Originally from sugar cane farming in North Queensland, one of six kids with parents who always grew their own food. During my years at the bank in Sydney as Sustainability Work Stream Leader I was charged with researching sustainability issues and helping the staff in our department learn how to reduce their impact on the world; at the office, in the home, and garden. I gathered knowledge on consumption, waste and procurement dependance and implemented learnings for our staff that was a real eye opener for everyone.
Our reliance on natural resources and vast international systems to entertain, feed, and clothe us makes us vulnerable, and though our collective attitude in decades' past to consumption and waste is slowly changing, more needs to be done to increase our grass roots resilience and self-reliance, both personally and in our communities.
We're igniting a local movement towards greater self-reliance, food security, good health, collaboration, sharing of skills, ideas, hard work and laughs.
I love growing organic heirloom vegetables and living as chemically free as possible. When we garden we truly find ourselves and each other. Join 'The Blitz List' Email Signup to subscribe to the Blog and get all the info and happenings. http://alpinepermablitz.com.au/join-the-blitz-list/
This comes from ex-pharmaceutical sales rep and author of the book, Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher, Gwen Olsen.
For 15 years, Gwen was living an unintentional lie, working as a pharmaceutical sales rep for some of today’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Abbott Laboratories. But through a gradual course of tragic events, Gwen’s eyes were eventually opened to the unethical and tyrannical truth about pharmaceutical drugs.
VIDEO: A 15-year veteran sales rep for the pharmaceutical industry talks about her experience as a prescription drug pusher
You’re earning money to put food on the table and pay the bills, find time for your kids, find all-important solo time with your partner, find sleep somewhere in there, AND find time for yourself…Yeh right.
It’s likely you’re feeling out of balance and with good reason, it’s a challenging time!
It’s so tempting to put the kids in front of a screen, either the TV or an iPad and retreat to the couch, but getting the kids outside will actually do wonders for you too. Try getting into the outdoors at every opportunity (even 10 minutes at a time as 1000 hours outside recommends) to slowly increase your outdoor hour bank to reconnect with nature, and your kids. It helps reduce high blood pressure and stress, getting moving release feel-good endorphins, and hearing sounds of nature actually helps you sleep better.
Take some time bit by bit outside, and learn how going back nature is the way forward.
A great little Sesame Street song for you and the kids below and then turn off your computer, go outside and have fun!
School Holidays Permablitz
We’re looking for feedback from folks on a potential Permablitz day on Saturday, 4th April.
Are you around on the school holidays? If so are you keen to come along to a Blitz to see what it’s all about, lend a hand and let the kids play in the dirt and get crafty with Alpine Permablitz – Kids Craft Club?
Email us at grow@alpinepermablitz.com.au to let us know if you can make it.
We’ll start around a 9am but folks are free to come and go as needed throughout the day for other commitments.
We had a wonderful morning on Sunday, 1st March for Food is Free Day. Goes to show how busy you are when you only find out two weeks later that we were actually on the front cover!
Thanks to everyone who came out and shared herbs, fruit & veg and lovely conversation. To those who needed and took home we hope you enjoyed every last nummy bite!
If you’d like to experience more home-grown, spray-free local produce you can drop in to The Growers’ Co op every Tuesday 10am-2pm at Mountain Health next to Flour + Water.
If you’d like to learn more about our volunteer permablitzing group to help develop your garden to grow more veggies join The Blitz List for info on upcoming events.
