Talk about destiny, we returned from our big trip up north and stayed a night with my parents. Advertised in the local paper was the perfect block of land for us to make our start. 
Watch this space 
Is a very excited land owner
November 7, 2011 — organicmel
The beginning of our first bus home…
October 6, 2011 — organicmel
My partner Grant has previously owned and renovated a bus into a liveable space rather than its former commercial role. He is also a cabinet maker/builder by trade, so renovating buses really brings out his skill and artistry. The bus began with a dream, neither of us having a truck licence, driving them was always going to be a problem. While on our journey doing something else, the seed was planted in our brains to drive trucks, work in the mines, earn money quickly. Thankfully the idea never came to fruition, because I always struggled with the fact that mining – of any kind – is not kind to the planet. However out of that initial thought we got our truck licences, are currently employed as drivers and can drive buses…. So the hunt began to fulfil part of Grant’s dream, and progressed us along the journey to the farm. So here are the beginning photos of our bus….:)
The old school bus we started with…
Me learning to use an angle grinder, out with the old…
Almost empty, except the we are also currently living in it…
The boudoir – temporarily.
Guess who’s back….ME!
October 6, 2011 — organicmelWell I have been a very busy beaver travelling around the county – Australia – reinventing myself and working toward my dream farm. I believe that to put your efforts ‘out there’ before they come to fruition is not good (an article I read on TED says that you get positive reinforcement by talking about your goals which results in your brain believing you have already achieved them and you lose momentum.) Sooo lets just say, its not far off!
But I learnt to drive trucks, Im working for a trucking company and we bought a bus to turn into a motorhome – another benefit of getting my truck licence – which is our current project. This one will be to sell, and learn from our mistakes, but the next one will be to live in, in the beginning of owning our farm. I will add bus progress photos soon.
I believe in the whole bus as a home notion, it is really taking off here in North Queensland as there are alot of mining towns without enough accommodation. It recycles buses that have been taken out of commercial circulation – ours just came off a school bus run – and hopefully stops at least one new motorhome being built. In our fast pace world where employment is not a surety or is transient a mobile home is an exciting and practical way to get around. Less people want to be tied down by a mortgage or rental property but still want a place to call home. I love it, for now and maybe you will too over the next few months as you see bus number one transform.
Im glad to be back, I have lots to share, no where near enough time but Im going to make the effort. My blog became very popular in my absence. Namaste to all who share my space.
Sometimes you just want to throw your hands in the air and say…
October 14, 2010 — organicmelYIPPY!!
Exercising in nature boosts mental health
September 12, 2010 — organicmel(NaturalNews) Just five minutes of exercise in a natural place is enough to significantly improve mood and mental health, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Essex and published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.
“It’s important that people experiencing depression can be given the option of a range of treatments, and we would like to see all doctors considering exercise as a treatment where appropriate,” said Paul Farmer, chief executive of the mental health nonprofit Mind.
Mind distributes grants to local environmental projects that run outdoor activities for people with mental illness.
Researchers compared the results of 10 different studies on a total of 1,250 participants, examining the mental health effects of outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, gardening, fishing, boating, farming and horseback riding. They found that within five minutes, people engaging in exercise in a “green” setting such as a park, garden or nature trail experienced significant improvements in mood and self-esteem.
Although the effect persisted during longer bouts of exercise, the biggest improvement in mood was seen in the first five minutes.
“Self-esteem and mood are strong indicators of good mental health, and also, in the long-term, of good physical health,” said lead researcher Jules Pretty.
Other effects measured included improvement in levels of stress, blood pressure and stress hormones.
Exercise in green spaces was significantly more effective than exercise in urban surroundings. The effect was strongest in places that had water, and among those who were younger or mentally ill.
Pretty suggested that employers at stressful workplaces could encourage their employees to take lunchtime walks in nearby parks. Similar programs might prove helpful with youth offenders, as well.
“A challenge for policy makers is that policy recommendations on physical activity are easily stated but rarely adopted widely,” he said.
A major advantage of “green exercise,” he noted, is that it is drug free and very low cost.
