Circular for Keeps: Arlene’s Approach to Sustainability

Full Circle

There is an exciting paradigm shift going on.

If you haven’t let her in,

Sustainability is already at your doorstep.

Heroes are walking within our neighbourhood.

Their concern is

‘’Are we doing this fast enough?’’

This decade is a deciding factor for our future (1).

It’s okay, we still have nine years.

But I was only 25 yesterday.

Now I’m 50.

We all eat 3 times a day.

As consumers of food we have the power to shift our intentions daily.

Hands up those who want to heal our future!

We all share the same values FOR our kids.

Intentions go in full circle.

Full circle. Always.

Circular Business Model

With that first principle in mind, I’m continually developing a circular business model for Hayden’s House. The following are steps I’ve taken in effort to incorporate sustainability in every part of the business and in turn put back life in our soil through my choices of ingredients and packaging.

100% Plants Only Kitchen and Organic Ingredients

Sustained the business as 100% wholefood plant-based using mainly organic ingredients. It’s a WIN-WIN-WIN outcome for our organic farmers, suppliers, the health of our customers and our environment.

Who are the Rainmakers?

Growing produce organically and regeneratively have the least negative impact on the environment. Organic farmers do not only put back life in our soil and healing properties in our fruit and vegs. They are also rainmakers.

Organic tea plantations in Malawi had highest concentration of rain. The atmosphere literally became populated with diverse microbiome from the plant-life on their ground.

The quality of that plant life then dictates the quality of the microbiome in the atmosphere/biosphere that then significantly contributes to the extent and quality of the rainfall (2).

By using organic ingredients, we are contributing to then allow our farmers to educate new and existing conventional farmers to transition to become organic.

Volunteer to Learn

I volunteer at an ACO urban farm one day a week to enhance my understanding of organic regenerative farming.

Evolving Packaging

Using eco-friendly and sustainable packaging right from the inception of the business. I’ve also incorporated home-compostable packaging especially to our weekly meal packs. Customers take home re-usable cooler bag with the meals inside packed in zero-waste packaging. Customers have clear and easy instructions how to compost them at home.

We All Chip In

At markets, I encourage customers to bring their own sealed containers for the treats they purchase. Customers return jars to be sterilised and re-used. Broccoli seeds for sprouting are given to kids for free to educate them how life starts from seeds and to encourage them to grow their own food.

I bulk buy dry goods to avoid wasted packaging. I also encourage suppliers to use home-compostable packaging. For example, at my request, Wellwood Wallace Certified Organic Walnuts are happy to deliver the walnuts to me in paper bags instead of plastic vacuum bags. I have given them the details of companies that make compostable vacuum bags and they are now looking into it.

As consumers we have the power to say NO to plastic. We have the power to create an agency with those around us to step toward good change.

I lead as an example to customers showing them how easy it is to grow food even in a very small backyard like mine. They also learn that growing your own food further reduces waste from packaging and no till gardening help our environment.

Let Us Create an Agency

Yes, Hayden’s House is a finalist for sustainability leadership. Winning would mean giving Hayden’s House a louder voice.

A voice of purpose.

Which will allow me to create an agency for good change with the Melton community, because none of us can do this alone.

Street Good Food

One of my visions is a street of good food and organic produce which will then contribute to better our health and heal our future.

Minimise Injury and Maximise Nutrition

Yes, I’ve been called a ‘crazy vegan mother for you’.

Well, ‘I defy a category’ (3).

I simply choose food that will do the least damage and injury to our body, mind and our earth. I do it to maximise nutrition so we can evolve.

You Want Bonus?

And there are micro bonuses.

You would be feeling joy from within.

Feeling healthy is our first step to freedom.

You may find yourself doing a little dance whilst you blend your smoothie.

You may find your smaller waistline.

And look, even a no-make-up glow.

Who knew organic spinach can make your eyes sparkle? (4)

And there are even discussions of anti-aging.

In a ‘Not so Nutcase’ Nutshell

Yes, motherly.

Yes, maybe a little crazy.

But how are we to better our world if we’re all doing the same things.

I simply would like to provide the ultimate customer service.

That is, taking care of Mother Nature,

Which includes me, and you.

Mother Earth threw us a curveball in 2020. I think she wants us to evolve our relationship with the animal kingdom and our soil (5).

Regular small steps lead to big ones.

8 of the top 20 solutions to our better future are food-related (6). Let’s form an agency for good change and bring carbon and life back home.

References:

1. Leading Swedish scientist Johan Rockstrom who work closely with Sir David Attenborough.

2. Regeneration by Paul Hawken

3. Inquire Within by IN-Q.

4. Beauty from the Inside Out by Dr Libby Weaver, Australian Nutritional Biochemist.

5. Rich Roll from RRP.

6. Drawdown by Paul Hawken.