Community gardens have a rich history that’s intertwined with social movements, urban development, and environmental awareness. Examples abound. Liberty Gardens were developed during WWI and Victory Gardens sprouted up during WWII. In the 1970’s, the Green Guerrillas in New York City battled urban decay by reclaiming vacant lots and turning them into food-producing gardens, sharing the work with a local group of like-minded people. At Morningstar DFW , an upscale master-planned community just fifteen minutes from Ft. Worth, a community garden is one of many special amenities . Community gardens aren’t just about sustainability. It’s more than that. Gardening together provides a greater sense of community and a higher degree of connection among homeowners. Fast Forward to 2025 A community garden is one antidote to the hyper-connected, fast-paced world we live in. Community gardens serve as spaces where people can grow food, learn about eco-friendly practices, and build stronger communities. Morningstar DFW built a shared garden because it shows that small-scale community efforts can lead to significant positive impacts for both people and the planet Community gardens take us back to a time when growing food was a communal effort, sharing the harvest was a way to care for one another, and nurturing the soil went hand in hand with nurturing relationships. How Gardens Build Communities Here's a detailed look at how a community can come together to grow a garden. The Planning Stage: Community members hold meetings or surveys to gauge interest in the garden. The community scouts for suitable locations, such as vacant lots, parks, or HOA land, and works with local authorities or property owners to secure access. Everyone is encouraged to share ideas on garden design—plot layouts, accessibility, pathways, and shared amenities like sheds or benches. Building and Preparation: Community members gather for "build days" to prepare the land, set up infrastructure such as fencing, raised beds, irrigation, and plant the first seeds. Experienced gardeners may teach others essential skills, like soil preparation or composting, to ensure everyone feels involved and empowered. Planting and Maintenance: Individual plots may be assigned to families while shared spaces are maintained collectively. Everyone has a sense of ownership and responsibility. The community organizes regular maintenance days to weed, water, and care for the garden collectively. These events also double as social gatherings. Community Bonding: Potlucks, picnics, or harvest festivals are organized to celebrate milestones and encourage continued participation. Working together in a community garden is more than growing food. It’s a living example of what community collaboration and environmental stewardship can achieve. Growing Seasons

Real estate experts are always looking for emerging trends in the housing market. As the market landscape continues to evolve, 2025 is shaping up to be a year where supply and demand, wellness, transitional spaces, sustainability, and smart design take center stage in homebuying trends.

Easy, fast access to quality healthcare ranks among the top priorities for every demographic group, and this factor comes into clearer focus with the rise in popularity of suburban communities which are designed to be tucked away from the noise, traffic and the hustle and bustle of large metropolitan cities.

Despite the understandable anxiety of making one of life’s most important purchases - buying a home - it may be time to tamp down the concern and make a move. Why? The opportunities have never been better! This is especially true when communities such as Morningstar DFW, located just west of Fort Worth in Aledo are considered in the decision.

Most people understand what it means to have good physical health. By applying a few, well-researched habits - eating a well-balanced diet, getting some regular exercise, and getting a good night’s sleep - most people will enjoy physical health. However, mental health and a sense of well-being are a little more complicated to attain. It may be surprising to some, but the two most important words for feeling better mentally are “me too.” An unknown, but very insightful author once wrote: “Some of the most comforting words in the universe are ‘me too.’ That moment when you find out that your struggle is also someone else’s struggle, that you’re not alone, and that others have been down the same road.” — Unknown This insight strongly supports the very human need of belonging to a “community” in order to have better mental health. Building this feeling of a supportive community has been incorporated in an innovative program of the master-planned community of Morningstar located near Fort Worth in Aledo. The “Lifestyle Program” and planned community events have received rave reviews because they bring residents - of all ages - together as a group of friends. Of course, the amenities of Morningstar are stunning. The amenity center and clubhouse are complete with resort-style pools for kids and adults, cabanas, play yards, outdoor grilling space, and lakeside entertainment lawns. Residents also enjoy miles of hike and bike trails that wind along creeks lined with large mature trees and natural landscape. However, there’s a “secret sauce” that families who live here love. It’s a sense of community. Why a Sense of Community is So Important Having friends and belonging to a group larger than oneself seems to be hardwired in the brains of human beings. According to Happiness.com , “Humans are social beings, and the need to belong is deeply ingrained in our nature. That’s why, since the beginning of time, humans have been drawn to creating their own communities. Today, important communities continue to be formed around different shared interests of characteristics, such as religious or spiritual groups, professional associations, neighborhoods, volunteer groups or sports clubs. “In fact, belonging to a group or community we can identify with helps us develop a stronger sense of personal and collective identity. It can also give a boost to our self-esteem and to our willingness to take on the world and make our dreams happen. But the importance of community goes beyond that. “So, just why is community important? To answer the question, we can look at what happens if we don’t have a community, we can call our own. Since we’re inherently social beings, feeling disconnected from others can deeply affect our self-perception and emotional health. Community is important to us at Morningstar and bringing neighbors together through a variety of events, planning committees, and social groups is at the heart of our team's yearly mission. Neighbors Who Become Friends The on-site Morningstar Lifestyle Director and management team are masters of event planning, and these activities bring the entire community together. Whether it’s a visiting guest who has special insights to share over a cup of coffee, movies on the lawn overlooking the lakes with the family, or a trip to the Fort Worth Cultural District for a day of museums and world class art exhibits, the Lifestyle Program offers something that’s rare in our modern, fast-paced world: interaction with neighbors who become friends. It’s all about the Morningstar community. Learn more about the Morningstar lifestyle and explore our events gallery to see how much fun we are having. If you are looking for a place to really belong, click here and schedule a time to take a look at Morningstar. It could very easily change your life.

“Out where the smile dwells a little longer. Out where the friendship’s a little truer. That’s where the West begins.” With a little help from “Fort Worth Star-Telegram” publisher, Amon Carter and a Chamber of Commerce that recognized a good city moniker when they heard one, the city adopted the theme:” Where the West Begins” as its very own “brand.” Just a few miles farther west, halfway between Fort Worth and Weatherford, the small community of Aledo was just getting started.

If we have learned anything from the pandemic, it is that a home is an ultimate shelter from the storm. Whether it involved working from home, entertaining at home, schooling at home, or any other activity that was previously done somewhere else, families have gained a new appreciation for the importance of a quality-built home. Fortunately, these new challenges - demands for health, energy efficiency, and multifunctional floor plans - have been met by innovative builders like Riverside Homebuilders . For those who want to live in Morningstar DFW , west of Fort Worth in Aledo, there is some great news. Riverside Homebuilders is now serving this enormously popular master-planned community. Built on three generations of residential construction, this team is well-known to many Tarrant County residents. Trust Is Everything Quality homes are not built in a week or two. It takes time to plan and execute the build. Because of this, trust must exist between a builder and a homeowner. The president and founder of Riverside Homebuilders, Tim Fleet, notes that "when choosing a builder, you should acquaint yourself with a company that will be investing many months in making sure your home becomes a reality. I've spent my entire life in the homebuilding industry in the Fort Worth area. Growing up in a family business, you start young, learn from the legacy, and see how each generation brings their passion, knowledge, and creativity." "Over the years, I learned that the quality of your team will get you through tough times. We had - and still have - a great team of experienced individuals who are deeply committed to our vision: making our homeowners happy and doing what's right. No builder is perfect. Neither are we, but we try hard every day to make the experience exciting, satisfying, and easy for our customers." "Our customer satisfaction surveys tell us 97% of our homeowners would refer us to others looking to buy a new home. So, we must be doing something right!" Energy Efficiency = Sustainability in a Home The art and science of the residential building industry have come a long way in a short amount of time. Where homeowners once focused their attention on the square footage of a home, they now want design and engineering that are energy-efficient, with a smaller carbon footprint. The experts at Riverside Homebuilders have led the way in this demand for sustainability in a residence for decades. As Time notes, "The average utility cost, impact on your quality of life, and impact on the environment are all very important factors with which discerning homebuyers have become very familiar. Riverside Homebuilders is committed to building homes that are efficient, healthy, and clean. We use the latest technologies, designs, and methods to ensure that you are getting the absolute maximum from your home." "While we aim to reduce the impact on your wallet, we are also focusing on ways to minimize your home's impact on the environment. Each product we use - from construction materials to insulation to appliances - is hand-picked to leave the smallest carbon footprint and pose the least risk to the environment." "We also use local vendors whenever possible not just to improve the local economy, but to reduce the impact of shipping the materials. The health of your community is one of the most valuable assets it has, and we strive to keep it as good as it possibly can be." Put Riverside Homebuilders on Your Short List If your family or friends are thinking of building a "forever home" in Morningstar DFW, take a minute and look at the benefits of hiring one of the most successful builders in the United States. As one of ProBuilder's Housing Giants of 2021 , Riverside Homebuilders should be on your short-list. For more information on referring a friend to Riverside Homebuilders and earning $500, click here .

It goes without saying that many housing developments and master-planned communities exist throughout North Texas. By and large, they offer the same thing: Locations near employment centers and good schools, quality housing, multiple floor plan selections, and different pricing options. However, to create a truly successful master-planned community - on that residents really like, and, as a result, spread the word to friends and others - depends on value-add attributes. These components, both tangible and intangible, can mean the difference between a fair housing development, and one that succeeds. Morningstar, in Aledo, TX, has successfully parlayed affordability with value-add attributes since selling its first homes in 2016. In 2019, so far, Morningstar has sold 65 homes, due to reasonable pricing, plenty of floor plans, and value-add components. House Hunting and Mortgage Rates The good news is that, despite the Federal Reserve's interest rate increases over the past three years, mortgage rates continue low . The reason is that investors continue struggling to make sense of competing economic commentary. While the narrative continues confounding investors, the lower mortgage rates are good news for house hunters. Affordability has long been an issue for home ownership. A lower cost, when it comes to borrowing money, can help relieve some of the stress. So can offering affordable homes for sale. North Texas' affordable "sweet spot" starts at $250,000, which is the minimum price point offered for Morningstar homes. Even with the lower mortgage rates, homeowners want value for their money. They also buy, based on an MPC's tangible and intangible value-add component. Value-Add: Tangibles Most buyers take for granted that, when they acquire a home, it will come with a yard, as well as plumbing and electricity connections. However, today's homebuyers want more than four walls and acreage. They want on-site entertainment and amenities where children can play, and neighbors can get together. As an example, Morningstar's 700 acres include plenty of green spaces, trails, lakes, and streams. Also on site is an amenity center and clubhouse, which offers resort-style pools for children and adults, as well as cabanas, play yards, catch-and-release ponds, and lakeside lawns for outdoor parties and community events. These amenities, which are, more often than not, found among higher-luxury master-planned communities, provide a competitive advantage and draw for potential homeowners. Such amenities also lead to another important factor in a successful development, that of intangibles. Value-Add:Intangibles In a recent survey, Morningstar learned that the residents really liked the community and especially, the neighbors. The bonds of friendship and neighborliness didn't just happen, however. The Morningstar staff helped push it along, by encouraging resident - and community - hosted events in the amenity space mentioned above. Some of those events include community movie nights, which encourage families to bring a blanket, popcorn, and snacks to the event lawn, and view the film on the big screen. Morningstar also books local musicians and acts, to provide entertainment and fun for the residents. Then there are special events, such as the July 4 community parade, which invites young and old to decorate themselves and their bicycles in our nation's colors, then walk and ride through the development's many streets. All of these activities, as well as those that aren't planned, help create bonds between neighbors while building the community. They are also an important reason why residents like being here, and why they are willing to recommend Morningstar to their friends. Going Beyond the House There is no doubt that housing quality is a primary decision when it comes to homeowner choice. There are, however, many quality master-planned communities throughout North Texas. But, the truly successful development goes beyond providing houses in an ideal location. The developers behind that community should focus on amenities their residents might want, as well as attributes to ensure that neighbors interact with one another. Morningstar has been doing this, with the result being an enthusiastic collection of residents, and new neighbors being added to the mix each day.

Kim Gill and Tim Fleet, developers of Morningstar, have been developing communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since the early 1980s. As such, their experience with homeowner associations, or HOAs, has certainly provided its fair share of the good and bad. But, when they attended their first HOA meeting at Morningstar, "it was the first time we've ever seen clapping in appreciation," Gill commented. The applause wasn't because these two are stand-up guys (though they are), and that they develop quality communities (though they do). Rather, Morningstar, a 732-acre, master-planned community on Aledo, TX's north side, offers affordably priced houses along with amenities typically found in more high-end, master-planned communities. Additionally, "we try to listen to what the residents want," Fleet said, "When we can, we accommodate them." The combination has provided much of what the community has demanded, as well as a happy HOA. The Price Points Gill and Fleet set out in 2015 to build Morningstar with affordability in mind. "From the beginning, our homes were priced between $250,000 - $450,000, which we though was achievable for the average young family," Gill said. Those young families seem to be arriving in droves; Morningstar is selling more than 20 houses a month, on average. The Morningstar homebuilders include Highland Homes, Impression Homes, Rendition Homes, and D.R. Horton. Houses range from 1,800 square feet - 4,000 square feet, from starter homes to those that house growing families, and all are situated on 50 and 60 foot lots. Furthermore, whenever those families decide to sell their Morningstar homes, receive the profit, free and clear. Said Fleet: "They aren't required to give us back 1% of the sales price, which is a hidden cost of sales. We don't see the need for that." The Schools Gill said buyers like Morningstar because of the Aledo Independent School District, which serves families west of Forth Worth. The district offers five elementary schools, a middle school, ninth-grade campus, high school and learning center. It is highly acclaimed; 97% of the children graduate from high school. Furthermore, Aledo ISD is home to Division 5A, award-winning sports teams. Aledo High School tied for fourth in the Class 5A UIL Lone Star Cup Standings in the 2017-2018 school year, which recognizes the most successful schools in the state in academics, fine arts and athletics. The Community Involvement Gill and Fleet made sure they worked hand-in-hand with the city and county agencies and authorities, to ensure Morningstar would mimic the spirit of the western part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The duo also ensured that the site's natural beauty was unimpeded. "We built on existing terrain, and built up retaining walls to maintain the topography." Gill said. "We kept the creek in place, and have planned hike and bike trails throughout the development." And, rather than cutting down the trees to make room for home sites, the development team hired a tree-moving company from Houston to relocate trees from the property's east side to Morningstar's entrance. "We now have 150 large cedar elms built up and down the parkway." Gill said. "This is something the community can be proud of." The Amenities One of Morningstar's value propositions is its on-site resident amenities. In addition to three fully stocked catch-and-release ponds and coming soon, an intricate system of hiking and biking trails leading through spectacular nature, the development offers a full-size soccer field, resort pool and kiddie pool, a multipurpose facility and playscape. Another amenity is an on-site lifestyle, director, who schedules activities and operates as a liaison between the community and the development team. The development team tells the story of how pregnant mothers had approached the lifestyle director with a request to install benches in open areas and public places. "We asked our lifestyle director to order them, and they were delivered, and installed, at once," Gill said. Those amenities have, in turn, led to smaller, cohesive groups of residents, who like being together and spending time with each other. One such group is the Morningstar Moms, which works with the lifestyle director to focus on formal and informal events. "They get together on a regular basis, have board games, Friday night outdoor movies, and other programs," Fleet said. The Results The lure of Morningstar's affordability and education, combined with amenities and community bonding, has led to development of over 500 homes to date. An additional 832 lots are ready for build-out, providing enough growth to meet all future buyers. The development duo regards Morningstar more as a cohesive neighborhood versus master-planned community. "The goal here was to provide something that families could afford, and where they enjoy living," they said. "This is why we worked so hard with the city and county, and continue working hard with the HOA, to maintain the character and lasting value. Kim and I are Fort Worth people and because of that we tend to operate the Fort Worth Way. We care greatly about the happiness of our homeowners today and the value of their investment years from now," said Fleet.