Taking Action to Make Dreams Come True

Human nature and psychology are just so interesting to observe. When we know that certain actions will most definitely fill us with joy, improve and lengthen our lives, or save the planet … why don’t we act on them?

It remains a mystery, but all I can say is I’m thankful for the impetus of the A Year In a Day Project because it’s given me the motivation to try so many of those wonderful things I’ve procrastinated about doing. I’m having a ball as a result.

Today I wasn’t sure what to do next so I looked back at the 142 actions taken by the 34 people who’ve already chosen to participate. Check them out here

As a result I’ve taken two very simple actions, but ones that have filled me with overwhelming delight. I’ve signed the petition calling for Australia Post to honour traditional place names, and I’ve ordered spawn to grow my first crop of oyster mushrooms.

Honouring Traditional Place Names

Firstly, I was inspired by Debra Mainwaring to sign the petition to recognise that every area on this continent, now known as Australia, has an original place name. I signed the petition calling for place names to be made part of the official address information in Australia, the same as postcodes and street names. 

The petition also calls for Australia Post to collate a comprehensive and accurate database of traditional place names, by consulting with Elders and First Nations knowledge holders on each Country.

I was signature number 28,571 on the way to the 35,000 signatures they’re aiming for.

You can sign the petition here or visit @place_names_in_addresses on Instagram

Growing my own oyster mushrooms

I am passionate about funghi. My life changed when I first watched Paul Stamets, the world-renowned mycologist, give a TED talk called ‘6 ways mushrooms can save the world’ way back in 2008. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth checking out here:

I photograph funghi, I read about funghi and I’ve shovelled tons of wood chip mulch at Blackheath Community Farm, and gardens around NSW, to increase the mycelium networks in our soil (they’re the little white threads you can see below that are holding the pieces of wood chip together). The mycelium shares water and nutrients between plants and helps build our soils so that they can retain water. They help create a slow release sponge, like a forest floor. Mushrooms are their fruiting bodies.

When I read that Melissa Chambers had inoculated a collection of sticks with Wine Cap Mushrooms I knew the time had come … it was time to finally order mushroom spawn and have a go at growing my own.

She ordered her spawn from Aussie Mushroom Supplies so that made it really easy for me … today I ordered Pleurotus ostreatus (Winter White Oyster) and Pleurotus ostreatus (Blue Shimiji). Both grow quickly, are one of the easiest mushrooms to grow, and are good Autumn mushrooms. I have plenty of coffee grounds to get them started. Despite it being January it definitely feels like Autumn in Blackheath at the moment … it’s cool and wet … just perfect for mushrooms!

I cannot begin to express how excited I am!

Join #AYearInADay Citizen Science Project

We’d love you to collaborate with us and share any NEW action you take to restore planetary health in the comments below or on our social media. Let us know if other people are influenced by your posts, or ours, so that we can measure outcomes of this project. The first time you leave a comment on this blog you’ll need to enter your name and email address.

Our first step is to record 365 new actions. Our second step will be to aim for 365 new actions in one single day. Imagine if we could do it every day of the year! You can subscribe to receive a daily action from us here