about me (missy)

so finally i write in our blog. i dont know where sheree finds the time while living without electricity!

i feel i should tell you all what inspired me to create a blog...

over the years iv been feeling sad and hopeless hearing about the horrible things we (humans as a collective) are doing to the earth, other animals, our water-which we can not live without and.... what we are doing to our selves.

i almost felt there was nothing i could do because the situations were beyond my control.. but there came a day when i realised it was no good for my soul or those around me to be down about it. so i decided i am going to find solutions for these problems. start small in my own backyard, learn and grow and then share with everybody who wants to be taught, and of course, keep learning. we all have something to teach.

so last year i took myself out of my house and into a trailer in the backyard. no electricity, bucket compost toilet, bucket showers, candles. in my mind it was my ideal lifestyle. dont get me wrong, i loved the simplicity but gee was i lonely! i do like ‘me time’ sometimes but it made me realise and appreciate the importance and beauty of a community.

so this year whilst studying permaculture at Djanbung Gardens, i moved into a house with friends and i am enjoying our family dinners and diverse minds. i was not so keen on having electricity back on but fortunately it got cut off because no one made an account :) so out came the candles-that being the only form of electricity i was using, that and weekly phone charge.

i was already heading towards self sufficiency within other aspects of the home and later i will share with you all what i have learnt and experimented with including:

evaporative cooling refridgeration

bamboo fencing

rocket stove

paper making

soap making

fermenting

gardening

solar cookers

all of which i have only been playing around with in the last year. there may be a few more things to add when my brain is functioning on another level.

something i am super interested in learning is creating my own bio gas through a methane digestor. i cant think of a better way to use my shit!

i am going to celebrate the ending of my permaculture design certificate and the beginning of what is to come :)

i leave you with a reminder that we are apart of nature. everything we need to stay alive needs us to keep it alive. so lets all become.... Earthkeepers!

Home-made earth-friendly toothpaste

I thought I would just share how I make my toothpaste.

Ingredients-

½ Bi carb Soda

½ Coconut Oil (extra virgin cold pressed is best)

+ Peppermint Oil (maybe 30 drops for a regular size jam jar)

+ Salt (optional)

Equipment-

Fork

Glass jar

-Equal parts of Bi carb and Coconut Oil are used, so work out what size batch you want to use then mix all ingredients in a bowl, or if your jar is big enough, you could just mix in there.

-Alternate layers of bi carb and coconut oil to ensure a smooth consistency. You may need to slightly heat the coconut oil as it sets in cool conditions. The final product will set hard if kept in a cool place too, but you can use a spoon to scrape out what you need to put on your tooth brush.

-You may use vegetable glycerine instead of coconut oil if you would like a toothpaste consistency.. BUT.. coconut oil has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.. so I use coconut oil.

-Over time the peppermint oil will dissipate, so a few extra drops every month or so should keep it fresh.

-A regular size jam jar full of toothpaste lasts me about 4 months.

-It may feel quite harsh on your gums for the first few weeks, but they will adjust. I have never had healthier teeth- My dentist says “It doesn’t matter what you brush your teeth with, it is the brushing that is important” This releases and frees all the bacteria from your teeth and mouth.

- Natural toothpaste! Free of fluoride, chemicals and most importantly- pretty good for Mother Nature! X

If you are lucky enough to live in a climate with neem trees, you can also use the twigs as a sort of toothbrush and floss. Neem is super anti-bacterial. For now I just use a bamboo handled toothbrush, that is designed to be used as a label in the vege garden when it’s time is up. You can also use urine to brush your teeth with- full of enzymes, nutrients and hormones.. I haven’t tried this yet.. I’m working up to it!

Sheree x

Giving thanks to our beautiful earth

How often do you give thanks to the sun, air and water? To the trees that shade us, provide shelter and food and all the other stuff that we get from trees? (Like paper, cardboard, oil, toilet paper, oxygen!)

Today at Djanbung we all said a little thanks, for our loved ones, family and friends, for each other- for support and learning as we grow together. As well for the space at Djanbung to exist, to teach us and enable us in so many ways to live our many amazing lives.

I would like to say another thankyou for my health, my beautiful body which does all this hard work for me, only asking for love, peace and harmony in return. Also to the plants and particularly those in my vege garden that provide (well, one day soon) for me. For all the joy that these plants bring me, I am so in love and forever grateful!

How cool is the moon? The stars and our sun, that with every new day will come and go.

Say thankyou and be ever-eternally grateful that you live on our beautiful earth.

Sheree x