On Board with Green Renters

What is or Who are Green Renters?

Green Renters is an online source for people who strive to lead a sustainable and ecological existence within the confines of rental property. They run workshops, stalls, presentations and panels with a host of tips, advice and home made goodies.

With housing affordability sky rocketing, more and more people are forced to rent or even moved back to their childhood homes. Along with this movement is also an increased demand for "greener" living as we experience unforeseen climate chaos. So, what may have started out as a side project has lead to exciting developments, with Green Renters only just recently becoming incorporated. What does this mean for this little green chick? Well one of the main requirements for an incorporated organization is there must be a board. Do you see where this is heading? Yes, green chick is now a board member of an incorporated organization. I've never sat on any boards and it does seem quite a mature thing to do, so I am quite excited about it. With their purpose, their mission, encapsulating elements of what Green Chic is about, I continue to see great things for 2011.

Green Food Generation

They say money is the root of all evil, yet it is money that makes the world go round. Go figure.

One of many of the problems I think exist in this world is that we value things not according to what we truly like but rather we base it on the expected value influenced the false belief of celebrity status.

Recently, I was given a book as a result of a tweet (power of twitter, hey?). I was slightly shocked that a person I have never met was so willing to give me their copy. Being someone who can't simply accept a person's act of kindest, I offered an exchange. It would seem for them, they valued baked goodies higher than holding onto this book. No mula was exchanged and we both were left pleased with our new items.

I absolutely adore this type of act and I think twitter maybe just be the way we can exchange goods/services to reduce our carbon footprint. Rather than our collection of useless items taking up space or going into landfill, it is found a home. It is more than just an exchange, the added value comes from learning the history of how the item came into possession. But I guess that's sibjective as while I value knowing, others may not.

What is this book? Green Food Generation - a culinary adventure by Haydon Wood. It's a book that has selected restaurants around Australia who are conscious on how their operations affect the environment. Quite a wordy book but the images will keep you going. Receipes you will find but whether they are nice and simple, one has yet to test. For I, great to know whereever I travel in Australia I'll be able to find quality wholesome food, but will I really travel with this book, probably not. I'll just note down the restaurants and pass it on!

Thanks GreenRenters for getting in touch. The whole experience has been more than just a book.

The good news, the bad news...

So I have some bad news but it's mostly good news. Shall we start with the bad, lets. The bad news is, I'm way busy. The good news is, I'm way busy doing something I luv. Finally, green chick has got her groove back, metaphorically speaking. It's been two years of sacrifices but totally worth it cause I now feel like I'm finally cruising. I'm on a road that has my name all over it!

The news? Well as I write this blog entry, I write it wearing the media/comms coordinator hat for the Sustainable Living Festival. How crazy is that. The role kinda fell into my hands and here I am working with an awesome brunch of people, passionate, intelligent and so chilled. When it's right, it's right as when it's hot, it's hot. Not only do I get to take the reigns of the role, I also get to work on all areas of the festival while expanding my sustainability knowledge. Double win! The program for this 16 day festival is freaking amazing. Three words: David Suzuki Awesomeness.

As I just mentioned, it's taken me two years to get to this place. Finding oneself is a hard thing to do when you have all these outside influences and social norms to fight against in order to think truly for oneself. Amazingly I feel I have grown to be a better person. For every challenge and experience I have faced, I have been able to take something away from it. Sometimes it's been about learning the truth about oneself and other times it's been about coming across people with qualities you don't ever want to have. Surrounding yourself with people you respect as oppose to people you think you should know will guide you into the person you want to be. And everyone is different.

So first week into 2011, all is RAD.

While I don't want to get too ahead of myself, I must say exciting times they are at Green Chic. Thank you sincerely for taking this journey with me and I hope you are inspired to live the dream. No matter what the dream is, it can work but you need to take that risk and be true in what you do. Let instinct and karma guide you.

"If you think you're too small to have an impact,
try going to bed with a mosquito"
- Anita Roddick (The Body Shop)