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4 Reasons why everyone should do home composting

Published on: July 9, 2018Category: We love the Environment!

Did you know every Australian, on average produces about 180kg of food and garden waste a year. This waste is then sent to rot in landfill and it produces 15.3 kg of methane gas. Methane gas is a toxic greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 21 times that of carbon dioxide.

Each year over half of our household garbage is made up of food and garden waste. Approximately 50% of the rubbish Australians put in mixed waste garbage bins could be put to better use by composting it.

Home composting is a great way to do your part in helping the environment. By turning food scraps and organic garden waste into compost you are doing these amazing things….

  1. Improving soil quality and garden vitality by releasing rich nutrients into the soil.

  2. Suppressing plant diseases and pests, this reduces or eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers and manures helping you save money.

  3. Helping soils retain moisture. By doing this you will not need to water that often and you will also be saving water.

  4. Helping absorb and filter runoff, protecting streams from erosion and pollution.

And of course, one of the most important facts by far – you will be doing your part by reducing the amount of organic waste going to landfill therefore preventing greenhouse gas emissions and leachate which can pollute land, groundwater and waterways!

So what can and can’t you add into your compost bin. Here is a list of the do’s and don’ts

What you CAN add in your compost bin:-

  • Vegetable & fruit scraps
  • Vegetable oil
  • Prunings and lawn clippings
  • Tea bags and coffee
  • Vacuum dust
  • Shredded paper & cardboard
  • Used potting mix
  • Eggshells
  • Flowers

What you CAN’T add to your compost bin:-

  • Meat and bones
  • Dairy products
  • Diseased plants
  • Metals
  • Plastic & Glass
  • Animal manures
  • Fat
  • Magazines
  • Large branches
  • Weeds that have seeds or underground stems
  • Sawdust from treated timber
  • Pet droppings
  • Synthetic chemicals

Home composting is a fantastic way to recycle organic waste. If we all did our part in composting then hopefully we can make a better & greener tomorrow.

Check out my next blog on the best options for setting up composting at home.

Until next time,

Nat

Sourced By

 

 

Vegan Chocolate Tart with Rhubarb

Published on: May 4, 2018Category: Uncategorised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • 150 ml soya milk
  • 4 cardamom pods
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornflour
  • 250 g dark vegan chocolate (70%)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • PASTRY
  • 250 g plain flour
  • 125 g icing sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 125 g soya margarine (cold) , plus extra for greasing
  • RHUBARB
  • 400 g rhubarb
  • 25 – 4 g sugar
  • 1 splash of ginger cordial
  • 1 orange

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas 4. Lightly grease a 25cm loose-bottomed tart tin.
  2. To make the pastry, sift the flour, icing sugar and ginger into a large bowl. Roughly chop and add the margarine and, working quickly, rub into the dry ingredients. Add enough cold water so you can bring the mixture together into a ball. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes.
  3. Once chilled, roll the pastry to ½cm thick and line the tin. Trim any excess and prick all over with a fork. Return to the fridge for 30 minutes.
  4. Bake the pastry blind for 15 minutes. Remove the weight and cook for a further 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
  5. For the filling, place the soya milk in a small pan with 200ml water, crush and add the cardamom pods, and the sugar, then warm over a low heat.
  6. Put the cornflour in a small bowl with a few tablespoons of the warm soya mixture and stir till smooth, then return to the pan, stirring to combine, and bring back to the boil. Remove the cardamom pods.
  7. Snap the chocolate into a bowl and pour over the hot soya. Stir to combine. Add the vanilla extract and a pinch of sea salt, pour into the case, chill for 5 to 6 hours.
  8. To cook the rhubarb, cut into 5cm pieces and place in an ovenproof dish with 2 or 3 tablespoons of sugar, depending on how sharp the rhubarb is. Add the cordial, orange zest and juice, and cover with a cartouche (greaseproof-paper disc).
  9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until soft but holding its shape. Leave to cool. Serve thin slices of the tart with the rhubarb.
  10.  Slice. Eat. Serve. Enjoy!

Sourced from: Jamie Oliver 

Ethical-Brand-Co-Launch-March-2018-1

Some news from us!

Published on: April 3, 2018Category: Haircare

PRESS RELEASE
03.04.2018

NEW NAME & NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR
LEADING ORGANIC HAIR COMPANY

Recently Julia & Luke Charters, owners of highly acclaimed hair care brands EverEscents Organic Hair Care and Eco Lab Style Project, moved their sales & marketing operations into a new purpose-built facility nestled in the bustling business precinct of Coolum Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Along with the stylish new headquarters came a new trading name for the parent company now known as Ethical Brand Co where the motto is “Creators of Something Special”.

To celebrate the new building and the new name, Julia, Luke & their experienced team hosted a launch party with an eco-friendly and Organic twist! The party was attended by hairdressers, business associates, invited members of the trade and of course some close friends and family.

The attendees feasted on a selection of delicious Organic savoury delights including cheeses, antipasto and raw dessert treats all of which were sourced with the “short food-chain” method incorporating local producers and caterers. There was even a giant Vegan friendly cake shaped like the signature product – the Certified Organic Biomass Hairspray and all of this was washed down with local Organic wines. No launch party is complete without a goodie bag to take home and these certainly did not disappoint with an amazing array of local goodies contained within.

Ethical Brand Co is the official home of two amazing hair care brands changing the way we look at professional quality hair care products and the stage is set for more innovative new brands to join the group! Ethical Brand Co …Creators of something special.

 

For access to the Press Release and images, click here.

Quick and Easy Lemon Tart

Published on: March 28, 2018Category: Recipes!

Base

  • 1 cup almond meal
  • 1 cup desiccated coconut
  • 12 Natural Delights Medjool Dates, seeds removed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
  • pinch of salt

Filling

  • 6 egg yolks
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • Zest and juice two lemons
  • 4 tablespoons coconut oil
  1. Place the base ingredients into your processor and blend until the mixture resembles a fine, sticky crumb. Use your hands to press the mixture firmly into the base and a centimetre or two up the sides of an 18cm spring form pan. Place the base into the fridge to set.
  2. Place the egg yolks, honey, maple syrup, lemon zest and juice into a saucepan and whisk to combine. Place the saucepan over low – medium heat and add the oil. Whisk continuously for five minutes or until the mixture starts to thicken. Do not let the mixture boil. You may need to reduce the heat. Spoon the mixture into a bowl and leave to cool. Once cool spoon the mixture over your base and return to the fridge to set.
  3. Slice. Serve. Eat and enjoy!

Sourced from our favourite website: Wholefood Simply 

The amazing benefits of Herbal Teas

Published on: March 5, 2018Category: Healthy Lifestyle

 

Not only are herbal teas a delicious hot beverage but a lot of them are jam packed with goodness that is beneficial for your health. After some research these are my top 3 favourite herbals teas that can do wonders to your health and wellbeing.

Green Tea

Many of the plant compounds found in green tea leaves contain a large amount of important nutrients. Tea is rich in polyphenols that have effects like reducing inflammation and helping fight cancer.

Green tea contains about 30 percent polyphenols by weight, including large amounts of a catechin. Catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provide other benefits. Some other wonderful health advantages that drinking Green Tea may have is it has the potential to:-

  • Reduce atherosclerosis and risk of heart disease
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Reduce cholesterol levels
  • Reduce inflammation in arthritis cases
  • Improve bone density
  • Improve memory
  • Prevent cancer

Although Green Tea has its benefits it may not suit everyone’s taste buds so what other herbal teas are out there that also have an abundance of benefits?

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea is not only refreshing it can boost your overall health in a number of ways. This tea in particular has quite a positive impact on the digestive system and the base element of menthol in this tea is the most valuable part of its organic structure.

So what does this tea do for our bodies in terms of health benefits? This tea has the ability to:-

  • Reduce Fever
  • Improve Digestion
  • Prevent Nausea and Vomiting
  • Treat Respiratory Disorders
  • Boost Immunity
  • Removes Bad Breath
  • Aid in Weight Loss
  • Reduce Stress Levels
  • Relieves bloating, cramping and stomach discomfort.

Drinking Peppermint Tea has so many positive benefits to your mind and body it’s hard to believe something so refreshing and lovely to sip on can be so good for you at the same time. However if Green Tea or Peppermint tea don’t seem to be the right hot healthy drink for you then maybe Chamomile will do the trick.

Saving the best until last.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is one of the most popular herbal teas on the market and it has a variety of health benefits and uses. Derived from the Asteraceae family of plants, the flowers of this plant can be dried and used for different herbal and natural remedies and poultices, as well as its most popular form – tea.

Chamomile tea contains a presence of flavonoids, sesquiterpenes and other powerful antioxidants that have a significant positive effect on our bodies. This particular tea can aid with some of the following:-

  • Boost the Immune System
  • Relives Stress
  • Regulates Sleep
  • Treats Stomach Disorders
  • Hair Care
  • Skin Care
  • Manage Diabetes
  • Treats Stomach Disorders
  • Treats Allergic Reactions

Who knew drinking herbal tea could do so many positive things for our bodies!

Until next time.

Nat

Sourced From:

https://draxe.com/benefits-of-green-tea/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-green-tea#section1

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/beverage/peppermint-tea.html

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/beverage/chamomile-tea-benefits-uses.html

raspberry-muffins-1-of-1

Quick and Easy Raspberry Muffins

Published on: February 4, 2018Category: Recipes!

  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup full fat coconut cream
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup raspberries*
  1. Preheat your oven to 180°C or 350°F. Grease 18 holes of a mini muffin moulds.
  2. Place the honey, coconut cream, vanilla and eggs into your processor and blend until the mixture is well combined. Add the coconut flour and baking powder and mix to combine. Stir through the raspberries.
  3. It is best to work quickly here as the mixture will thicken rapidly.
  4. Spoon the mixture evenly into your prepared holes and bake the muffins for 25 minutes or until golden.
  5. Remove the muffins from the oven and leave to cool in the tray for 15 minutes before gently transferring to a cooling rack.

*frozen is fine.

Sourced from – Wholefood Simply

Benefits of Bone Broth

Published on: January 28, 2018Category: Healthy Lifestyle

Bone broths, broths and stocks are soothing, nutrient-dense additions to the kitchen table, and they’re wonderfully easy and inexpensive to make at. They’re extraordinarily rich in protein, specifically gelatin and they also contain trace amounts of minerals like calcium and phosphorus.

Making your own bone broth from scratch is easy and economical, but if you don’t have the time or would rather not fuss with simmering bones for hours to make broth, you can buy excellent, traditionally prepared bone broth from your local Health Food Stores. It’s the next best thing to homemade. Have a read below of the benefits this yummy broth will bring to your lives:

Bone Broth Boosts Immunity
Amino acids in bone broth, like arginine, glutamine, and cysteine, have been shown to boost immunity in humans and animals.

Bone Broth Alleviates The Common Cold And Bronchitis

There’s a solid scientific reason that we reach for chicken soup during cold and flu season. In 2000, a study was published in Chest, the official journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, which studied chicken soup (bone broth) and found that it does indeed aid in alleviating symptoms of the common cold, by clearing mucus, opening respiratory pathways, and providing easily digested nutrition.

In addition, according to medical doctor and UCLA professor Irwin Ziment, chicken soup naturally contains the amino acid cysteine, which chemically resembles the bronchitis drug acetylcysteine.

Bone Broth Fights Inflammation
Studies show that many of the amino acids in bone broth (such as cystine, histidine, and glycine) reduce inflammation, and L-glutamine specifically reduces gut inflammation. Additionally, the same Chest article from October 2000 mentioned above concluded that chicken soup’s anti-inflammatory benefits may be one reason it is so helpful with relieving symptoms of the common cold.

Bone Broth Strengthens Bones And Teeth
A study on the necessary nutrients for bone health found that the process of bone-formation requires “an adequate and constant supply of nutrients” as follows: calcium, protein, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin D, potassium, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, iron, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, and the B vitamins.
Bone broth with vegetables and meat or fish provides a good source of all of these vitamins and minerals.

Lastly, if you’ve ever wondering why chicken soup is good for a cold, there’s science behind that, too. Chicken broth inhibits neutrophil migration; that is, it helps mitigate the side effects of colds, flus and upper respiratory infections. Interesting!

Sourced from:

http://nourishedkitchen.com
https://wellnessmama.com
www.bodyandsoul.com.au

christmas-cake-1-of-1

Healthy Christmas Cake

Published on: December 15, 2017Category: Recipes!

zest and juice of one orange
1 cup raisins
1 cup currants
1 cup cranberries
1 cup slivered almonds
3 cups almond meal
2 small, ripe bananas (the flesh of mine weighed 200 grams)
10 Natural Delight Medjool Dates, seeds removed
2 teaspoon mixed spice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon concentrated natural vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Preheat your oven to 175°C or 350°F. Grease a 18cm round cake tin. I used my spring form pan, if you are using a cake tin I would line it also.
Place the zest, juice, raisins, currants, cranberries and almonds into a medium sized saucepan. Heat until the juice starts to boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover. Simmer for 5 – 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Place the almond meal, banana, dates, spices, vanilla and salt into your processor. Blend at high speed until the mixture resembles a smooth, thick batter. Stir through the raisin mixture. Spoon the cake mix into your prepared tin and use damp hands to smooth over the top of the cake.
Bake for 30 minutes. Cover with foil and bake for a further 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for 30 minutes. If you are using a spring form pan remove the sides and allow the cake to cool completely.

Recipe sourced from our favourite website www.wholefoodsimply.com

On behalf of the whole team here at EverEscents, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to providing you with more Organic content and beautiful receipes in 2018.

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Gluten Free Weet-Bix Slice

Published on: November 10, 2017Category: Recipes!

The Slice
6 Gluten Free WeetBix
2 cups desiccated coconut
1/2 cup honey*
1/4 cup cacao
2 tablespoons hulled tahini
1 tablespoon coconut cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

The Top

50 grams dark chocolate, melted

Method

Line a square 20cm cake tin with baking paper overhanging the sides for easy removal.
Place the ingredients for the slice into your processor and blend until they are well combined and sticking together.
Spoon the mixture into your prepared tin and use slightly damp hands to press it firmly down.
Top the slice with the melted chocolate if desired and place into the fridge for several hours or overnight to set.

Slice. Eat. Enjoy.

Sourced from one of our favourite websites: www.wholefoodsimply.com

living sustainably

How to live a more sustainable life

Published on: October 13, 2017Category: Healthy Lifestyle

We came across this fantastic blog about how to live a more sustainable life by www.boody.com.au, be sure to check it out below!

Everyday we see people trying to make a difference in the world with eco-friendly initiatives and zero waste campaigns. But that doesn’t give us an excuse to sit back and assume they’ve got it all under control.

To contribute positive change to our planet, it’s up to us as individuals to change our daily habits. Living without waste not only benefits the earth, but supports our physical and mental health in many ways.
All it takes is the desire to make a change, along with actionable steps to do so.
Check out these 16 suggestions to help you get started with the no waste lifestyle;

1. It’s time to break up with your stuff
A survey by the Australian Institute for a Just, Sustainable and Peaceful Future has found 88 per cent of Australian homes have at least one cluttered room, and the average home has three or more cluttered rooms.
De-cluttering not only gives you more space, but it also clears your mind so you can focus on what really matters in your life. The easiest place to start? Your closet. A minimalist wardrobe will help make room for what’s important in your life.

2. Make your own cleaning products
It’s no secret that chemical cleaning products are linked to asthma, cancer, reproductive disorders, hormone disruption and neurotoxicity. Switching to natural, homemade cleaning products not only saves you money, but your family’s health too. You’ll find most ingredients to make natural cleaning products are already in your cupboard.

3. Stick a ‘no advertising’ label on your letterbox
It’s called junk mail for a reason. Not only are advertising brochures adding to our rubbish pile, but they’re encouraging us to buy more ‘stuff’ we don’t need

4. Fix broken things before throwing them out
You would be surprised at what you can find on YouTube when it comes to fixing things. So before jumping to conclusions and tossing something out, get your creativity buzzing and look up a DIY video on YouTube. You might just become your own handyman.

5. Exchange books with your friends or go digital
Start a book swap with your friends. It’s a great way to read much loved books and expand your reading interests. Otherwise purchase from a second-hand bookshop or download your books digitally. Not only will you save paper, but it’s half the price of a hardback copy and you can keep it on your digital device wherever you go.

6. Sustainable lunches
Stay healthy and save money by making your own lunch. Opt for a reusable container or natural piece of fabric to wrap your lunch in.

7. Limit prints
After typing something up, why not try fitting it to one less page than it already is? Condense the font, increase your margins and don’t waste unnecessary printing. Recycle paper and use double sided printing.

8. Replace your post-its with visual ones
Going online is an efficient way to file your life and work stuff with ease. Chrome extensions such as Sticky Note or applications like Evernote are easy to use. The best part? You can keep your to-do list with you wherever you go and sync it to all of your devices.

9. Bring your own coffee cup
Each year over 20 million trees are cut down to make paper cups. The sad thing is, how hard is it really to purchase a reusable cup or bring your own mug?

10. Adopt a composter
Whether you’re living in a house or apartment, you can still use a compost bin.
11. Say goodbye to plastic containers, cling wrap and aluminum foil
Plastic containers and cling wrap are not only adding to more landfill, but are lined with chemicals that are harmful to the body. Purchase eco-friendly lunchboxes and glass containers instead.

12. Bring your own bags
Australians use enough plastic bags per year that if these were tied together they would stretch around the world 24 times. Grab yourself a sustainable canvas bag which you can alternatively use as a handbag or keep in your regular handbag for unexpected grocery shops.

13. Refuse paper towels in restaurants
According to a recent study by Scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, paper towels generate 70% more carbon emissions than the newest technology on the market. Opt for a fabric serviette and use the hand-dryer in the bathroom.

14. Bring a container with you and do your own doggie bag
If you’re the type to never say no to leftover meals in a restaurant, be sure to bring your own container and skip out on the plastic.

15. Switch for durable alternatives
Instead of using cotton pads to remove make-up, opt for a reusable cloth. Swap out your plastic toothbrush for one made out of bamboo. Store your homemade beauty products in reusable jars.

Blog sourced from: www.boody.com.au

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