My recent interview with Homestyle Magazine

Greenhouse Perth

Posted by Amber - Designer - 10/11/2010  http://www.homestylemagazine.co.nz/blog/greenhouse-perth

in 

• Eco
 
• Q & A

Greenhouse is an exciting new cafe in Perth with an emphasis on tasty, honest food and simple ideas for a non-destructive lifestyle. From the worm farm to the freshly baked bread the brains behind the Greenhouse called on local knowledge and advice to ensure they got it right the first time, from designers, engineers, builders, scientists, chefs and even farmers they left no stone unturned in their quest. Aiming to enhance the understanding of the human footprint they have created a cafe which blurs the line between functionality, beauty and sustainability. 

 

 

 

We talk to our in-house eco-expert Holly Brooker about her recent trip to this innovative and quirky cafe. 

 

How did you find out about the Greenhouse?
One of my best friends is an interior architect and had read about the Greenhouse online and told me all about it, and as soon as I got to Perth I made a bee-line for it as I wanted to see what it was all about!
What was your initial impression?
I was blown away. It is such an interesting place, very eclectic and there are so many incredible sustainable ideas evident in the place.  I was having coffee with an old friend and found it hard to concentrate because I wanted to see and touch everything and ask questions - I grilled the waitress a little as I was super excited - and was basically like wow wow wow!
What were you most impressed about? 
I love that the eatery has its own inner city vegetable garden surrounding the rooftop bar, which the chefs tend can collect fresh produce from.
Did the strong eco-philosophy affect the overall experience or quality of the food and coffee?
What I LOVE about the cafe is that is oozes inner city cool, yet fosters an underground eco mantra - it's not in your face 'hippy'. It is natural, real, urban and cool. The food and coffee is amazing, fresh, delicious and normal!  It is about making eco living realistic and practical.

 

 

 

Amazingly, the Greenhouse was constructed in only 6 weeks. Click here for a time-lapse of the construction.

i heart Garbage

 When we moved to Western Australia mid 2010 we sold up everything- moving here with literally one suitcase each.   After 8 months in a furnished apartment, we have signed away our lives and moved into our very first Australia home.  In so doing, we have begun to accumulate a household full of items which do not fit into one suitcase.

Our mission is to keep our environmental impact low by accumulating less this time around and keeping is simple. 

In furnishing an empty apartment we have been mindful of making green choices, opting to buy SOME new items and as many used items as possible, while still furnishing a house in a modern and comfortable style.

Sourcing pre-used and pre-loved household items from thrift stores, garage sales, ebay and inorganic collections, we have set up our home with awesome shiz while still choosing green options,

Next up, a dining room table.  Im thinking a recycled door would be a perfect option!

unleashing the artist within

Im inspired by Aboriginal painting.... the meaning behind the lines and the natural raw colours and style of the artwork.  i have wanted a piece of my own for some time.  Recently my mum came to stay and being the artist she is, decided we should paint a piece together.  I felt that using Aboriginal influence required a real importance on putting meaning behind our picture and doing this together was a really special time... especially as we had both been going through a really hard time in our lives.  As we painted we talked about the meaning behind it times, other times we were silent, and other times we shared of our lives and hearts.
For me, the lines represent different journeys in my life- some overlap and some are quite unique and have an end with a new beginning for the next journey. some lines represent new journeys that will come. and the dots.  well every dot is a symbol of fertility (hahahah my husband rico looked a bit nervous when i told him that imagining an Angelina Jolie tribe of children! lol)
This is our painting.  I like it very much.

Getting My Bike On

Originally published at http://good.net.nz/blog/holly-jean-brooker/getting-my-bike-on

Holly has made a new years resolution to drive less and ride more, and is finding her sweet new ride is semi changing her life.

It’s 2011 and to incorporate one more step towards living it green I have bought a beautiful ladies bike, complete with cane basket and bell.  Yes, I have joined Su Yin Khoo and the cycle crew and I must admit Im seriously stoked, while slightly regretful that I have not embraced cycle power much earlier!  Working 60km out of town where I must navigate my way through roaming kangaroos and emus means my bike has a rest during the weekday as my Diesel fueled LandRover offers a little more substance and safety on these difficult journeys. However every week night and weekend since getting my sweet new ride I have kept my LandRover in the garage, choosing to bike to the supermarket, video store, pubs/restaurants, local fruit stall, the beach.  Ok, I admit it. I have used my bike to scope out a few house options while house-hunting (which turns out to be a perfect way to see a house up close while pretending to be looking for a ‘friends house’ as we bike up the driveway for a closer look!).  My petrol bill is down considerably, I am loving the extra exercise, but am slightly jealous of my husbands stubby/KeepCup holder in his Schwinn cruiser.  

I must say life is somewhat easier with a bike, particularly highlighted last night as we roamed around the streets of Bunbury which were shut off to cars due to Australia Day festivities!  How jealous were the residents of Bunbury who were jammed up back-to-back in their petrol guzzling 4WD monstrosities at the end of the nationalistic festivities while we whipped through the cars ringing our bells and whizzing by in glee.  

It’s 2011 and I’m getting my bike on.

Holly Jean Brooker is owner ofwww.urbanmac.co.nz, which provides New Zealanders with untreated raised garden beds, nutritious soil and outdoor furniture. 

KEEP YOUR KITCHEN SQUEKO CLEAN AND GREEN

A snippet of this weeks blog published with Good Magazine 

http://good.net.nz/blog/holly-jean-brooker/keep-your-kitchen-squeeko-clean                                                       

BY HOLLY JEAN BROOKER

Add a few green changes into your kitchen to create a green, sustainable hub for the family to enjoy. Holly Jean shares a few ideas on how to go about getting your kitchen green and squeEKO clean

The kitchen is seen as a hub in the home, providing necessary food and beverages, companionship as we busily prepare meals, a place to chat with friends over a cup of tea at the breakfast bar or table. Being such a vital and well-used area in the home, keeping it green can be forgotten as we juggle grocery bills, lack of time and habit.                                              

1.     Reduce waste. Reuse leftovers! How many times do we cook a meal, serve it up and realise we have cooked more than needed? We scoop the extras into a bowl to have for ‘lunch’, and four days later find it pushed to the back of the fridge untouched. It then goes in the bin (or toilet if you're my mum. Yuck!), to rot itself into oblivion. Very wasteful. If this is a problem you relate to, how about being realistic and scooping it straight into a storage container and into the freezer for those nights you're home alone, don’t want to cook or when you know you have a busy day ahead and will need it for lunch. If it really needs to be thrown out, you could embrace composting! Composting doesn’t need to be an unsightly towering pile of rot and debris, destroying the aesthetics of your backyard. You could buy a small composting bin with lid, or better yet an untreated, non-toxic urbanmac* macrocarpa compost bin, enabling you to supply rich nutrients to your vegetable patch. 

Eucalyptus Oil- green tips for the home

Eucalyptus Oil has been used by Aborigines in Australia for many years, as traditional medicine to treat colds, sinus problems and fevers.
Having spent the last few months inWestern Australia I have been recommended this delightful oil by an Australian friend and have found its use to be helpful in more ways than one.
During a severe flu on arrival I spent a few days breathing in hot steam sprinkled in this rich oil, which provided immense relief from serious congestion.  The smell is intense but leaves a deep and enjoyable aroma in a room.

Recently, I have been using diluted Eucalyptus Oil as a household disinfectant for cleaning the bathroom, toilet and floors.  The smell is refreshing and the cleaning is effective.  Free of chemicals and toxins, this is an ideal cleaner around the home if you are wanting to go green.  It can diluted into a spray water bottle for a surface cleaner also.

eco book ends