Living Lightly articles

By Karen Retra, Seed Savers Albury-Wodonga I thoroughly enjoyed the recent Woomargama Bioblitz event. You might be familiar with the Bioblitz concept – surveying an area for plants and animals and recording what is found. When you’ve got experts along to help, as they did in Woomargama, it’s a fantastic opportunity

By Lizette Salmon, member of WATCH and Seed Savers Albury-Wodonga I’ve just finished a book I think many Living Lightly readers will enjoy. Part adventure, part travelogue and part exploration of alternative and simpler ways to live, Changing Gears: A Pedal-Powered Detour from the Rat Race is about a young couple’s

By Helena Foster, Seed Savers Albury Wodonga Looking at the domestic history of mankind, herbs have always played a crucial role in many aspects of everyday life, in all cultures. With the advent of modern Western commercial age their popularity has waned but in recent times they are making a significant

By Maureen Cooper, Wooragee Landcare In my first article I put forward my next goals for living lightly and I have achieved one, at least.  My superannuation share portfolio has now been shifted to ethical investments and I now bank with Beechworth Bendigo Community Bank.  This may seem a little

By Elizabeth Leathbridge, Wodonga Albury Towards Climate Health (WATCH) Mum turned 80 last year.  Although she didn’t want a fuss, we threw her a party anyway. As I looked around at numerous happy, healthy and lively octogenarians, I began to ruminate on what they had experienced and survived during their lives,

By Dirk de Zwart, Wooragee Landcare and Wodonga Albury Towards Climate Health (WATCH) Living lightly means different things to different people.  Attempting to live sustainably and reducing your footprint on the earth are two good reasons to live lightly.  Some live lightly by recycling, some by growing their own vegetables and

By Kirby Browne, Permaculture student  The rain had been coming down with the same drenching monotony all day, and I was supposed to be at my yoga class in twenty minutes. So with teeth clenched in defiance to the weather, I pulled on my hood, and braved the eight blocks on

By Prue Rosser, Wooragee Landcare Growing and cooking as much of our food as possible not only assists in our appreciation of it, but also intensifies the taste.  While this is not always practical, it is simple to make our own pasta and sauces.  We drove to Bright on a

WITH the Federal election fast approaching, candidates for Indi and Farrer were asked to reflect on the ways they contribute to living lightly on our planet. The North-East Regional Sustainability Alliance (NERSA), which provides a weekly column to Pulse about how Border residents can live more sustainably, encouraged candidates to

By Gill Baker, Wangaratta Sustainability Recently I experienced the joy of cuddling the newest addition to our family.  A new  baby beats everything doesn’t it?  Even the newest technology, a job promotion, or a lottery win.  But what sort of Australia will this little fellow inherit?  Having spent a lifetime

By Jacqui Pierce, printmaker and artist, Wodonga Thirty-five years ago Judy Pierce resided in an iconic terrace house in the back streets of Fitzroy with two small daughters and a working husband. On sunny days she would peer through the branches of her fig tree into the next door neighbour’s

By Jacky Cronin, member of Seed Savers Albury-Wodonga As I walk around the neighbourhood at this time of year, I see lots of heavily laden citrus trees peeking over fences. I develop quite a serious case of “citrus envy” as my own young trees are just beginning to bear decent