A Short Film About Our Community Garden.

Here is a short film with some action from my mum, Dolly and I in our Community Garden planting taro and Dolly looking after the chickens.

I hope to start blogging more regularly here as I have been doing lots of great eco frugal things that I would like to share with you all.

Hope you enjoy the beauty of our lush tropical food garden.

Stephanie at Frugal Down Under.

(Sorry for those who tried to watch it earlier - it seems my link was incorrect).

Local Farmers Market in the Making.

I attended a meeting for a Local Farmers Market. Currently we don't have a market dedicated to the actual growers and local produce artisans. The majority of the produce in our supermarkets is from other places on the other side of Australia or overseas and our small local markets have a great deal of interstate produce.

I'm hoping the Local Farmers Market will eventuate and be a success - however I must voice my concern that it's being proposed at a large shopping centre. I dislike large shopping centres that are aimed at the gluttony of consumerism as entertainment and have very little sustainable/ecological values. I would prefer a Local Farmers Market to be in a public community area with green grass underfoot if possible. My query is; "Why is the biggest glossiest shopping centre in my state offering to host a small market with 30 stalls of local produce?"

At the meeting I found that even though the Local Farmers Market is in discussing mode and a proposal only, it felt like it was already a done deal and that the Local Farmers Market spokes person from interstate was already in bed with the large Shopping Centre's Management. Mmm got me thinking - a lot. I want the market on one hand (I would love a small stall), however it does't feel right. The meeting organisers didn't inspire a feeling of community, grass roots or looking after our local growers and consumers - which I had hoped it would include.

What do you think? Have you ever been part of a Local Farmers Market or do you shop at one? Please share your insights. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

As usual I've been over busy with work, family, studies, thinking a lot and co-ordinating a fundraising event in our Snake Bean Community Garden this Sunday. If you live in Darwin - please come to the Botanical Gardens 20 May 2012 9:00am to 1:00pm; buy a fair trade cup of coffee or organic tea and say Hello :-)

Have a Eco Frugal Day,

Stephanie at Frugal Down Under.

Flying High - Flying Scared.

Hi Everyone,

My job on occasion gives me gives me wonderful opportunities for adventure. I went to the Kakadu region. Due to the recent rains and high tides we were unable to head to our destination by car as the river was too deep and fast, so we booked a small 3 seater plane.

I have a fear of flying since my Dolly was born. Each time I fly for a holiday I sit in my seat, squeezing my hands and think of one terrible scenario after the other. I used to mock people who had a fear of flying and now I am one of them - it's a terrible holder backer and my mind goes on overdrive making me sick with worry.

Well this time I got myself giggly with nerves a few times, hoped in the plane, buckled up and tried to enjoy the amazing opportunity. I squeezed my hands, thought my horrible thoughts but also pushed myself to look at the scenery in wonderment. People pay lots of dollars for these gorgeous scenic flights and here I was getting the same amazing opportunity without having to pull out my own purse.

Beautiful Kakadu

These Wetlands are full of Wildlife including Large Crocodiles.

On the 20 minute flight back I was less nervous, there were a few more bumps, but I sat next to the same friendly pilot who had gained my confidence with his kind and calming manner which made a big difference to flight enjoyment.

Touching Land.

All Over - Now an Easy 2 and 1/2 Hour Drive to Reach Home. (Happy Pilot in the background).

So here I am, happy to have been on my 1st ever small plane, seen some wonderful scenery and maybe a bit more confident to get on another plane sometime in the future.

Has your work ever given you an opportunity for travel, professional development, education, samples or anything else that makes working just that little sweeter?

Look forward to hearing your stories,

Stephanie at Frugal Down Under.

We Splurged On A Mini Break.

Hi Everyone,

We took a mini break over the long weekend to reconnect. Dolly, The Rambling Expat and myself headed out to Tumbling Waters Holiday Park for 2 nights of "soft camping". We pitch a tent, swam in the pool, went fishing in the Billabong and hang out.

The camping spot cost us $22 a night. I know we could have gone in the wilderness and it would have cost nothing. But I wasn't up to it this time. I wanted a feeling of safety, a crocodile free swimming pool and the luxury of toilets with Dolly. So we splurged. There was a free outdoor cinema, a visiting python and a pool just a skip from our tent. Luxury!

Don't worry, The Rambling Expat is just hiding out of the pic - he's there just beside her.

The biggest unplanned splurge was the restaurant. We weren't expecting to eat out and had packed tinned food. However the camp ground had an amazing open air restaurant with some of the best food we have eaten in some time. The fish and chips were melt in your mouth fresh and the herbed chicken burger was glorious. Who would have thought in the middle of the bush would be delicious food. The service was genuinely friendly which made it even more pleasurable and inviting. And so, the glutton foodie I am..... I succumbed.

We had budgeted $80 for the whole 3 day weekend but went over by spending a whopping $168. But even though I had a slight twinge of guilt as I noted down my spendings in my diary, I have no strong regrets - I relaxed, felt reconnected to my family and feel much more chilled out. No dishes, no cooking and no shop bought clutter brought home. I feel my hard earned dollars were not spent as wisely as they could have been but each mouthful and splash was worth it. Frugality took a step back this time. I'll just try to sell more of my clutter to top up my bank account for early retirement ;-)

Have you had any unplanned splurges that made you feel guilty or satisfied?

Hope you have a great week. I'm off to do some remote work again. I'll be on a 3 seater plane latter today and feeling very nervous. Think of me with my pounding heart and teary eyes :-(

Stephanie at Frugal Down Under.

Tai Chi

This morning I dragged myself out of bed at 5:00am as I had a late night.

I did the dishes that I had ignored the previous night, loaded up the washing machine with a black load, made my green smoothie with rocket, ginger, lemon, orange, grapes and 8 almonds. Drank it up, cut fruit for Dolly and we headed out the door at 6:55am.

At 7:05am we were on the green lush lawns of the waterfront welcoming the day with Tai Chi moves. I had been keeping an eye on FREE community activities and this one had grabbed my attention.

Photo Curtesy of Dolly :-)

I don't love getting up early but I love how I can fit so much more in. I'm living my frugal life with abundance by taking advantage of inexpensive or free opportunities I see available.

How about you? Are living a abundant life or do you feel frugality is dragging you to a life of boredom and a feeling of poverty? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Have a Lovely weekend,

Stephanie at Frugal Down Under.

Working Mother Juggles Life.

Hi Everyone,

I've missed you.

Life has been a busy trying to juggle all the jobs working mums do and my blog writing dropped off as other things had to take priority. I am still a eco-frugalista, learning new things everyday and getting my hands dirty.

I've started Dolly in a new dance class to give her a chance to try something else, planted parsley for the 1st time, commenced new further education, decluttered more, shopped less, drink a fresh green smoothie every morning, menu plan with higher nutritional value and try to incorporate whole family fun activity into our week.

I will be very busy this month (May 2012) as I coordinate 2 fundraising activities for our community garden, go remote for work, go camping with my family and complete a few uni assignments. So I can't promise being here.. But boy do I miss it. Not being here is like trying to kick a very strong habit. But I've made it that my other jobs need doing 1st, then this is my reward.

To juggle it all I have been sleeping much more, fitting in 8 to 10 hours sleep a night but keeping a tighter ship on my schedule. I go to sleep at 7:30pm and get up anywhere between 3:00am to 5:00am. Mainly 4:00am. I head out the door at 7:20am on my push bike for work most days.

I start my day with any small items to tidy up, organise and then on to Dolly's lunch box for school. Her lunch boxes have consisted of anything from sandwiches, to rice salad, to noodles, to sushi, to blue cheese with biscuits. She has an impressive taste range for a 5 year old and I think it's expanded greatly with her helping in the garden. She has gone from not liking green leaves to munching on all kinds of greens I dish out.

Here's a recent nearly FREE dinner we devoured. My neighbour had changed his mind on cooking dinner and ordered pizza, so gave us his lamb chops which I served with kangkong from the garden cooked in ginger, garlic, chopped apple and a little soy. It was delicious and Dolly requested a second serving of greens.

From Neighbour.

Kangkong From Another Plot Owner at Garden.

Dinner is Served.

Love the nearly FREE dinner. My purse is very happy for it and in exchange I give my neighbour Mr T bits and pieces from my garden for him to eat or try his hand at growing. So we are both winners in our exchange deals.

Anyway, that is a quick catch up from me. Hope to catch up on all of you too. I didn't cook the Taro as I felt nervous and didn't have time to watch anyone prepare it. However my Filipino colleague made a couple of taro dishes as I gave him a taro. He was supposed to shoot some picks for us but forgot Boo-Hoo. Hopefully next time I'll get picks and a lesson from someone who will cook something basic for me to learn.

Have a Lovely Weekend - It's a long one here :-)

Stephanie at Frugal Down Under.