News and Recipes

These astrological and planting moon calanders are made specifically for the southern hemisphere each year by Thomas Zimmer. Along with all the moon phase, eclipse and seasonal information it also provides commentary on the year ahead and excellent gardening information.

Come in or order online to get your Easter bunnies and eggs!! Milk, dark, sugar free, lactose free varieties available… YUMMY YUMMY FOR MY TUMMY!!! 

With reported health benefits such as increased energy, weight loss, mental clarity, better digestion, reduced pain, glowing skin, a stronger immune system and needing less sleep, why would one choose not to juice?

It seems, no matter what your goal, juicing has something to contribute.

Juicing is a fantastic way to boost nutrient intake. Unlike synthetic multivitamin and mineral formulas, all of the nutrients in fresh, raw juice are readily available and recognized by our bodies. Fresh, raw juices offer a myriad of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants.

Enzymes aid digestion and if we have surplus amounts, act similar to antioxidants in the body, scavenging for free radicals such as those associated with degenerative diseases like cancer. They also help to eliminate debris from the body, for example, scar tissue around old injuries.

Much energy is used for digestion, so when we intake more nutrients, with less digestion required, our energy levels soar.

However, be aware that not all juice is equal. Commercial juice is generally pasteurized and therefore devoid of nutrients and high in sugar.

It is not only nutrients that are concentrated through juicing. Chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are also concentrated when we juice and over time can contribute to significant health problems, especially in children. Peeling produce does not get rid of these toxins. We must therefore be mindful to use organic fruits and vegetables.

Furthermore, organic produce contains more nutrients, tastes better and supports a more sustainable planet!

For best results, juice mainly vegetables, as sugars become quite concentrated in fruit juices. Include beetroots for liver detoxification, ginger for circulation, carrots for eyesight, celery for eliminating cellulite, turmeric for reducing inflammation and greens for minerals and overall health. A little lemon and apple can be added for taste.

Happy Juicing!

DETOX JUICE RECIPE

2 leaves silverbeet/ collard greens

1.5 cm fresh turmeric

1.5 cm fresh ginger

5 carrots

1 medium beetroot

½ green apple

1/2 lemon

3 celery stalks

Juice in order listed for best results. Quantities may vary slightly depending on freshness and size of produce. Enjoy.

The Moontime Diary 2013 works with the natural seasons and cycles of the moon, sun and planets. Everyday practical suggestions show how you can make the most of the moon phases. 

This diary is relevant for a range of differing people, including those interested in health and nutrition, home and garden, small business, astrology, wiccan and new age

The Moontime Diary 2013 features all the diary essentials plus

·         Daily and easy to integrate tips for the art of timing

·         Introduction: Why and how it works

·         Many helpful tables to look up best times for health, home and gardening by the moon

·         Illustrations full of symbolism and beauty

·         Inspiring new moon intention setting guide

·         Moon void of course explanation and times

·         Daily moon phase and position

·         Daily planetary aspects

·         Monthly planetary tables

·         Public Holidays and other markers

·         Pagan Observances

·         Crystal cleansing and charging guide

·         And much much more

·         Printed on 100% recycled paper

Pumpkin Bread - wheat, dairy and sugar free

2 cups wholemeal spelt flour

1 ½ tspn baking soda

1 tspn aluminium free baking powder

2 tspn cinnamon

1 tspn nutmeg

1 tspn ginger

1 tspn cloves

2 tspn allspice

1 tspn salt

½ cup extra virgin coconut oil (can also use butter)

2 eggs

1 tspn vanilla extract

¼ cup brown rice milk

1 ½ cups grated pumpkin

½ cup raisins

¾ cup agave

1)      Grease a 9 x 5 baking pan with a little coconut oil.

2)      Sift together dry ingredients.

3)      In a separate bowl combine oil, eggs & vanilla.

4)      Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients alternately with milk.

5)      Stir in pumpkin and raisins.

6)      Bake for 65 to 75 mins at 170C until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

7)      Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing.

8)      Spread with a little coconut oil or butter and enjoy!

Sustainability@TheTop provides information on living sustainably in Darwin and across the Top End. It allows you to create your own sustainable action plan by pledging to complete actions at home, in the garden and at work within a chosen timeframe.

Receive regular email prompts encouraging you to revisit your action plan and update your pledges.  As you complete your pledges your  $, water, CO₂  and ‘footprint’ savings are tracked through the inbuilt ecological footprint calculator. 

 You can ask questions and make comments, as well as post community events to the events calendar,  and news page.

Visit Sustainability@TheTop at http://www.sustainabledarwin.com.au/ or follow the links through the City of Darwin website. 

(vegan, sugar free and gluten free option)

An advanced probiotic supplement, biobubble utilizes whole grains and legumes as a base for probiotic bacteria to feed from. It is a living supplement, meaning that live probiotic bacteria are continuously growing and multiplying inside the bottle. The fermented whole foods from which they feed also act as prebiotics in the body, aiding multiplication of probiotics in the large intestine. As they have been fermented, their nutrients are much easier for the body to absorb and assimilate, providing many vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and enzymes on top of the probiotic benefits. Biobubble provides over 200 strains of probiotic bacteria, which support digestive and immune health. It has a sweet, fizzy lemon/ginger flavour or mint/lime for the gluten free option. Suitable for both adults and kids.

Wholemeal Spelt Banana Bread   (Sugar free and dairy free options!)

2 cups wholemeal spelt flour (can also use whole wheat flour)
5 ripe/ over-ripe bananas mashed
1 tspn aluminium free baking powder
1 1/2 tspn baking soda
1 tspn cinnamon
1/2 tspn nutmeg
1 tspn vanilla
2 free range eggs
1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil or organic butter
1/2 cup coconut palm sugar or agave necter

Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips, currants or chopped dates & walnuts

 1. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg together.
 2. Melt coconut oil or butter over a low temperature.
 3. Beat eggs and add coconut oil, vanilla and agave (if using).
 4. Add sugar to the dry mixture if you are not using agave.
 5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Mix well.
 6. Mash the bananas well and add to mixture along with the chopped walnuts & dates, currants or chocolate chips if you choose to use them.
 7. Pour mixture into a 9x5 bread tin.
 8. Bake at 170C (350F) for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until a knife inserted comes out clean.
 9. Remove from pan when well cooled.
 
Great served with extra virgin coconut oil or organic butter. Enjoy!

If you are into seasonal produce and happy to accommodate variation in your weekly fruit and veggie supply, we also have mixed fruit and veg box options. You can choose to have just fruit, or vegies, or both and a number of sizes for each of these options are available.

Click on the link below to place your order.

Order here.

Consumed by our increasingly hectic lifestyles, many of us simply forget the sheer importance of water. After oxygen, water is the most vital nutrient for survival. We can go without food for weeks, but deprived of water, will die within a few days.

Water makes up over two thirds of the human body and is a key component of all bodily functions.

However most of us suffer from chronic dehydration! This can manifest in the body in a number of ways, including fatigue, poor digestion, ‘foggy’ thinking, constipation, skin problems, headaches, general aches and pains.

People commonly mistake thirst for hunger and end up eating much more than required. Simply by increasing water consumption it is possible to lose weight. It also helps combat excess fluid retention and detoxifies the body.

Herbal teas can be included in daily water intake. However caffeinated teas and coffee dehydrate the body, requiring that we drink more water.

Daily water needs vary depending on activity levels, water consumption from food, physical build, etc. However living in the tropics of Darwin I think it is safe to say that most of us require at least two litres daily. The easiest way to monitor your water consumption is to buy a litre bottle and make sure you drink it twice over during the day.

Remember not all water sources are equal. Treated tap water contains chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride, which deplete our immune systems and contribute to our general toxic load. These chemicals are not lost through boiling the water. However there are options available to improve water quality, such as filtration systems. Bottled spring water or UV treated rainwater are also good options.