New website Bindarri brings together a bunch of creatives committed to using their art for positive change. Taking its name from the Nyungar word for ‘lightning’, Bindarri keeps us posted with the latest creative goings-on and provides an interactive directory of all those good-as-gumdrops designers out there. The blog and e-zine showcase some of the collective’s favourites every couple of months; right now, for example, they include eco-conscious photojournalist Rodney Dekker, the very clever people at Design Victoria, and the cute and guilt-free designs of Melbourne fashion label Button Tree, among others. And what’s more, they’re happy for anyone to download the work to use in their own projects; this way, they figure, they’ll be able to watch their seeds of change spread and grow.

We love farmers markets for providing everything supermarkets don’t – the freshest, seasonal produce, a chance to chat to growers and bagfuls of bonhomie – so we’re delighted that a new one is about to sprout. Good luck to our friends of the Mulgrave Farmers Market, which will take place every Sunday morning from 31 May and become the first weekly market of its kind in Melbourne. We don’t need to describe what makes a good farmers market but this one promises the lot: local, seasonal, free-range and organic produce as well as the strictest criteria to ensure that all stallholders are, in fact, producers. What’s more, all profits from the market will go towards charities supported by the Wise Foundation. So if you live in the eastern suburbs, grab the whole family and head down to the corporate headquarters of The Body Shop Australia and help keep money local; save a few dollars; meet the guy who grows your spuds; and soak up the music and village atmosphere.

Can’t staying in touch with overseas friends sometimes seem ridiculously difficult? It should be so simple, yet striking the balance between regular contact and what we consider meaningful correspondence seems to be an art in itself. But old friends Emma Cowan (a Melbourne-based photographer and designer) and Antonia Pont (poet, artist and current Berlin-dweller) have really turned it into art. Over one of their last pots of tea together before Antonia headed away, they came up with The Post Project. Rather than just sending the usual frantic and fragmented emails, these two slow advocates decided to combine their love of words and images, in a project that they can potter on together between their two cities. The idea is simple: one sends a message – an image, a text, a few lines of poetry – and the other responds, beginning a long slow conversation across the world. Some posts demand spontaneity, others play at patience; all are delightful and inspirational little interludes that remind us of the simple joy of staying in touch.

Sometimes officiating over such rudimentary day-to-day things like saying hello to your neighbours makes saying hello to your neighbours seem...dicky. Fact is though, that popping next door for a cup of sugar/screwdriver/whatever is now something only country folk do. Fact Number 2 is that our neighbours probably know us better than our friends (the neighbours will know about your penchant for playing Spandau Ballet on a Saturday morning, they'll know you got a new couch, had such-and-such over last Sunday...). So, it's worth saying hello, and, at the risk of feeling like a bit of a dick, doing so this Sunday (29 March) will mean you're participating in Neighbour Day - established a few years ago to resuscitate community spirit, and to look after the older folks in the 'hood.

Twenty minutes of downtime. It's not a lot in a 16-hour day, but it's never easy to find time for it. Which is why the Pocketnap is so natty. It's a downloadable (around 20 bucks) guided meditation/hypnosis that you can access anytime (tram/office...) from your ipod or computer. There are three to choose from: Relaxed, Energised and Good Feelings. (And it's locally produced, so you won't be listening to a cheesey, jingly-jangly American accented diatribe about your inner beauty, which, of-course, is the antithesis of relaxing, energising and imbuing good feelings.)

No one thinks you can just walk into an op shop these days and find a vintage (as in 30-year-old) garment just hanging there with a $4 price tag. Everyone knows to go straight to a vintage store and expects to pay $70 per item. Or do they...?
Like the lottery, there's always a glimmer of hope that the oppy racks and shelves will turn up that special something for not much money - the way they used to.
Due to the dearth of good finds, there's a lot of jaded op-shoppers who jealously guard their favourite shops. Not so with the crew from I Op Therefore I Am. There are reviews by genre ('Jewish op shops...lots of wigs...') and by area (with contact details), as well as brag pages ('I found this old cutlery drawer...'). There are even op shopping bus tours. Uh huh.
So, if you can bare to share your op-shop knowledge/love, have a look.

They may not come running to greet you when you come home from work, or curl up on your lap while you're reading - bathed in filtered sun. But one thing they have over other pets is that they feed you. They'll also happily eat your vegie scraps.
Chickens are lovely to have around.
If you're not sure, you can rent a few chickens (they come with a coop and all) for a week or two - see how it goes. Note though, that they'll likely be Bantams (which aren't classified as layers). For that, you'll need Isa Browns or Leghorns (although the latter have a reputation for being uppety).