Could this be Australia's next top model?

Outfit- model's own, styled by herself. All hand-me-downs, very eco chic

Close runner up

Ceres environment park & Collingwood Children's Farm

Today we went up to Ceres environment park and Collingwood children's farm- Andrew is on 2 weeks annual leave (yay- he's been travelling so much lately!), and we thought we'd beat the school holiday crowds, as today is the last day of term 3 in Victoria. It's been at least 6 years since we went to Ceres (pre kids), and it has changed a bit. The nursery has moved, and there is a dedicated area for farmers markets, which has become a bit of a movement in that time. There's also some new buildings including a restaurant with local organic food. There's lots of alternative energy sources around the site too.

Can't get enough of those chickens

Earthship lookin' cool cubby house

Goats & kids (Collingwood Children's Farm)

Maggie, the cat without ears

Another cat- Toki

Evie with Ginze the guinea pig

Liv with Trogdor the guinea pig

another cat- Evie says she wants a cat farm when she grows up

Ethical paper pledge

So Reflex Paper was stripped of its FSC (forest stewardship council) certification, because they are using trees from Victorian old growth forests rather than plantations and recycled paper. This is also a major threat to endangered species. There's a pledge you can make, to stop buying Reflex paper and stop shopping at Officeworks until they stop stocking reflex paper. Have a look here for more information. I'm all signed up of course :)

Guacamole and op shop finds

Sideways guacamole picture
My second batch of guacamole for the week, it is sooo good, especially on organic sourdough ciabatta. With a massive amounts of coriander in the garden, I had to find some ways to use it up, it will bolt to seed as soon as the weather heats up. I wonder how long our avocado trees will take to bear fruit? We'll be able to use our own tomatoes and chillies in it soon.

3 ripe avocados
1 red onion
1 roma tomato
juice of a lime
fresh coriander
1 chilli chopped up, or a few drops of tabasco sauce

Andrew will arrive home from USA any minute now, and we'll enjoy our "guac" for lunch

Just a few of my op shop/second hand shop scores this week. Andrew will be right for shorts this summer. I also found him a couple pairs of pants in good condition, as he wears out the inner thighs of his pants by riding his bike to the train station. Even hemp canvas pants! I'm finding it much more exciting and satisfying to shop in op shops these days (you just have to do it regularly), shopping centres/malls just don't do it for me anymore, they seem so artificial, and just reminds me how consumeristic our society is, dragging home bags of crap. If I venture into one of those cheap department stores, I'm disgusted at how cheap and nasty the items are, and I can't stop thinking of the poor people who work in sweatshops to make it all for the western world. "Live big for less", just gets my goat. Well you can live more ethically by purchasing second hand when you need it, or by buying handmade, or from places you know treat their workers well and pay them fairly. Buying second hand doesn't mean you're poor (and so what if you are?), many people can't get past that idea, ingrained from decades ago. I was going to buy Evie a new bike for Christmas, but found 2 matching ones at a second hand shop this week, the 2 for about half the price of a new one. One was bigger than the other, so both of our girls should get a few years of riding out of them, and they were in pretty good condition. By saving a few dollars here, and there, we can spend more on ethical items such as these. Anyway, a mixed up and rambly post that I had to get out of my head. Your thoughts?

Spring garden

Rainbow chard, coriander, lettuce, strawberries. Will be making guacamole tomorrow with the coriander, and some limes given to us. Can't wait!

Rainbow chard, garlic, leeks, lettuce, chives, oregano, nasturtiums, avocado tree, dwarf apple & pear trees.

Raspberries, passionfruit behind. Everything looks better with a fresh layer of mulch.

Rainbow chard, strawberries, lettuce, coriander, sweetpeas.
I'm finding a bit more time to get out into the garden these days (when I'm not sewing!), and the kids are enjoying getting out there with me. We planted some more lettuce today, to replace a few that got eaten by wee beasties, and to provide a succession of plants. We also planted some sunflower seeds, but into punnets to keep inside on the laundry windowsill- a bit warmer and protected at this time of year. They usually get eaten as soon as they push through the soil, or blow over in the windy weather. Might plant them in the front yard this year. I also squeezed the juice from 5 small oranges today to make a small glass of orange juice- sooo good!

Spring is here

"Spring is, spring is, spring is here at last!" - Charlie & Lola

Welcome, my second favourite time of year

We have a winner

Drumroll please....

Bec is the lucky winner of $30 to spend in my shop! I have emailed you, now you can make your choice of prize. Thanks to all who entered, it was lovely to read all those comments.