In this episode we talk about the first ever co-housing project on the island of Ireland, the Portaferry Cohousing. Based on the cohousing community living developed in the 1970’s in Denmark, Heiko Vermeulen jump-started a community living project in Northern Ireland.

This project is now in planning permission stage and we talk about what co-housing project is, what it means to live within a co-housing community, why it may be beneficial to one’s wellbeing and why it may not be for everyone.

Check out www.portaferrycohousing.org

Music by Mark J Adair of Syncwood Studios www.syncwoodstudios.com

Artwork by Gemma O'Hagan www.gemmaohagandesign.com

In this short and ‘light’ episode I visit a zero waste shop in Bangor and talk to one of its founders Paula.

We talk about the young venture and the reasons why Paula and her two co-founders started Lightfoot. We chat about shopping and how it should be done to minimise the negative impact on our environment and as always, we talk a bit about food.

https://lightfootzerowaste.com/about-us/

Music by Mark J Adair of Syncwood Studios www.syncwoodstudios.com

Artwork by Gemma O'Hagan www.gemmaohagandesign.com

In this episode I visit Glenside Farm – a social enterprise run and developed by a lovely couple Malini and Ian who have decided to share their space with those who need some fresh air, space to think, breathe, be and reconnect with nature and themselves.

Malini and I chat about the importance of nature, natural rhythms, connection with animals and Indian food.

Music by Mark J Adair of Syncwood Studios www.syncwoodstudios.com

Artwork by Gemma O'Hagan www.gemmaohagandesign.com

In this episode we continue with our ‘zero waste’ series. This time I sit down with a sustainable chef Paul Cunningham, and we talk about sustainability, foraging, wasteless cooking, his secret dining events and plans to open up a sustainable hot food bar.

Paul shares many tips for waste free cooking and a couple of plant based recipes.

Music by Mark J Adair of Syncwood Studios www.syncwoodstudios.com

Artwork by Gemma O'Hagan www.gemmaohagandesign.com

In this episode Alice Wilkinson, one of the founders of Belfast refill store the Refill Quarter, talks about leading a reductions life, her passion for sustainability and tips for making little changes than can have a great impact.

She also shares a simply delicious recipe for steamed broccoli.

Music by Mark J Adair of Syncwood Studios www.syncwoodstudios.com

Artwork by Gemma O'Hagan www.gemmaohagandesign.com

This episode is all about plant based cheese and good food.

I chat to a local artisan vegan cheese maker Antonela who knows a thing, or two about good tasty plant based food.

This has been a great chat with a talented foodie who produces the most amazing quality plant based cheese without any nasty ingredients.

Antonela shares with us not one, but two plant based recipes featuring courgettes.

Music by Mark J Adair of Syncwood Studios www.syncwoodstudios.com

Artwork by Gemma O'Hagan www.gemmaohagandesign.com

In this episode I talk to another farming couple - Terry and Judy Vaz, the founders of Hearty Growers, local mushrooms growers and suppliers.

We share a lot of laughs talking about being foreigners living in Northern Ireland, oyster mushrooms, starting up and running a business as a couple, sustainability, zero waste and food.

Judy shares a mouthwatering recipe for a simple Oyster Mushroom Pakora.

Music by Mark J Adair of Syncwood Studios www.syncwoodstudios.com

Artwork by Gemma O'Hagan www.gemmaohagandesign.com

Thank you for listening

In this episode I talk to Michael and Alex, a Northern Irish couple who decided to live sustainably and more in tune with nature by building their own tiny house and building a business growing organic vegetables.

Surrounded by blight tomatoes, overgrown courgettes and lot of positive energy with beautiful scent of basil in their polytunnel, we laugh a lot while talking about their tiny house, organic vegetables, food and sustainable living.

As always we share some plant based recipes at the end.

Music by Mark J Adair of Syncwood Studios www.syncwoodstudios.com

Artwork by Gemma O'Hagan www.gemmaohagandesign.com

This time I talk to a swim coach Colin McCard who runs year round open water swim coaching at Helen’s Bay in Northern Ireland - Swell Swimmers Open Water Coaching with Colin McCard.

We have a chat about Colin’s journey to swim coaching, his love for water and we share beach stories and the benefits we both found open water swimming has to offer.

We discuss the difference between pool and sea swimming, the wet suit versus skins dilemma and the importance of water safety and we even get interrupted when Colin spots a rip current - something truly rare at Helen’s Bay.

Colin offers a good laugh and a quick and simple recipe for a tasty veggie soup with parsnip – the perfect comfort food to warm up after a winter outdoor swim.

Music by Mark J Adair of Syncwood Studios www.syncwoodstudios.com

Artwork by Gemma O'Hagan www.gemmaohagandesign.com

In this episode I talk to my friend, a talented therapist Roisin Cairns from The Little House of Calm. Roisin specialises in treatments for trauma, tension and stress release and in this episode we talk about the stresses of the past 18 months, Roisin’s three months long self-directed retreat, benefits and importance of self-care and passing energies.

We also talk about the impact of tension trapped in the body and benefits of aromatherapy.

Since Roisin’s summer favourite food is guacamole and plain boiled new potatoes, which I’m sure everyone can make by now, I share a recipe for red lentil and rhubarb soup by Kimmy Murphy at One Green Planet.

Music by Mark J Adair of Syncwood Studios www.syncwoodstudios.com

Artwork by Gemma O'Hagan www.gemmaohagandesign.com