90. Lemon Balm, Boomerang Alliance & Plastic-free Living with Diana Condylas on Permaculture Herbalism

The Elder Tree Podcast

Diana Condylas is a community connector, food lover, plant lover and plastic activist. Growing up in a multicultural family, she was used to herbs being used medicinally and in cooking.

She practiced as a naturopath, herbalist, nutritionist and massage therapist for 12 years until having babies. Permaculture came into her life in Sydney in 2007 and transformed how she saw and processed the world. In 2010, Diana returned to Townsville after a few years away and founded the Food for Thought - Townsville community, with an intention of finding her tribe, successfully.

With an active Facebook group and gatherings of people sharing meals and produce, as well as workshops, speakers and movie screenings, she loved the connections made between members of the community that have rippled out beyond Townsville.

As of 2020, Diana has been the Project Coordinator for NFP Boomerang Alliance’s Plastic Free Places NQ (formerly known as Plastic Free Townsville), assisting local takeaway hospitality businesses, events and organisations to eliminate over 1.5 million pieces of single-use plastic cups, lids and other packaging. She wants her children to be healthy, enjoy and care for the world, and understand that we all need to minimise our impact to make it fair for everyone.

She recently won People’s Choice in a vegan sausage roll bake off and loves picking fresh mint from her garden and making it into ‘aguita de menta’ tea as a pause and a tonic.

Takeaways:

• Permaculture is a versatile design system that can be applied to all aspects of life.
• Plants and herbalism can be integrated into daily life, even without a garden.
• Lemon balm is a versatile and nourishing herb that can be used for various health benefits.
• Plastic Free Places NQ helps businesses and events eliminate single-use plastics and transition to reusable solutions.
• Circularity and reusable solutions are vital in reducing plastic pollution. Plastic Free July is a global movement encouraging individuals and organisations to reduce plastic consumption.
• Consumer awareness and behaviour change are crucial to eliminating single-use plastics.
• The Plastic Free Places program is a resource for finding plastic-free businesses and events.
• Using renewable resources, such as banana leaves and papaya stems, can be an alternative to plastic plates and straws.
• Every small action contributes to a cleaner and healthier world.
• Transitioning to a Plastic-Free Lifestyle
• Permaculture is a great design system that's inclusive and collaborative and that whole repurposing and not wasting.
• "Share Waste" is a global program connecting people with scraps to share.
• It's that embedded energy for a single-use item is something that we don't think about in the same way as when we throw something away."
• "Plastic Free July is a worldwide movement - It's time to level up, people!"

Chapters:

00:00Introduction and Background

02:21 Integrating Plants and Herbalism

06:03 Working Towards Plastic-Free Solutions

27:22 Finding Plastic-Free Businesses and Events

34:05 Exploring Renewable Resources as Alternatives to Plastic

43:29 Every Small Action Counts

51:39 Conclusion

CONNECT:

Website: Plastic Free NQ | Plastic Free Places | Boomerang Alliance AustraliaPlastic Free NQ | Plastic Free Places | Boomerang Alliance Australia

Facebook: (3) Facebook

Instagram: Plastic Free Townsville (@plasticfreetownsville) • Instagram photos and videos

Food for Thought - Townsville: (3) Food for Thought - Townsville | Facebook

SHOW NOTES:

• Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis)
• Pau D'Arco (Tabebuia impetiginosa)
• "ShareWaste" platform
• "SaveFull" platform

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