smooth revolution

How cool is this bike?

We spent last Sunday morning at the desertSMART eco-fair here in Alice Springs and River blended up a smoothie for him and Sol using pedal power.

Note to Canberra: solar and pedal power are the new black!

No doubt the harshness of the climate and the limited water supply here means that environmental concerns are at the forefront of people's minds. The eco-fair is heralded as Central Australia's Premier Sustainability Event and offers visitors opportunities to participate in activities and workshops so that they can learn and create.

The highlight of the day for Pete and I was hearing Arrente Traditional Custodian Aunty Doris Stuart in conversation with Costa Georgiadis and our friend Jodie Clarkson, speaking about connecting to country.

Aunty Doris spoke from her heart about responsibilities of traditional custodianship, the importance of sacred sites and what this means living in a modern Alice Springs. Aunty Doris's words stirred much emotion in her and in the audience.

"We get our life from our land. It's not just a hill, it's not just a tree, when it's cut we feel that pain. 
Everything comes from country and goes back to country. 
Country is kin, country is family.
Kinship is a map. When people are born that map tells them how to relate to country and to people".

Pete and I had tears rolling down our cheeks as we listened. At times Aunty handed her microphone to Jodie to speak while she took a moment to compose herself. Jodie has lived in Alice for twenty years and describes arriving in Alice "Like coming home to a place I'd never been before," I can appreciate this. Jodie's deep connection with the land and its people is clear, the friendship and respect between Jodie and Aunty Doris was moving in itself to witness.

Aunty Doris shared a vivid and fond memory from her childhood. She remembered sleeping outside and hearing the sound of singing and chanting carrying through the night air from women in ceremony at nearby sacred sites. "We'll never hear that again because so many of our sacred sites are gone," said Aunty with sadness. It made me think about the younger generations of Aboriginal children who have grown up or are still growing without this experience of their culture.

Being a Traditional Custodian brings with it responsibilities and decision making that cuts deep. Aunty Doris explained that for Aboriginal people being asked to choose which tree to cut down so a road can be built, so that people can save 5 minutes on their travel time, is like choosing a relative to be killed. To non Aboriginal people who don't have an appreciation for the depth of connection between Aboriginal people and the land, that may sound extreme but for Aboriginal people it is a painful reality.

"All we want is for our sites to be respected" - Aunty Doris Stuart.

Culture and environment, that's where we need a smooth revolution in this country.

hope for health

These beautiful Yolgnu ladies are seeking our support. 

Nourishing traditional bush foods have been replaced with shop food - white bread, margarine, tea, sugar and soft drinks - the result in Galwinku community and many other remote communities around Australia is that 1 in 2 adults have kidney disease and 1 in 3 adults have diabetes.

An encounter with good nutrition has inspired the Yolgnu ladies to make changes. They now have a solution and they need financial and/or social media networking support to make it happen.  

The ladies dream is to travel to Living Valley Springs Health Retreat for a 10 day program so they can learn how to get their health on track by improving their diet and then they want to share that knowledge with their community. 

This initiative is brilliant. It is empowering these women to take back their health care. Community led healing is what it's all about.

Regular readers here know that earlier this year my family and I spent time in Hope Vale a remote community four hours north of Cairns. This experience opened my eyes and my heart to both the harsh realities and the tremendous strength and resilience of the Guugu Yimithir people who opened their homes to us.

The food story is the same in Hope Vale as it is in so many communities. I left there feeling at a loss for how change could even begin. We have been home two months and I think about it most days. I met women in Hope Vale who want to do something about improving the nutritional value of the food people are eating. I started thinking about ways this could happen.

And then today I read about the Yolgnu ladies initiative on Chef Pete Evans facebook page. Perhaps this could be something other communities would like to do.

The ladies have 19 days to raise their funds before their crowd-funding appeal ends. 

If you can support them in any way financially $5, $10, $15 or hundreds or thousands it all adds up.

And if you can't offer money, then please share through your networks which only takes a few clicks and is equally valuable.

You can read more about this story on nutritional health guru Nora Gedgaudas' blog.

To learn more about the campaign and to donate go here.

These are mothers and grandmothers taking action to do something positive for themselves and their community. 

Go ladies go!

sunday stills - culture is life

This series of photos was taken on Friday night at Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove where Montalto owners John and Wendy Mitchell hosted dinner to raise funds for Culture is Life, the project that Pete is working on with Elders around Australia. Culture is Life is a solution focused campaign to end the unacceptably high rates of self-harm and youth suicide in Indigenous communities. Thank you to John and Wendy, Head Chef Barry Davis and your wonderful staff and to all those who attended for making the evening such a success. 100% of the proceeds from the evening were donated to the project. There is still much work to be done to keep culture and Indigenous young people alive and well, if you are able to contribute in some way head to Culture is Life and spread the word or make a donation of money or skills.

1. Beautiful attention to detail at every turn

2. Just the beginning...

3. My beautiful friends Mette and Toula (me in the middle!)

4. Two of my favorite local wholefood mamas, Cath and Bron

5. Impeccably presented and prepared food, many elements from the Montalto kitchen garden - entree: glazed jerusalem artichoke, bush tomato chutney, local asparagus, Main Ridge goats cheese foam

6. Before this main course of baby barramundi, smoked eggplant & tomato, coconut & lemon myrtle sauce and karkalla was served, the 95 diners filling the restaurant sat in captivated silence as Elder Uncle Max Harrison spoke from the heart about culture and life and keeping young people alive and well

7. Dessert was in a word - sublime! Peanut & wattle seed parfait, sesame tuile, bitter chocolate, merengue kisses

8. Me with two of my beautiful family - sister-in-law Davini and my man Peter McConchie. Blessed to be related to these two xx

(joining in with Ms Beetleshack Em)

hot off the press (almost)...

I'm hoping you're not hungry because this post isn't about food. I have so many food related posts brewing in my mind, recipes too, but I am still waiting on my camera to arrive and food blogging without photos is no fun for me or you dear readers!

So, instead today I share something else I have been up to, and that is setting up a crowdfunding page for the publication of my talented and inspiring husband's seventh book - Fire & the Story of Burning Country. For those of you who don't know, my husband Pete is a photographer and author who specialises in recording books about the environment and culture.

Between the covers of this book is a captivating story that demonstrates the positive power of fire on the Australian landscape told by the Cape York Elders and their Community Leaders. This natural process of managing the land with fire sits in stark contrast to the widely held view that fire is destructive and to be feared.

Pete has worked for close to two decades with Elders and their communities across Australia photographing and recording their culture so that it may reach a wider audience. Fire and the Story of Burning Country is a response from Elders to the devastating Black Saturday fires in Victoria during the summer of 2009.

Dr Don Hankins, a specialist in fire ecology/pyrogeography, Indigenous land management practices and conservation of Indigenous cultural practices writes in the book’s foreword: 

“This book offers a unique opportunity to see fire through the lens of accompanying Indigenous cultural practitioners as they restore fire to landscapes across Australia. The chapters offer a perspective and voice largely absent in existing literature about Indigenous fire; that is the Indigenous perspective and voice. These are the stories and experiences of Australia’s fire knowledge keepers.”

If you would like to learn more about the powerful and wise cultural practice of managing the land with fire, or you know someone who would love this book please head on over to the crowdfunding page where you can buy the book or some beautiful photographic prints. With your help this story can reach a wide audience. 

friday back in the nest

It's been a week of feathering our nest here. Arriving home from our winter northern escape to a taste of Spring weather makes me feel happy and lucky!

On with today's list...

If green smoothies are your thing, meet the alkaline sisters

Do you think Suzy Spoon's Vegetarian Butcher sounds as crazy as I do?! I've never understood why vegetarians would want to eat faux meat.

I do love a good teatowel. And it's on sale.

Natalie's oat, apple and maple syrup slice was a lunchbox hit this week.

Going gluten free and need some inspiration? Visit Mamacino for a good dose of honesty and some delicious looking recipes.

I bought Lee's Super Charged Food for Kids this week and recommend it. Great info and tips for getting children to eat well, looking forward to trying out the recipes.

One for the romantics nothing to do with food, have you seen Jonas Peterson's wedding photography?! Dreamy.

Way off topic but very important and close to my heart, have you viewed the Culture is Life campaign that my husband Pete is working on with Indigenous Elders around Australia? Please share, raising awareness is the beginning of change.

And so our first week home comes to an end. I'm looking forward to the weekend as always. Any plans for father's day? Not many plans here. Pete is working photographing a wedding but we have a couple of small presents for him tucked away. Sol has been asking all week if we can bake a cake so I think I will pull out Jude's Wholefood Baking book and happily satisfy his wish.

Happy Father's day to all the dads. Have a beautiful weekend xx

friday back in melbourne

We landed back in Melbourne last night to wind and rain, full blown winter. It is always bittersweet when our time in Northern New South Wales comes to an end and we leave sunshine and Northern Rivers friends to return to our Victorian home.

Today the boys and spent the morning at the Melbourne Museum while Pete went to a meeting for the Culture is Life campaign he is working on. I haven't been to the museum since I was in primary school. It must be one of the best value days out with children that there is. $10 entry for adults, free if you have a concession card, and free entry for children up to age 16. I managed to get a four hour park across the road $3.60 per hour is pretty good for city parking and spent $20 on lunch for the three of us in the museum cafe. Word of advice: avoid the gift shop. Saying no to requests to buy over-priced stuffed Australian animals and similar was tiring for me and frustrating for River and Sol so unless you have budget for toys/books or dvds keep on walking.

Now that we are back to the cooler weather soup is on the menu in a big way. Lamb shank and barley, and chicken are favorites, Georgia's minestrone looks good to try too.

I've been away from the blog this week not because I've wanted to, I have recipes to share, but partly because I was soaking up real life in Northern Rivers while I could, but mainly because a grain of sand has lodged itself in my camera and the lens will not open. And recipes just aren't the same without photos are they? What to do? Use your phone camera I hear you say. Well, I will do some experimenting with that idea over the weekend and in the meantime if you have any camera model suggestions (that is a camera that you love) let me know, I think I'm in the market for an upgrade...Jodi I did ask you a while ago but I have misplaced details if you are reading and can leave details again in the comments I'd be grateful.

Catching up on some blog/facebook reading with a cup of dandelion this raw chocolate peppermint slice looks tempting and how about this show-stopping raw vegan caramel slice?

Well that seems like a nice sweet note to finish on for this week. Bear with me on the photography front over the next couple of weeks until I can either get my camera repaired or purchase a replacement.

Oh, only to add I am inspired by Maxabella's Friday Rewind to invite you to share a link you like from this week it can be from your own blog or from somewhere else on the net something that you read and loved, that inspired you, or a winning recipe. For this week share it in the comments and I'll see if I can switch my brain into techno gear and work out the link up gizmo for next Friday.

Have a beautiful weekend wherever in the world you are. Thanks for reading xx

merry christmas

Sol and I have enjoyed fresh mango followed by a golden toasted slice of panettone for breakfast over the past few mornings. Panettone is a sweet bread, rich with butter and eggs and studded with sultanas and candied citrus peel. Originating in Milan it is traditionally prepared to celebrate Christmas. My earliest memory of panettone is as a child at my nana's house.

My nan worked as a dressmaker all her life and in the factory where she worked throughout my childhood, many of the women she worked with were Italian or Greek. My brother and I enjoyed going with my nan on some weekends to visit her work friends where we were treated to warm and generous European hospitality (ie. much fussing over because my nan's friends loved children and many treats of home made biscuits and cakes). At Christmas time my nana would bring home gifts from these women of traditional Christmas foods such as panettone.

Having a young family of my own, I am keen to create some of our own Christmas traditions. Our cut + paste tree is shaping up to be one, as is making panforte. What traditions do you enjoy with your family? Or perhaps there are some from other cultures that you admire, I'd love to hear. Creating and honouring tradition makes life richer, brings deeper meaning to our celebrations and acknowledges history and ancestry.

Speaking of my young family, River had his last day of Prep today. I was as emotional as I was on his first day, completely unprepared for the heart swelling farewell to his beautiful teacher and the acknowledgment of all the wonderful ways he has grown this year in mind and heart.

In place of a list today, I have one special link...

My friend and mentor Samantha Gowing, who is a therapeutic chef with a flair for delicious food as medicine, launched her first ebook today. Filled with recipes, remedies and wonderful stories from Sam's life and kitchen, 'The Healing Feeling' represents 12 years of her experience and knowledge. It is a wonderful resource whether you are just starting out making better food choices or whether you are well underway on the real food journey.

The title of Sam's book speaks to me because from where I sit we could all do with some healing in one form or another, and if there's one need that is a growing one for many people it is nutritional healing. So, a big congratulations Sam on putting your heart, soul and wisdom into this beautiful book I know it will be valuable and life changing for many people.

Life is different when we are well nourished. We have more energy, more mental clarity, emotional balance and connection with the earth and the people we love.

On that note, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you back here in 2013. I've decided to make this my last post for 2012 and savour each moment of the days between now and the New Year giving my full attention to my real life family and friends. Thank you my online friends for reading my blog this year, for your comments and friendship and being part of the wholefood movement. Here's to more people joining us on the wholefood path next year.

Peace and Joy to all.

Nikki xx

welcome home banana & walnut bread

Let's not pretend. Banana bread is banana cake. Calling it bread tricks us into thinking it is healthier than cake but the ingredients are roughly the same. This applies equally to muffins. But you all knew that already didn't you? :) This story and recipe is of the wholefood cake variety and there is truth that wholefoods are better for you - even the cakes!

Pete had been away for the last couple of weeks in the Northern Territory photographing this year's Garma Festival. We welcomed him home with afternoon tea of homebaked banana and walnut bread and River made a 'banner' for the front door to show him how much we missed him.

It was a big trip for Pete personally as much as professionally because it's been eight years since he had seen his Yolgnu family. He was adopted by his Yoglnu Bapa (father) and Nandi (mother) in 2000 when he recorded 'Yolgnu Mali - Aboriginal Spirit '  his first photographic book about Aboriginal culture. (The book is sold out but the link shows the cover).

I do admire Pete's commitment to recording the stories and wisdom of Australian Indigenous people. There is a lot of misunderstanding and misrepresentation in the media.

We can't wait until next year when we will travel as a family to Arnhem Land. I haven't been to the Territory nor have River and Sol, the exquisiteness of the country and its people from what Pete tells me is like no other.

Perhaps I'll pack a couple of loaves of banana bread for the trip.

Let me know what you think of the recipe. Enjoy it with a cup of chai x

Banana and walnut bread

2 cups white spelt flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup powdered stevia
2 ripe bananas mashed
2 large or 3 small eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.
Combine bananas and wet ingredients in another bowl.
Mix wet and dry ingredients together thoroughly.
Pour batter into a loaf tin lined with baking paper.
Bake at 180C for 35-45 minutes.

brother eagle, sister sky

Sol and I wandered into Antipodes our local bookshop for a quick browse that resulted in an impulse purchase of American author and illustrator Susan Jeffers' book Brother Eagle, Sister Sky. I was captivated by Jeffers paintings and the 'story' that accompanied them. The words in the book are based on the message of Native American Chief Seattle (Seathl).

this image via Jeffers' website

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky has been met with both praise and criticism and I was in two minds whether to write about it here at all out of respect for those who are offended by the book. The main and very important criticisms are that Jeffers has adapted Chief Seattle's words to suit her creation of the book and that her paintings depict Native American people in a stereotypical way.

I decided to write about Brother Eagle, Sister Sky here initially because in our family Jeffers book opened up further talking about Indigenous people as traditional caretakers of the land and about the precious nature of the environment. And that's a positive thing in my view. And then as I read further into the controversial nature of the book that became a reason to write about it too. To start a conversation about culture and accuracy in children's literature.

These words are from the book:

"This we know: All things are connected like the blood that unites us.

We did not weave the web of life,

We are merely a strand in it.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves"

What are you teaching your children about Indigenous culture? Are you reading any great children's books about culture?

local happening

***THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED****

For those readers living local to the Mornington Peninsula, Aboriginal Elder Uncle Max Harrison is coming to Hummingbird Eco Retreat on the weekend of May 5th and 6th to facilitate a cleansing and reconciling with the land. My husband Pete worked with Uncle Max recording his story and photographing him on country to create this book.

Uncle Max is an Elder of the Yuin Nation on the far south coast of NSW. He was born by a sacred water hole and later chosen from his tribe to be taught by 5 Masters law/lore and healing, this teaching was continuous for 17 years. After seeing the marginalisation of his people and lack of acceptance of traditional teachings, he began what has become his life's work providing a way for others to understand Aboriginal culture. He encourages all people to embrace their spiritual growth while making grass roots changes in their immediate world. He is an engaging and heartfelt speaker within him is a wealth of experience, wisdom and authenticity.

Uncle Max has been consulted by governments on land rights issues and shared the podium at major events with spiritual leaders from around the world including the Dalai Lama. The weekend at Hummingbird Eco Retreat with Uncle Max has the blessing of Boonwurrung Elder Aunty Caroline Briggs.

Join us at 1.30pm on Saturday May 5th for acknowledgment to country, smoking ceremony and reconciling with the land. Followed by a sacred forest walk - seeing, feeling and hearing the land.
Pre-dinner cultural teachings.

Sunday May 6th join us for sunrise ceremony welcoming Grandfather Sun and then a closing ceremony.

Adults $120 Children (school years) $30
This price excludes meals and accommodation.

Hummingbird Eco Retreat is located at 183 Arthur's Seat Road Red Hill.
Bookings are essential: info@hummingbirdeco.com.au
03 5989 2504

textiles

Before committing myself to one true love - writing - I flirted with many creative pursuits/enterprises, sewing vintage fabric bags being one of them. It all started with a set of bamboo handles purchased at a garage sale and a piece of vintage turquoise silk from my nana's fabric cupboard. My nan is exceptional at sewing and pattern making and in my mid twenties I decided it was high time I learnt some of her craft and asked her to teach me to sew, starting with bags. I learnt a lot and together we created many one of a kind bags that I sold at various markets around Melbourne.

There came a point though where I felt I was spreading myself a little too thin and that I wasn't allowing myself to be really good at one thing, so I decided while the writing work was coming in it was time to put my energy into that and I'm glad I did because a string of experiences and opportunities came my way that may not have if I hadn't been fully focused.

Now however there's a new sewing project/enterprise calling and while I'm not quite ready to reveal what that is I just had to share something of where the research has taken me. I have revisited one of my favorite suppliers from my bag making days The Dancing Queen .

Lisa who owns The Dancing Queen has been helping me out with some research for my new sewing venture and sent me the links below, even if you don't sew but you have a thing for textiles as I know some people do, enjoy taking a browse...

Bima Wear traditional hand printed designs - fabrics, clothing and linen - by the women of Bathurst Island Tiwi Islands.

At Ink & Spindle hand screen printed textiles, ethical, sustainable and organic printed in Melbourne.

Earthgirl Fabrics check out the tea towels (I have a penchant for screen printed tea towels I have to keep in check)

And while I'm on about all things textiles I do enjoy peeking in to see what's happening at Harvest Textiles in Melbourne so enjoy that too! I haven't visited there for a while and tonight I see my friend's cousin appearing in the Harvest Workroom - nice work Fran. Hi Lucy if you're reading :)

This one too, I found via Soulemama, Mona Luna fabrics. I think the description of the designer, Jennifer Moore's life "...where her work and home are both informed by her love of beauty, nature, art and creative projects' are words many women can relate to, that either they are living this or would like to be living this. 

More food words soon. Happy dreaming, creating, cooking.

(disclosure - since buying fabric from The Dancing Queen I have also done some paid PR work for the store. I am not however being paid in any way shape or form to mention them here).

our generation

My husband Pete works closely with Indigenous Elders and communities around Australia, in Pete's words he "celebrates culture" through his work such as his books Elders: Wisdom from Australian Indigenous Leaders, Yolgnu Mali - Aboriginal Spirit and My People's Dreaming.


It is through Pete that my insight into culture has grown and sparked within me a fire to create and take every opportunity to be part of solving the inherent ignorance and discrimination in Australian government policy and attitudes generally towards Indigenous people.  And for those insights I am grateful.

Pete brought this DVD home and I recommend seeking out a copy and watching it.

It is excellent in its balanced, honest documentation of Indigenous people's lives both in the past and today.

Of the many things that stood out to me in the film was a shot of a poster from the 1950's promoting assimilation, seeing that poster reinforced in my mind that Australian government policy is still one of assimilation, that Aboriginal people are expected to live like white people is still the dominant way of thinking.

I dream that the attitudes and policies change to one of genuine respect for the knowledge and wisdom of Aboriginal people, with a willingness to recognise and value their land, culture and traditions.

The eloquence of the speakers in the film brings clarity to what at times seems like such a complex situation that the answer is out of reach. After watching the film I see the answer is close at hand and is simple, it is living the answer that seems to be the complex part. If you're interested in living the answer check out these ways to Take Action on the Our Generation website:

Speak Up
Get Involved
Find out more
Spread the Word

Everyone can do something.