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After reading Bea Johnson’s book Zero Waste Home Amy was determined to reduce the amount of landfill her family generated with a focus on plastic use.

Now, how to line a garbage bin at home has become a hot topic of conversation…and a source of confusion. Sure, you could use the fifteen cent heavy-duty bags from the supermarket but that would defeat the purpose of trying to reduce single-use plastics.

We recommend starting in the kitchen as it’s generally the place where our plastic-using habits are most prolific. It’s also where most plastic is brought in from outside the home.

There’s nothing like the smell of freshly baked sourdough bread…the irresistible, comforting aroma that that evokes a sense of the simple life. With many of us having extra time at home time on our hands, due to Covid-19, more people have been discovering the soothing ritual of sourdough breadmaking.

Living Smart hosted a series of workshops for Plastic Free July, designed to cut through the information overload and make waste and plastic reduction achievable for everyone.

Recent discoveries indicate First Nations Australians were turning seeds into flour for breadmaking over 36,000 years ago. The origins of leavened bread (using a raising agent) are uncertain but it is thought that sourdough, one of the oldest forms of leavened bread, dates back to the Middle East around 8000 BC!

Vashti from Nest Nappies and Kelly from Strucket talk about all the different styles and types of cloth nappies and how to use them.

With self-sufficiency becoming the new norm, it’s no surprise that chickens are popping up in backyards everywhere. Keeping chickens has many benefits and done properly will reward you and your garden for years to come.

When you sit down to have a yarn with Robyn Cook, there’s one thing for certain - you’re going to hear some colourful stories.

ARISING from Disruption is a series of interviews with thoughtful, creative and entrepreneurial people stepping up and talking about how they are coping, adapting and thriving despite the uncertainty of what lies ahead.

The fashion industry is responsible for up to 10 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Watch this video for three ways you can reduce your fashion footprint and still dress to impress.

The Horizon Festival has curated some great creative online home activities for kids KINDY + PRE-SCHOOL Zdoodle Drawing App A simple, no-nonsense drawing app for iOS, perfect for entertaining little humans.

Anxiety, panic and overwhelm are emotions that have become all-too-familiar within our modern society. The ever-increasing pressure of the world, with a growing mental health epidemic, now thrust into the midst of a viral outbreak will have large-scale consequences for public health long after the lockdowns finish.

If there is a COVID-19 transmission in the workplaces contact your local public health service or phone 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) at any time.

Headspace are offering free meditations, sleep, and movement exercises to help you out in your time of isolation. You can listen to these anytime, anywhere to help you feel calm and grounded in these uncertain times.

Our content is simple, engaging and provides you with real, practical and inspiring information. Signing up to the B-Well + Prosper Hub gives you access to all of this content + more!

These times of the Covid-19 pandemic can be tough for parents with school-aged children at home (not to mention for children with their parents always around!

Spending a lot of time at home? Struggling to keep the kids amused? The Sunshine Coast Libraries website has thousands of entertainment and educational resources that can be accessed online - for free!

Tough times can often bring out the best in a community and the coronavirus crisis is no exception. Across the Sunshine Coast, acts of generosity and kindness are bringing people together as we learn to adapt to a completely different way of life.

The threat of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is impacting lives worldwide, social distancing and self-isolation will be a challenge for many people with feelings of loneliness having a negative impact on health and wellbeing.

With the outbreak of the serious virus COVID-19, known as coronavirus, we are naturally concerned about whether natural hand sanitisers will be as effective as synthetic chemicals.

From cafes to celebrities, it seems everyone is jumping on board the plant-based food train and for very good reason. Whether you want to reduce the level of meat in your diet or go vegan, there are many benefits for having more plants and less meat for your health, the environment, animals and society as a whole.

From the gym to Pilates to school drop-offs and coffee with friends, activewear is everywhere. Comfortable, relaxed and the perfect accessory to a laidback Queensland lifestyle, our obsession with taking gym wear to the streets shows no sign of slowing.

Multigenerational housing has the potential to offer creative solutions to some of the social and environmental challenges of our time. A panel of experienced and emerging architects, along with community members with lived experience discussed the role multigenerational housing could play in shaping our communities of the future at the recent Sunshine Coast Open House forum held at the Innovation Centre.

Recycling may seem complicated so follow these rules to help with the war on waste. And remember to reduce and reuse first. #1 LOOK FOR THE LABEL The Australasian Recycling Label is a proven system that tells you which bin each piece of packaging goes in.

When Kelly Lavery found herself constantly soaking onesies, bibs and items covered with bodily fluids from baby number three, little did she know that the experience would ultimately transform households across the country.

Sustainability champion Joanna Kristoffersen spent much of her childhood living on a yacht off Mooloolaba so it’s no surprise that she has a strong affinity with the ocean.

Channelling her passion for art, fashion and sustainability, Heidi Middleton is redefining what a small, ethical creative fashion business can look like today. Heidi’s latest project, ArtClub was born from a desire to make things of beauty, with purpose and meaning.

Sunshine Coast Council is leading a nomination for the local government area to become a UNESCO Biosphere. A biosphere is a special place. It’s where responsible development and people living sustainably sits alongside active conservation - just like our region.

How are your New Year’s Resolutions tracking? Hands up if you set a New Years Resolution for 2019? Keep your hand up if you’ve already lost momentum or you realise it’s quickly taken a back seat?

“I’m bored, Mum.” “What can we do now, Dad?” Sigh. It’s a couple of weeks (or days) into the school holidays and the kids are looking to you for inspiration and fun stuff to do.

Our homes are a place of refuge, where we escape from the world and spend time with loved ones. They’re also where we tend to accumulate “stuff” - furniture, soft furnishings, clothing, toys, electronics, tools, kitchen goods…the list goes on.

Are you looking for some fun holiday activities for the kids that tap into their creative abilities? Why not create a few DIY projects to keep them busy?

There’s a new grassroots activism emerging from deep within our communities - where knowledge is openly shared, creative strategies for change are hatched and movements unite for a common purpose.

Thinking of renovating your home?Have you considered the amount (and cost) of waste this exercise will produce?When we plan ahead, we can reduce waste in any project we work on, so why should home renovations be any different?

There are many factors which contribute to positive education outcomes in a school environment. Purposeful design of campuses, buildings, social spaces and classrooms can facilitate deeper learning, greater social connectivity and a more discernible connection between the culture of a school and its architecture.

The Queensland verandah is recognised as one of the original icons of quintessential Australian living. The timeless appeal of this shaded outdoor living space is the unlikely inspiration for a lifetime of work by celebrated architect Professor Kerry Clare.

Succulent plants are everywhere right now. You’ll find these quirky, fun splashes of greenery adorning tables in cafés and bringing colour to interior and exterior spaces.

There’s no doubt that surfing is one of the most popular leisure activities in south-east Queensland. With our mild winters, superb beaches and fine selection of breaks, why wouldn’t it be?

There are loads of places across the coast where you can self-serve bulk foods, bringing your own reusable containers or using paper bags or reusable glass containers supplied.

Moving house can be an exciting and stressful time. There’s so much to think about and organise. It’s also an excellent opportunity to ditch excess stuff that you have accumulated and no longer need or use.

As the war on waste gains momentum, communities of passionate people are popping up on social media to discuss solutions and share ideas. On the sunny coast, a Facebook group called War On Waste - Sunshine Coast has clocked up 350 members with more joining every day.

With so many fad lifestyle programs and diets filling our social media feeds, finding a practical approach that is healthy, nourishing and improves vitality can be challenging.

As awareness grows about the disastrous effects plastic straws have on our environment, more venues that serve drinks are considering reducing or eliminating single-use plastic straws from their beverage services.

The single-use plastic bag ban is here and it’s now illegal for retailers in Queensland to supply customers with singlet-style plastic bags for purchases.

Beeswax wraps are a great option to include in your mix of solutions to avoid cling wrap or other single use packaging. Swapping out single-use plastic wrap is easy with these natural wraps that are hygienic and look beautiful in your fridge or on a table.

Composting is surprisingly easy and can be a fun, educational activity to do with the kids. Not only does composting reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfill, it turns would-be waste from your household into a resource for your family.

It’s Fashion Revolution week, let’s talk….. There’s a certain sense of gratification about heading out shopping and coming back with a mini haul of new clothes.

Living Smart speaks with Alice Jones, co-founder of ethical, Fair Trade clothing company, Sinerji, on getting started in ethical fashion, the impacts of the fashion industry on people and the environment, and how to dig deeper to find out more about the clothes we buy.

You probably have a list of the features you’re looking for in your new home - the number of bedrooms, size of the garden, whether it needs renovations or if it’s ready to move in.

Indoor plants are one of the cheapest and most effective ways to transform your home, and generally require very little care or love to thrive.

It’s a common misconception that building a sustainable home costs more money, and that it’s all about saving the environment. In fact, a sustainable home may not cost you any extra if you design features in right from the start - and it may even cost you less by making some clever design decisions and reducing excess space.

Whether you are building or buying, spending some time to really think through the way that you will use your home now and into the future can save you a lot of time and money, and will make sure that your new home is the right fit for you.

Fruit, vegetables, bread products and leftovers are the most common foods thrown out by residents in the Redlands area, according to a recent study.

Nature is more than just a faraway national park. So much can be discovered be getting outside and into your local bushland, park or forest.

Reconsider throwing your leftover condiments away- they could be the perfect ingredient for a salad dressing. Have a tiny bit of mustard left in the jar?

Tired of your fridge being a messy den of unidentifiable leftovers, little plastic containers and spills that someone pretended not to see and forgot to clean up?

Nutrition is key, but learning nutrition is essential! Throwing lunchbox food out, or discovering your child hasn’t eaten much during their school day is one of the most frustrating issues parents have.

As we embrace healthier lifestyles and become more conscious of chemicals in our foods and environment, it’s important to also consider what we are putting into our bodies through our skin and hair.

It only takes a walk down any supermarket cleaning aisle to comprehend the abundance of products for home cleaning. The underlying message from manufacturers of detergents, disinfectants, bleaches, crèmes, powders and pastes for household cleaning is that we need to use chemicals to keep our homes fresh, clean and hygienic.

If you watch a garden intently for long enough, you will notice a buzz of insect activity - in the air, on plants, in flowers, and within the soil.

The 12 DOs of Christmas are twelve simple positive actions that everyone can use to help fight the festive war on waste. From green gifts, food and tech waste tips to sustainable summer holiday renovations and decluttering we’ve got it covered!

OzHarvest groups across the country are waging their own “war on waste” by rescuing surplus fresh food that would otherwise end up in landfill and getting it into the hands of needy families.

Using kerbside recycling bins to recycle household items reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfill. However, contamination of the recycling remains one of the biggest challenges for Council kerbside collection programs.

The inspiration to bring about change can come from unusual places. For Helen Andrew, a surplus of mandarins that no one else wanted was the motivation for starting an online community aimed at creating connection and reducing waste.

From 1st July 2018, it will be against the law for retailers in Queensland to supply customers with single use plastic bags. The state-wide ban applies to all retailers including supermarkets, take away food outlets, restaurants, pharmacies, butchers and convenience stores.

The average Australian household produces approximately 1.5 tonnes of waste per year. Reducing the amount of waste your household sends to landfill is easy with these tips on recycling everyday items.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in your home? Then the Minimalism lifestyle movement may be for you. Guest blogget Nicole Lutz explains.

There’s nothing like a pamper session to set your zen to ten. The sounds, the scents, the special stuff they apply to your skin to make it feel extra smooth, soft, and supple - you wish you could do it yourself at home.

Are you a working mum with too little time on your hands? These life hacks and tips will help you organise your life and home so things run more smoothly.

Great article from our friends at Live for Less As this excellent graphic by Foodwise shows, continuing to let our food waste end up in landfill is not a very good idea.

OzHarvest is passionate about minimising food waste and protecting our environment for future generations. Here’s why…Local food facts Australians throw out $8-10 billion of food every year.

Half of the plastic produced globally goes into products that are used only once, which creates a staggering amount of waste. This is one reason why we don’t use disposable cups at home.