Sunshine Coast Hinterland retreat in Queensland, Australia
How this vacation makes a difference
Environment
We are an organic retreat using ethically sources timbers, toxic free paints. We grow much of our own produce, source plenty from other people in the village and support the local organic shops in Maleny. We actively promote individuals and businesses owned and run by community members. We subcontract and hire skills and labour locally. We purchase community produce and food. We run a business which is unique in its approach to educating, informing, and sharing what our community is about and raising the understanding, respect and appreciation of its values and culture of sustainability. This in turn benefits others of our community financially, and socially, through provision of goods and services to our clients.
We get our electricity from a green energy scheme by Ergon Australia. We have solar hot water and several houses in the village are solar powered. We minimise energy use by using energy efficient light bulbs and appliances and turning off lights and appliances when not in use. We grow & collect our own fire wood on site for our fire place in winter. We are self sufficient in our own water use with 2 water tanks. One of these is 40,000litres and is located in the middle of the house keeping it cool in summer. We use showers and half flush toilets to reduce water use. We have a laundry scheme where we only change towels and sheets after each guest every 5 days, as weather dictates or at guests’ request.
We use Australian non toxic, biodegradable, eco personal and cleaning products such as Mukti Botancals, My Essence, In Essence, Tri Nature and Handmade Home products on ourselves and the property. We process all waste water on site and recycle to the garden. We have a reticulated water system in place as well. We have a no antibiotic or heavy medication policy to maintain the integrity of this system and our water quality.
We cultivate our garden and property without the use of pesticides and fertilisers, using organic, permaculture and some biodynamic principles. We encourage wildlife in our garden by having a strict no dog or cat by law in place, Regenerating riparian and rainforest and scrub, programs and have acres of wilderness zones. The property is part of an official wildlife sanctuary and has no fences on majority of 500 acres. We plant and cultivate native food species for all wildlife including insects and butterflies. We compost all our food and garden waste. Some food waste goes to the chickens in community. We recycle glass, plastic and paper, no’s 1-16, and have facilities for our guests to recycle their waste too. We support local conservation projects such as Land For Wildlife, Burung Land Care, Mary River Catchment. We are currently lobbying and creating the blue print for a Wildlife Corridor through suburbia, that runs through the Sunshine Coast Hinterland all the way to Brisbane. We use recycled stationary.
We provide a living experience within the world’s first permaculture village. We provide guidance services both casually and professionally for Natural Health and sustainable living. We are passionate about what we do. If we can not help then we can direct you to a fantastic resource base of people within the village, local area and past guests who have lots to share in regards progressing these concepts.
We have a commitment in the area of children’s health needs globally. We lobby the current Australian Government to address health issues in the indigenous communities. We currently have an ongoing project of aid, raising awareness and funds for Tuberculosis, focused at present on orphaned children of Tibet. We have a building project to create an Isolation Unit to treat contagious diseases. We host community events to this end, generating interest and networks with and for others to make a difference, connecting them to appropriate organisations. We manufacture a new musical instrument called the Slide Didge. It is a product that was designed with the intention of bridging connections between our Indigenous Australian culture (one of the oldest on earth) and contemporary global cultures of the world that support environmental sustainability.
Community
Kylie is a great events manager. Scott keeps it all ticking the two of us work great as a creative team in the visioning process.We organise events such as
www.thenightgarden.ning.com is a multi media arts event attracting around 300 people biannually. It brings a broad range of creative performers together with our community and other guests from our bio region.
Art Auction Music Night fund raiser for orphans of Tibet event called 'Our World Our Children" $7000 raised for a medical unit.
Harii Banduh and the Wild-Life Dreaming Concert www.wildlifedreaming.socialgo.com is a music event put on By Scott and Harii Bandu we will be starting in the village on the first Sat of every month Starting in November 2011.
www.crystalwaters.socialgo.com community building website built by Scott to bring an online level of communication for our local community
Scott your host is passionate about transitioning into sustainable development and has started a community farming group "Le Champs" with a french man and 9 others. Chickens are his focus.
We are regularly supporting other community members in their pursuits of community development.
This is the home of www.slidedidge.com a new musical instrument designed and developed by your host Scott Dunbar sold all around the world for the last 15 years.
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