home grown (the cold season edition)

 since my recent promotion to full time house girlfriend (finally got rid of the drain on my energy in the form of a soul sucking job), i have decided to use my new found time to be as productive as possible. so i have turned a good portion of my attention towards tossing over our little no-dig garden (a garden that you build up from ground level and surround it with bricks or wood planks as support, versus digging a garden into the ground) and setting it up for winter crops. i'm actually really excited to plant all those little seeds and watch the seedlings pop up from the ground! plus it makes our shopping list smaller and cheaper.

i've researched what to plant for the best winter season turn out. as i live in a temperate zone, the veggies, fruits and herbs i plant will be different from someone who lives in more northerly regions (subtropical and tropical zones), or more southerly regions (cool zone).
i'll be sticking to what we use the most during winter (things like broccoli, carrots, garlic, asparagus, silver beet, spinach and some asian veggies) but you could also plant cabbage, broad beans and mustard greens to harvest over winter.
there are other non specific veggies that survive through winter well,  like parsnips, brussel sprouts, shallots, horseradish, lettuce, peas, and leek, but seeing as i'm restricted by space, i'm keeping my varieties to the ones we use a lot of. this will also help reduce wastage of any produce we don't eat.

i'm also going to incorporate some companion plants to naturally help keep my garden pest free. herbs are really fantastic for warding off pests, for example,

• basil protects surrounding plants from disease and insects. 
• garlic repels aphids and controls cutworms and hornworms in tomatoes. 
• horseradish near potatoes controls potato bugs. 
• thyme near cabbage deters cabbage worms. thyme also attracts bees to tomatoes and other plants, and bees will pollinate the plants, which equals more plants! 
• chives prevent mildew, and deter aphids and green flies. 
• catnip is good for controlling flea beetles (and your cat will be happy!). 
• and marigolds secrete a goo from their roots that destroys root eating nematodes. 

so not only do you get natural pest protection, but most of those plants are edible herbs that add beautiful flavour and body to meals.
another thing that i have to be particularly wary of is that during winter, the sun is lower in the sky, meaning that my little garden will get less sunshine, even when the sun is shining. leafy and root vegetables are best to survive without so much sun, which is brilliant for my winter garden list (if you are looking for seeds to buy, and it says 'full sun' on the packet, it usually means about 8 hours a day).

also, now is a perfect time to be planting as the weather has finally changed to proper autumn (chilly but not freezing), so summer pests won't be a problem anymore, but if i plant now, the chilly weather will prepare my baby seedlings for the coming winter cold. also, i won't need to water so much because there is less evaporation from the sun during winter.

i'll probably be posting heaps more about my garden, because i'm getting excited even writing about it!

x

more money in my pocket

over the last few years i have slowly turned into basically a vegan (i can not give up honey. it's the blood that runs in my veins, i swear). i started cutting out meat altogether for a few reasons, mostly surrounding the fact that it was another living creatures flesh that i was eating (just thinking about it makes me shudder, literally), and animal cruelty. livestock whether it be in the form of chickens or cows are treated abhorently, all in the name of making more money.
it's disgusting.
there is an old saying, "you are what you eat". i can not eat the flesh of another living creature who was killed with the sentiment "hurry up and get the next one through so we can make more cash". it's a basic disrespect for life.
i hate the process, but i can't bring myself to judge people who eat meat either. everyone makes their own choices. i have relinquished my role in the process, and that is my part. however i find it repulsive when people preach their own opinion and beliefs to me as if it is the undeniable truth, so i can not and will not do it to others.
but, i will rant about my disgust, without the expectation of anyone in particular to agree.

oh and i don't eat dairy products. i have nothing against dairy lovers (provided the cows are treated with at least basic respect for their quality of life. i'm a serious soft heart for animals. i can't help myself. i get more upset when animals die in movies than when people die. i think it has something to do with their innocence/ignorance), but eating any food with the 'm' word in it makes the rest of my day painful, as in doubled over, clutching my gut painful.

so back to the point of this post, saving money when you shop.
what i started this post thinking about was the cost of my shopping list. as i've moved from just (almost) vegan, to almost vegan who tries to buy organic, locally grown, all natural alternatives, my shopping list has gotten more complicated and more expensive.
and as i'm a uni student who has just quit her job (long story involving my new manager telling me that if i wasn't prepared to skip classes to come to work if she wanted me to, then don't be expecting shifts), i'm looking for the most cost effective way to keep my shopping list healthy.
and so i got thinking. i'm pretty predictable in my eating habits. i have oats in the morning with a chopped up banana. some kind of carb with veggies at lunch, and then protein and veggies at night. plus a protein snack during the day. so i figured the way to keep my wallet fat and myself healthy would be to keep my staples healthy and not worry so much about the little things.
for example, i spent my big dollars on my breakfast staple, which is an organic mix of 5 grains (oats being the most major player there), on some vegan protein (let's hear it for lentils and tofu people), on my milk (australia's own organic honey oat milk. this stuff is seriously like candy to me. i love it), on my favourite veggies (organic and as local as i can get them), my favourite fruits (bananas, oooooohhhh bananas...), and some staple carbs (essene bread, which i get from my local fruit shop. it's $8 a loaf, but it is amazing, and i only have a very small amount at a time). oh and a block of chocolate (whittaker's dark ghana block, 72% cocoa and no dairy to be found. just leave me alone with the block please). this is my basic diet for the week, and in the amounts that i buy, it lasts me at least two weeks (usually more). any other extras (some weeks i'll buy nuts, extra veggies or fruits) i don't worry so much about their organic-ness because i usually have minimal amounts, so any effects will be minimal and outweighed by the majority of nourishing foods i eat. having the main ingredients of my diet as healthy as possible also gives my body a strong base with which to deal with any disagreeable ingredients i come across otherwise (like a few far less than natural ingredients in a veggie burger i had on the weekend). it's not so much for my body to deal with when the rest of my meals are wholesome and healthy. plus i feel so much better for it.

oh and a note on alcohol... if you are going to try to go healthy with booze, try to get organic wines, beer and cider without any preservatives, and try to steer clear of spirits altogether (they are distilled more than beer, cider and wine, and therefore up the poisoning action - hence why they are stronger). alcohol itself is a poison in your body, so the less other crap you put in there with it, the less likely your hangover is going to have a saucer banging party in your head and a 'who can pretend they ate ate off chicken last night the best' competition in your stomach the next day.

so go forth, spend for the important bits, and be a cheap arse for the bits you don't eat much of, or don't eat very often.
oh and ps. don't forget you can grow basic staples at home! even if you live in a place with out a garden. some plants, like cherry tomatoes, go brilliantly in a pot!
and for goodness sake, love the food you eat. it is what makes you, you. your body can not be anything more than what you put in it, as all of it's bits a pieces are made from the ingredients you put in your belly and on your skin. love it.

x

home grown

a few months ago, my man and i got really excited about becoming self sufficient. when he was young, my man came across a show from the 1970's called "the good life", which is about a couple who give up their 'normal' life to become self sufficient... in their suburban home. they set their (quite decently sized) backyard to support different crops, and even some pigs and chickens, and live off their little plot of land.
the show is all about their trials and tribulations in settling in to their new lifestyle, but it is a comedy, so there's lots of laughs along the way.
it's actually completely adorable, and i got hooked within a few episodes.
however, after watching the (entire series of the) show, both my man and i were both so ambitious to become at least partially self sufficient that we had to satiate the desire before we went and did something silly, like buy a cow. so we let off a bit of self sufficient steam by raiding the backyard for implements and using these to set up a garden in an old water tank stand we have in the backyard. we tore apart some old fence palings to partition the tank stand, so we could use about a third of it for our garden. we then went out and bought some organic compost mix, sugar cane mulch and cow poo, and put them in the newly partitioned tank stand layer by layer, until we'd built it up to the top of the brickwork. we then let it rest for a week or so, to let all the new soil materials settle, then planted a whole bunch of goodies, including lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, dill and basil.

so far we've had a few teething problems (i am far from a green thumb), but look at the cucumber that we harvested!

  

it was as long as my forearm!
we've gotten other goodies as well, that i didn't take a photo of before they magically disappeared from the kitchen bench (i'm suspecting into someones hungry stomach), but now as autumn has finally found it's way here, the garden is going dormant over winter. which is probably not a bad thing because i desperately need to do some green thumb studying!

growing your own fruit, veggies and herbs, and even having your own hens (for eggs, obviously) can prove to be massively beneficial not just for you but for the environment. for example, you know exactly what has gone into growing what you are eating (no chemical pesticides or such on your plants or in the soil), and growing it in your back yard reduces transportation from semitrailers, planes and cargo ships down to you walking two feet out your back door and back.
and it doesn't need to be a massive undertaking. just start with simple things like herbs that you use often when you cook (basil, dill, parsely, corriander), and then if you have the time and space, expand out to things like tomatoes and carrots (or even cucumbers!). little things can make a big difference, not only to your body and health, but also for the environment. don't under estimate what one small step can mean on a cumulative scale.

x

natural winter skin care - give yourself an avocado facial

start with:

• 2 tablespoons of avocado
• 1 teaspoon of honey (preferably activated manuka honey with a UMF rating of at least 15+, i'll explain this better a little further down)
• 3-4 drops of cider vinegar (i didn't have any, so i just used the avocado and honey)

to start with, either wear an old t-shirt (something that you don't mind if it gets dirty), or wrap a towel around your shoulders to stop any of the avo goo getting on your clothes. tie your hair back as well (if you've got a head band, it'd probably be helpful) just to keep it off your face.

cut the avocado into small pieces and place them in a bowl. add the honey and the vinegar and then mash the entire mixture together well, until it is smooth and creamy.
apply the mix to your face and neck. avoid around your eyes.
leave the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes, to let all the natural goodness sink in. after you've relaxed and avocado'd, wipe off the goo with a soft, damp cloth and rinse your face with warm water. to finish, massage some rose water in (if you've got it, if not, a few drops of rose hip oil massaged in and your skin will glow). if you're reading this thinking 'kim, you're not giving me anything to work with here', a light moisturiser will do.

now, some details about the health benefits of each of the ingredients, and why you should be smearing them all over your face.

• avocado

first, avocado is a great source of vitamin e. vitamin e is essential for the skins repair process, and also aids in fighting 'flibbity-jibbits'. for those of you who have no idea what i am talking about, think of the wobbly bits on your upper arm that flap in the breeze when you wave. vitamin e helps keep your skin tight! vitamin e is also a powerful antioxidant, which fights disease and wrinkle causing free radicals.
avocado is also one of the most effective natural sunscreens (no cancer causing chemicals! i'll post more about that later).
the oil in avocado triggers the production of wrinkle reducing, skin toughening (but not in a bad way) collagen, which is essential in the production of new cells and tissues.
the vitamin c content of avocados also aids in collagen production and helps with skin inflammation (for example, when you're sunburnt!).

• honey

honey has anti-microbial properties, so it helps to heal minor sun burn. it also has an impressive moisture retaining capability, making it great for facial (and body) moisturisers. honey is also anti-aging and helps to fight skin damage due to it's antioxidant nature. and it also protects against sun damage!
so onto manuka honey. activated manuka honey with a 'unique manuka factor' (or UMF, which is in fact the scientific term) of 15 or more has the added benefit of an antimicrobial property that no other kind of honey has.

• cider vinegar

vinegar is an effective cleanser for skin. it has also been reported to aid in treating age spots.


happy avocado smearing!

x

food for thought (natural body lovin')

food to help your brain stay healthy and work at it's best for longer.

so to start off: walnuts!
as the human brain is are made up of more than 60% structural fat, to help it function properly it needs a good source of omega-3 fats. these fats are found in bountiful supply in walnuts!
many keep away from nuts because of their high fat content, but research has shown that people that consume nuts twice a week are significantly less likely to gain weight than people who avoid nuts altogether.

some more body related walnut benefits:

• walnuts are also a good source of other essential minerals including calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, vanadium and zinc.

• they are a source of bio-available (meaning your body can absorb it) melatonin, a hormone that is involved with the regulation of sleep, and is also a powerful antioxidant. so for a good nights sleep, nibble on a few walnuts for dessert.

• walnuts also help protect your bones, and nutritional research has reported the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of walnuts which reduce the risk of certain cancers (including breast and prostate cancer). 

• this research has placed walnuts high on the list of foods that reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular problems (by helping your blood vessels remain healthy), and type 2 diabetes.

x

natural body lovin' part four

i'll give you a clue about this one...

 

roses!
pretty, romantic, fragrant. admittedly a beautiful combination of characteristics, but how are these supposed to help you heal your body naturally?
well after the petals fall away remains a seed pod, known as the hip, and from which oil is extracted.

the oil is known as rose hip oil, and is amazingly useful in terms of skin care (it's not actually your typical red roses that rose hip oil comes from, but they are pretty!).

rose hip oil is a literal gold mine of nutrients, including:

• vitamin a - which helps to manage oily skin, rehydrates dry skin, and assists in ironing out fine lines, wrinkles, even helping to smoothing out uneven skin tone.
• linoleic acid - this is vital for maintaining skin cell structure.
• oleic acid - helps to maintain supple skin, or return moisture to dry skin.
• linolenic acid - important for maintaining moisture and healthy cells.
• lycopene - protects your skin from free radical damage, preventing premature aging.
• beta-carotene - which is a source of pro vitamin a, and an antioxidant that helps to repair sun damaged skin.
• vitamin c- protects against free radical damage and plays a role in the formation of collagen (the main component of connective tissue in the human body).

it can be used by absolutely anyone, young or old, and all skin types (as it acts as a balancing agent). 
massage a few drops into your face and neck (or even just any problem areas) and rose hip oil can help to relieve the signs of premature aging, fine lines and wrinkles, scarring, stretch marks, eczema and psoriasis scars, hyper-pigmentation, dermatitis, burns, acne and chicken pox scarring, sun damage, dry skin, and improve skin elasticity, skin tone and skin resilience to the environment.

 i have been using it on dry patches and other bits and pieces (my skin often cracks if i haven't moisturised enough), and compared to before i came across it, my skins healing time is crazily reduced and my skin comes out beautiful and smooth after. i love it!

x

choc banana ice dream with walnuts

amaaaaazing chocolate and banana vegan ice cream!! it's perfect if you don't like or can't eat dairy, and you're craving ice cream. i know that bananas are expensive at the moment, but if you find some particularly ripe ones that are on sale at the fruit store, they'll work just fine, as riper bananas tend to flavour better when cooking with them.


Preparation time: 10mins (+ approx. 5 hours freezing time)
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:

• 550g (1lb) frozen banana
•  ½ lemon, juice only
• 295g (10oz) silken tofu
• 1 tbs cocoa powder
• 1 tbs honey or agave nectar
• 125g (4oz) dark dairy-free chocolate, chopped into smallish chunks
• 50g of raw walnuts

1. Blend the frozen banana with the silken tofu, lemon juice, cocoa powder and honey or agave nectar until thick and smooth.
2. Add the chopped chocolate and walnuts and blend for another 30 seconds or until the chocolate and nuts are mixed through and there is still lots of chocolate and walnut chunks mixed through.
3. Serve straight away as a soft cold pudding or freeze in an air-tight container for up to 5-6 hours until just firm. If it freezes to a point where it is too hard, allow it to soften a little before serving.
    
4. Enjoy! 

there are heaps of online resources for vegetarian and vegan recipes but Veggie Num Num would have to be my favourite (i realise the name is a little quirky, but it's literally the noise you make when you're eating this ice cream, so i kind of understand where it came from).

x

lip service

winter is coming. And so is the need for a sturdy lip balm to protect your luscious pink bits from the wind and the cold! Or if you are like me, you have this need all year round.

As a bit of background, my skin in notoriously sensitive. 

To everything. 

And when I say everything, I mean to the extent that the face cream I use can not have any chemicals in it at all, or my skin dries out, or breaks out, or flakes off. Even if it is an all natural cream, if it’s too oily, the oil will sit on my skin to the point I reflect the moonlight on a cloudy night. If it is too dry, we revert to the flake out situation. Needless to say, my lips are also, shall we say, delicate. I have been through hundreds of dollars worth of lip cosmetics, all to find that each and every one of them turn my lips into swollen, cracked and blistered lumps of misery. It does not matter how expensive, or extensive the list of supposedly brilliant ‘softening’, ‘moisturising’ and ‘conditioning’ ingredients in any of them, the result was the same; me looking like I’d had botox done by Edward scissor hands.

So, I did something that I should have done at the very beginning of my soft-and-smooth seeking journey, and that was to go back to basics. Search out what mother nature has laid out for me, so balanced and perfect for my neurotic skin. And I was rewarded in my search. I have found the most perfect product I could have ever hoped for. It is moisturising, conditioning, protective, and it looks amazing, making my lips look full and lush. It’s not too sticky, yet it doesn’t rub off or absorb too quickly. And the icing on the cake is the fact that it is made from 100% natural ingredients.

Hand on heart, I’m honestly not being paid to say any of this!

I’ve been using it for at least 6 months now, and the larger 80 gram tube (that’s big for lip balm), that it comes in hasn't even come close to running out yet. To be honest, it’s actually labeled ointment but even the tube says it makes a great lip balm, and it also comes in a smaller, 30 gram more lip gloss sized tube. So if you have size restrictions regarding purse space, there’s an option for you. I buy it from my local organic supermarket (I haven’t found it anywhere else). When I bought it, it was under $15 for the large tube, which is a bargain for how much I love it!

So without further ado, here is my new best friend!

natural alternative 'certified organic paw paw ointment'

(Natural Alternative have a beautiful web site with plenty of other fantastic looking products, if you are interested.)

 

After I had realised how amazing this stuff is, I started sharing it with anyone who would listen, trying to turn them onto it, but in return I got some paw paw facts that were really quite interesting. One elderly lady (who turned out to be a lot older than she looked) swore by paw paws. She ate the flesh of a quarter of one every day for breakfast and then rubbed the remaining goo on the inside of the paw paw skin on her hands and face, as a skin treatment. I know that’s sounds a bit home remedy, but if it has worked for someone else (after decades of trial), why not try it? It’s not like you are going to have a reaction to the chemicals in it (haha).  A bit of googling came up with a few websites detailing the medical interests surrounding pawpaw as a medicinal fruit, including documented cases of pawpaw derived cancer treatments! (see here and here and here). I also looked into alternative pawpaw options, and although there is a few out there, watch out as some of the most popular ones are petroleum based. 

I hope that this has been informative and helpful!

x