The Sustainable Living Festival

A little while back the 'Baby Beatniks' and I took a train ride to visit Fed Square which was where The Sustainable Living Festival was being held. It was a fun filled day with lots of eye opening and helpful insights into leading a more sustainable and eco way of life. The 'Baby Beats' really got into it as there were lots of fun things to do! Highlights were the utterly delish organic coconut ice cream, the Bike 'n' Blend experience and meeting Costa Georgiadis. Who I have to add, was super busy yet kind enough to take the time to meet and chat with us. He was very interested to hear all about our veggie patch, worm farming and the goings on of our newly acquired hens 'Florence, Ethel & Glady'. 'Mr Beatnik' the gardener is a big fan, and the little people were bursting with excitement to tell him all about their chat with the famous 'Costa' upon coming home.

At the end of the day we walked away inspired by all the passionate people involved with the festival as well as lots of new ideas to do with sustainable living.  We also had some realisations and revelations about the systems of the world we live in today and how we as individuals can make a difference. 

A lovely lady who had a stall in the 'Green Market' section explained to us how harmful plastic toothbrushes are to the environment, and how sustainable and affordable Bamboo is the way to go. I've never really thought about it, but zillions of toothbrushes made out of plastic are going into landfill taking forever to breakdown. So off we went with some new bamboo toothbrushes, along with some of my fave natural soaps and a few other cool eco knick knacky bits. Best of all though, the 'Baby Beatniks' absorbed some really invaluable knowledge on ways we can live sustainably. 

Super cute 'POP UP PATCH'



Planting veggies in biodegradable pots with Permaculture Out West




Bike 'n' Blend



'Costa Georgiadis'

Park Life

Where's my sleeping bag? Oh I wish I had it with the rest of the junk that has been rolling around in the boot of my car. It's vintage floral print would suit this setting and I wanna set up camp here at this superb place. Strangely I feel a little out of sorts and all at home at the same time. A wave of free spirited consciousness has warmed my soul and my inhibited shell has dissolved at the gate. Suddenly I have shaken off the ordinary sway of the day and moving to a more creative beat.

Something tells me that part of the indie cool of this place is the unspoken vibe. Though speak of it I will as it's beautiful resonance has rubbed off on me, and... I'm kinda to old to give a crap about following hipster rules of unspoken coolness. I like this place and I'm saying it out loud.

Where? What is this place? I hear your inner voice enquiring. Well I'm sure by now it's old news, but gone are the days of regular hot spot loitering for me, and here are the days of suburban domestic bliss... heee!

The place is Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy North and if you are familiar with it and aware of it's goings on, you know very well what I am banging on about. If not, let me tell you.
A couple of friends of mine had a double b'day picnic slash shindig there. The gardens were crazily beaming with wacky and wonderful peeps sharing the sunny afternoon love. Picture lots of tipples on the grass by quirky types with a bohemian edge.

Maybe it was the headpiece wearing sweet girl I chatted to in the loo queue, or the gypsy party people joyously busting their dance moves, ..or the Lady Gaga get up wearing and 'Rosie the dog' loving random, ...or the pretty bunting strung from tree to tree, ..or the rubbish bin jumping stunt fest crew, or the retro bicycles lapping, ...or maybe it was the combination of all those things mixed with perfectly sensible nonsense. Any who what I am saying is that the park life at Edinburgh is enough to make me wanna invest in a permanent posi... park bench!

MIFGS 2013

So who else made it to The The Melbourne International Garden and Flower Show this year and soaked up all the inspiration on offer? I get a real kick out of the vast variety of different designs and styles on show, mainly because it's so totally pleasurable and inspiring to view! Just like last year I was attracted to the displays that had sustainable elements. Floriography grabbed me with their super cool rustic playground which was constructed out of recycled materials. The eco conscious Sinikka wooed me again this year as well. This time with AMAZING cork balls, hanging hills, pops of pastel and neon and a STUNNING garden wall piece. Then it was The Floral Art Society of Victoria that impressed me with their fresh crisp white backdrop detailed with shredded paper, that was up teamed with their clever minimalistic presentation of gorgeous Australian natives. Outside the weather was perfecto once again and the gardens were bursting with eye candy. It was a day filled with gooing, gaaing and absolute awe!

'Mad with Joy'

'People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.'

~Iris Murdoch, A Fairly Honourable Defeat

Yesterday I was mad with joy surrounded by flowers because it's that time of year again....Melbourne International Garden and Flower Show time!

This year it was nice to just go strolling soaking up all the inspiration with out the pressure of competing, and to cheer on a couple of friends who created some amazing pieces.

The show is on until Sunday and full of eye candy as always. Go along and check it out and you'll be 'mad with joy' too.  

More to come next post, but for now go have a real life squizzo for yourself, you'll be just 'joyless mad' if you don't. 

Good Green Things!

During a little holiday in sunny Queensland we had the fab experience of attending The Eumundi Markets. Eumundi is a charmer of a town with an amazing market full of yummy food, stunning artworks, natural therapies and loads of gorgwaa boho things!



Another impressive element of the market is the communities commitment to reducing their impact on the environment and creating a sustainable shopping experience. They have a well promoted recycling system, are plastic bag free and stallholders use compostable packaging. They even have a worm farm managed by the local school to deal with all the waste of the many market goers and tourists that trapes through this divine place.

Go Eumundi you good green things!

'CLARENCE'

Who's met CLARENCE ? Or even better who's met 'Bobilee Shahine'? A sister in the hood of bloom loving doing it for herself! During last years flower school day trip out to the 'Gerb' farm yes I've uttered the 'G' word again, we stopped by 'Clarence'. A deliciously unique florist in Healesville that gets me all giddy with excitment just reminiscing about it! Clarence has a mix of amazing blooms, unique arrangements and gifts combined with vintage finds - insert elated opera sung aAAAaaah here! Owner 'Bobilee' is a a great example of the type of floral designer I like. Fab taste, full of personality and kicking commercial blah to the curb! Total shop crush!

The images below are of the shop front and some of their stunning wedding work. Swoonalicious!

It's frowned upon...

Something unspeakable has charmed me in a floral sense. A commoner, an average Joe, a variety of an uncool Kind. What hideous bloom am I rambling about? OK...here goes... I'll admit it... I fell for a Gerb! Yes a Gerbera! Thousands of them in fact! I know it's frowned upon florally if you want to have any point of difference from a commercial blah florist, but I was sweet talked by a field of them, and oh I don't know how... but somehow we hit off. But it's true! As uncool as it sounds.

It was last year when my flower school class and I made the trip out to the Gerbera Farm. There I was, swooning over a sea of Gerb faces in all their glory and abundance! Who would of thought me the Gerb snob head over heels for them? 

 The Big Bouquet Gerbera farm which is situated in beautiful Healesville of the Yarra Valley, really is worth a squizzo if you get the chance. Haters be warned though it may sway your Gerb judgement and just like me you may be eating your usually Gerb despising words.

Mr.Beatnik has only just given up bringing home the odd bunch Gerbs due to me telling him for quite a few years that they were super gorgwaa in like... the early 2000's. Heee! Forgive me, I am a fussy bloom lover at times!

Although, now, I may just keep an open mind to their potential. There I said it! Sorry if I made you vomit. Turn away if you must. Gerb converted I can't believe it!