Category Archives: Connecting with Community

Unshackling Ideas and the Art of Daydreaming

Posted on by
16

duck feet boots || cityhippyfarmgirlcityhippyfarmgirl.com

Daydreaming, completely underrated.

A few weeks back I did a post with a link to the Susan Cain TEDx talk on The Power of Introverts. There were lots of parts of the talk that had my head nodding but there were four words in particular that stuck in my brain….”the transcendence of solitude“. Now I’ve often thought this, often talked about this, often simply just wished for it, but I’d never quite described it like that.

Listening to those four little words in her 20 minute speech?

She had nailed it.

Not always does solitude and transcendence go hand in hand, actually in my experience it’s not often at all, but then again it’s not particularly often in this stage of my life do I get to be alone. But when it’s there, when it happens…

It’s exquisite.

That’s when ideas flourish, when creativity sparks, and that’s when problems get turned on their head. If our brains are constantly being switched on and running at even a low-level concentrating point (facebook I’m looking at you), you don’t get that. You won’t get that, (or if you do I’d love to hear from you.)

In my view it’s unlikely that scrolling through your FB feed you’ll suddenly exclaim, I’ve got an idea!!! Or be inclined to go create something incredible. While I’m not squashing the merits of FB, I do think we need those blank spaces to be able to get more out of life, to do more we need the “trancendence of solitude”, and that’s especially important for our kids. We need for them to know what to do in those pauses.

To be able to let your mind wander.

To let your subconscious run free.

To let your ideas…

Unshackle.

The Viking ball game of Knattleikr

Posted on by
11

 

At the recent St Ives Medieval Faire, I had the good fortune to watch the no-holding-back Viking game of Knattleikr. It’s bats at the ready, ball in the air and go. So much fun.

(Aaaand, this is a new branch I’ve been playing with…my first vimeo feature for this space.)

A tiny garden unfurls

Posted on by
16

nasturtium || cityhippyfarmgirl

It being October and all, it seems Spring has thrown a little of it’s extra super growing power into my tiny potted garden.

At night when we sleep, everything seems to power on ahead. Green-berries become blue, nasturtiums run rampant, cumquats multiple, and volunteer tomato plants declare any unclaimed space their own.

For a tiny garden that comes from a few plastic and ceramic pots in a shaded concrete courtyard, well, I’m absolutely delighted to watch the unfurling.

What are you growing at the moment?

permaculture in pots || cityhippyfarmgirl

mint || cityhippyfarmgirlblueberries || cityhippyfarmgirl

It being October also means, the nation wide Garage Sale Trail is coming up this weekend. An easy way to sell on a few things you don’t need anymore, get to know your neighbours, make stronger ties in your community and perhaps even schnaffle a few bargains for your self.

The Garage Sale Trail is on this Saturday 24th October.

Fair Food Week

Posted on by
2

seasonal beetroot || cityhippyfarmgirl

Heads up to all the Fair Food Week people out there. Running from the 16th-25th of October, there are all kinds of events happening. Have a peek to see if there is one near you, and if not, how about organising one?

If that doesn’t sound like your kinda thing, maybe read the book?

Either way supporting a fair food culture should be something on everyone’s plate.

Fair Food Week

 

How to dress like a Revolutionary

Posted on by
16

how to dress like a revolutionary || cityhippyfarmgirl

Wear handmade

Wear second hand

Wear well made

Wear organic

Wear ethical

Wear sustainable

Wear thoughtfully

Try for one, or two, or if you feeling particularly revolutionary, go for all of them.

A long time ago I made a pact with myself. Any purchases that I made, needed to be as ethical, locally made, fair trade, or as a conscious purchase (do I really need it?) where ever possible. For some things it’s been fairly easy, other things, not quite so much.

I thought I’d create a little list of some of things I’ve been super happy with over a fairly large chunk of time, (both bought and not bought.)

Sea Shepard || cityhippyfarmgirl

How to Dress like a Revolutionary

* Pure Pod– Kelli’s range of ethical fashion is divine. I’d happily wear any one of their outfits.

* Op shops- frequently provide goodies. Timing, choosing your op shops, and mostly down to just whether the op shop goddesses are smiling upon thee is dependent on what you’ll find.

* Undies- Tuffy’s and Tuffette’s (locally made and owned in Australia- their excess plastic wrapping is a big sore spot however.)

* Friends and family are also often kind enough to pass on kids clothing.

* A soccerball gift- Etiko has a lot more than just soccer balls though, have a peek at their fair trade underwear, clothing and shoe range as well.

* Make it myself- My sewing skills are still somewhat lacking, so while I would love to make a lot of our family clothing it’s really not going to happen for awhile, smaller things that I can make though, yep, I’ll give it a crack.

* If you are going to be a human billboard, be aware of what you are advertising, (Sea Shepard as pictured here.)

* Buying second hand- living in the city, I’m incredibly lucky as there really are so many practical options for this- Garage Sale Trail is also a good one to do.

* Ecolosophy– Small loving business that has all your ethical clothing, kitchen, food options also covered.

* Organise a clothing swap in your community.

* Yoshi Jones– small designer in Sydney, that does divine Japanese influenced unique clothing (think vintage kimonos), especially good if you are after something for a special event.

* Go looking on Instagram- it’s great for finding small businesses. I LOVE how I have found different people and their work over the time I’ve been on instagram, and really enjoy supporting them- community shopping at it’s very excellent best.

Supporting small ethical businesses where ever possible is important. I know it’s not always easy, financially, time wise, and also accessability. Having three kids, I very much get that. Pay the extra dollar when you can though. New shoes, they really shouldn’t be costing $8, someone is being ripped off if they are.

************

How about you, do you have any revolutionary links to add?

 

Cinnamon Bun Day rises again

Posted on by
28

kanelbullar or cinnamon buns || cityhippyfarmgirl

It’s Cinnamon Bun Day (4th of October) and I’ve been thinking. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone made a batch of kanelbullar, organised to meet at a favourite park, took the freshly baked cinnamon buns down to said park and maybe spend a relaxed afternoon with your favourite people who make you laugh?

Keen?

I am. Now if only I’d thought of it a little earlier.

Luckily any day can be Cinnamon Bun Day, you don’t have to wait until the 4th of October to bake these cinnamon sweet bready treats.

kanelbullar or cinnamon buns || cityhippyfarmgirlkanelbullar or cinnamon buns || cityhippyfarmgirl

Have you tried them? Want to give them a crack?

Cinnamon Buns

250g  sourdough starter

1 tsp commercial yeast

675g strong bread flour

250mls milk

200mls water

100g sugar

100g softened butter

1 tsp cardamon

1 1/2 tsp salt

Cinnamon mixture

100g softened butter

100g raw sugar (or brown)

2 tsp cinnamon

Add all dough ingredients together, mix well and then knead until dough is elastic on a lightly floured surface (I use my mixer.)

Dough should be well incorporated and feeling smooth.

Pop the dough back into the mixing bowl and leave to prove for a couple of hours, with a fold or two in between, (or covered and over night.)

On a lightly floured bench, roll the dough out to a rough rectangle, add cinnamon mixture and cut into portions. Twist, roll, decorate in your favourite way then, line on a tray and bake at 190C for approximately 15-20 minutes (depending on the sizes.)

**************

See here for previous cityhippyfarmgirl Cinnamon Bun Days and How To Twist Them

Cinnamon Bun Day

Any day can be Cinnamon Bun Day

St Ives Medieval Faire…so good

Posted on by
24

St Ives Medieval Fair

Battles, jousting, traditional living, swords, birds of prey, there was quite a lot to love at the St Ives Medieval Faire. For someone who has no made no secret of a love of all things Viking and Nordic influenced, well, there was quite an excited lead up to this one.

Located on the edge of the Ku-ring-gai National Park, the festival was running for the second year, and despite a rainy start, it didn’t keep people away. Mud splattered boots and sodden velvet gowns just adding to the medieval atmosphere.

The festival had a fascinating traditional village that was made of different re-enactment or living history groups from all around Australia. Living, eating, dressing, and crafting as they once did.

Ahh, all so interesting…and so good! With the smell of soft wood smoke in our hair, leather cuffs on our wrists and happy tired smiles on faces. There were vows of returning next year for another Medieval Faire, well how could we not?

St Ives Medieval FairSt Ives Medieval FairSt Ives Medieval FairSt Ives Medieval FairSt Ives Medieval FairSt Ives Medieval FairSt Ives Medieval Fair

Sustainable House Day 2015

Posted on by
22

sustainable house day || cityhippyfarmgirl

Never underestimate the amount of inspiration you can fit into a small part of a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Never.

Sustainable House Day was on again, and in a last-minute scramble, two properties were selected in the hipster strewn suburbs of the Inner West, Sydney.

One, a tiny house originally standing as miniature weatherboard cottage, now as an incredible family home that I just wanted to make a large coffee, settle into the couch and chat all things gloriously green architecture with the owners. Having our three kids in tow however and the distinct possibility of them completely dismantling the house from the very foundations of which I was admiring, well coffee on the couch wasn’t going to happen.

We did talk though, we left totally inspired along with me wondering just how, (how!) there were these amazing people who completely thought so outside the square in which we lived. I felt like a Lego piece at that point. (Still with me?)

I’d love to show you a cascade of pictures to demonstrate all that we saw, however, besides a sneak peek at their delicious garden bathroom and growing wall it wasn’t my story to tell. If this place isn’t featured in the likes of magazines I’d be surprised.

Our next point of inspiration was a deliciously cool green bursting with goodness garden. We are coming out of winter and this garden couldn’t get more enticing looking to me. Permaculture infused, multiple homemade native bee hives, vegetables at their very door step and something that had never spoken to me before, ducks.

Ducks eh….I can totally see the point now.

Our whole family came away buzzing with ideas and excited by the sneak peek into a tiny part of someone else’s lives. I feel pretty lucky we even had the opportunity.

Thanks Sustainable House Day, we’ll definitely see you again next year.

sustainable house day || cityhippyfarmgirl

Did you visit any inspiring places last weekend?

Sustainable House Day 2015

Perfectly composed

Posted on by
25

cityhippyfarmgirl.comcityhippyfarmgirl.com

I wrote a perfectly composed post while in the kitchen peeling potatoes recently. Emotionally tapped in, grammatically on the money, structured sentences not seen on this website for some time, perhaps witty even.

Unfortunately I only wrote it in my head. Didn’t quite get as far as fingers to keyboard or even a stub of a pencil to scratch the words down on the back of a shopping receipt.

Never mind, go with the flow right?

This week has been an interesting one. Within a 48 hour snapshot of it I had taken pictures at a Milkwood workshop, photographed homeless people in the city for a project I’ve been working on, and then was lucky enough to capture the beautiful homebirth of my sweet brand-new-smells-so-delicious nephew. A full and wonderfully diverse week that’s for sure.

While life scoots forward with the enthusiasm of a goat in a spring fuelled vegetable garden, I’m holding tight. With this in mind, sometimes this little corner of the net might seem a little light on.

If you are after a bit more, remember I’m still regularly hanging out between the pages of Earth Garden magazine, proudly stand within the permaculture goodness of Milkwood and sit on instagram, tapping tiny hearts whenever a kettle needs boiling. Come find me if you haven’t already in those places, I’d love to hear from.

Now tell me, what’s going on in your world the last week? How’s your garden growing? What are you cooking? Are you milking goats, making soaps, or twisting twine ropes? Or maybe you’ve had an awesome coffee with a friend made by a bearded barista?

Tell me…