Living Lightly is a collection of local stories about sustainable living.
The column commenced in 2012 and until 2023 was published in the Border Mail newspaper each week.
The content is community sourced – groups, organisations and individuals have written and contributed each of these informative and entertaining articles – all overseen by a local volunteer coordinator.
We are currently considering a monthly schedule for articles, stay tuned as we explore this option.
Here you can browse and search previous articles or subscribe to receive an email each time an article is published.
The Living Lightly coordinator is always keen to receive articles! Use the link below to find out how you can submit an article for the column.
With a big thank you to all the Living Lightly authors for contributing to this wonderful collection of articles.
By Roger Findlay, Gerogery West We often wonder why we are battling away on our small hobby farm when we could be comfortably retired in an apartment with a sea view and no garden. It’s definitely a challenge but our inspiration comes from our visits to Farmers Markets and from sharing
By Melissa Kane, Eco-warrior mum I love spy shows, but every time there is a ‘secret mission within a mission’ I begin to tense, not because I’m afraid my favourite character is about to die, but because they inevitably smash their phones to prevent being followed. I cringe every time,
By Roger Findlay, Gerogery West Before I left for a brief holiday in Hobart early in January I had the challenging job of preventing our chickens from entering our neighbour’s property. They have a nice garden with lots of attractive features for a speckled hen to re-arrange! After purchasing the
By John Lloyd, Benalla Sustainable Future Group Inc. Going backwards is surely the only description one can apply to the Abbott government’s policies on climate change and environment. Repeal the Carbon Tax, abolish the Climate Commission, “Coal is good for humanity”, “Coal is our future”. A more positive view of
By Gill Baker, Wangaratta Sustainability For some reason our annual frog cacophony didn’t happen quite as usual last year. Generally, in spring and early summer the garden is alive with froggy voices, and the little green tree frogs, with suction pads on their paws, investigate our lit windows at night
By Maureen Cooper, Wooragee Landcare Half way through October I changed my power company to Powershop which was recommended by Greenpeace and I promised to report on the difference in charges from my old power company. Even though I had 3.5 kW of solar installed while still being tied up
By Emma Street, Seed Savers Albury-Wodonga There is a fierce war currently raging at our home in Allans Flat. It’s us against the birds, and we are fighting literally for the fruits of war. So far the attacks have come from the smaller allied forces. There have been some rather half-hearted forays against the tomatoes
By Sue Brunskill, National Environment Centre This summer we stayed at home instead of going away and I have really enjoyed making new recipes and turning the excess fruit into food for later, including labna, kefir and green drinks, and my usual plum products. I must say I only ever
By Pauline McLaughlin and Rosemary McConnell, Border Bushwalking Club. Bushwalking is an excellent activity for people of all ages. It has many benefits including improved fitness, friendships, developing a sense of adventure and helping to find peace through walking in the quiet of the countryside. It is also good for our
By Karen Bowley, Wodonga Albury Towards Climate Health (WATCH) and Wooragee Landcare It’s Christmas and we are expected to buy presents for our nearest and dearest or be considered a Grinch. It’s so easy to be caught up in the materialism, glitz and glamour of all that is Christmas in
By Roger Findlay, Gerogery West If you’ve ever watched the Gourmet Farmer you will have an appreciation of what we are trying to achieve on our small acres out here at Gerogery West. In deciding what to grow we opted to plant vegetables that are fairly expensive to buy and
by Alan Hewett, Chiltern Landcare member During winter or spring you might see puddles in a paddock or along the side of a road. On closer inspection you will find an array of brightly coloured Billy-buttons, Early Nancies, or Swamp Daisies. You could stumble upon Fairy Aprons, a beautiful purple colour but with a dark secret-they are carnivorous, trapping insects with an
