Sustainabilty & Permaculture

There has been a big buzz in our home lately. Why? I think I have finally sorted out a great location as a home base for our Permaculture courses!

My brain has been running overtime planning bits and pieces - where would we go for site visits, who would be our guest tutors, can we get funding to subsidise places for low income earners, the design of our certificates (Bill Mollison used to issue the certificates but no longer does it so it is up to individual educators to take care of this), what little extras can be included in the course cost (text book/s, course notes, Permaculture Melbourne membership, beverages, snacks, etc).

What is "Permaculture" I hear you ask - well it is jsut the most suitable and practical philosophy and methodology to live a truly sustainable life. It can be applied to a household, a suburb, a town, a farm, a country, the entire globe!

"Permaculture is sustainability in action." Josh Byrne, Gardening Australia



We want to spread this knowledge far and wide to anyone who is willing to learn. Please join us - tell others about it. This planet will not have a healthy future if we don't take action and change the way we do things.

Please see the sustainability page of our website for more details -

http://betweenskyandearth.com.au/store/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=14

You can also join us on Facebook -

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/PermacultureAust.NZ/

We look forward to chatting with you soon.


PEACE to all,
KISS for life,
Miriam.

We ARE all FREE

Today I came across a wonderful song I was unaware of by an artist I love.


In light of the tumultuous times around the globe, I felt compelled to use it for my blog today. ENJOY.

PEACE to all,
KISS for Life,
Miriam


Please enjoy and share “Free” by Stevie Wonder. The images in the video are fantastic and the lyrics are below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCxo6BUG4JI&feature=share

Free like the river

Flowing freely through infinity

Free to be sure of

What I am and who I need not be

Free from all worries

Worries prey on oneself's troubled mind

Freer than the clock's hands

Tickin' way the times

Freer than the meaning of free that man defines

Life running through me

Till I feel my father God has called



Me having nothin'

But possessing riches more than all

And I'm free

To be nowhere

But in every place I need to be

Freer than a sunbeam

Shining through my soul

Free from feelin' heat or knowing bitter cold

Free from conceiving the beginning

For that's the infinite start



I'm gone - gone but still living

Life goes on without a beating heart



Free like a vision

That the mind of only you can see



Freer than a raindrop

Falling from the sky

Freer than a smile in a baby's sleepin' eyes



I'm free like a river

Flowin' freely through infinity

I'm free to be sure of what

I am and who I need not to be

I'm much freer - like the meaning of the word free that crazy man defines

Free - free like the vision that

The mind of only you are ever gonna see

Free like the river my life

Goes on and on through infinity

Summer is approaching here in Australia. That means lots of Aussies will be using more personal care products for a few months - sunscreen and after sun exposure skincare products. Also, they are likely to use more makeup as they tend to party a bit more.

Can you go a day without makeup?
Do you read the labels on the products you use - whether they are makeup, skincare or bodycare products? Can you understand those labels?




Did you know your skin absorbs about 60% of what goes on it into your system?



Did you also know that the skin is the largest organ of the body?



Are you fully aware of the ingredients in your makeup (and personal care products) you and your family members use?



Most of them are of dubious origins and potentially negative impacts on human and environmental health.



Want to find some alternatives?



We carefully choose what we sell. See www.betweenskyandearth.com.au or email us info@betweenskyandearth.com.au - we're looking forward to helping you.


Peace to all,
KISS for Life,
Miriam.

Do You Really Need to use a Shampoo?

http://www.betweenskyandearth.com.au/



Do you really have to use shampoo or is it just a habit that is second nature?

I have been washing my hair with plain warm water for a few weeks now.

Due to allergies and sensitivities I have been using an unscented shampoo for over 16 years. But it was quite harsh on my hair and I could not find an alternative that was gentler that I could tolerate.

I have a friend who had gone shampoo free a couple of years ago and was very happy with the results. I also knew of a number of people who did the same.

Hmmm ... ? I pondered it on and off for a long time. Then I forgot about a haircut appointment. This had happened before. Was it an omen?

So, now I do without both shampoo and haircuts. At least for a while.

My decision sits well with me as an environmentalist and on account of my health issues and also, to a lesser extent on my hip pocket.

Time will tell if it is a physical benefit to my hair. It certainly doesn’t damage it.



KISS for Life,

Peace to all,

Miriam

Food Security

We can EASILY feed the world. We DON'T NEED any GMOs or CHEMICAL laden farms. While vastly reducing our carbon footprints.

Today I saw this story about a fellow in America growing a monumental amount of organic food.

He's doing it on only 3 acres.

How can he do this? Well, he uses greenhouses and acquaponics, together with vertical plantings. The heat from compost is used to regulate the temperatures. Fish ponds incorporate a low carbon quality animal protein into the system. More specifically, the system :

* By producing 10,000 fish


* Using 300 to 500 yards of worm compost

* By utilizing vertical space

* Having 3 acres of land in green houses

* Using 1 simple aquaponic pump

* Food is grown all year by using heat from the compost piles




This can be copied. It would make a great community project.

Watch this video -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfScfxkmWw4&feature=player_embedded

Please share this great video around with family and friends.

KISS for Life,
Peace to all,
Miriam.

Stock take sale on selected items

Hi

Welcome to winter if you are in the Southern Hemisphere!

We are in Melbourne and we have had a pretty ordinary day weather wise.

So to cheer us all up I wanted to tell you about our mini winter sale - YAY!

You can see our specials here:

http://betweenskyandearth.com.au/store/pc/showspecials.asp

So, come and check out what we have to offer - if what you want is not on sale you can always ask us for a slightly better deal - we can't promise anything but you never know your luck!

Ok I will keep it short & sweet tonight.

Here's the page again:

http://betweenskyandearth.com.au/store/pc/showspecials.asp

Thanks for reading - please tell your friends & family about the sale.

Peace to all,
KISS for life,
Miriam.

Clearance Sale on Selected Items

Winter is upon us here in Australia. However, don't be fooled by cooler weather - you still need to stay hydrated. To help out our valued customers we are offering a saving on Cheeki Stainless Steel Drink bottles via a "Lucky Dip" stock clearance.

These bottles are food grade stainless steel and BPA free. There are great designs you or family and friends will love.

Just go to our website and click on the specials button or the lucky dip option:
http://betweenskyandearth.com.au/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?pageStyle=h&idCategory=204

This offer is limited to current stock only - no backorders plus it is a lucky dip (you can specify a preference for a girl or boy focussed design but we cannot guarantee that it will be available).

Peace,
KISS for Life,
Miriam.