I have 3 beautiful children, 2 girls aged 11 and 10 and a boy aged 7. I am also married to a wonderful man who has absolutely no interest in gardening.

I live in central Victoria in Australia. I was 17 when I came across a magazine called "grass roots" about selfsufficiency and back to basics lifestyle. I was hooked and decided that was the direction in life i was going. It hasnt been easy especially living in town and trying to raise my children in a throw away society and with a husband that supports what i do and how i think but will not do anything physically to help me. I have noticed a change in peoples/ friends attitudes in recent months and I think that has to do with the down turn in the economy. I have been asked to show friends how to make sauce and how to preserve food etc. I find that quiet interesting.

gardening, preserving, living a "simple" life and doing as much as I can from scratch. My greatest goal at the moment is to teach my children what I have learnt and hopefully this will empower them as adults. i can only hope!

Gaia Lasata

broccoli, cauliflower, corn, beans, tomatoes, herbs.