News and events pertaining to lifestyle of Health and Sustainability - LOHAS

LOHAS is an important environmental campaign theme message which links us back to sustainability, without making sustainability the primary focus, which is a great idea, as the S word and the E word (environmental) have been used far too much. 

A number of local groups, including Horticultural Therapy Assoc, Sustainable Gardening Australia and Bulleen Art and Garden are promoting well-ness and psychic healing as a part of having gardens, growing vegies, getting outdoors, and this is great for selling the notion that a lifestyle can be both enjoyable and good for the planet. Nothing like incorporating companion planting, pollination, lure planting, vegies up walls, in pouches, or fruit over trellises, espaliered or over pergolas, is there?   Lack of space? Your balconies or patios can look fantastic.    I say: we can trade the hedge for some vege, in the creation of produce walls.  (Patrick Blanc is famous for the large scale living walls, where the garden is literally attached to the building, but these are beyond most people's budgets.)

I am very excited about an edible wall gardening class I am doing with Karen Sutherland the productive planting guru who is making a lot of noise in the media.  I volunteered at Karen's Open Garden Day and she had pumpkins sprawling in every direction over the back shed.  Her garden is one of the most inspirational productive gardens I have ever had the joy to witness.  Her website for Edible Eden is worth a visit.  Karen has a Moomba float with 3000 edible plants which would be sensational to see on this coming Monday, if you can fight your way through the throngs! (For those from outside Melbourne, Moomba is one of Melbbourne's largest outdoor festivals) 3000 plants on a float - now that is totally crazy, but what an achievement. 

There is no question that gardening and growing produce instils a sense of emotional well-being and healthfulness in those who have the time to participate. 

Here is a link relating to the Melbourne and International Flower and Garden Show held each year which is a blogpost on my gardening blog (added to this post after the event).  Designer gardens, like art in general are awe inspiring, and the photos on this blog are proof of this. 
http://bloomingandbold.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Melbourne%20International%20Garden%20Show