Monique Littlejohn
Bio
Monique Littlejohn is an artist, photographer, and writer living on a hobby farm in South Australia. She shifted between Southern California and Australia for a few years before making Stirling her permanent home 4 years ago.
Stories (9/0)
10 Ways to bring wildlife back to your property
Here in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia, we purchased our property because of the abundance of native wildlife. The previous owners who built the house ensured that life was in perfect balance on the homestead. They grew everything organically and didn’t overdo it in garden maintenance.
By Monique Littlejohn3 years ago in Earth
How to Make Healthy, Free Garden Soil
Before I started making my own soil by composting, I would spend up to $8 per bag for potting soil. Once we moved to a 3 ½ acre homestead, I knew there must be a cheaper way. After all, our thrifty forefathers didn’t have a Bunnings or Home Depot just down the road. They also didn’t have regular curbside rubbish pick-ups. Frankly, they didn’t even have plastic bags to haul the black gold home from the local hardware store.
By Monique Littlejohn3 years ago in Lifehack
10 Reasons You Should Plant Trees near your home today
Right now, the days are getting shorter, and the leaves are almost entirely off the deciduous trees here in Australia. The temperature is dropping and many of the scary animals are going into hibernation too, which makes it the perfect time to start planting trees. Since the trees are going into their dormant phase, too, the nurseries are starting to stock bare root varieties, which are often 50% of the cost of their potted counterparts.
By Monique Littlejohn3 years ago in Earth
Creating a sustainable grocery budget
When we first purchased our townhouse in Southern California with its 200 square foot backyard I had visions of starting my own victory garden full of vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees. I thought that we could preserve the surplus and enjoy nature’s bounty for much less than what we were paying at the grocery store. How wrong I was! While gardening has many benefits, saving money is not one of them. After spending money on amending the soil, plants and seeds themselves, fertilizing, and water, every tomato, squash, and bean became more expensive than the organic asparagus in Whole Foods!
By Monique Littlejohn4 years ago in Lifehack
The Savvy Shopper
Now that we are deep into a recession, we need to be more careful about how we spend our income, whether we are dipping into our savings or saving for a rainy day. My mother is the savviest shopper that I know. She has always thrived through recessions because quite often, regular purchases such as clothes end up costing less due to store closures and more frequent sales. If you need to shop for anything, why not tap into her advice and enjoy the thrill of bargain hunting? My husband's family took a different approach and focused more on sustainability than on consumerism. In this article, I'll share their helpful tricks and tips for saving money and living sustainable in these uncertain times.
By Monique Littlejohn4 years ago in Lifehack
Apple Cider, Apple Sauce and Apple Cider Vinegar from one recipe and a bag of apples
In our family's quest for sustainability, I've embraced the humble apple to keep our family healthy throughout the colder months. With this recipe, nothing goes to waste and it provides three products in one.
By Monique Littlejohn4 years ago in Feast
Getting a great Lion Shot
Have you ever tried to capture an award winning image of a lion at a zoo? Let’s face it. When your animal of choice sleeps for ten to fifteen hours every day, most of your photos will show lions sleeping on a rock. When they are active, they often hide behind structures or worse, they are right up against a fence. Who would want to get a photo with fences in the background? When the lions are really active, then people of all shapes and sizes rush to the enclosure, so you need to jockey for position to get your shot.
By Monique Littlejohn4 years ago in Photography
Feed Me!
While living in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, one of our favorite activities is visiting Cleland Wildlife Park. This conservation park offers an immersive nature experience where we get up close and personal with Australian wildlife. Very few of the animals are in cages, so I liken it to a several-acre petting zoo. As you walk in the doors, you can purchase a small bag of food and get started on your adventure.
By Monique Littlejohn4 years ago in Petlife
It's a koala's life in South Australia
It’s hard to describe the sound that koalas make in the middle of the night during mating season. If I had to guess, I’d say that it is a cross between a pig snorting and a bear rutting. It’s rhythmic and loud, and more nights than not, it is just outside our bedroom window in Stirling, South Australia, located just 15 minutes away from the capital city of South Australia.
By Monique Littlejohn4 years ago in Petlife
