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The Henry family runs an orchard and cidery nestled under Mount Alexander at Harcourt, just over an hour North of Melbourne, Specialising in making 'Real Ciders & Perry' utilising the best local fruit and traditional cidermaking methods.

Bottled water is often marketed as a healthy alternative to tap water, soft drinks, and sports drinks. But have you ever thought about how it is produced? Water is a natural resource necessary for life on our planet. Access to water is a fundamental human right, so water reserves should be used for the collective good. However, corporations like Coca Cola, Pepsi, and Nestle take advantage of this communal property for profit. It makes even less sense when you realise that for the same price as a standard 600ml bottle you get over 1000 litres of tap water! Clean Up Australia says that of all the rubbish their volunteers collect, 1 in 10 is related to bottled water. Because the bottles are plastic, non-renewable fossil fuels go into making them. These same plastics frequently end up in landfill and the ocean, taking hundreds of years to break down. Licenses to use groundwater usually lack proper analysis, meaning companies can often drain more than is sustainable from the Australian people. Is an industry that takes water from local communities, places it in unsustainable packaging, and charges an extreme markup really one you want to support? Make it a habit to use a refillable bottle instead of buying bottled water If you are concerned about the quality of your tap water, it is better to install filters on your taps than waste money on bottled water. Talk to your council, work, or school about installing more water fountains so people have easy access to water.

Coffee is a major industry in Australia and a big part of our culture. An estimated 19 million Australians drink coffee every day, with the industry bringing in $3.18 billion in revenue for 2020. But have you ever thought about the millions of people across the world whose livelihoods depend on coffee production? Unfortunately, many are unable to earn a reliable living wage. Volatile coffee bean prices, changing weather conditions, difficulties with disease, and a lack of bargaining power put significant pressure on farmers. This is compounded by a coffee bean price that has been declining for the last decade. In some cases, farmers earn less than one cent from a $3 cup of coffee! But if coffee is such a profitable product and growers live so poorly, where does all that money go? Well, most of the profits are pocketed by the roasters, which are overwhelmingly large multinational companies. The biggest of these in the Australian market include Nestle, JDE Peet's, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. Many large Australian businesses, like Vittoria Coffee, also have a significant market share. While far from perfect, Fairtrade-certified coffee is a solid alternative. Farmers who are certified get a minimum price for their beans, protecting against unpredictability. They also receive a premium to invest in their business or local community. Another plus is the audits which aim to prevent child and forced labour, discrimination, and other poor work conditions. A more ideal solution is to buy from companies that both grow and roast the beans themselves. This cuts out the multinationals taking the profits and ensures equitable pay for growers. What you can do: Buy coffee that is sustainably grown and roasted here in Australia. Look for products with the certified Fairtrade symbol, preferable from from small, independent, Australian-owned roasters.