GROW SUSTAINABLE LIVING MAKES SUSTAINABILITY ACCESSIBLE

SUSTAINABILITY IS THE BUZZWORD NOWADAYS

But what does it really mean to be sustainable and more importantly, what practical habits can we adopt to make this a part of our lifestyles?

It can sometimes be confusing for consumers who are looking for a healthier and more environmentally-friendly way of living. Ecological products or food can be expensive or difficult to come by in certain areas. The marketing for health products can also be misleading if people are not well-educated about what it means to be truly healthy and sustainable. We want to bring a bit of greenery into our lives but how do we do it in a way that is efficient and not energy-draining?

We spent a beautiful day with Leanne Butler and Cardia Forsyth of Grow Sustainable Living at Toms Creek who are on a quest for a new way of living that is in harmony with the environment around them.

They go beyond merely romanticising the idea of keeping things natural. They look honestly at the difficulties and challenges of making the change - how they can make this change doable and accessible to their community.

“Getting the community and local businesses, producers and artisans involved is key to our idea of sustainability. Provenance is important and it involves getting like-minded people to collaborate. Getting the right people takes patience and time. It is also about the ethos of each business - are they totally sustainable, is everything completely natural, is everything reusable or can be recycled and have they been created with a minimum of production (to save energy)? These are questions we have to consider when we think about the partners we would like to have with us on this sustainability journey,” says Leanne Butler who specialises in making beautiful Green Plant Based Foods.

“Cost is the other challenge. It would not make much sense putting natural or ecological products out on the market if they are so expensive and exclusive that most people cannot afford them. It is really about making sustainability accessible, not just geographically in terms of where it takes place in the community, but also economically accessible, for us to offer it, and for others to receive it.”

Leanne and Cardia are also big on education and they are incredibly generous souls who want to share their knowledge with others in the community.

“Sustainability is also about passing on the message and sharing the good stuff we have got here.

“We have some beautiful hiking trails that can serve as a wonderful respite for people. We are now launching WILD Recharge Retreats for people who need a break but want to do more than sleep and meditate to make some changes in their lives.

“We are really excited about people learning from our team of experts about sustainable practices such as beekeeping, permaculture, and creating plantbased food at our workshops. This is where people can come and learn about a new way of living and eating.

“We are creating an outdoor kitchen so we can conduct demonstrations and teach people how to prepare healthy food such as everyday dishes and botanical cocktails made from natural plants around them, and also for those with a sweet tooth, we can also do some baking and desserts. People can come for a morning or afternoon to see for themselves how to make different foods, enjoy a tasting, and take home some products.

“Eating healthy is not about punishing ourselves and it is not about denial and punishment. One of our chocolate cakes is made from pureed chickpeas and coconut flour and topped with fresh lavender. The chocolate ganache is made with cocoa, maple syrup, coconut cream - nothing but good ingredients. A power-packed healthy chocolate cake. And delicious to boot.”

Grow Sustainable Living is empowering people with the knowledge and tools to make that change. Their micro-courses teach people how to incorporate sustainability into their lifestyles regardless of where they live, and it is a way to expand one’s perspective on clean and green living. When the stress of modern life gets too much, there is always something at Toms Creek to escape away to, whether it is a picnic, a goat tour or a farm tour. Living sustainably is easier than we think, and it is a philosophy for life!

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