Ethical purchasing of supermarket staples

Hallo!

How are you all and did you all participate in Earth Hour this evening?

I had a lovely Saturday.  This morning I picked up a friend and headed to the Docklands for Finders Keepers!  But more on that in my next post...apparently I've run out of photo storage space on blogger so I've got to buy some!  As I have loads of photos of this event I'll leave it to the next post.

I want to talk to you about ethical consumerism wherever it is you shop.  I do wonder about where our food and staples come from, but lately more and more I'm finding myself passing certain brands at the supermarket and finding out with growing unease that many of these brands actually all fold up to the same parent company.  This would be ok if the said parent company acted in an ethical manner but the sad fact is that most don't.      

mosaic seats at the community arts centre where the event was hosted

 This evening, I went to set up the permaculture stand for my local permie group at our local council's sustainable living event.  I learnt quite a  few things tonight - from bush tucker to ethical consumption. 

I'm going to use bark from the paperbark tree in my front yard to wrap fish in before I barbeque it next time I have the chance...and I'm going to try to source more native bush tucker plants.  I think part of the reason I don't seek bush tucker out is because I don't know how to prepare it.  Well I do now!  Thanks Mark from Outback Cafe for showing me! 

In other learnings, it's scary to think that the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) for example is not really Australian...that it was sold to Agrium, a Canadian company, and then onsold so that it now belongs to Cargill, a Brazilian company. I remember reading about it at the time but didn't really register until now. They were named one of Multinational Monitor's '10 Worst Corporations of 2008' for their destruction of rainforest and peatlands, operating in violation of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil’s (RSPO) Principles and Criteria and outside of Indonesian law. Or that Uncle Tobys cereal isn't Australian either, it is actually Nestle...and that there are actually many global boycott calls on them because of reasons ranging from child labour to workers rights and irresponsible marketing of breastmilk subsitutes despite WHO bans on this. I always go for Uncle Tobys oats at the supermarket because I wrongly still have that association with Lisa Curry (the power of advertising campaigns lasts long after they've gone and are no longer relevant, amazning how many childhood advertising jingles I can still recite perfectly!) and therefore thinking I'm buying a local product...when really I'm just funding Nestle.  I won't be buying Uncle Tobys anymore that's for sure.

I have the ethical consumer guide and it concerns me that I have to think so hard before making purchases at the supermarket because I have no idea who the companies really are behind the brands I am buying - and seeing as I can only vote with my dollar, I don't want my hard earned money to go towards enriching an unethical company whose values I abhor.

This is a big deal for me!  It  even means I really can't buy tim tams anymore!  Whilst Arnotts Biscuits were established in 1865 in Newcastle, NSW, it actually became a wholly-owned subsidiary of US food giant Campbell Soup Company in 1997.  And Campbells don't have the best ethical reputation...sigh. I knew there was a furore at the time but again I didn't really think about it until recently.

Seems our current strategy of only purchasing fresh food at farmers markets, community swaps or from community co-ops is a good one!  Where we aren't growing it anyway.  It's the only way I can ensure that my family is eating food that is GM and pesticide free and that I'm not exploiting anyone in the consumption of fruit and vegetables at least.  But as for the rest...packaged goods, cleaning products etc...I need to give it much deeper thought...

 local shared community garden at the community arts centre where the event was hostedy

local shared community garden at the community arts centre where the event was hosted

But it's not all bad news!  It is really encouraging that some companies are starting to commit to more ethical practices because of public feedback. We do have a voice!  For example, Cadbury chocolate - an important one for me! - is going fair trade, kleenex are PEFC certified and Coles (yes I know one of the big supermarket chains with milk related issues) is aiming to stock only sustainable seafood, hormone free beef and free range eggs only.  I choose to think that large conglomerates with both good and bad ratings will strive for better ethical ratings moving forwards, but even so, as Ghandi said, be the change that you want to see.  So whilst I do think about what I put into my shopping basket, I am going to commit to not purchasing from companies (where I know) that are acting unethically just for an experimental month to start with.  I know it's going to be hard but I want to give it a go and see how challenging it really will be.  This leads me to wonder how on earth I'm going to be able to get any basic supplies...or that shopping is going to take me 10 times longer than it already does now!  I'll let you know how I go...

Here are a few pics from the night:

 Native plants for everyone to take home

 Looks like a packet of matches but actually it was a packet of seeds!

 Mark Olive from the Outback Cafe preparing a bush tucker cooking presentation whilst a representative from the Ethical Consumer organisation was speaking

 This was our little stand

 Seedlings that John was selling for 25c

This was our little stand

In other news, I have more girls laying!  Thought I'd take a quick pic to show you the size difference between bantam and standard large eggs:  The eggs my girls laid are the brown one right on top and the white one in the middle.

So for the next couple of weeks I have my challenge all set for me. I'm going to really focus on it, doing my research etc is going to take a little bit of time and a lot of thought.  I'll let you know how I go on this journey.  Wish me luck!  One day at a time! 

The Working Proof

The Working Proof has collaborated with Susan Schwake to release a limited print edition, Birds in the Bush. They will donate 100% of each print sold to Médecins Sans Frontières, who are currently in Japan 'assessing the post-quake needs, setting up mobile clinics, and focusing on vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, and victims suffering from chronic illnesses'.

Birds in the Bush is about the promise of spring. No matter how bleak the winter, spring always comes to comfort us - heralded in with the songs of birds.

Birds in the Bush will be available from March 14th through March 31st. It will no longer be available for purchase after that date.

For someone who is as mad on prints as I am, this is a fantastic website to provide a bit of support to worthy causes at the same time.

The Bok Flock playing chasey with a pancake - and we have another layer!!

The Bok Flock have also been enjoying the beautiful Autumn weather, playing lots of games in the garden and making nuisances of themselves in general, something they congratulate themselves on I often think!

I caught Astrid checking over the strawberry patch - between her and Master Bok no wonder I never get a look in.

The chooks have been very funny in the apple pots too!

 Primrose is clearly telling Sophie to join her. 'Come on! Look what I've found! Astrid's been hogging it all to herself!' 

'Oh nooooooo can't believe they've worked it out, this is my secret spot!' - Astrid clearly not pleased...

 Astrid has shuffled off to the next pot hoping the wormwood will screen her from view of the other bok boks so that they don't follow her...'He he he they'll never find me now...'

 'Right that's it!  I'd better get into the next pot before the others get here'

 Oooo plenty of grubs in here, bottoms up!

 Grace belatedly wondering what all the fuss is about 'Where's everyone gone then?'

I went out to give the bok flock a pancake left over from breakfast...if you can see this video, it's the Bok Flock playing chicken chasey with it!  The Benny Hill theme tune comes to mind...

Keep a look out for Lavender too, she's become one of the flock and has really integrated well other than the first few days.  She is a tough chick and doesn't give up easily!  Cloud Zen is missing because she's a nanna and goes to bed very early.



Sophie has been laying an egg a day AND one of the others has also started laying - not sure who yet!  It was very eggciting to come home today to find two eggs in the actual nesting box! Sophie has been laying each day in the same plant pot that the silverbeet/passionfruit is in so I wonder if it was her that contributed an egg to the nesting box today, or if was two other girls??  May have to paint their bottoms to find out who the mystery layer(s?) is!  Shouldn't be long before the others come into lay as well now...although I did wonder if they'd begin before or after winter...so glad it's before winter.

Did Sophie lay one of these today...?  Her usual nesting spot, the plant pot, is empty of eggs...and I wonder who the other mystery layer is!

It's frustrating to be unable to eat these eggs for another week.  They were all on medicated pullet grower feed - you can't eat their eggs until they've been off the pullet grower feed.  So they've been off that and onto layer feed in the last week and a halfish so next weekend we'll be able to actually eat the eggs!  It's awful to have to throw them away  :(  All that hard work and no one gets to enjoy them!!  I don't tell the girls that of course I just thank them politely. It's funny how they run about boking loudly to let everyone know what a stellar job they did laying the egg  :)

Other news in the garden...golden podded peas, snowpeas and sugarsnap peas are starting to shoot!  Yummmmmmmm...

And I'm sprouting purple sprouting broccoli on the window sill - actually all my window sills are being used as seed sprouters at the moment  :)

What are you sprouting?

Perfect Autumn weather - weddings, birthdays and home made sculptures

We had a beautiful Autumn weekend in Melbourne.  It was fine, warm and sunny and even the moon shone the brightest it has in 18 years....

Mr Bok made me promise to stay away from the the news this weekend or at least not discuss it.  I'm doing my best but there is so much going on in the world at the moment.  I think about Japan, Libya, Bahrain...it's neverending and I admit to feeling guilty at enjoying a fine day when so many are suffering. So this is a post about the Autumn weekend and a reminder that joy and sunshine exists and you've got to be present - in the moment - to fully appreciate it.  It helps that I'm only croaking at the moment having lost my voice somewhat and it's amazing how much peace such silence can bring, although of course it's frustrating to try to tell off your naughty children only to have them dance around you giggling  :)

On Saturday we attended a lovely wedding at a winery in country Victoria.

 Even the vines were draped in bridal finery, veiled in bird netting!

The lily pond in the background of the ceremony (beside the vines) has me wondering once again how we can incorporate a pond into our backyard without a curious 2 year old falling into it!  :)

Mr Bok stayed far above the ceremony with Master Bok overlooking the proceedings that were happening below in the grape vines. This distance was primarily because Master Bok was likely to race through the ceremony troubling everyone...as it was, as the celebrant was talking about the hope that the peace and serenity of the location would follow the new couple in life, Master Bok was screeching out excitedly about seeing birds and a dragonfly.  Well I do wish the new couple peace, serenity and happiness...but also the joyful interruptions that children bring.

 On our way home, we came across these...what do you think they are...?

They look like more grape vines, but they aren't!

Ta dah!  Hydroponically grown strawberries - but from a distance they blend right into the rolling vineyards surrounding them. 

On Sunday we were lucky enough to attend the 50th birthday of a dear friend of mine.  He has the most gorgeous property...his garden is amazing full of interesting nooks and plenty of places to steal away for a nap!  The only thing he's missing are chooks - of course!  I hope to convince him of the benefits of a flock of his own!  As I wandered through the sprawling garden, I kept thinking about how my flock would love it here. 

His garden is so very lovely. Mr Bok 'hrmmmmed' at me warily as I swooned about the place croaking 'you can do this can't you!' and 'you can build that when we move out to a big block!'  Dreams eh!

In one of his many ponds, there are several varieties of tadpole! How cute are they! Another reason to get a pond methinks!

His vegies are as ornamental and ordered as the rest of his garden

Love stumbling across 'sculptures' everywhere - they are bits and pieces taken from the farm he used to have

Old electric fencing turned into an interesting feature in the garden

Citrus trees hang heavy with fruit

I spot carrots and cucumbers just dying back now

Hidden paths

Wide open spaces

When we renovate, I'd love a decking area like this, all hung over with wisteria, so pretty *sigh*

Another sculpture lovingly made - I love what they've done with their grandparent's old pots and pans.

A sunny spot for the trampoline (in-ground!  I wish!)

Ball of barbed wire from their old farm

The herb garden is decorated with bits and pieces from their old farm

I've got to get a new composter and I'm thinking something like this (they have loads of them dotted about everywhere) as it has a tray you can pull out to easily deposit the new compost.  I've got a tumbler but it's too hard to use and I don't think my worms like being tumbled about in there...my worm farm is great but I'd like to do more composting.  Only thing is, I don't want vermin!  which is why I went for a tumbler in the first place.  What do you all use and how do you keep out mice?

It was a lovely 50th and a lovely day for it.

I've got lots to share with you about my chooks but this post is long enough as it is so I'll save it for another post.  I hope you've had a good weekend too!