bright point

'The Johnsons take their annual imaginary holiday'
This was wrapped around a light fitting at a cafe we stopped for sustenance and sanity. Worked on both accounts.

life at 7000ft

First impressions at Arvo's Solar Ark.


Bridge building (to get around the snow melt river)
Just rewards - thermal hot springs
Not starting at the very beginning, just where we're staying now. We're helping Arvo out with his place - jobs too numerous to list. Straight into the planting. Divine little ones started off in the green house to extend the 2 month growing season of the region. Spring is all over the shop, from a hint of wind, to a hint of snow, a hint of frost and stunning crystal clear days where being inside is plain old rude.

A quick trip to the hot springs was a four hour return hike down loose scree to the bottom of the canyon, building bridges and hiking along a fast flowing spring melt river. Minor hazards for the juniors and minor heart palpitations for the parents - but all good.

Back to the farm this afternoon, after an overnighter in Taos. And further palnning whether to head south to Mexico or take on hte drive to Canada. Oh the choices!

Researching the Researching

You would think that heading off for a research trip would be all peachy. Well, I am sure it will be once we get going. The amazing thing is how much work there is to make it all happen...

There are tickets to book, insurance to sort, luggage, gear and all the regular stuff, which are a fair bit of chasing around, especially when you are trying to get it all second hand (Love you ebay & gumtree). Well OK, most of it second hand (The second hand plane ticket and insurance market is not really happening).

The biggest challenge has been to identify, contact and book WWOOFing hosts. Do they take kids? Do they provide all meals? Are they currently working on something interesting? Can you get to them without several days of hiking through remote wilderness? Etc etc...

So basically, we'll keep researching the research trip and when we are getting closer to departure, we will fire up this blog and keep you informed on the discoveries we find around this amazing little planet of ours.

Give us a few weeks! We set off in March

Happy Holidays - yeha!

Hello all - just a little note to let you all know we're off for summer fun in only 8 sleeps! So our shop will close from December 22 through to January 5. whew! Home again and back on deck after seeing in the new year at Peats Ridge Festival.

Have a lovely relaxing break.

NOW IN STORE !!!

"The collaboration between four businesses focused on environmental sustainability has resulted in a new eco boutique in Wollongong. It is now possible to find organic food, sustainable home wares and gifts, funky retro furniture, artworks made fro found materials, bulk organic whole foods and cleaning products all in the one store....."

"....These like - minded businesses provide a unique shopping experience, which showcasse a range of products that put the planet before profit...

located at 409 Princes Highway, Woonona"

So says our press release sent out locally.

Please drop by and say hi!

Almost there...

Alchemy by Tanya Stubbles
For ever I've wanted to open a store. somewhere that's part lounge room, part store, part office, part workshop. A welcome space, where you can be free to wander and have a good look at the goodies.

Well, it's almost there!! We'll be upstairs at 409 Princes Highway, Woonona in conjunction with Manic Organic wholefood store. The space is generous, airy and we'll be sharing with Supertrash (mid 20th century design furniture and treats), with works by Tanya Stubbles (awesome artist) gracing the walls.

Only 7 sleeps to go.....

Lifestyle before Landfill

Ever cruised by one of those enormous roadside billboards and wonder what happens to them at the end of the advertising campaign? Me either. I've since found out from Scott @ Haul, those billboards are actually UV treated (which means their colours stay true outdoors and don't fade away) PVC.

Printing on this plastic makes it impossible to recycle at the end of the campaign. That means tonnes and tonnes and tonnes of the stuff is destined for landfill EACH YEAR. (Approximately 850 tonnes to be slightly more precise) Lucky for us, Scott - founder of Australian street culture brand Haul, saw the potential. Each year Haul divert approximately 35 tonnes of these PVC banners from being buried as landfill. The creative talents of the Haul team scrub, stitch and breathe fresh life into this discarded material, reincarnating plastic into innovative, hard-wearing gear.

Drop your satchel at the door, unload the shopping (swim gear/ laundry...) and then lounge around on your beanbag blob, in the warm glow of knowing you've done something good for us all ! (supporting locally made, innovative business, kept materials in the loop, investing in stuff that won't fall apart next week - just in case you were wondering)

Good on you Scott!

(Haul's gear is also certifiable - so says Good Environmental Choice Australia, the national crew who've audited Haul and passed them with flying colours!)