young designers

Eco-Cubby is a fantastic initiative being implemented in schools across Victoria. Supported by City of Melbourne and Regional Arts Victoria, the program teams Architects and designers up with school children and communities to promote concepts of sustainable design.

I love how insightful children are and this program allows the students to develop a range of skills and address a number of topics from creating awareness of the living environment through to the use of maths and scale. To highlight what can be achieved, this is an Eco-Cubby that has actually been built! It was designed by the children at the University of Melbourne Early Learning Centre and opened last month!

Take a look at the Eco-Cubby blog to see what some other schools have been up to.

herbs round two

Last year I posted here about my new herb garden. Well, sadly when I was in Kenya and my flatmate was in Ireland... they died. Now we're both in new homes - and this weekend we both have new herb gardens! Sadly mine were purchased at Bunnings, and hers at the more glamorous Petersham Nurseries...

I love Izzy's re-use of a once well loved oak wine barrel... I planted ours about half an hour ago in this cool trough we had under a tree in our back garden...

... not quite as established as Izzy's yet, but it will be blooming in no time at all with some Sydney sunshine! I planted some pretty flowers to cheer up my window sill too - alas I can't see them ever making it to my window sill - too much thinking required on how to secure them!

Come and visit us soon Izzy! And bring Harriet with you! xx A

glorious gardens

We were blown away by the Thuthuka School garden in Tembisa Township near Johannesburg as seen last week on Around the World in 80 Gardens. After viewing some stunning botanical gardens in Cape Town and a beautiful and opulent garden and home in Parktown, Johannesburg - the Thuthuka School garden brought tears to my eyes! The students work in the garden of their school to grow edible herbs and flowers, vegetables and trees. The children are so happy and delighted to have the space and resources to be able to beautify their school and you can feel their enthusiasm and passion when they show you around...

(it's about 3.20 minutes into the clip here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgUJHL7-qGY)



There's not much information around about how they started the garden or how they have made it so beautiful- as far as I can google they have had support from Food and Trees for Africa - a South African based organisation that embrace best practices in sustainable environmental activities that empower poor communities while also playing an important role in reducing carbon emissions- truly inspiring!

little orphans

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was established in 1977 in honour of David Sheldrick, famous naturalist and warden of Kenya's Tsavo National Park. Since it's opening it has played a significant role in Kenya's conservation efforts.

We visited the orphanage when we were in Nairobi and oh my, the elephants were the sweetest things! The orphaned elephants and rhinos are rescued for varying reasons and then ultimately released back into the wild. 

Their latest arrival is Bhaawaa who became hopelessly bogged in the mud of a drying waterhole... you can foster one of these little ones and assist in the conservation of the African elephant and give these amazing animals a future! 

earth hour 09

Yes it's that time again, Earth Hour is on this Saturday the 28th March. Since Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007 the message has swept the globe. 50 million people switched off last year, the goal for 2009 is 1 billion! 

By visiting the website you can show your support by signing up, whether you are an individual, school, organisation or business. 

VOTE EARTH, not global warming - come on people, switch off those lights!

meet green thing

Do the Green Thing is a public service that inspires people to lead a greener life. The website is an interactive one where you can watch brilliant short clips, add to the blog or add a story of your own. The mission is to get as many people in as many countries doing the green thing and then use that power to persuade government and business to do the green thing too. 

So make sure you take the time to watch Green Thing do his thing, very funny and imaginative. Oh and Plug Out Boy is also very cool!

green thumbs

I suddenly have the urge to join a local community garden. After picking up the real (food) handbook with the SMH a couple of weeks ago, i have a real hankering for a little bit of digging!

This little handbook for those who didn't manage to pick one up, was packed full of interesting tidbits and buzz words such as locavore: someone who only eats food produced locally. There was info on where to go to join your closest community garden.

If you would like to join a community garden and don't know where to find them take a look at this list and put that green thumb to work!

Our resident Jamie Durie-esque friend has also alerted us to the square foot garden. This is great for those who have limited space. This is a great "how too" link if you are interested in this method. Conceived by Mel Bartholomew, author of Square Foot Gardening, the techniques have been enthusiastically adopted by gardeners all over the world! Have a go!

green school

The world's first green school has just opened in the riverside jungles between Denpasar and Ubud. Constructed entirely of bamboo the Green School's goal is 'to prepare students to become responsible global citizens in a world offering challenges and opportunities that can not be imagined at this moment'. Most students are children from all over the world with some local Balinese students offered scholarships to attend.



And with classrooms that are as spectacular and beautiful as these, the journey from pre school onwards will surely be one to remembered.




It's enough to make me want to go back to school! If you're in Bali - the school is open for tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am sharp. Bookings are required.

recycle time

This is a cool idea! Join in Sydney's biggest free swap party event at lunchtime on Monday 10 November.

From 10:00am at Martin Place enjoy a range of stalls and exhibitions from Planet Ark, The Watershed, The Bower, Reverse Garbage and Visy and find out more about how to "recycle right." On side note if you haven't taken a trip to either Reverse Garbage or The Bower it is a must. We at b+c make frequent trips, most recently to pickup decorations for our Gala dinner!

The Swap Party starts at 12.30pm-1.30pm. Bring up to 3 easy-to-carry, quality items you would like to swap, such as books, CDs, DVDs, clothes, and bric-a-brac. Exchange them for tokens and then simply browse, choose, swap and enjoy. And if two people want the same item, the decision will be made by a sudden-death game of rock, scissors, paper. Recycling has never been so much fun!

Bring in your old mobile phones, printer cartridges, and batteries for recycling at collection stations located near Martin Place station on the day.

This is a free event run by the City of Sydney and the Planet Ark Environmental Foundation.
National Recycling Week runs from 10 -16 November 2008 across the country. For more details visit here.

national ride to work day

is on tomorrow the 15th of October, all around Australia. So if you've ever thought about riding your bike to work, university or school tomorrow is the day to give it a go! Riding a bike is an excellent way to get around, it's fast, cheap, keeps you fit and is good for the environment.... how could you resist! So check out the website here and register here.

Speaking of bikes, one of our friends is riding his bike from Alaska to Patagonia..... pretty amazing huh? We've recently seen some photos, and they are amazing. 

Makes riding to work seem pretty do able. 

a little herb garden

When we were last in Kenya, I planted a herb garden with Basil (my favourite), Parsley, Chives, Coriander and Mint. It made our not so great food that little bit better! Nothing like some Basil to add some fresh zing to a pasta sauce. I've just planted a herb garden on my balcony in Sydney, but wishing that I had these so I could have them all organised on the kitchen window sill.Available from one of our favourite shops, top3 by design, the Eva Solo pots are self watering. The vase in the base of the pot holds the water for the wick to bring up to the soil as the plant requires it. How cool is that?

elephant pepper

A friend recently alerted us to the Elephant Pepper Development Trust - they seek to preserve Africa's threatened elephant population.

Their mission is to promote the livelihood of farmers living in elephant range through training, the deployment of appropriate conflict mitigation methods and development of agricultural techniques which promote elephant conservation. By promoting effective farming techniques crop security for rural communities in Africa is also improved.

How you ask? Well one of the ways is through chillis! These hot peppers are being used by farmers to protect their crops from elephants as they are known to hate chilli! Elephants cause widespread damage to crops. With only 20% of elephants in Africa formally protected this has lead to massive decreases in elephant populations in some local areas where people are forced to compete with them over food.

The organisation is currently working the the following countries.

You can also buy Elephant Pepper produce at their online hot shop!

A farm in the city!

How exciting would it be for city children to see first hand where an egg comes from! Or to participate in growing produce rather than seeing it only in the supermarket! This is one of the many visions of those involved with the Sydney City Farm project at Callan Park.

Callan Park you ask? Well, it is situated at the site of the Rozelle Hospital. It is a 62 hectare picturesque park that was designed using nineteenth century therapeutic landscaping and gardens - it includes undulating waterfront parkland and views over the cove, heritage gardens and buildings and one of the few remaining beaches in the Inner West. There are numerous derelict buildings ready to be reused... and the organisation behind City Farm know exactly what they want to do with them!

City Farm is a not-for-profit Incorporated Association. This means the farm will belong to all its members in the community and any income generated is required to be reinvested in the ongoing work for the community. It will be an organic farm and environmental management showcase, modelled on city farm projects in New York, London and Melbourne.

The vision for the farm has been described as a green sanctuary to showcase an eco-friendly future in the heart of Sydney. It would be a way for metropolitan people to engage with the local and global ecological challenges together as a community. People can come together to grow organic food, learn about the latest in water-saving techniques, climate-friendly renewable technologies, and more...

Callan park before...


and after!

Visit here to read more about the future plans for Callan Park - become a member and show your support for this future sustainable centre!

Live Green 08

Live Green is on again this year on Sunday 17th August, Victoria Park, Camperdown.

From the words of Lord Clover Moore: "More than 10,000 people attended the first Live Green event in 2007 and this year’s program promises to offer more innovative and simple practical actions you can take to reduce your environmental impact and help make our Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision a reality."

Program highlights include cooking with Kylie Kwong, panel discussions on green careers and "green washing". Workshops with practical eco hints and tips, a green bar with naturally brewed beer and organic and locally grown food and produce..... and plenty more!

Approximately 50% of what Australians put in their garbage bin is organic waste. When buried anaerobically in landfill this waste produces methane gas and causes over 2% of Australia's annual greenhouse gas emissions. Our house has newly acquired a worm farm! (Thanks to City of Sydney's Waste Education Officer Kath) Now all our kitchen scraps and garden waste is turned into rich fertiliser! You can see this process in action within the Waste area at Live Green where a giant worm farm will be used to collect food, paper, cardboard and bio degradable waste from the event.

Have a look at City of Sydney's Zero Waste campaign - Visit the Zero Waste stall and do the interactive recycling quiz to pick up a free bag made of 100% Reused City of Sydney banners. See the display of Reuse product designs by the College of Fine Arts and cast your vote in the People's Choice Award for the best idea.

So get along to Live Green this sunday! It promises to be a very educational day!