Seminar: Wholefood cooking for Children
It is no secret that I am a huge fan of the fabulous cook and author Jude Blereau. Reading her books are for me like reading a warming novel, yet ultimately more nourishing and rewarding. The gifts keep coming as you cook more and more of her food. So it is an understatement to say that I am excited about her Wholefood for Children (Nourishing children with whole and organic foods) book that is released on the 6th March this year!!
I can not recommend Jude's books and seminars highly enough, and what a treat that we can experience both of these on the 6th March. Booking details can be found below.
Jude is running a seminar aptly titled 'The Season of Harvest' on Saturday the 6th March, read below for more details and how to book. Hope to see you there!
A word from Jude......
Event Program
Guest Speakers
Gotthard Bauer – Yallingup Woodfired Bread
WA’s only Demeter certified bakery
Bee Winfield – Merri Bee Organic Farm
NASAA certified Free Range Pork, Eggs,
Vegetables & Gourmet foods
Jude Blereau – Natural Food Chef,
Whole Food Cooking
Welcoming the Harvest
Booking Details
Saturday 6th March 2010
Time: 1pm – 4.30pm (Doors open from 12.15pm)
Venue: FJ Clarke Lecture Theatre
P Block, QEII Medical Centre,
Nedlands. Access off Caladenia Ave
(via Monash Ave)
Price: $35 (seating is unallocated, tiered theatre-style)
Books, local produce and other merchandise
will be on display and sale from 12.15pm
Enquiries & Bookings
events@wholefoodcooking.com.au
To purchase tickets online please go to
www.wholefoodcooking.com.au and click on the
link to the blog. Updated event and purchase details
can be found there.
I can not recommend Jude's books and seminars highly enough, and what a treat that we can experience both of these on the 6th March. Booking details can be found below.
Jude is running a seminar aptly titled 'The Season of Harvest' on Saturday the 6th March, read below for more details and how to book. Hope to see you there!
A word from Jude......
This quarter ‘Everyday with Wholefoods’ brings you a look at Autumn and the season of Harvest. We’ll look at what’s coming into season over the next few months, where to get it and how to use it to create delicious meals that heal, nourish and delight!
With the new school year underway, our focus this seminar will be on children. We’ll take a closer look at lunches for both children and adults. We will be also celebrating Jude’s harvest – the publication of her new book “Wholefood for Children – Nourishing Young Children with Whole and Organic Foods”. This beautiful new edition will be available on the day or for pre-purchase.
You’ll also hear from two local food producers – Bee Winfield from Merri Bee Organic Farm, who grows a wide range of organic food including delicious eggs (what makes a good egg?) and meat (Merri Bee is the only source of certified organic, nitrate free bacon in Perth) and Gotthard Bauer from Yallingup Woodfired Bread (Demeter certified & biodynamic) who will share
what makes a bread good!
We’ll also have a wonderful range of suppliers for you to meet and shop with on the day.
With the new school year underway, our focus this seminar will be on children. We’ll take a closer look at lunches for both children and adults. We will be also celebrating Jude’s harvest – the publication of her new book “Wholefood for Children – Nourishing Young Children with Whole and Organic Foods”. This beautiful new edition will be available on the day or for pre-purchase.
You’ll also hear from two local food producers – Bee Winfield from Merri Bee Organic Farm, who grows a wide range of organic food including delicious eggs (what makes a good egg?) and meat (Merri Bee is the only source of certified organic, nitrate free bacon in Perth) and Gotthard Bauer from Yallingup Woodfired Bread (Demeter certified & biodynamic) who will share
what makes a bread good!
We’ll also have a wonderful range of suppliers for you to meet and shop with on the day.
Event Program
Guest Speakers
Gotthard Bauer – Yallingup Woodfired Bread
WA’s only Demeter certified bakery
Bee Winfield – Merri Bee Organic Farm
NASAA certified Free Range Pork, Eggs,
Vegetables & Gourmet foods
Jude Blereau – Natural Food Chef,
Whole Food Cooking
Welcoming the Harvest
Booking Details
Saturday 6th March 2010
Time: 1pm – 4.30pm (Doors open from 12.15pm)
Venue: FJ Clarke Lecture Theatre
P Block, QEII Medical Centre,
Nedlands. Access off Caladenia Ave
(via Monash Ave)
Price: $35 (seating is unallocated, tiered theatre-style)
Books, local produce and other merchandise
will be on display and sale from 12.15pm
Enquiries & Bookings
events@wholefoodcooking.com.au
To purchase tickets online please go to
www.wholefoodcooking.com.au and click on the
link to the blog. Updated event and purchase details
can be found there.
Monday, March 29, 2010
NOT a super mum
Recently I received a post on the CleanLife Blog that was more than a little concerning to me. Firstly because it gently accused me of being a super mother, which frankly I don't think exist but secondly because it made me think, oh dear, am I giving the impression that I live the perfect life? Because that would be more than a little misleading. I'll let you read the comment first and below it you will find out exactly why I am so so so so so far from a super mother. I will warn you my reply is very long, very real and honest (possibly too much so)!.
Hello there,
I have just logged on to your website and read all the latest that you are promoting...All very interesting and informative, as it seems to be whenever I google your website, but I must say that I find it unrealistic for you to expect certain people to have the time in their life to attend to the events that you promote.
You may find it easy to commit time and money, I ask is this your real job? Are you a mother who has has all the time in the world to find information on this topic and attend sessions whenever you please. You must be a Super mother or someone with alot of money and time on your hands. I find that every day time is precious to me. I love to spend quality time with my children and have little time for these sorts of things in my life. Are you living the real world?
Look, I am a ordinary suburbian mother of three school aged children and also a part-time worker with a husband who works long hours(not uncommon) living from payday to payday!,regretably,I find that I have little time to attend the seminars such as the ones you constantly promote on your website.
I ask where do mothers such as myself find the time to do this? Are you living the real life of a mother and wife yourself?
Anonymous
I have just logged on to your website and read all the latest that you are promoting...All very interesting and informative, as it seems to be whenever I google your website, but I must say that I find it unrealistic for you to expect certain people to have the time in their life to attend to the events that you promote.
You may find it easy to commit time and money, I ask is this your real job? Are you a mother who has has all the time in the world to find information on this topic and attend sessions whenever you please. You must be a Super mother or someone with alot of money and time on your hands. I find that every day time is precious to me. I love to spend quality time with my children and have little time for these sorts of things in my life. Are you living the real world?
Look, I am a ordinary suburbian mother of three school aged children and also a part-time worker with a husband who works long hours(not uncommon) living from payday to payday!,regretably,I find that I have little time to attend the seminars such as the ones you constantly promote on your website.
I ask where do mothers such as myself find the time to do this? Are you living the real life of a mother and wife yourself?
Anonymous
My reply;
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for taking the time to check out our website and blog, it is always humbling to know that people are reading. I always appreciate comments be they negative and positive as I think there is always something to learn. In this case perhaps it is the fact that a website conveys all the shiny glossy joys of ones life without transmitting the difficulties, pains and hardships that we ALL face.
Certainly with three kids, your workload is significantly higher than mine, I barely cope with one, so I can see how getting to any events is tougher for you.
I am absolutely not a super mum, my poor husband who is currently doing almost all the cooking and cleaning in addition to working full time, while I battle my way through relatively severe 'all day and all night sickness';( ie: I am pregnant but refuse to call it morning sickness) will attest to that! Some days my house is neat and tidy, but currently on most days, I think - 'I hope nobody drops in today - they won't believe the mess!'.
In response to your direct comments and questions;
1) I do not attend every single event that I mention on the website. However over the past four years I have attended most of them in some form or another and found them useful. It is for that reason that when they come around again I recommend them. I certainly would not expect that any one person could attend them all. At many times I barely have the energy to post the events on the website, let alone attend them. However many people do attend as often these events have hundreds of attendees and in many cases they are mostly mums, some with newborns in slings. When I do attend I enjoy them immensely and they inspire me to keep going, to do the best that I can and be happy with that. It is very empowering to also see that there are many other women who are trying to learn all they can to provide the healthiest safest environment for their families. Many people will achieve this without ever attending an event, for others it is the events that provide the catalyst to start and the inspiration to continue. Money can be an issue, however the majority of events we promote are relatively cheap with many around $10 and a significant amount have been free. In the case of the wholefood seminar, which I did attend, it was more costly at $35 but for me it provided the inspiration that I needed.
2) As for this being my real job, indeed it is. I gave up being a full time Physio in late 2004 inLondon
3) I like you love spending as much time as possible with my daughter and husband. They are without exception my number one priority. Prior to my daughters birth I was a serious career woman and thought that I would be back to work with gusto as soon as possible. In reality the moment she arrived into our bath - yes you read that correctly - I knew that work was never going to be a priority in my life ever again. Since then I have battled constantly with the desire to help people find information about eco-friendly and organic living vs the NEED to be at home with my daughter at all times! My business was only a little more than 1.5 years old when Lilian arrived and still needed ongoing attention. I worked every moment she slept, putting myself into complete exhaustion, three bouts of mastitis and several other illnesses later, I finally realised that this was ridiculous and I started to take up more of the offers of help from my mother in-law and my mother. I guess when you say 'Do I live in the real world?' you are assuming that I am a rich woman, with a nanny etc etc. I am NOT! (although I have to admit, if I was really rich, I do think I would have a full time cleaner, who could also cook!). I do have the absolute luxury of a cleaner for three hours once a week, without her, the floor just wouldn't be a safe place for children, especially given how much they enjoy eating off it! We have also moved to live closer to my parents and only 300metres from my in-laws who have been of enormous assistance with caring for Lilian. And no we do not use daycare, because we have been so lucky with family being so close and so keen to help. I do all the regular mum things including shopping at four different places to get all the organic goodies I want, playgroup - I'm also on the committee of that one, swimming, music - this is my reality.
We got to the point where I was COPING...just....then.... I got pregnant.
Now 2.5 years since Lilian's birth we are expecting our second child and for the second time I have been sick all day and all night since week 6 of the pregnancy. This has again made me re-assess my lifestyle. The reality is that we can NOT 'have it all'. Or at least I can't. I think that catch phrase is so incredibly damaging. Some women do seem to manage everything really really well - family - work -home. I am certainly NOT one of those women, and if we are honest, very few women really are either. My close friends will know this, mostly because many have not seen me for weeks, while I have been barely coping to have toilet paper in the house (OK lets be honest, we used tissue and baby bum wipes for three days last week!). I can see however that those who meet me at a work function or socially, would certainly think I have it all. Amazing husband - tick, gorgeous daughter -tick, loving and helpful extended family- tick. But as for everything else - it is still very much a work in progress.
I am working over the next three months, to reduce my workload to the absolute minimal, so that I can enjoy the remainder of my pregnancy, and enjoy my newborn when he or she arrives. I have already started turning work away and in fact, I have been doing this since my daughter was born. This has actually been a really difficult decision for me, I spend hours upon hours of time, answering questions and emails from loyal CleanLife readers about all things natural, organic and eco-friendly. In the last six months however I have been unable to keep up with demand and this free part of our service must end. Never fear the website and BLOG will still run, with all the information, but I personally won't be as available as I have been. My family and my health must come first.
So in closing, I am most sorry if I ever gave you the impression that I was a super mother. In my opinion they actually don't exist and if they did, I would be the last to be nominated. I have to say that I will continue to list up and coming events. In my mind it is like going the library, they don't expect you to read every book, you only pick what you want and know you will have time to read, but there is still a lot on offer. I'm just letting people know that these events are available.
So there is the truth - in its harsh reality - my life is just like yours it seems.
Before ending I must say that I can't complete this article without saying that while I feel every inch of these mothering difficulties, I know that overall I have an easy life, compared to women in poorer regions of the world and for that I will always be truly grateful. Oh but here it comes again, now I can't stop thinking about what more can I do to promote helping women in poverty stricken regions - and again i see my life floating between charity work and mothering. Will I ever find a balance?
Keen to take comments from any mothers who have achieved balance!
This article was written is super speed on the way to pick up my daughter from her in-laws, so please accept all errors - typos etc - indeed I am a flawed woman!
Gina
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for taking the time to check out our website and blog, it is always humbling to know that people are reading. I always appreciate comments be they negative and positive as I think there is always something to learn. In this case perhaps it is the fact that a website conveys all the shiny glossy joys of ones life without transmitting the difficulties, pains and hardships that we ALL face.
Certainly with three kids, your workload is significantly higher than mine, I barely cope with one, so I can see how getting to any events is tougher for you.
I am absolutely not a super mum, my poor husband who is currently doing almost all the cooking and cleaning in addition to working full time, while I battle my way through relatively severe 'all day and all night sickness';( ie: I am pregnant but refuse to call it morning sickness) will attest to that! Some days my house is neat and tidy, but currently on most days, I think - 'I hope nobody drops in today - they won't believe the mess!'.
In response to your direct comments and questions;
1) I do not attend every single event that I mention on the website. However over the past four years I have attended most of them in some form or another and found them useful. It is for that reason that when they come around again I recommend them. I certainly would not expect that any one person could attend them all. At many times I barely have the energy to post the events on the website, let alone attend them. However many people do attend as often these events have hundreds of attendees and in many cases they are mostly mums, some with newborns in slings. When I do attend I enjoy them immensely and they inspire me to keep going, to do the best that I can and be happy with that. It is very empowering to also see that there are many other women who are trying to learn all they can to provide the healthiest safest environment for their families. Many people will achieve this without ever attending an event, for others it is the events that provide the catalyst to start and the inspiration to continue. Money can be an issue, however the majority of events we promote are relatively cheap with many around $10 and a significant amount have been free. In the case of the wholefood seminar, which I did attend, it was more costly at $35 but for me it provided the inspiration that I needed.
2) As for this being my real job, indeed it is. I gave up being a full time Physio in late 2004 in
3) I like you love spending as much time as possible with my daughter and husband. They are without exception my number one priority. Prior to my daughters birth I was a serious career woman and thought that I would be back to work with gusto as soon as possible. In reality the moment she arrived into our bath - yes you read that correctly - I knew that work was never going to be a priority in my life ever again. Since then I have battled constantly with the desire to help people find information about eco-friendly and organic living vs the NEED to be at home with my daughter at all times! My business was only a little more than 1.5 years old when Lilian arrived and still needed ongoing attention. I worked every moment she slept, putting myself into complete exhaustion, three bouts of mastitis and several other illnesses later, I finally realised that this was ridiculous and I started to take up more of the offers of help from my mother in-law and my mother. I guess when you say 'Do I live in the real world?' you are assuming that I am a rich woman, with a nanny etc etc. I am NOT! (although I have to admit, if I was really rich, I do think I would have a full time cleaner, who could also cook!). I do have the absolute luxury of a cleaner for three hours once a week, without her, the floor just wouldn't be a safe place for children, especially given how much they enjoy eating off it! We have also moved to live closer to my parents and only 300metres from my in-laws who have been of enormous assistance with caring for Lilian. And no we do not use daycare, because we have been so lucky with family being so close and so keen to help. I do all the regular mum things including shopping at four different places to get all the organic goodies I want, playgroup - I'm also on the committee of that one, swimming, music - this is my reality.
We got to the point where I was COPING...just....then.... I got pregnant.
Now 2.5 years since Lilian's birth we are expecting our second child and for the second time I have been sick all day and all night since week 6 of the pregnancy. This has again made me re-assess my lifestyle. The reality is that we can NOT 'have it all'. Or at least I can't. I think that catch phrase is so incredibly damaging. Some women do seem to manage everything really really well - family - work -home. I am certainly NOT one of those women, and if we are honest, very few women really are either. My close friends will know this, mostly because many have not seen me for weeks, while I have been barely coping to have toilet paper in the house (OK lets be honest, we used tissue and baby bum wipes for three days last week!). I can see however that those who meet me at a work function or socially, would certainly think I have it all. Amazing husband - tick, gorgeous daughter -tick, loving and helpful extended family- tick. But as for everything else - it is still very much a work in progress.
I am working over the next three months, to reduce my workload to the absolute minimal, so that I can enjoy the remainder of my pregnancy, and enjoy my newborn when he or she arrives. I have already started turning work away and in fact, I have been doing this since my daughter was born. This has actually been a really difficult decision for me, I spend hours upon hours of time, answering questions and emails from loyal CleanLife readers about all things natural, organic and eco-friendly. In the last six months however I have been unable to keep up with demand and this free part of our service must end. Never fear the website and BLOG will still run, with all the information, but I personally won't be as available as I have been. My family and my health must come first.
So in closing, I am most sorry if I ever gave you the impression that I was a super mother. In my opinion they actually don't exist and if they did, I would be the last to be nominated. I have to say that I will continue to list up and coming events. In my mind it is like going the library, they don't expect you to read every book, you only pick what you want and know you will have time to read, but there is still a lot on offer. I'm just letting people know that these events are available.
So there is the truth - in its harsh reality - my life is just like yours it seems.
Before ending I must say that I can't complete this article without saying that while I feel every inch of these mothering difficulties, I know that overall I have an easy life, compared to women in poorer regions of the world and for that I will always be truly grateful. Oh but here it comes again, now I can't stop thinking about what more can I do to promote helping women in poverty stricken regions - and again i see my life floating between charity work and mothering. Will I ever find a balance?
Keen to take comments from any mothers who have achieved balance!
This article was written is super speed on the way to pick up my daughter from her in-laws, so please accept all errors - typos etc - indeed I am a flawed woman!
Gina
Labels: books, children, CleanLife readers, seminars
posted by Gina Cacho | 11:49 PM
3 Comments:
Hello there,
I have just logged on to your website and read all the latest that you are promoting...All very interesting and informative, as it seems to be whenever I google your website, but I must say that I find it unrealistic for you to expect certain people to have the time in their life to attend to the events that you promote.
You may find it easy to commit time and money, I ask is this your real job? Are you a mother who has has all the time in the world to find information on this topic and attend sessions whenever you please. You must be a Super mother or someone with alot of money and time on your hands. I find that every day time is precious to me. I love to spend quality time with my children and have little time for these sorts of things in my life. Are you living the real world?
Look, I am a ordinary suburbian mother of three school aged children and also a part-time worker with a husband who works long hours(not uncommon) living from payday to payday!,regretably,I find that I have little time to attend the seminars such as the ones you constantly promote on your website.
I ask where do mothers such as myself find the time to do this? Are you living the real life of a mother and wife yourself?
Anonymous.
Hi, Many thanks for your honest blog. I hear you sister! I am 47 with a 9 month old baby that took 20 years to 'bake'. I work 3 days per week and about to start working another 1.5 days from home. Someone said to me recently that I make it look so easy...EASY! Most of the time I am completely fatigued! It's so easy to look at others and compare their life to your own but I believe we all need to feel comfortable in our own skin doing whatever it is that we do. I get depression if I am not busy, so for me, working keeps this at bay. My Mum had six kids and I remember she was always doing stuff, which must have been exhausting, but all of my siblings agree that we all have special memories of one on one time with Mum. I try to intentionally do things that will create good memories for my son whether I have 5 minutes or 5 hours available. This for me is what 'quality time' is reallly all about. Congratulations on your hard earned successful 'business'. What is really admirable is that you recoginise that things dont need to stay the same. I guess you have a home business for the flexibility and it obviously works!
Hi Mother of a nine month old, How wonderful, congratulations that your 'baking' paid off! I completely understand the fatigue - I think until people people have experienced the intensity of parenting, it is hard to fathom the extreme fatigue that often accompanies it.
Indeed, I agree you can be home all day with child yet not have any quality interaction if you are depressed or even just unhappy. Yet a happy bustling mum who has her needs met, like it sounds you do, can give incredibly intense quality time, which is of great value, as you know.
I also think depression in some form or another is still not talked about openly enough amongst mothers, there still seems to be the idea that perhaps we should put on a brave face and say all is wonderful. Sharing coping strategies such as you have is so important and so helpful for other mums who may feel they are alone in there situation.
I completely agree that we need to do what we are comfortable with. I think I am still learning exactly what that is for me. For a long time I thought working was a very important part of my identity and part of what made me happy. This is still true to some extent, but I realise now that I am at my happiest when I am working just a little and have time to potter in the vegetable patch, cook up a mess in the kitchen and spend copious amounts of time relaxing and playing with my family. For others happiness may be found in the reverse situation. The exact balance is yet to be found - but it sounds like we are both on the road to finding it. Best wishes for your working your new 1.5 days working at home.
Thanks for sharing part of your story.
Gina
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