I’ve posted on Facebook before about the pair of jean’s I bought from a well-known store in town. They were that dark blue denim, a rich deep colour that I loved. I washed them before use (please ALWAYS wash your clothes before you wear them as they are often sprayed with chemicals to help preserve them during shipping), then put them on for the first time. After a while wearing my new jeans I became aware of a strong chemical smell. It eventually became so disconcerting I took them … [Read more...]
My hipster laundry mat
So my washing machine broke (gah!). I put it off as long as I could, but when the bathtub was full up of dirty washing I could deny it no more. Time. To visit. The LAUNDRY MAT. I can’t think laundry mat without recalling that sexy advert from the eighties, yeah this one Might happen right? I haven’t hung out in a laundry mat since my backpacker days. And when the house flooded and I had to wash every piece of clothing and linen I owned (that was a long day). I ventured in. And it … [Read more...]
Backyard bee keeping
I dream of getting a block of land, building a tiny house, planting an orchard, raising chickens and keeping bees. On Tuesday night I had my first insight into the world of bee keeping. I went to a workshop by Inspired Living Events to hear Paul Wood from Brisbane Backyard Bees share his joy for these busy little honey makers. Paul makes and sells a type of bee hive which is suitable for backyard bee keeping, called a Top Bar Hive. Top Bar Hives are based on an ancient Greek design … [Read more...]
Living Big in a Tiny House
While in New Zealand I had coffee with a super inspiring guy called Bryce Langston, who is working on a project to build a tiny house. Bryce and his partner Melissa have decided to downsize. Like really downsize. To a home that is only 2.6m x 5m, so small it fits on a trailer (part of its appeal). Bryce says the tiny house is a way to simplify their life, reduce their environmental footprint and avoid being yoked with a massive mortgage debt. Their tiny house will be completely … [Read more...]
Green School Bali
Yesterday I did a tour with Green Village, which included a visit to Green School Bali, touted as the most sustainable school on earth. We also visited a chocolate factory, bamboo factory, and the spectacular Spring House – a six story luxury villa set on the edge of a river. What do they all have in common? Bamboo. The story of this amazing bamboo story begins with a guy called John Hardy. John moved from Canada to Bali in the 70s and built a highly successful international jewellery … [Read more...]
