Sahara Bloom

In the SMH today, I read an article on how Sydneysiders throw away approx $603million worth of fresh food every year. I am somewhat astounded by this figure – this amount is the GDP of some small nations, it is the annual export income of some other nations – etc etc, it is A LOT OF MONEY.

I have memories of my Mother berating for not finishing my food when I was younger because “around the world, lots of people are starving”. At the time, I couldnt understand how me finishing my food (and therefore consuming more calories and getting fatter) could help these starving people? However, I realise now what she was saying was really that food is a precious resource and should be treated as such (who knew Mothers were so wise?!).

In Saudia Arabia, the government has announced that they will decrease their wheat production by 1/8 every year until production ceases entirely in 2016. After being self-sufficient in wheat for almost 20 years, their non-replenishable acquifier has been severely depleted resulting in this forced reduction of grain production. Unforunately, this trend will not decrease as our populations continue to grow whilst trends of falling water tables, soil errosion and rising temperatures become increasingly common and apparent.

So I urge everyone to try and be really vigilant about what they are buying and ultimately, what they will discard. There are plethora of gorgeous cooking shows and books to give us inspiration and motivation (am personal fan of River Cottage, Food Safari, Masterchef, Nigella & am already missing Maggie & Simon). Its so easy to make a lovely vegetable dense pasta bake which will keep in the fridge or freeze really well (just dont fight over the crunchy bits on top!).

For more info, please read:
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=48650

http://www.smh.com.au/national/sydneys-1b-rubbish-bin-20091008-goz8.html

Finally!

Basically, the government has said that by the year 2020, Australian people should be receiving 20% of their energy from renewable resources.

In a land blessed with many natural resources, there is no reason why this 20% renewable energy target should not only be a reachable, but it should be easily reachable.

The main sources this will come from are of course, solar, wind, hyro and now perhaps wave. But the purposes of this article, I’m going to discuss solar and wave power.

Solar power has been somewhat of a contentious issue in Australia, I feel. I guess proponents feel (and rightly so) that this vast “sun-burnt” country has not utilised this particarly natural resource well. Also the lack of support aka funding in the solar industry has resulted in a lot of technology going off-shore for developement and production.

Wave power is a relatively new concept and quite exciting to my mind. Basically it involves producing electricity via the mechanics of submerged buoys in the ocean which will pump high pressure sea water to shore. Subsequently, I could imagine that location, location, location is the driver in these “wave farms”. But imagine being able to harness the power of our gloriously uncontrollable oceans! The main company driving this technology estimates the first wave-farm base-load, emission free electricity plan will be operating in 5 years.

However, this 20% renewable energy target will not only mean that all these lovely enterprising companies suddenly become more important, they also become more competitive price wise. As ever the economics model of supply and demand should kick in and mean that it will be cheaper to purchase green energy. And that is a very good thing. Finally, this government, which has been disappoint in so many ways has come through on an election promise on a a platform which (in my opinion) many people voted for them on.

Disclaimer: This blog does not claim to be factual or accurate in anyway. It merely a tool for which to voice and articulate my ramblings. So all mistakes are most humbly mine.

Wow, this is my very first post as a blogger. And if you knew how recently I joined Facebook, you’ll understand what a big deal for me this is. So what will this blog be about you ask? Well I see it as a conduit for me to express my thoughts and opinions on what I am passionate about – sustainability, fashion and food.

So seeing as I have returned form exhibiting in the Organic Expo in Melbourne, I can’t think of a better blog topic to start us off and which also combines ALL my 3 loves – sustainability, fashion and food!

The Organic Expo is held annually alternating between Melbourne and Sydney. Having exhibited now 3 times at this Expo, I treat it as somewhat of a reuniting of friends – a gathering of people with a common interest. There was food, skin care, make-up, more food and a few clothes (mostly babies!). Its always great to be surrounded by so many like-minded and passionate people.

At the stand (image below!), we had some lovely comments about how colourful and pretty everything was. And that truly is the Sahara Bloom philosophy. Being green, and caring about the environment doesn’t mean that you have wear hessian sacks or not embrace beautiful, colourful and lovely clothing, homewares and fabrics. I launched some of my new prints for kids as well as women and had an excellent time surprising people with the product – yes bamboo is still a new thing for many!

Thanks to Sera from Mainstream Green for helping out. And see you next year in Sydney 2010!