray]

What a wonderful outpouring of responses. Thank you, Texas folk. My family and I are much obliged to you for the kindness, and will most definitely remember you as the day approaches.

Pine has been mentioned a couple of times - are the forests mainly on the pine/fir/spruce/coniferous end, or deciduous as well? I see in the pictures from the park that there seem to be quite a mix, so maybe that answers the question already.

KathrynAragon - thank you so much! I hope you will pardon me if I inquire a bit farther: Outside of the city areas you named, you also mentioned deep east Texas. What would that signify in particular, if it's different from the tyler/longview/texarkana/nacogdoches areas you mentioned?

Soletaire - the photos are a great help. Thank you. May I ask: By upper east Texas, are you meaning Tyler and its immediate environs specifically, or a larger region (and, if so, how would you define it)? Not that that region is any too small!

How lovely to find such help and so easily.

And to Philip T and Mark Senior - much obliged on the matter of Christians, bible thumpers or otherwise. It's pretty rough to get the landscape from afar, and this is a huge part of it.

-- Yishmeray