But not Lynne Hinton, Principal of Barunda State School, QLD. I purposely added 15 minutes extra to my trip so I could listen to the end of the show I was that fascinated. It's definitely worth a listen!
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/06/26/2609566.htm?site=brisbane
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Growing Your Own
Last weekend was the first time Nic and I made it to the Farmers' Markets in Wagga. It was also a first that we arrived with a dedicated sum of money for buying our fresh veges and other goodies. On previous occasions we've always gone to 'just have a look'.
The setting was Wollundry Lagoon in Wagga, behind the Civic Centre (I think!) and it was a great spot overlooking the lagoon, plenty of room for kids to run around etc. The morning was cool and crisp, the sweet smell of bacon, sausages and eggs carried through the air from the stalwart of markets: the sausage sizzle.
We've always been keen to grow as much of our own produce as possible; unfortunately moving from rental to rental doesn't really alow it. But the next best thing is to buy locally grown produce. This was our aim.
First stop was the obligatory breaky of bacon and egg rolls, followed by a quick lap of all the stalls to sus out what was there. An impressive vege stall caught our eye. To say it was value for money was an understatement. We walked away with two lettuces, about a kilo of baby carrots (fresh from the ground the day before) about a kilo and a half of beetroot, a BIG cauli, a bunch of spring onions and a kilo of brown onions for under $20!
Next stop was a local butcher (who, as it turned out, owns a farm just outside of town and knows my boss and his wife very well) for some organic lamb. Having been exposed to 'organic...' in the Blue Mountains, Penrith and Sydney, we were expecting to pay with a kidney - but again, value for money! A good feed of forequarter chops for $10/kg! And as I later found out, this bloke will do entire lambs and pigs for you - sensationl!
Upon returning home with our market successes, a conversation about the benefits of living on sizeable land and in a regional setting ensued. It had only been earlier that week that I had caught the end of a conversation on the radio with a well respected demographer (who's name escapes me!). His opinion was that as the cost of energy (fuel, electricity, gas etc) became more expensive, we would see something akin to a rural renaissance as people moved closer to food sources. But would we? I agree with his theory, but have the masses in the cities and suburbs simply become to far removed from the realities of life to successfully move back to a more self-reliant lifestyle? I think they have.
The art of 'growing your own', while recently seeing a revival, has faided away into the shadows of iPods, Blackberries, computers and home entertainment. For me there would be nothing more satisfying than sitting down to a meal consisting of food only grown in my own garden or a friend's - and I believe that satisfaction, that attitude is neccessary if you want to successfully 'grow your own'. You must do it for the love, not because it's a trendy following of Jamie Oliver (don't get me wrong, I believe he does it for the love). Growing your own food is more than throwing a few herbs in a garden bed or having a fruti tree in the back yard. How many grow-your-own'ers would be prepared to raise livestock for the table? How many would go down to the chook shed to find a suitable specimen for the Sunday roast, or take a fat lamb to the local butcher? I bet there wouldn't be many.
Though soon there may not be a choice in the matter. Irrespective of what the climate does over the next few decades, it would appear that humanity is destined for possibly its greatest catastrophy ever. The BBC reported just this week that the number of people suffering from hunger has hit 1 billion. That's right, roughly a sixth of the world's population is suffering from hunger. This has recently been excacerbated by the downturn in financial markets; it seems that is responsible for 100 million over the last year being added to the list of hungry. And in reinforcement of the above statements and comments, persistently high food prices have also contributed to the hunger 'crisis'.
I can't help but wonder if we, as a society, have our priorities drastically out of order. The record price paid for what was literally a sliver of land in Bondi a few years ago had me asking this question. In 2006 a block of land 120m.sq in size sold for $3m; $29,000 per metre! But what is it good for? Will it supply you with food and water? Will it allow you to dispose of your refuse and wastewater, or perhaps recycle said wastewater in a productive manner? No. All it will do, at the most basic level, is give you somewhere to sleep. As a comparison, prime agriculatural land in NSW will fetch $2-2.5k per acre...
I don't know what it will take, how many more to go hungry before we sit back and reassess our priorities and realise that the city has very few benefits. Sure it has great 'culture', clubs, and a lively night-life, but what value will all of that be when you can't put food on the table?
Better to have the land and grow your own if you ask me.
The setting was Wollundry Lagoon in Wagga, behind the Civic Centre (I think!) and it was a great spot overlooking the lagoon, plenty of room for kids to run around etc. The morning was cool and crisp, the sweet smell of bacon, sausages and eggs carried through the air from the stalwart of markets: the sausage sizzle.
We've always been keen to grow as much of our own produce as possible; unfortunately moving from rental to rental doesn't really alow it. But the next best thing is to buy locally grown produce. This was our aim.
First stop was the obligatory breaky of bacon and egg rolls, followed by a quick lap of all the stalls to sus out what was there. An impressive vege stall caught our eye. To say it was value for money was an understatement. We walked away with two lettuces, about a kilo of baby carrots (fresh from the ground the day before) about a kilo and a half of beetroot, a BIG cauli, a bunch of spring onions and a kilo of brown onions for under $20!
Next stop was a local butcher (who, as it turned out, owns a farm just outside of town and knows my boss and his wife very well) for some organic lamb. Having been exposed to 'organic...' in the Blue Mountains, Penrith and Sydney, we were expecting to pay with a kidney - but again, value for money! A good feed of forequarter chops for $10/kg! And as I later found out, this bloke will do entire lambs and pigs for you - sensationl!
Upon returning home with our market successes, a conversation about the benefits of living on sizeable land and in a regional setting ensued. It had only been earlier that week that I had caught the end of a conversation on the radio with a well respected demographer (who's name escapes me!). His opinion was that as the cost of energy (fuel, electricity, gas etc) became more expensive, we would see something akin to a rural renaissance as people moved closer to food sources. But would we? I agree with his theory, but have the masses in the cities and suburbs simply become to far removed from the realities of life to successfully move back to a more self-reliant lifestyle? I think they have.
The art of 'growing your own', while recently seeing a revival, has faided away into the shadows of iPods, Blackberries, computers and home entertainment. For me there would be nothing more satisfying than sitting down to a meal consisting of food only grown in my own garden or a friend's - and I believe that satisfaction, that attitude is neccessary if you want to successfully 'grow your own'. You must do it for the love, not because it's a trendy following of Jamie Oliver (don't get me wrong, I believe he does it for the love). Growing your own food is more than throwing a few herbs in a garden bed or having a fruti tree in the back yard. How many grow-your-own'ers would be prepared to raise livestock for the table? How many would go down to the chook shed to find a suitable specimen for the Sunday roast, or take a fat lamb to the local butcher? I bet there wouldn't be many.
Though soon there may not be a choice in the matter. Irrespective of what the climate does over the next few decades, it would appear that humanity is destined for possibly its greatest catastrophy ever. The BBC reported just this week that the number of people suffering from hunger has hit 1 billion. That's right, roughly a sixth of the world's population is suffering from hunger. This has recently been excacerbated by the downturn in financial markets; it seems that is responsible for 100 million over the last year being added to the list of hungry. And in reinforcement of the above statements and comments, persistently high food prices have also contributed to the hunger 'crisis'.
I can't help but wonder if we, as a society, have our priorities drastically out of order. The record price paid for what was literally a sliver of land in Bondi a few years ago had me asking this question. In 2006 a block of land 120m.sq in size sold for $3m; $29,000 per metre! But what is it good for? Will it supply you with food and water? Will it allow you to dispose of your refuse and wastewater, or perhaps recycle said wastewater in a productive manner? No. All it will do, at the most basic level, is give you somewhere to sleep. As a comparison, prime agriculatural land in NSW will fetch $2-2.5k per acre...
I don't know what it will take, how many more to go hungry before we sit back and reassess our priorities and realise that the city has very few benefits. Sure it has great 'culture', clubs, and a lively night-life, but what value will all of that be when you can't put food on the table?
Better to have the land and grow your own if you ask me.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The sound of bells...
Well, I suppose as most of you who read this would have heard, the sound of wedding bells will soon echo through our families. The better half and I will be tying the knot next Spring, after having spent the last 7 years together. For the romantics out there, I proposed at a lookout overlooking the floodlit Three Sisters.
And now, we have moved full swing into operation wedding - good thing I'm doing project management this semester... Who would have thought there was so much to organise, or that the fellas actually had a part to play in the whole shebang! From bonbonneres to my personal favourite: bridal lingerie haha. But already the planning has come along in leaps and bounds: the reception and ceremony venue has been decided, located on the banks of the Murrumbidgee - well not quite on the banks but close enough - the caterer is just about decided on, photographer booked and celebrant chosen. And they say you need a minimum 12 months to organise a wedding ha! Tonight saw me trying on suits, shirts and vests, while the coffe table is buckling under the weight of bridal cattledogs, magazines and sample invitations.
But onto other things; uni is the usual mongrel it always has been, work is pretty good too and I'm slowly taking on more responsibilities which is geat. We had a good drop of rain over the Anzac weekend and the farmers are starting to get into sowing full swing.
It's funny how everything in the country has such a greater meaning. Up in the Mountains, while rain was good, it didn't have a whole lot of meaning; and for anyone in Sydney it seems it's just a royal pain in the arse. But out here you know that every drop that falls from the sky has the potential to yield an income for the farmer, bolster the spirits of the community and ultimately to provide food and produce for the country.
Of course it isn't always like that - get rain at the wrong time of year and it'll be the end of a good crop and during summer it primes weed growth which requires big $'s to control.
It wasn't a huge fall, only 20mm total, but it was just so good to watch it fall, hear it on the roof and literally watch the landscape green up. I went to Gundagai on the Friday and then again on the Sunday. The difference in 'greeness' was noticeable. Pretty incredible really.
Let's just hope there's a lot more where it came from. Some private forecasters have even had a gamble that the Murray and Darling Basins will see a turn around - let's hope so.
Ciao
And now, we have moved full swing into operation wedding - good thing I'm doing project management this semester... Who would have thought there was so much to organise, or that the fellas actually had a part to play in the whole shebang! From bonbonneres to my personal favourite: bridal lingerie haha. But already the planning has come along in leaps and bounds: the reception and ceremony venue has been decided, located on the banks of the Murrumbidgee - well not quite on the banks but close enough - the caterer is just about decided on, photographer booked and celebrant chosen. And they say you need a minimum 12 months to organise a wedding ha! Tonight saw me trying on suits, shirts and vests, while the coffe table is buckling under the weight of bridal cattledogs, magazines and sample invitations.
But onto other things; uni is the usual mongrel it always has been, work is pretty good too and I'm slowly taking on more responsibilities which is geat. We had a good drop of rain over the Anzac weekend and the farmers are starting to get into sowing full swing.
It's funny how everything in the country has such a greater meaning. Up in the Mountains, while rain was good, it didn't have a whole lot of meaning; and for anyone in Sydney it seems it's just a royal pain in the arse. But out here you know that every drop that falls from the sky has the potential to yield an income for the farmer, bolster the spirits of the community and ultimately to provide food and produce for the country.
Of course it isn't always like that - get rain at the wrong time of year and it'll be the end of a good crop and during summer it primes weed growth which requires big $'s to control.
It wasn't a huge fall, only 20mm total, but it was just so good to watch it fall, hear it on the roof and literally watch the landscape green up. I went to Gundagai on the Friday and then again on the Sunday. The difference in 'greeness' was noticeable. Pretty incredible really.
Let's just hope there's a lot more where it came from. Some private forecasters have even had a gamble that the Murray and Darling Basins will see a turn around - let's hope so.
Ciao
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Living in a small town...
This morning I heard the unfortunate news that a young local fella had been killed in a single vehicle accident just outside town last night. I didn't know him.
Yet I can't help but feel down about it; you know that most of the town will be feeling this loss and being such a small and relatively tight community the impact will be far reaching. And it truly is a loss for the town. What many don't realise is how valuable a young person is within a small town. As I said, I didn't know him, but if he was typical of the young fellas around here his life was probably already deeply woven into the workforce sporting and social communities; pretty much the three foundations of any small town.
But this is part of living in a small town; it brings life into sharp relief. It's raw and there's no hiding behind any little wall you try and put up to block these things. You feel - in this case - the downs the entire community feels, though by the same token you also feel the highs.
RIP
Yet I can't help but feel down about it; you know that most of the town will be feeling this loss and being such a small and relatively tight community the impact will be far reaching. And it truly is a loss for the town. What many don't realise is how valuable a young person is within a small town. As I said, I didn't know him, but if he was typical of the young fellas around here his life was probably already deeply woven into the workforce sporting and social communities; pretty much the three foundations of any small town.
But this is part of living in a small town; it brings life into sharp relief. It's raw and there's no hiding behind any little wall you try and put up to block these things. You feel - in this case - the downs the entire community feels, though by the same token you also feel the highs.
RIP
Saturday, April 4, 2009
I think one of the hardest things about blogging is coming up with a meaningful, entertaining - hopefully even witty - title that doesn't, to put it bluntly, suck balls. It has to be the biggest block, but perhaps that's just me...
Anyway, it's pretty lonely here at the moment. Nic is off up the Mountains visiting her family and I'm at home supposedly catching up on uni work - well I am, I knocked off an assignment... It's just so hard to get motivated to do something when you're alone. This feeling of "couldn't be arsedness" kind of overwhelms you... And then suddenly the day is gone. Tomorrow will be different!
For some reason only one arm is peeling (sunburn) despite both arms receiving an equal amount of sun and follow up aloe. The non-peeling arm cops the sun when I'm driving so I'm assuming that is it.
The sunburn is from our day on the water with Simo - fishing charter extrordinaire who couldn't help it if the entire maratime population of the eastern sea board - save a few kamikaze flatties and red rockies - decided to go on a hunger strike. Still, it was a great time away and good to just relax and not really give a flying potato about anything...
Anyway, it's pretty lonely here at the moment. Nic is off up the Mountains visiting her family and I'm at home supposedly catching up on uni work - well I am, I knocked off an assignment... It's just so hard to get motivated to do something when you're alone. This feeling of "couldn't be arsedness" kind of overwhelms you... And then suddenly the day is gone. Tomorrow will be different!
For some reason only one arm is peeling (sunburn) despite both arms receiving an equal amount of sun and follow up aloe. The non-peeling arm cops the sun when I'm driving so I'm assuming that is it.
The sunburn is from our day on the water with Simo - fishing charter extrordinaire who couldn't help it if the entire maratime population of the eastern sea board - save a few kamikaze flatties and red rockies - decided to go on a hunger strike. Still, it was a great time away and good to just relax and not really give a flying potato about anything...
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Hey There
Well after work, university and the universe consipred against me to rob me of all spare time for my previous blog, I thought I would again attempt this whole blogging thing this time about our new lives in the country.
Since my last attempt there have been a couple of changes, the most considerable being a move of almost 400km from the Blue Mountains to a small town in the Riverina region of NSW called Junee and I'm now studying at 3 universities instead of 1 - glutton for punishment, but UTS really needs to get their act together to improve their distance learning.
I've taken up work with the Shire Council as an Assistant Engineer and the better half is now working in Wagga as an Exec. Assistant with an accountancy firm.
However seeing as though this blog's aim is to let our family and friends now what's going on here's a brief summary of the last couple of months:
January: Celebrated Australia Day with a 400km drive in 45ºC heat, windows open and cricket on the radio; Moved house - who thought two people could acrue so much rubbish in only two years!?
February: It didn't rain; broke the record for the hottest ever day in Wagga @ 45.6ºC or so; the better half unpacked nearly all the house, still haven't made it up to her...; dashed over to the coast for a baby shower via Braidwood and came to the conclusion the Kings Hwy is a prick of a road (3 out of 4 trips we've seen/seen the results of an accident); still didn't rain
March: Still no rain; made a quick trip home; made friends with 200 people in town when I politely informed them their houses were potentially going to be flooded (why can't they remember me for the calendar?); copped a corker of a dust storm; and then... it RAINED! And bloody rain it did, flooding a few houses in the north of town and actually convincing some poeple a flood study in the middle of a drought isn't such a stupid thing to do!; Headed over to Gundagai for the innaugral Gundagai Giddyup - a 'festival' for all things equine that included an exhibition rodeo (found a ripper stock whip, just need the coin) and Wednesday is our 7 year anniversary.
Somewhere in there I started uni (and seriously wondered whether I would still be alive at the end of the semester), the lawns went from brown to green and did I mention it rained?
So that's the brief version of what's happened...
We've got a few things coming up - four days @ Jervis Bay, Easter, Tumut Rodeo, enough assignments to ensure I never have to relax and possibly a day or two at the Man From Snow Mountains festival in Corryong - maybe.
But that's about all the time I have; uni beckons as does the gym, the dishes and the washing so ciao...
Since my last attempt there have been a couple of changes, the most considerable being a move of almost 400km from the Blue Mountains to a small town in the Riverina region of NSW called Junee and I'm now studying at 3 universities instead of 1 - glutton for punishment, but UTS really needs to get their act together to improve their distance learning.
I've taken up work with the Shire Council as an Assistant Engineer and the better half is now working in Wagga as an Exec. Assistant with an accountancy firm.
However seeing as though this blog's aim is to let our family and friends now what's going on here's a brief summary of the last couple of months:
January: Celebrated Australia Day with a 400km drive in 45ºC heat, windows open and cricket on the radio; Moved house - who thought two people could acrue so much rubbish in only two years!?
February: It didn't rain; broke the record for the hottest ever day in Wagga @ 45.6ºC or so; the better half unpacked nearly all the house, still haven't made it up to her...; dashed over to the coast for a baby shower via Braidwood and came to the conclusion the Kings Hwy is a prick of a road (3 out of 4 trips we've seen/seen the results of an accident); still didn't rain
March: Still no rain; made a quick trip home; made friends with 200 people in town when I politely informed them their houses were potentially going to be flooded (why can't they remember me for the calendar?); copped a corker of a dust storm; and then... it RAINED! And bloody rain it did, flooding a few houses in the north of town and actually convincing some poeple a flood study in the middle of a drought isn't such a stupid thing to do!; Headed over to Gundagai for the innaugral Gundagai Giddyup - a 'festival' for all things equine that included an exhibition rodeo (found a ripper stock whip, just need the coin) and Wednesday is our 7 year anniversary.
Somewhere in there I started uni (and seriously wondered whether I would still be alive at the end of the semester), the lawns went from brown to green and did I mention it rained?
So that's the brief version of what's happened...
We've got a few things coming up - four days @ Jervis Bay, Easter, Tumut Rodeo, enough assignments to ensure I never have to relax and possibly a day or two at the Man From Snow Mountains festival in Corryong - maybe.
But that's about all the time I have; uni beckons as does the gym, the dishes and the washing so ciao...
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