Almost Tropical in Texas

My garden is in zone 8b - 9a.I love edible landscaping, tropical fruits, weird vegetables, some not so weird vegetables, and mostly purple flowers. Lately, I've been really into the idea of using what you have, instead of going out to buy something you think you need. I've been bit by the "sustainability" bug although I've always been mindful of how I do things and how it affects my environment.