Hello again

For a long while the thought of posting was exhausting, it was another job on a long list, but this morning I woke up with the sun and felt the urge to write again. It feels like a deep breath.

After my 6 month overseas adventure where I posted almost every day the real world got some getting used to. I needed a break and I needed to make big decisions. I was a jar all shook up, the particles slowly settling, there wasn’t enough of me to share.

We had to move and for the first time it was just the two of us, part relief, but I hadn’t realised how the safeness and convenience of our share house community had made me forget that there was an outwards and inwards I needed to explore. I decided to look for a new job, reconnect to friendships and try new things. Change is inevitable and scary, but the best thing I ever did was embrace it, I haven’t felt this “me” in a while and putting myself out of my comfort zone has made me think deeper and as strange as it is to say, feel more human.

Not long ago I felt consumed by the office, I sought solace in social media dreaming, “pinning” your life away, wanting, buying, an empty sort of existence that so many people fall into. Things never bring long-term happiness, just more wanting. So I decided to do more making. I hope to be more active on the blog and I’d love hear your suggestions for crafty skills to try. The internet is filled with gems, but it’s hard not to get lost in the muck.

Here are some blogs that have delighted me:
Foxlane – Kate’s beautiful farming family, kitted out in lovely hand knitted clothing
Glutton For Life – What an amazing name! Laura’s musings are as inspirational as her recipes
Paticheri – I always look forward to Deepa’s comments on my blog and adore the beautiful, colourful photos she posts she posts from her Indian home. The perfect cure for a grey day.
Our Neck of the Woods Tammy’s homestead in America, love her commentary on woodland life
The Shady Baker – Jane’s beautifully honest account of the highs and lows outback farming

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Urban Farm, Denver

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Denver, Colorado



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when it seemed like everything was coming apart at the seams it pulled itself back together in an unexpectedly delightful new form. The night before had been perhaps our most stressful of the trip so far, half way to Denver from the Dunes Sam got a call from his girlfriend who had been at the hospital with a fever of 104F and what later she later suspected was swine flu. She was too sick to have us stay and with 4 o’clock looming in a new city we weren’t sure what to do. Dylan had a badly hurting foot from hiking the dunes and we were all rather dejected thinking his running race was over before it began.

We pulled into the local Lone Pine public library for precious internet. It was a long shot with so little notice but we thought we’d give airbnb a go before we settled for the hostel. We found the perfect one with a veggie garden as one of the photos, then after applying we just drove in that direction, hoping for an affirmative. On the highway we got it, relief. we didn’t know how lucky we were, on admittance to their sweet little home, we were greeted with such warmth by Ali and Reuben that it brought grins to our travel weary bones. They provided Dylan with an icepack and by morning even that niggle had retreated to a safe stiffness.

That morning the light shone softly, illuminating little vignettes: a happily playing baby with hair glowing red, a cuddly Australian Shepherd X that demanded attention 24/7 and got it from us, a grey cat silhouetted against the window, a smartly dressed in shades of blue and yellow.


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We realised we were amongst kindred spirits as we chatted about social and environmental sustainability and Train Running (eyes lit up all round on that one). Reuben’s work as a social worker/urban farmer lead to his passionate involvement in using school land in Denver as urban farms for education and an outlet for disadvantaged students. Ali taught primary students via correspondence and they both had a fulltime job keeping sweet little Wendall in check.

We headed off into a gorgeous pre-spring day with directions to the trendy side of town. Drawn like magnets to hipster hangouts we had brunch at Crema where we sat opposite a red headed dude dressed in basketball gear from hed to foot in that ironic way that was all too familiar. However, what would be vaguely annoying back home was comforting as the post Earthship blues began dripping into my subconscious, only to fully reveal themselves days later on top of a mountain.

We wandered into the city, then headed back down Larimer Street to meet our airbnb family sweetly met us to unlock the sustainability centre where Reuben volunteer. While we waited we spied a cute looking outdoor gear shop, it was closed, son we stickybeaked through the window Topo Designs. A face appeared and were ushered in by a pretty, athletic girl. She gave us the low down, made in Colorado with love, we didn’t escape without setting down a pretty penny, Dylan was hiking hipsterfied and I had a limited addition Woolrich/Topo designs bag, that i hugged to me like a kid with a favourite soft toy. It’s hard to find anything not made in China right? And it will last forever right? And shiny things right…


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Reuben unlocked the gates to the Sustainability Park and gave us a tour. It was like seeing CERES in its early days, exciting new enviro ideas sprouting up on a vacant lot. One section was vegetable garden plots where disadvantaged kids grew produce to sell, another area was where a lady on government assistance was trying to live off for a year, there were bees and a whole array of eco building examples. So inspiring and so much fun, I wished I could stay to make a mini project happen there.

Walking home in golden dusk I felt a surge of happiness, but then a tinge of sadness that we would have to leave these new friends behind. We left them at a microbrewery and raced the clock to the vegan grocery they recommended. We got there after closing but the owner was pretty chill and actually seemed to enjoy having a chat. He said that with his niche market he wasn’t threatened by big chains like Wholefoods or Trader Joe’s and that he was actually moving his store closer to them to benefit from their spillover as there were speciality products the big names would not bother to sell. Apparently they give loans to small local food producers and only have something like a 9 month exclusive contract as well. Hmm…in Australia we could perhaps benefit from the competition as the Woolworths/Coles duopoly is out of control.

The day ended sharing in the Ali, Reuben and Wendall’s family meal. Delicious quinoa salad and homemade soup. We felt so welcomed in this foreign land, the kindness of strangers really can turn a good experience into a great one. Have little acts of kindness transformed ordinary places into special ones?


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PERMABLITZ TIMELAPSE – FLEMINGTON COMMUNITY FOOD FOREST

An example of community still glowing bright in the dark depths of the inner city!

Wow what a great day! I’ve got so many great photos to sift through for the official Flemington Community Food Forest Permablitz blog post, but until then here is a little taster to tide you over! I couldn’t have hoped for a better day, everyone was so filled with joy and enthusiasm and even the weather was perfect!

Thanks again to everyone who came! I look forward to reading your comments! What are your dreams for the Food Forest? Any ideas of Forest Garden related workshops are very welcome! Is there a piece of land near you which would be a great place for a Community Food Forest Garden?

Special thanks to Pat & Tom from MINTI for all their hard work and Pip from the Flemington Neighbourhood House

Like The Desert Echo on Facebook to keep in the loop.

Check out the archives for more about this Blitz

Thinking of having your own Food Forest? Here’s the planting guide!

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PASCOE VALE PERMABLITZ

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I never fail to be impressed by how many beautiful people show up to lend a hand, for a stranger, for free!

The first hot day of Spring saw us spades in hand under the baking sun. Sunscreen formed a second skin and my main facilitating job took the form of hydration police, although yelling “I don’t want any fainters!” seemed to elicit giggles rather than a rush to icy drinks.

With the imminent arrival of a crew of 50, facilitators became team leaders with 10 bodies a piece. The metres of mulch pit path ahead of us would allow no time for a casual 50+ intro circle no matter how interesting their “favourite tree” or “how many blitzes they attended”. Facilitators Nikki, Carly and Jess got down to the the important business of stretches and back friendly spade technique; I marked out the paths.

Head facilitator roughly translates to cheer squad captain and I planned to have a hoarse voice by the end of the day, we wanted spirits to remain high, as why would you sign up for hours of labouring if there wasn’t some fun involved? The kids sure had a blast with Fuchsia making amazing birdscares including a pretty fancy scarecrow. And I like to believe lots of new friends were made, and people bonded over being “team grey water mulch pit” and “stinky decomposing cacti area” (some people are born heroes!).

After a lovely lunch, a more relaxing afternoon was spent planting out the mandala intensive garden beds and listening to Nikki do a workshop on fruit tree planting, which to her surprise (and no one else’s) had rave reviews. It’s always great when people share their knowledge, what is second nature to some is not always the case for others and people really love to take something new home with them after a long day. Team Dylan chook strawyard looked pretty pleased with themselves and their were lots of lingers way after the official day’s end, always a great sign!

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Photo credit: Kellie Gollings @ https://www.facebook.com/KellieGollingsPhotography & TheDesertEcho.

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Photo credit: Kellie Gollings @ https://www.facebook.com/KellieGollingsPhotography & TheDesertEcho.

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