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Reduce Reuse Recycle

January 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

When it comes to helping the Australian environment, the good news is that there is a simple and easy way that you can help. Following the reduce, reuse, and recycle pattern, you can effectively help make Australia a better place for generations to come.

While these three words are simple to read and say, when it comes to following them it’s usually another story entirely for most Aussies. Because of that, here is a way to make sure that these three words become more than just words.

Why a Greener Australia?

Before we get to the ways we can make Australia better when it comes to the environment, we first need to look at why this is important. Without biological diversity, all of Australia becomes less useful. Problems with salinisation may become a problem. Also, loss of farmable land for other reasons is possible as well. As the world becomes more populated, it is crucial that Australia maintains the ability to feed Aussies as well as a percentage of the world’s population elsewhere.

What is the Easiest Method?

Now that you can see why a green Australia is so important, we can take a quick look at the ways we can achieve this.

  • Reduce – The first and most important step we can all take as Aussies is to reduce the amount of materials we consume and throw away on a daily basis.

  • Reuse – To help reduce what is thrown away, try to reuse as much as possible. Shy away from materials that aren’t reused in some way.

  • Recycle – Along with reusing things, it is important to recycle as much as possible. This is a personal decision that everyone must make – that recycling is important and will be done on a weekly basis.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle for Australia’s Future

This may sound like it is too simple to work, but that is part of the brilliance of the plan to make Australia a greener place. It is simple, but if enough of us work together and do our part, Australia has a good chance of repairing some of the damage we have done to the environment over the last few hundred years. This may not be important to you now, but if you value Australia for future generations, reduce, reuse, recycle should be a way of life for you. Not only that, you should be spreading word about this system to everyone you know, letting them in on why it’s so important for everyone in Australia.

How do you reduce, reuse, and recycle?

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Organic Cosmetics

November 23, 2010 by Leave a Comment

While organic foods and cleaners have definitely become more and more commonplace in the last few years, there are still a few areas of organic life where people are skeptical. Organic cosmetics, for example, tend to be viewed with more suspicion than other organic products. Often containing many of the same base ingredients, like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and mica, people have to wonder what advantage they’re really gaining if they splurge on the organic product. The answer, however, is a bit more cut and dry than cosmetic companies might have you believe.

Organic Cosmetics

Organic CosmeticsThe truth is that most cosmetics are fairly unregulated, meaning that all sorts of chemicals and carcinogens could be laced in what seems like a fairly innocuous package. Until stricter regulations are put into place for cosmetic companies, organic cosmetics offer a measure of control over what you’re putting onto your skin and consequently, into your body. Skin absorbs all sorts of things into your bloodstream, and when things like mercury, polyethylene glycol, and alcohol are present that’s nothing to mess with. These toxins can’t be processed by the body and can often linger in the intestines and other organs, causing damage.

Protect Yourself

Over the counter cosmetics are often laced with unnecessary dyes, preservatives, and synthetic materials that can clog pores and damage the skin. Ironically, that usually requires the use of additional cosmetic products, creating an endless loop of demand that can put a hole in your pocket and create long term damage exactly where you don’t want it. Organic makeup doesn’t have many of these dyes and fragrances, decreasing the potential for allergy related problems or skin irritation. It also usually has some level of SPF, offering a small amount of built in protection against harmful and ageing UV rays.

Help the Environment

All of those unnatural chemicals laced throughout over the counter cosmetic products aren’t biodegradable, causing more chemicals to leech into the soil and harm the overall environment. While spending a few extra dollars at the cosmetics counter might seem like a small way to make a difference, a lot of small contributions can add up. The more people who switch to organic, the more demand there will be for companies to switch their products from chemical based to organic ingredients. For right now, though, be cautious – educate yourself on what you’re buying. There are few regulations on the cosmetic industry right now, so you really have to know what you’re buying to make the extra expense worth it.

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Organic Meat

October 13, 2010 by 1 Comment

Organic MeatGoing organic can be costly and organic meat is no exception. For those individuals who want to go organic without switching to a vegetarian diet, the decision is going to cost. So what are the benefits of organic meat? What makes it superior enough to justify the price hike?

Better for You

If we are what we eat, then it naturally follows that animals are, too. Certified organic meat doesn’t contain any of the additives, nitrates, chemicals, or antibiotics that normal meat might be laced with. George Seimon of Organic Valley Family of Farms, explains that “Animals are accumulators, and they become whatever we feed them. Organic farming starts at the bottom of the food chain by raising healthy soil, which grows healthy plants, which grow healthy animals, which make healthy humans.” Every piece of organic meat has to pass a barrage of tests for compliance to strict guidelines as well as food safety guidelines. With organic meat, you’re getting nothing but the meat you want, which in the days of mad cow and e. coli outbreaks, can be reassuring.

Better for the Animal

Although heaps of Aussie beef is already raised free range, that certainly isn’t the case for the rest of the world or even for other Aussie meats. Traditionally farmed animals are often kept in small, confined areas and fed all sorts of animal by-products or cheap feed. Sickness and disease is common, not to mention the inevitable animal cruelty issues that arise from such treatment. Organically raised animals, on the other hand, are raised free range on clean, healthy pastures free from pesticides and other potentially harmful chemicals. Their feed is better and effort even goes into making sure that their lives are as stress-free as possible, promoting naturally robust animals that rarely get sick.

Better for the Planet

In loads of ways, organic farming recalls the old fashioned days of farming, before the bottom line was the only thing that mattered. Organic farms are conscious not only of their pastures and fields but of the overall effect their farming practices have on the world around them. The free range nature of their animals as well as the use of organically grown feed means that from the ground up, organic meat makes less of a negative impact on the world around it.

Filed Under: Organic Food and Wine Tagged With: ,

Land degradation in Australia

September 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Land DegradationIf you are one of the few remaining Aussies who think the whole “environmental thing” is blown out of proportion, you need to listen up. Land degradation is a serious issue facing people all over Australia. You may not be able to control all of the causes of land degradation in Australia, but you can surely see the effects. Once you do, you will be scrambling to join the rest of us who are desperately looking for a solution.

Causes of Land Degradation in Australia

This is the most simple part of land degradation issues in Australia. From clear cutting to farming the land incorrectly over the years robbing the soil of nutrients there are many things happening outside the cities of Australia that are having an effect on the rest of the island. Corporate cattle farms that practice over-grazing are another serious cause of damage to the land in our country. There are other causes as well, but this is enough to give you an idea of how bad the problem really is.

Effects of Land Degradation in Australia

To see the effects of land degradation in our great country, you only have to look around. Soil erosion is quickly becoming a problem all over. Soil salinisation is also creeping up here and there in Australia, making our land infertile. Other soil problems can crop up as well. And once we lose our native food supply, we are really going to start to be in trouble in this country. Hopefully people will begin to realise this before the effects become even worse and more noticeable.

Solutions for Land Degradation in Australia

Once you step back and look at the big picture, you can see the cause and effect relationship of how we have been doing things in this country over the last hundred or so years. The hardest part of dealing with land degradation in Australia is going to be coming up with a solution. Stopping all of our industry isn’t an option at this time, so other methods will need to be put into place to ensure that our great land stays great well into this next century. Erosion control measures must be put into place around the country to stop the damage before it is too late. Also, steps need to be put into place to stop soil salinisation from spreading to irrigated farmland in Australia.

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Organic Milk

August 25, 2010 by 1 Comment

Perhaps one of the more controversial organic products, the question about what health benefits are really provided by buying organic milk is much debated in the health food world. Several countries, including the US, don’t even recognise organic milk as being healthier for you than the mass market milk. Still, health food enthusiasts around the world insist that organic milk isn’t just better for the environment, but better for you too.

Organic Milk

For some mindful shoppers, simply knowing that buying organic milk supports organic farming practices is reason enough to eat the extra cost in their weekly grocery bill. Organic dairy cows have to be grazed entirely on organic fields that aren’t treated with pesticides. Any extra feed they are provided must be grown organically.

What It Means For You

Of course, there are customers who want more than generic assurances that they’re helping the environment by spending extra money – they want to know that they’re helping themselves. Luckily, there’s ever growing proof that organic milk provides a lot of health benefits for the average consumer. Obviously, pesticide residues are less of a problem with organic milk. Perhaps even more impressive, though, is that tests are proving the organic milk actually has more vitamins and healthy components. With more vitamins, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids, milk from organic cows provides a nice boost to our bodies. It can even improve the quality of a mother’s breast milk and has been known to help protect children against asthma and eczema.

How do you feel about organic milk? Do you buy it?

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Living Greener

August 16, 2010 by Leave a Comment

When it comes to the environment and living green to protect it, Australia may not have been in the forefront of nations helping solve environmental problems. That said, as the 21st century continues, more and more Aussies are experiencing a "greening" of the mind and soul. This is resulting in a widespread movement to make Australia a safer and more beautiful place to live.

Be Informed about Australian Environmental Problems

Just as any other place on the planet, Australia is facing many environmental problems. Unlike other areas of the planet, Australia has one force that can help – the Aussie people. While we may not have been too interested in "living green" in the past, doing so is becoming more and more important. The first thing you should do if you want Australia to continue to be wonderful is to educate yourself about the problems facing our country. Learning about the environmental problems isn’t enough, however.

Take Action about the Environment

After finding out what is happening to the Australian environment, it is time to take action and do something to help protect it. Here are just a few things you can do to live greener in Australia.

  • Reduce – The first step is using less. If you have a smaller "carbon footprint" you have less of a negative impact on the planet.

  • Reuse – Instead of using disposable items, work things into your life that can be reused. Grocery bags for example.

  • Recycle – If you must use some items, make sure they are recyclable and that you take the steps necessary for them to be recycled.

These three simple steps are just the beginning. Once you have mastered these on your own, it is time to take your message aboard.

Helping Others Live Green

When it comes to Australia, we are known as a people who are independent and yet at the same time, we like to help each other. Perhaps this is because of where our country is situated in the world – isolated as it is – but whatever the reason, when it comes to living green this needs to be true. Aussies need to learn to help teach others in our country how to live green. There’s a good way and a bad way to do this. Luckily, you’ll find the right balance and be able to positively spread the message about living greener for the benefit of Australia and the planet as a whole.

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Organic Fabric

August 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Often overlooked in favour of cheaper, synthetic materials, organic fabrics were previously seen as unnecessary or extravagant. As more people get educated in the benefits of the organic lifestyle, organic fabrics have become one of the bigger growing industries. Buying clothing, linens, and other fabric products that are created from natural and certified organic sources can help not only you but the planet as well. By buying organic fabrics, you’re supporting not only the planet’s short and long term health but your own as well.

What’s the Big Deal?

Many synthetic materials aren’t biodegradable, meaning that those heinous 80′s fashions are still sitting in junkyards somewhere. Organic fabrics are not only produced from natural sources, but are often naturally biodegradable, creating less overall stress on the environment both in the short term and the long term. The use of natural dyes on organic fabrics means that harmful chemicals aren’t being leeched into our soil. Additionally, a lot of organic fabrics are processed in ways that are easier on the environment.

Additionally, there’s a lot of statistics to support the organic fabric movement. Organic cotton, for example, is grown without all of the pesticides that normal cotton is exposed to. This might seem like no big deal, but when you realise that cotton is actually the 2nd largest user of agricultural pesticides in the world, it becomes a pretty huge issue, especially when these chemicals are considered to be highly carcinogenic. With 25% of the world’s insecticides and 10% of the world’s pesticides dedicated to cotton, buying organic makes a huge dent.

Support Renewable Resources

Organic fabric is being produced from easily renewable resources, reducing your overall footprint and easing the tax on the environment. With more fun and interesting fabrics being introduced all the time, maybe it’s time to branch out and try something different. Bamboo, for example, is not only renewable, but also machine washable, protects from UV rays, moisture wicking, and antibacterial and anti-fungal.

Organic Fabric

Remember all of those chemicals we mentioned on non-organic fabrics like cotton? Those chemicals linger in the fabric and can be absorbed through the skin into your system. 60% of these chemicals can be absorbed by an adult – for children and babies, the percentage is even higher. What’s more, buying organic encourages safer farming practices, creating safer work environments all around the world. By buying organic fabrics you’re actually helping to protect us all.

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Australian Certified Organic

July 28, 2010 by Leave a Comment

With the lack of domestic standards for organic product in Australia, several different groups have stepped up to provide some peace of mind to green-minded enthusiasts who want to live an organic lifestyle. Although the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) offers some control over organic certification, this mainly applies to produce that is going to exported overseas to countries like Japan and the United Kingdom. For the average Aussie shopper, though, Australian Certified Organic has stepped into the void, creating their own certification process to reassure Aussie buyers.

What Is Australian Certified Organic?

Australian Certified Organic is a subsidiary of Biological Farmers Australia, which is the largest organic farmers’ collective around. Is it the largest certifier of organic products within Australia. A product that has been certified by Australian Certified Organic can always be identified by the BUD logo and is the stamp of true peace of mind for Aussie shoppers, appearing on at least 80% of organic produce sold in Australia. It is the only organic standard that makes certain farmers are held accountable for every step of the organic process.

What Does ACO Do For Me?

Although Australia is one of the largest producers of the world’s overall organic produce, before ACO there was little way that an Aussie shopper could be certain that their own produce was organic. ACO provides a guarantee that buying specific products will support ecologically sustainable farming practices and the farmers who take the extra time and effort to protect our planet in their work. In many instances, ACO has stricter requirements for certification than AQIS, which means that customers not only domestically but abroad recognize the difference in quality of product and demand products that carry the BUD logo.

Make Organic Easy

To encourage farmers to start working organically, the ACO offers step by step aide in getting certified. They help farmers put together their applications for certification and offer free ongoing support throughout the entire process, helping both farmers and consumers have confidence in the overall process. For smaller growers, there’s the OGA Organic Small Producers Program, which can ease farmers into smaller, local markets with the added boost of having organic certified product to their credit. There are also support materials available for consumers as well as farmers, like the 13 year old established publication Australian Certified Organic Magazine. Published quarterly, the magazine is a one stop guide for both popular information and trade resources, keeping organic on the top of everyone’s minds. 

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Sustainable Agriculture

July 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment

If Australians are interested in being able to feed the population, looking into sustainable forms of agriculture in Australia is going to become more and more important. While it is relatively simple in the modern world to farm almost anywhere on the planet, if care isn’t given when setting up agriculture – especially in a place like Australia – you can begin to have big problems. Before you know it, the land may be unable to provide even the basic foods needed by the people.

Sustainability of Agriculture in the Past

One only needs to look around the world to see civilizations that flourished then dissipated when the land was “used up” or over farmed over many years. Soil, if not taken care of correctly, can lose its nutrients and become unusable for crops. When this happens, people have had to pack up and move on to another spot. Over the years, a little became known about the problem and people tried not to overwork the land. Gradually, however, after the Industrial Age, more and more people forgot how important it is to take care of the land they farmed. For this reason, sustainable agriculture is once again becoming a big issue all over the world as well as in Australia.

Sustainable Agriculture in the Future

When thinking about sustainable agriculture in Australia in the future, you must remember that our country also produces food for millions people in other parts of the world. If agriculture in Australia is not sustainable, we not only have problems at home, we also let down people all over the world who depend on our food supply. This is just one of the reasons it is becoming more and more important for the government of Australia and the farmers as well.

Problems for Sustainable Agriculture in Australia

When it comes to making agriculture sustainable in Australia, there are some major areas that need work.

  • Loss of Biodiversity – The lack of a biologically diversity in Australia will become a bigger and bigger problem if not kept in check.
  • Dry land Salinity – The addition of too much salt to the soil can make it unusable. This is becoming a large problem in Australia.
  • Pets and Weeds – People bringing in plants and animals from other places in the world can disrupt the balance in Australia.

These are just a few of the problems that are facing Australia today.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: ,

Organic Baby Food

July 6, 2010 by 1 Comment

If there’s one segment of the population that is sure to benefit from an organic diet, it’s babies. While you might not think that it would make much difference what a baby eats, there is plenty of research to support the idea that an organic diet for at least the first few years of a child’s life can decrease their exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. This can reduce the risk of any possible health complications that might arise all the while fostering a healthy appetite for their vegetables and whole foods.

Why Are Babies At Risk?

Babies naturally only eat a limited number of foods at any given time. Also, the amount they eat in relation to their size means that they are going to be much more vulnerable to any lingering pesticides in their baby food than an adult might be by the same amount of pesticide on their food. Their brains are developing more rapidly than at any other period of life, which leaves them vulnerable to neurotoxins, hormones, and antibiotics that traditionally can be laced into most commercial baby food products. Match that with their still developing gastrointestinal tract that may not be able to process them all correctly and you have a nasty combination that means one thing: the more you can reduce their exposure, the better.

Potential Side Effects

If babies really are more vulnerable to adverse effects from pesticides and other additives in their food, then the side effects can be worrisome. In larger doses, pesticides have been linked with cancer, lung disease, and immune disorders. They also may have lingering effects and ties to behavioral disorders and learning disabilities. They can block the absorption of needed nutrients for growth and development. While the extent of these potential effects has yet to be proven, the ties are significant enough to worry plenty of conscientious parents out there.

Organic Baby Food

Commercially prepared organic baby foods are becoming more and more common as the demand for them increases. If they still don’t offer ingredients you’re comfortable with, try preparing your own baby food. It’s easy enough and just requires a little more time with a food processor than you might otherwise spend. 

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