This weekend we hippity hopped our way down to Sustain.
It was billed as a natural and organic lifestyle show with gardening workshops, cooking demo’s, yoga, meditation, a speakers corner, and lots of stalls. I was really looking forward to it, as was hoping that instead of going to ten different shops in order to get the products I like it would be all in the one spot, (plus discover a few more.)
There was a kombucha stall, where you could sample three different types of the naturally cultured brew. A family run business from South Australia, that is slowly expanding their market. These really were delicious and I hope more and more people start buying them. Can you imagine if people swapped their can of everyday soft drink for a bottle of kombucha instead? Ohhh, now there’s an idea. (As a side line, this lovely couple couldn’t sell any of their drinks on the day as Coca Cola owns the rights to the grounds in which Sustain was held… disappointingly ridiculous.)
Sarah from Mojo Kombucha
nui chocolate
I finally got to taste some of the Nui chocolate. I had wanted to try this chocolate for quite a while, as it’s cocoa beans are sourced and fairly traded from Vanuatu. Cocoa beans are generally grown just 10 degrees either side of the equator which makes growing areas for such a valuable world resource highly sought after. Beans grown in Vanuatu have much smaller food miles for us here in Australia than say cocoa beans sourced from Africa or Central America. This chocolate isn’t cheap at $6.95 for 75g. But delicious it is, and they are apparently bringing out a dark version soon too.
A lot of the usual suspects were there.
- black tahini which was also on my list of things to try
Sam from Holbrook Paddock Eggs
Everyone knows these days, all free range eggs are not created equal and you should look into what eggs you are exactly buying. Now if I was a free range chook I think I would like to live at family run Holbrook Paddock Eggs (or possibly Celia’s.) These grass roaming hens are moved twice a week along with their portable sheds, and following behind a herd of cows. There is a couple of maremma dogs to love and protect them as they do their chooky thing and quite frankly, I think their life sounds rather lovely. Happy chooks, happy eggs, happy belly.
Garden Up which I absolutely loved. As a inner city renting girl. This vertical garden has possibilities… definite possibilities.
single hook and line caught tuna
While I enjoyed going and certainly didn’t come away empty handed, there was a teeny tiny bit of disappointment that there wasn’t ‘more’.
It did feel a little sterile in there, and I really think some of the components could have been a bit more engaging. Pockets were wonderful, but still… I wanted that bit more. There is nothing I like more than being able to talk to the people behind the company finding out all the little details of how they started, where they source their ingredients or supplies, and where they are based. A generic “organic” labelling, isn’t good enough for me as I want to make a decision for a purchase based on a whole bunch more components.
It would also be great to see more locally based companies there. More sustainable living ideas, and things like that. Maybe they were more prevalent on the traders only day, and in following years as the show becomes bigger, more local companies will be enticed to show off their wares.
I hope so anyway.
Over all a happy morning out and now have a few new things to play with as well.
Mmmm, now what goodies shall I make with that black tahini?
*******
Edit- Adding a few details about the Good Fish tuna that is pictured. It’s hand filleted skipjack tuna caught on one hook and one line. Which is much more sustainable than most commercial tuna catching methods. In Australia it’s imported through Olive Green Organics, through their site if you go to Brands, Good Fish and Stockists you should be able to find if it’s near you. Other countries, perhaps try contacting this same company and they could possibly point you in the right direction?
Alternately Fish 4 Ever is another company that does sustainably caught tuna as well.
cityhippyfarmgirl 
Black tahini paste – mmm, that’s an idea. Sounds like it could be delicious just on its very own or as often in my case, I like it drizzled over stir fried veggies, particularly broccoli and spinach.
Still, it sounds like you and yours had a relaxing day of it.
LikeLike
It does taste delicious on its own, but it’s the colour that really draws you in….very BLACK!
LikeLike
That vertical garden looks wonderful! And thank you for saying nice things about our chooks – I certainly hope they’re happy! 🙂
LikeLike
Celia I think you must have the happiest chooks around 🙂
LikeLike
If I was a chook I’d like to live at Celia’s too! They are spoilt rotten 🙂 The vertical garden its a terrific idea for salad greens, awesome!
LikeLike
The system seemed to work really well. The was a space at the back for more soil, allowing a deeper root system and also irrigation if you needed it.
LikeLike
Hullo chook! AShamed I am to say I’ve never tried kombucha drink! But I LOVE garden up – that looks terrific. Gotta get me some old pallets. Want to give my hen house a green roof!
LikeLike
kombucha is pretty good Mrs Bok. You can also make it yourself
LikeLike
That egg farm sounds wonderful – just like a farming system I heard Michael Pollan talking about recently. And the ‘chook-dogs’, I love them. I’d like to check out this show next year…like you I enjoy chatting directly to the producers.
LikeLike
being a Sydney gal, you should definitely try and get there next year. Hopefully it will be even better.
LikeLike
I like the chook as a “usual suspect”! Does she get to many festivals? I haven’t tried Kombucha either. I thought it was milk based, like yoghurt.
LikeLike
You might be thinking of kefir? Which is also a cultured drink that is similar to yogurt. Both similar though in the fact that they are fermented and good for you 🙂
LikeLike
I do like the sound of the egg farm and that is exactly the sort of farm I like to give my business to. Ridiculous about coca cola owning the rights to the event and therefore not allowing other drink companies from promoting and selling their goods. Stupid! xx
LikeLike
*sigh* Just really disappointing Charlie… Money hungry big corporations really are quite dreary.
LikeLike
I’ll eagerly await a recipe now, I have a jar of black tahini and am not quite sure what to do with it …
LikeLike
I’ll definitely play. It’s an awesome black isn’t it.
LikeLike
Black tahini sounds intriguing. Grrrr to coca cola! Was not aware of the vanuatu coco beans. Always interesting stuff to find here.
LikeLike
You might know their label for their coconut oil Johanna? As for the chocolate, it really was good. Mr Chocolate even gave it the seal of approval.
LikeLike
I love the reports you bring back from your field trips, Brydie!
Your quests are so simple and righteous- and your pictures and write up are filled with hope. Hope that everyone else is looking for the right things and that there are people who have found them and are willing to share. Because you are willing to share and try and seek out- I have been feeling rather tired and a little jaded lately- and you have given me a great reminder- we need to trust and hope together- or how did you say it? “These really were delicious and I hope more and more people start buying them. Can you imagine if people swapped their can of everyday soft drink for a bottle of kombucha instead? Ohhh, now there’s an idea.”
A really great idea. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Heidi, very kind words…
I love being able to pass information on, even if it’s only useful for one person, and then they in turn pass it on to one person. It’s worth it. These companies that I have mentioned are worthy of mentioning though.
Hope you have a lovely week.
xxx
LikeLike
Do you have any details about the Good Fish tuna you have pictured? Can’t seem to find them online. Thanks.
LikeLike
Mark I’ve added an edit to the end of the post. Hopefully that helps you source some.
LikeLike
The vertical garden is an excellent idea for shallow rooted vegies, but of course the possibilities with stronger, bigger structures are endless. Good for economical water use too. You just gotta love Costa!! What a breath of fresh air. Thank you for allowing us to share the event – Joy
LikeLike
Dear Costa is very animated, which is why his photo is a little blurry. He doesn’t stand still! 🙂
LikeLike
I also would like to know more about the Good Fish tuna. Cheers.
LikeLike
Lexie have a look at the bottom of the post for an added piece on the tuna. It really was tasty, so I hope you can find some.
LikeLike
Thanks for this post Brydie. Really interesting record of your visit, I know other’s have mentioned it – but I loved the Garden Up.
LikeLike
It’s a good one isn’t it Jean. As well as being useful, visually it looks great.
LikeLike
There’s a building in Copenhagen that has its entire front facade covered with a vertical garden. Lots of colourful flowers and herbs. When you walk by it, the scents make your senses spin!
LikeLike
Beautiful Misky!
LikeLike
Now, I am very taken by that up garden and very intrigued by the black tahini. You are responsible for introducing me to unhulled tahini so I am just a little excited to think you may have a new tahini discovery for me now…please share your results!
LikeLike
Kari it tastes very similar to the normal unhulled… I will definitely play!
LikeLike
I’m interested in the black tahini too! Hmm I wonder how it would work in items like hummus? 🙂
LikeLike
I’ll let you know 🙂
LikeLike
This looks like a fun day! I would like to get on a bus and visit all of our Farmers around Alberta.. but likely I’ll have to get in a car to do it. I have a crush on Celia’s chooks.. and wish I had my own:D
LikeLike
Barbara I think if you had chooks, they would be just as happy as Celia’s are. Your kitchen pumps out all kinds of deliciousness!
LikeLike
Hi Brydie that vertical garden looks unreal!
LikeLike
It does doesn’t it Sunitra.
LikeLike
That was so interesting Brydie. Isn’t it astonishing the power that Coca Cola can wield.
LikeLike
Jan, its quite scary that power
LikeLike
Looks like a great expo – Mojo Kombucha & Nui Chocolate sound fantastic. Lucky you! Oh and I love Costa and his ridiculous facial hair. They are airing Costa’s Garden Odyssey here at the moment and we’re quite enjoying that 🙂
LikeLike
How awesome that Costa gets aired in Thailand! (As they say- Part man, part garden hedge :-))
LikeLike
I just saw this bread recipe and as I don’t have black sesame paste, I thought I would give the link to the person I know has some http://pieceofcake.sg/2012/08/03/black-sesame-loaf/
LikeLike
oh thank you Johanna! Funnily enough I hadn’t thought about putting it in bread.
LikeLike