The Alternative Lifestyle Site

Green At Home: What Are You Growing?

I’m feeling a little envious of those who are experiencing a different weather pattern from me right now. It’s winter here in the Southern Hemisphere and because I live in the mountains the fog didn’t lift until around 2 pm this afternoon. I know, I know, before that it was too hot and everything around us was burning and smoke filled. Aaaah, the joys of living in a dynamic world!

As I was sitting here today wishing I was out there gardening I began to plan what I’ll do on the next sunny winters day we have.

• I have to clear up the left over vegetation in at least on vegetable bed.
• I need to stake a new olive tree I planted a few weeks ago, it’s very young and not yet able to stand up straight.
• I want to get on top of some of the winter weeds that are appearing due to our ample rainfall this month and
• I want to plant some more food.

What are You Growing?

• I’ve got black Kale which is so stunning (tastes a little like broccoli which we love),
• silverbeet – lovely green leaves which we add to just about everything,
• there are some onions, beetroot, broccoli, asian greens like boc choy which self seeded from last year,
• herbs such as coriander, parsley, and mint which just seem to appear like magic, along with a number of different cut and come again lettuce varieties. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I let them go to seed and then run around the garden waving them like magic wands to spread them everywhere?

I still feel the need for some more ’stuff’ to be growing in my garden. I’m thinking in a couple of months I put some potatoes under straw but in the meantime, more broccoli ( We never seem to get sick of it), some carrots, more onions and maybe some garlic although I might be a bit early for that. Snow peas in the shade-house so the frost doesn’t get their flowers sound good too. I might even try parsnips on more time.

What are YOU Growing?

Even if you have only space for a few pots, or a polystyrene box you can grow fresh winter herbs to add to soups and stews. Fresh parsley, wet with dew is a delight just to pick and nibble as you walk by. Mint in tea gives it a real flavour boost – we just nibble on it whenever we walk past our many plants – so fresh and happy a taste and smell it really lifts your spirits.

In just one polystyrene box I can grow lettuce, parsley, baby carrots and beetroot and a good size broccoli plant. In two of them I can add kale, more lettuce, coriander and asian greens. In a hanging basket I can have all the sweet snow peas I could want and they take up no floor space at all. I no longer have to grow in containers as I have a big garden but don’t let a lack of ground-space stop you. Fresh, healthy, easy to grow food is a joy to behold and a big step towards creating as sustainable way of life. Your very own greener alternative lifestyle.

What are you growing? Share with me as I sit here in the cold and just dream of sun ripened tomatoes and strawberries still warm from the sun…..

Building Green: Guess What I Did This Weekend?

That’s a bit of a trick question really because (weather permiting) it’s what I do most weekends for the past few (many) months and for many more to come. You see, I’m an owner builder and I’m building an eco-friendly, sustainable, green home! Out of straw.

We are up to the really fun bit right now, preparing our walls for rendering and getting stuck into the mud. Enjoy our first video with our new (Vista compatible) camera.

Sorry about all the noise with the whipper snipper but I think my hubby loves it when I use power tools!  However, my poor dog hates it and barks his head off the whole time… he even starts up again when I play the video!

To keep up to date with all the latest and greatest news on our build, on energy saving, of sustainable living and what the new mainstream greener lifestyle can mean for you…. subscribe to the newsletter (top right of this page)

Energy Series 20: Reviews and Thank You

‘Tis the end of the series and what a ride it’s been.

If you have enjoyed the series and think that it provided you with information that was of any value please refer others to the blog and recommend the newsletter subscription. There are many things coming up, including a free report for subscribers, some excellent articles, product reviews, videos… hey just more of the same! Hope to see you in the comments section soon and once again Thanks for the company.

Energy Series 19: Taking It To The Street

This is just a quick video to encourage you to take your message to the streets.  Sort of.

Many people feel that the things they can do at home to save energy, lower their carbon emissions and take steps to halt global warming are just a small drop in a very big pond.  Of course, that is totally true but who ever said you had to keep all this information under lock and key?

The truth is that now you know what to do and have some great ideas on how to get started there is no stopping you.  Once you have been successful at home, tell people about it.  Go public.  Let it become quite obvious that YOU are different, informed, active and aware of your ability to make a difference.  Take this confidence to work, to school, to the supermarket or shopping centre.  Tell your neighbours, the people in your club, your Mother.  Here

Watch the video and become inspired.  It’s up to us to make this grow and I’m right there with you.

Energy Series 18: More Miles For Your Money

I Love My Car!

There I said it, it’s true and I know it’s the very worst thing I do where energy consumption and the environment is concerned.

I began to feel guilty about it a couple of years ago. I even considered not owning a car, however it just wasn’t possible. If it had been even remotely practical I would have done it but I live on a small farm 7km from town and there is a BIG hill between here and there, so nope, I had to keep the car.

Given those circumstances I had to come up with some way to make using my car more efficient and more earth friendly. There is a bunch of stuff you can do and I’ve made a quick video to set your mind to work on how you can do similar things in your life. I hope something appeals and if it does, do tell me about it by leaving a comment.

If you have enjoyed this video and would like to take a look the rest of the Series  just subscribe the newsletter by putting your name and a good email address into the form top right and I’ll send them to you over the next few weeks.

If you know others who might benefit from this information please feel free to share the links with them.

It’s all FREE!

Energy Series 17: Uncovering Hidden Energy Consumption

Yes, it’s video 17 in our Energy Series and this one is on a topic that is not so obvious when we are looking for ways to save energy.

Having said that though, it’s this kind of energy saving that can have a really big impact. I’m talking about the energy embedded within a product or service. This can be called embedded energy or embodied energy. You might think about installing solar panels on your home, different panels require different amounts of energy to produce. So when making your choice you could take that into account.

Every single product or service you buy or access has some energy use hidden within it. You may not have personally used the energy but the minute you make your purchase you have participated in that energy use and by making wise or informed choices, you can further reduce your energy consumption. This is good news for you, good news for the manufacturers of goods and services with lower embodied energy and great news for the Earth.

Hope you enjoy the video.

Now IF you are interested in the whole concept of reducing energy consumption, especially in the hidden energy embodied in the things we buy there is a great book I can suggest to you. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things It’s a complex conversation but people like this show us all that’s it’s just a matter of thinking a little differently and then taking action on those thoughts. I enjoyed this book immensely and hope you do too.

If this is your first look at the Energy Series videos and you would like to see more just subscribe the newsletter by putting your name and a good email address into the form top right and I’ll send them to you over the next few weeks. If you know others who might benefit from this information please feel free to share the links with them. It’s all FREE!

Energy Series 16: Do It Yourself

Quite a long time ago I stopped waiting for someone else to ‘fix’ things for me and began to take a lot more responsibility for myself. That included my lifestyle choices and their impacts on my pay packet, my quality of life, the environment and my future.

During my years living in a big city, working full time, raising children as a single parent and living in rented accommodation the seeds of wanting something better were planted. Many, many years later a lot of those seeds have begun to sprout and a big part of the reason for that is because I began to do things for myself. Today, that includes building my own home, home educating my son, generating my own power. It’s not always easy… or simple but it’s always really worthwhile and incredibly empowering. Why not check out this idea for your life?

I hope you enjoy the video and don’t forget, if DIY appeals to you – check out the product reviews category to your right and see if anything appeals to you. In fact, use this as an opportunity to take your first action. Who knows where it might lead you?

Alternative Livelihood: Time For A New Career?

Have you noticed the media recently? Have you noticed what all the politicians are talking about… non-stop?

• Yes, it’s the economy.
• It’s the recession.
• It’s employment figures or unemployment figures I guess.

All this talk of lack and loss and downturn really got me to thinking about people and their work. This in turn got me thinking (once again) about purposeful employment, right livelihood, living your passion. I’m not really one to sit around too long moaning about how bad things are and I love to find ideas that inspire people to begin looking at things in a slightly different way and this post is the result of me looking for a way to do just that.

Now, there is another reason I’m bringing all this up. Well actually, there are a couple of other reasons if I’m honest. The first is my partner.

• He began a new job just before the whole credit crunch thing began and now he is realising that he doesn’t really, really love where he works. Not too many other options around for him right now due to the global financial crisis and rising rates of unemployment. However, he does have another option. His passion is the environment (one of the reasons I love him so) and he is a really, really good people person, writer and networker in his field.
• Can you see a small opportunity jumping up and down in front of him?
• He can and a few years ago he had a website created and he did some freelance work in his field. His mind is now turning back towards doing something similar should he find himself unable or unwilling to remain in his current employment. Pretty cool.

The second is you. Do you have a hobby? Do you have an interest that you really, really like to learn about, talk about, read about, write about? You could turn that into another source of income. Even if it were part-time … even REALLY part-time to begin with. Who knows where it might lead you?

Utilising the Internet can really jump start your move towards creating a new career for yourself and moving into a more fulfilling alternative livelihood. Yes I know you’ve probably heard all that before and I’m sure you’ve also heard how so many people begin new online businesses all bright eyed and bushy tailed only to fail miserably. I used to be in that category but now, thanks to Bob Yeager and his W.E.S.T program I have all the skills, tools, insights and support I need to really make something happen online.

Now maybe you are interested and maybe you are not however, there are a couple of things you could do to see if this is something for you. Maybe, it’s something for someone else you know rather than for you. Send them here if that is the case.

• If you are unsure of your passions in life I have written a FREE e-course titled 5 Steps To Discover Your Life Purpose, which may help you out. I hope so and do let me know if you decide to take the course. I love feedback.

• Once you know what you LOVE take a look at the WEST program – I’ve done a bit of training and education over the years and this program is the most comprehensive I’ve come across. If you have a burning desire and the commitment to see it through, then WEST is for you. Just click on the “W” banner there to your right to get more information.

Using the Internet is easy. Utilising Internet Marketing is another kettle of fish altogether. There is so much hype out there, business coaching is essential in the brave new world of 21st Century online marketing and you really have to do your homework not to be taken for a ride by the unscrupulous.

• There are free programs out there, Ed Dales Thirty Day Challenge is one I participated in and it was a great insight into what is needed, what I didn’t know yet and really gave me a taste for what is possible. If you want to test the waters I can recommend it. I don’t think you will create a huge income but it will get you started.
• When you are ready to get serious and begin to create a sustainable, alternative livelihood and career for yourself, take a good hard look at the WEST program. I am a student right now and already my whole view of the online world and my role in it has changed for the better.

I hope if you are thinking along these lines I’ve been able to give you some useful information. I hope you join me as a student on the WEST program. Good luck and I hope to see online soon.

Energy Series 15: But I’m Renting Is No Excuse

I can vividly recall living in Sydney in various flats, units and houses, working full time and raising my two sons as a single parent. I was luckier than most in that their Dad was (still is) a great person and took an active role in their upbringing. However, there was no way that I could afford to purchase my own home in Sydney – even all those years ago!

Living in rental accommodation does limit what a person is free to do regarding energy saving initiatives. For example one can’t just go out and put extra insulation in the roof or install double glazed windows for example. All of that is perfectly true but there are still many, many things an energy conscious or environmentally aware renter can do that will make a big difference to their consumption and to how much money they are paying for their utility bills.

My journey towards living a more sustainable lifestyle certainly began all those years ago as I discovered how awful it was to live in a home facing the western sun during an Australian summer. My need to save money through good energy management was certainly borne out of living in an expensive city and raising children. My lessons were deeply felt and now that I am in a position to share some of what I have discovered – I get to share them with you. I hope you are are enjoying them.

Alternative Livelihood: Internet Marketing

Many people are looking at living in “Alternative” ways and for many finding another way to make a living, one that gives them autonomy and freedom of choice is high on their list of priorities. For lots of us, the Internet with all its possibilities is very appealing. People are starting on-line businesses at an unprecedented rate.

But beware! It can be a very frustrating process, beginning, learning, apply and hopefully succeeding in the online world. After too many years of spending lots of time attempting to discover the secrets to Internet Marketing, I enrolled in the WEST program. Aimed at empowering those interested in building their own internet business, by giving them the information, tools and strategies to succeed, WEST has been the very best investment of my time… EVER,

I recently had an article approved over at EzineArticles.com explaining some of the tips and tricks of SEO and Keyword Research that have helped me get my sites ranked on Google and others. Follow this link to read the article. I hope it helps.

If you think this is the kind of information you need, click on the “W” banner there on the right and get some FREE tutorials and information about the WEST Program.