Spurtopia story on TEDx

TEDx talk in Ispwich

What a great privilege to present our eight year sustainable living journey at famous TEDx talk.
TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an invitation-only event where the world's leading thinkers and doers gather to share ideas worth spreading and find inspiration.


Watch a 16 minute video of the TEDx talk

Every End Has a New Beginning

It has been over six years since we rented the property in New Farm.

Spurtopia Logo

We have converted a small back yard into a productive garden - an ecosystem buzzing with life and symbiotic relationships between humans and nature. We have set a prime example of how sustainably people can live in a city, how to set up a small but functional community (renters of five units and neighbours) and how this can be replicated elsewhere by sharing our experience and knowledge with other people.
Now, with regret we have to announce that the creation is going to be demolished in May and replaced by two new houses. This is particularly sad, not because we have to move out, but because of the ecosystem which is going to be destroyed - such a huge loss for the local environment.
So if you would like to come and see what has been achieved, we will be running a few last workshops and an open day here at New Farm.
Having said that, every end  has a new beginning. We are moving (21 April 2015) to live temporarily at our friend's farm close to Jimboomba. In the meantime we will be looking for a property to live permanently. So, if you know of something which might be suitable please let us know.
SpurTopia is still operating and faster than ever with about 100 events already booked for this year and the number is growing. We will be running inspirational talks, presentations and workshops at libraries, schools, gardening clubs, community centres and BCC parks to educate, inspire and empower people to live more sustainably. For more info see our events and workshops.

We are really excited about what the future will bring.

Your SpurTopians
Roman Jana Lada

 Every end has a new beginning

SPURTOPIA - THE YEAR AHEAD

SpurTopians

What an incredible journey it’s been for Spurtopia during its first year! Firstly, we’d like to thanks to all our friends and countless people who have supported us in creating the Spurtopia notion (with over 100,000 blog views; over 1000 facebook followers and over 5000 people we talked to in person at over 100 events). We have been overwhelmed with the number of people who have been inspired and who have begun to walk lightly on the planet. Living by example has enabled us to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

What’s coming up in 2015.
- Spurtopia workshops will encompass a variety of different topics which include:
· How to start gardening;
· How to start beekeeping;
· How to live sustainably;
· How to make a self-watering planter box;
· How to use solar energy; and
· Natural parenting, chemical free kids and healthy homes.
- Presentations and workshops at libraries (Brisbane City Council, Redland Bay, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, and the Sunshine Coast)
- Education of the younger generation – Talks and workshops at child care centres, schools, colleges, universities and excursions to our “urban farm”. Through education the younger generation can be inspired and in turn they can pass on their knowledge to ensure not only change now but also into the future.
- Collaboration with Brisbane City Council and Education Queensland, to deliver sustainable education program to the general public, schools and environmental grants for community gardens and centres.
- Continuing to share our experience, knowledge, ideas and innovations of sustainable living to become more self-sufficient via our blog posts, videos, and media as well as attending various expos and events.
- Sustainable household assessments and garden consultations providing tailored advice to individuals.
- Positively promote our ethos of sustainable living around Australia via articles in magazines and newspapers, radio interviews and TV appearance.
- Take Spurtopia onto the international stage following our great success around Australia.

There is such a bright future ahead of us.

Be inspired to take the first step - create your own Utopia.

Life is Beautiful
Yours SpurTopians

Roman, Jana and Lada

Sharing is Caring - Do you Care?

Sharing is caring

 We care and that is a reason why we are sharing. We share with passion which is infectious so people are awakening and sharing the passion with others. Altogether we will make a difference.

Once more and more people start to care, the world will become a more enjoyable place to live in. And it will be.

Many thanks to Nancy and Andrew Kent from The Inspiration Garden for being a part of the Open Garden day where we shared our sustainable ideas and inventions.

We also shared our beekeeping experience in the "How to start Beekeeping" workshop with over 30 keen people at SpurTopia's place. They came to learn how to start keeping  honey bees in a backyard from scratch. This shows how much people care as without bees and their pollination we would not have over 2/3 of the food we eat.  So .... Be Free with Bees.

As we want to share more and an increasing number of people are eager to learn, we have decided to run  more workshops on specific topics at our place.

SpurTopians with Nancy and Andrew from The Inspiration Garden

Bees, bees, bees, what would we be without you?

SpurTopia's Formula for Happiness

The "happiness formula" works so well for us that we want to share it with you.

“Every single moment you can, act to the best of your ability as this contains the highest amount of excitement (joy, love, creativity and passion), take it as far as you can and keep doing that with zero assumption, insistence or expectation of the outcome of what that action ought to be.”

Inspiring public at "What's cooking in the garden" event

Living sustainably and walking lightly on the planet is a wonderful lifestyle and the way of the future which excites us the most. Sharing with and inspiring people while igniting a light of the true values of life, fulfils us and makes us happy. More importantly, acting without any expectations of final outcomes and financial benefits (we do everything on a donation basis), brings us to another dimension of life where it is possible to achieve everything. And it really, really, really works. We are getting more and more people interested in how we live and what we do, our sustainable living talks, our presentations and workshops.   

In the last few days we:
- Inspired university students as part of a  QUT leadership, development and innovation program.
- Taught people to make self-watering planter boxes and "showed and told" our way of life during SpurTopia Open Day.
- Shared our sustainable living and practical ideas at the SpurTopia stall and during a presentation at the "What’s cooking in the Garden" event at Redcliffe.

If you live and do a whole day according to what you really want, that would be the highest achievement which would make us incredibly happy. Imagine that everyone would live like that - the world would be completely different. And It Will Be...

Lada is speaking public at the event  

Concrete yard as a large workshop

Self-watering boxes group

Sustainable living Demonstration

Play time

SpurTopia on SBS radio

SpurTopia interview on SBS radio

We are constantly sharing and inspiring people to live sustainably not only in our local area but also Australia wide and internationally. Check the Czechs (SpurTopians) on SBS Radio interview in the Czech language which was aired 24 July 2014.

We Are What We Eat - Grow Your Own Food

Creating a no-dig garden bed

Empowering people to grow their own food allows them to eat fresh and organic fruit and vegies, be healthier, save money, provide physical and mental exercise, connect with nature and be less reliant and  future resilient.

If people knew how conventional food has been produced and stored, they would not buy it and either grow it at home or purchase it from an organic farmer. With the  amount of "artificial and dead" food people eat it is surprising how the human body can cope continue living.

We are what we eat. It is all about education. And that is why we freely share our knowledge and experience of growing your own  food. In the last few days we have been sharing our gardening and alternative lifestyle knowledge with people to inspire and encourage them to take the first step.

• Filming for Bris 31 TV gardening program Blooming in Brisbane and aiming to have a regular segment – it starts 10 Sept.
• Demonstration of ideas and inventions at DIY Vertical Gardening Workshop at Loganlea Community Centre
• Hands on Workshop – no-dig garden at the Community Garden Bethania Street Wynnum

Talking gardening ideas and  inventions

The TV producer - Lada

SpurTopia inspired thousands of Queensland Garden Expo visitors

SpurTopia stall at the QLD Garden Expo

SpurTopia had a stall and gave presentations at the biggest Queensland Garden Expo, in Nambour. Over three days of sharing useful information, ideas, inventions and practical tips and tricks for day-to-day use, we inspired thousands of people to become less reliant, more sustainable and environmentally aware while reducing living expenses and living healthier lifestyles. The overwhelming positive responses fuel us to carry on with spreading our messages.

To share knowledge rather than competing and making money
A new era of sharing for the benefit of others and the entire community is the way to go.

To revive what was common half a century ago but somehow got lost in the translation
How is it possible that our grandparents lived a more or less self-sufficient life, producing their own food, clothes and doing everything by themselves while now with all our so called “society progress” and all the available technology, it is unthinkable to be self-sufficient? In fact, we are so reliant on food, energy and healthcare supply that we have become a very vulnerable and unhealthy society.

To brighten up our children's future
Our current way of life leaves our children a lot of “garbage” to deal with. So when your children ask you in the future, “Daddy, Mummy if you knew what was happening, What Did You Do about it?”, what will your answer be?

Sharing ideas 

Presentation

 Everyone enjoyed the event

Talking sprouts

SpurTopia Happy Day

New styrofoam box gardeners

SpurTopia had a great afternoon which was sunny but a bit windy. Plenty of self-watering planter boxes were made and countless useful and practical information and ideas were shared. Seeing people being inspired and being grateful for what they have learned, makes us happy and keeps us going. Many thanks to all who came today and for your donations to help us continue to run these workshops.

It's priceless to receive feedback like this:

"Hi Jana, Roman and Lada,
Just wanted to send a quick email thanking you for a wonderfully informative and inspiring talk this afternoon about sustainability, I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
On the drive home we have planned our cockroach killing spree and washing powder cook up.
With your lovely clear blue eyes, healthy skin and happy smiles you are all beautiful examples of living well on what is provided by mother nature. Thank you to Jana for allowing us to take a little snip of Aloe Vera, we planted him when we got home. We love your stories Roman, in particular the one about the “road kill possum”. :-)
Blessings to you all.
Helen and Terry. "



Intro

Making boxes in progress

Lada overseeing the workshop

Grand garden tour

Power of a community

Our sustainable living talk on the Sunshine Coast

What one can create is nothing compared to what a community can achieve. On Saturday we were invited to the Yandina Community Gardens on the Sunshine Coast to talk about our gardening, sustainable living and the importance of living in a functional community. People from the local community were inspired by what we do and how we live in a small community of five units in Brisbane city. We were also very impressed with the community gardens - productive, blossoming gardens full of fruiting trees, lush greens, ponds, a native beehive, an aquaponic system, a stylish cob oven and a cosy community building - all run by friendly volunteers. It was very inspirational for us to see what people in a community such as Yandina Community Gardens have accomplished.

Presentation in progress

"Blue House" at Yandina community gardens

Why do we do what we do?

Logan Eco Action Festival

During our SpurTopia sustainable living presentations, events and workshops, people ask us - 

"Why do you do this?" Our answer is:

- Inspire people to improve their life, health and lifestyle

- Make a difference - empower people to live more sustainably and become less reliant 

- Feel an urge to share our living experience and fulfilling lifestyle in complete happiness.

We are a living example of what can possibly be achieved. We'd rather teach fishing instead of giving fish. 

What do we get out of it? Pleasure of sharing and an amazing feeling when helping other people to live more sustainable and fulfilling lives while saving money.

Hands-on Workshop: Make your own Self-watering planter box

SpurTopia Open Day

Make a difference - Do what excites you most

SpurTopia Stall at Green Heart Fair

In our lives, we do what excites us the most - sharing and showing our simple, healthy and sustainably fulfilling lifestyle. It excites us to give people helpful tips and tricks they can use at home to improve their lives. That empowers them to make a difference, save money and become less reliant by growing food and using the power of the sun.

This week we made a difference to thousands of people through the following events:

- Interview on 4ZZZ radio

- An article in the local City North News

- Open garden for Subtropical fruit tree club

- SpurTopia Open Day: Make your own self-watering planter box, a sustainable living presentation, a garden tour and tasting of home and garden produce

- SpurTopia presentation and a stall with display table at Green Heart Fair, the biggest sustainability event in Brisbane

All of this gives us a great deal of satisfaction and it is taking our life into another dimension.

Make your Self-watering planter box workshop

SpurTopia Sustainable living presentation

Slice of farm life in CBD - City North News article

City North News article 29 May 2014

We preach what We live

Griffith Uni Eco Centre presentation

We have inspired hundreds of people by our passion for what we do and how we live. Showing our way of sustainable and more conscious living, while saving money and not compromising our comfort was the theme last weekend. SpurTopia was invited to be a guest speaker at the Griffith University Eco Centre and Herb Awareness Fair. There, we delivered presentations and had a display table with our garden and home produce, ideas and inventions. More importantly, we personally talked passionately, sharing information with each other.  The best reward we get is seeing sparkles in people's eyes while saying "what a great idea - I have to do that at home".
Being a living example of what it is possible to achieve is the best way of inspiring people.

SpurTopia stall at Herb Awareness Fair

Presentation for Herb Awareness visitors

Never tired of sharing ideas

Friday Pizza night

What a fulfilling weekend for SpurTopia! We have inspired a lot of people with our ideas, inventions, tricks and tips as well as our lifestyle.
- Friday Pizza night. Homemade pizza baked in our cob oven
- Saturday morning Presentation to Gold Coast Permaculture group
- Saturday evening ABC TV Gardening Australia program
- Sunday early morning radio 4BC interview with Jerry Coleby-Williams
- Sunday morning open garden day for Tamborine Sustainable Gardeners
- Sunday afternoon hands on workshop - "Make your own self-watering planter box"
Life is beautiful!

Open Garden Day

Lovely time at GC Permaculture group

Self-watering planter boxes

SpurTopia baking cake in a solar oven on chilly day

Baking cake in a solar oven

Chilly autumn weather did not stop us from baking a cake in our solar oven. It came out beautifully. All people who came for SpurTopia's open day and hands-on workshop, "Make your own self-watering planter box", could taste freshly baked solar cake as well as raw honey and healthy "home brew". These events are not only about sharing our experience and inventions but more importantly establishing new friendships and it is a pleasure to see people get inspired. That is the most satisfactorily reward we get out of our open days. Thanks everyone for making us happy.

Hands on

Job done

Lada showing planter boxes

SpurTopia Garden Tour

Pumpkin & Black Sapote cakes - highlight of the SpurTopia presentation

Presentation at New Farm Library

We were honored to deliver our "Sustainably living in a Rental Property" presentation at the New Farm Library. People were not only inspired by our lifestyle but also with the tasty Pumpkin and Black Sapote cakes we baked for them.
Here are the recipes...

Pumpkin Cake

Pumpkin Cake:
3 cups wholemeal flour
2 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
0.5 cup chopped walnuts (or macadamia nuts)
0.5 cup sultanas
1.5 cups olive oil
3 eggs
2 cups pumpkin puree (steam half of a medium size pumpkin then blend)
pumpkin seeds to sprinkle on the top
Mix all ingredients together, place it on baking tray lined with baking paper, bake it for cca 40 mins on 180 C.

Black Pudding cake

Black Sapote (Black Pudding) Cake:
1.5 cups plain flour (I mixed 1 cup wholemeal flour and 0.5 cup soy flour)
1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup water
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 black sapote (mash with fork)
1/2 cup macadamia nuts
Mix all ingredients together, place it on baking tray lined with baking paper, bake it for cca 35 mins on 180 C.