Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Mar 6, 2011, 9:32 pm
My poor garden has been so sadly neglected but as my energy returns I have trying to do a little here and a little there.  Recently (um, in January, actually), fellow local blogger Tamara, from Thyme for Tea had a giveaway of a 2011 Permaculture Calendar which I was fortunate to win.  Because I am...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Mar 3, 2011, 9:20 pm
I have been culturing dairy kefir grains for a while now, and I was introduced to water kefir as part of the e-course I did through GNOWFGLINS last year. Unfortunately as I was so sick on and off last year, I didn't get much of an opportunity to experiment with the grains. That changed recentl...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Feb 27, 2011, 10:25 pm
Sadly, 2011 hasn't had as great a start in the health department as I would have liked.  I was travelling quite well until school started up again; rather than the rest time during the days I was anticipating, it has been a whirlwind of activity while I sort out a sudden influx of birthday party in...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Feb 16, 2011, 6:37 pm
I've recently had a number of different guests remark that it's obvious which house is ours when they drive down our street because (sadly) hardly anyone else has a garden.  Out of curiosity, I looked up our place on NearMap.com, I have to say that the contrast between our house and most of our nei...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Feb 14, 2011, 10:00 pm
I mentioned at the beginning of the year that I have undertaken a personal  "52 in 52 challenge" this year, to read 52 books in 52 weeks.  Some have been (and will be) ones from my collection, but many have been/ will be new to me. This is one I finished this week: I found Soil Not Oil by V...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Feb 11, 2011, 4:34 pm
Thank you all for your terrific comments for The Ethicurean reusable bag giveaway, I picked up some great tips :-) So without further ado, according to Random.org, the winner of the giveaway is.... Comment number 46: granny: "I would love to be in the draw :0) I havent used a produce ba...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Feb 6, 2011, 7:26 pm
From the number of emails I am receiving at the moment, there are a great many of us who have made a commitment to reduce the amount of waste they are responsible for this year.  I know that our household waste has been creeping back up to an unacceptable level and I am determined to do something a...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 30, 2011, 7:38 pm
 Well, maybe not so much the "belfry" as the grape arbour. Every morning for the past week, we've woken up to this: A giant mess of grapes, grape skins and grape leaves all over the deck and steps under the vines. We thought it might be rats or possums the first couple of times, ...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 27, 2011, 6:46 pm
I was making up a new batch of my taco seasoning mix this morning and realised I haven't shared it on the blog before, so although there are hundreds of variations already on the 'net, here is mine!  Please excuse the dark photos as it is overcast here today. Herbs and spices lose their flavo...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 25, 2011, 3:55 pm
As I type this it is 7am, it's already 25'C and it's currently 100% relative humidity (i.e. it's foggy!).  The forecast - once the fog burns off - is for 40'C (104'F) here and higher than that over much of the inland.  Apparently summer has waited until Australia Day to makes itself known! ...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 24, 2011, 6:04 pm
Hubby has been riding his bike to work for a few years now and although he uses bicycle paths where they are available, and side streets where they are not, I still hear regular stories of riders being hit by cars or having near misses and it worries me. Newcastle has better facilities for com...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 21, 2011, 11:25 pm
Kate asked in my previous post if I could outline my stockpile list, and as it's something I received a few emails about, I thought I'd do a quick post on it. There are many advantages to stockpiling; buying items when they are on sale and in bulk will both save you money, having a store on ha...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 20, 2011, 12:15 am
I mentioned in a previous post that I've been doing our annual decluttering, reorganising and cleaning this month.  As part of that I hauled out the contents of my pantry, cleaned the shelving and sorted through everything, updating my inventory, repacking foods as necessary and then putting it all...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 19, 2011, 12:10 am
I first read about the practice of soaking raw nuts and seeds in lightly salted water a few years ago, in Sally Fallon's book Nourishing Traditions, but it took me a quite while to actually bother having a go.  It all seemed like a bit too much work to soak the nuts and then dehydrate them again, b...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 17, 2011, 10:22 pm
 It's that time of year again; the Small-Leafed Lilly Pilly trees in our street are full of their cute little red berries, and the parrots are feasting. The berries are very tart - I believe you can eat them raw, although I'm certainly not going to have a go ;-) - but they do make a very nic...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 15, 2011, 9:42 pm
During the summer school holidays we have been eating out more often than we usually do; nothing extravagant, but a few visits to the kid-friendly bistro at our local pub and a few milkshakes at the beach or by the lake have been really enjoyable.  We've also been drinking a lot of smoothies at hom...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 13, 2011, 11:31 pm
I know Christmas is long past now but for my own benefit more than anything I thought I might post some pics & links to some of the hand made gifts we made last year.  Not included below are a marvellous quilted snakes & ladders game mat made by my Mum, simple library bags, books of 'vouchers' for ...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 13, 2011, 1:51 am
Like the rest of Australia, I am utterly gobsmacked & dismayed by the death and destruction caused by flooding in so much of our country at the moment; I just can't believe the images I am seeing in the media. My heart breaks.  Memories of the 2007 floods here in Newcastle are still very fresh in m...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Jan 9, 2011, 7:37 pm
Hello everyone, I hope you have all had/ are having a restful follow-up to the Silly Season :-) I should be, but somehow managed to get caught up in our annual January Purge & Organise session!  It's just that time of year isn't it? It's always nice to start a new year with an organised home,...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Dec 22, 2010, 8:23 pm
So, I won't bore you all with the details of my long bloggy absence; suffice it to say that no one will be more glad to see the back end of 2010 than I. I have declared 2011 to be the "Year of Getting Well".  Miss Five is off to Big School in a few short weeks (tomorrow is her last day at Pre...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 31, 2010, 6:40 pm
Hello peeps. A friend who reads my blog gave me a gentle ribbing a few days ago regarding, firstly, the dearth of posts in the last few weeks, and secondly, my promise to post about what's bugging me (and my lack of follow up). What can I say? I have no less than seven draft posts langui...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 15, 2010, 11:37 pm
Gosh, where did this last week go? I think I blinked and missed it. Anyway, I've posted a couple of times in my garden diary this week, about a few critters we've spotted in our yard, if you are interested in taking a look ;-) In the meantime, check it out: Our first Elderberry fl...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 9, 2010, 4:06 am
After blogging about those rascally birds pinching my mulberries, we got up early and beat them to it this morning! It was raining though, so what to do with a couple of kilos of damp berries? Why, mulberry jam of course! I used Sally Wise's recipe from A Year in a Bottle, and it'...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 8, 2010, 12:57 am
With the mulberry tree in full fruit at the moment, we are once again battling the birds to try and get some for ourselves.  As I was ill, I didn't get around the pruning the tree in winter so that we could net it, but truth be told, we all quite enjoy the parading wildlife so we are prepared to sh...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 6, 2010, 3:20 am
Wow, there are two reasons to celebrate today! Firstly this is my 1000th post... I certainly never guessed when I began blogging four years ago that I'd ever get this far!! And secondly, we got the new electricity meter installed and hooked up to the solar panels we finally had installed...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 5, 2010, 7:29 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #133 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better, but illness got in the way. T...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 5, 2010, 2:37 am
If you use Facebook, I have now added a page for my blog. In the right hand sidebar I've included a link for you to click on to "Like" my page, you will then get updates on my latest posts via Networked Blogs as well as links to news items and videos which I find relevant and interesting :-) &...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 5, 2010, 1:32 am
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #132 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better, but illness got in the way. T...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 3, 2010, 9:16 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #131 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #131 of what is...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 2, 2010, 9:12 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #130 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #130 of what is...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 1, 2010, 10:08 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #129 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #129 of what is...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Oct 1, 2010, 1:05 am
Happy 7th birthday Wild Child, your new earings are just as adorable as you are :-) Cheers,
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 30, 2010, 10:57 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #128 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #128 of what is...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 29, 2010, 10:52 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #127 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #127 of what is...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 28, 2010, 10:47 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #126 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #126 of what is...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 27, 2010, 10:43 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #125 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #125 of what is...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 26, 2010, 10:31 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #124 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #124 of what is...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 26, 2010, 7:41 pm
The newest, much awaited additions to our household! Jennifer: Christabelle: And Tinkerbelle: Jennifer and Tinkerbelle are 9 week old Ancona pullets, and Christabelle is a 9 week old Welsummer pullet. All girls seem to be settling in well, despite the threat of bein...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 25, 2010, 10:22 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #123 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #123 of what is...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 24, 2010, 10:45 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #122 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #122 of what is...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 24, 2010, 9:39 pm
I wrote recently about Kelly's gorgeous reusable recycled cotton bags - Well now she also has awesome gauze and cotton netting bags in stock AND she's having a giveaway over at her blog, Taurus Rising. Photo stolen shamelessly from Kelly. Do yourself a favour and hop over to her BLOG and leave a co...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 23, 2010, 10:25 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #121 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #121 of what is...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 23, 2010, 2:06 am
...There are even more Spring garden photos up over at my garden diary. Enjoy! Cheers,
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 22, 2010, 11:13 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #119 I started this challenge on January 5. It is my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #119 of what is ...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 22, 2010, 12:32 am
I'm running late as usual, and I've just discovered that my newly-charged but four-years-old camera batteries are flat, as are the spares.  I curse manufacturer promises of "over 1000 recharges" darkly under my breath, discard the camera and rush to the bedroom where I have to stand on tippy toes t...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 21, 2010, 8:00 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #119 I started this challenge on January 5. It is my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #11...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 20, 2010, 10:49 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #118 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #1...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 19, 2010, 10:19 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #117 I started this challenge on January 5. It is my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo ...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 18, 2010, 10:43 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #116 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #1...
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Julie G. posted an article on Towards Sustainability - Sep 17, 2010, 10:31 pm
A Photo A Day Challenge: Photo #115 I started this challenge on January 5. It was my aim to harvest at least one thing from my garden every day this year - and photograph it. If I could have managed to pick 360 different varieties, then so much the better! This is photo #1...
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