Well, I've started semester two of uni and the workload is heavy (but enjoyable!) and time is precious.

As I'm studying health, my health has been foremost in my mind, especially with the pressures of uni study, assessments, exams etc. I need to counter all the 'brain exercise' and time spent sitting with physical exercise and good eating.

Studying the human body from a molecular level up has really refocused my thoughts on looking after myself. With the added stresses of uni, my health has become even more important, particularly during this flu-prone time of the year. I need to be at my peak health wise when I walk into those exams.

I've also started a home-based fitness program which has been great - regular walks and runs and we've dug the old weight bench out of the shed and set it up in the sunshine on the back deck - the perfect place to exercise. I've started yoga again too, which I love and really look forward to every week, top quality time out.

But just as important as exercise is food.

I'm finding a daily lunch of fresh green salads really helps keep my energy levels high.

So although every spare moment is spent studying, I've still found time to set up a small, intensive salad and herb garden.

We've relocated the garden to the front yard, so its much easier to access. We've also made it a lot smaller and plantings more close together.

We've also only planted what we are going to use regularly rather than focusing on growing exotic and hard to find things.

And its working perfectly.

We re-arranged the rocks in a sunny spot in the front garden and created a no-dig garden to build the soil up.

We've planted out a variety of non-hearting lettuces, baby English spinach, cos lettuces, basil, mint, rosemary, coriander, spring onions, flat-leaf parsley, oregano and rocket.

Every morning I pick a bowl of leafy greens and tasty herbs and have that later in the day for lunch.

We feed the garden with liquid worm castings to keep it healthy, ensuring the garden is simple to look after and maintain.

So even though we're both very busy with other things, taking the time to set up a small garden and grow only things we know we'll use everyday, we've been able to keep home grown organic goodies in our diets which in turn will help keep us healthy.

Cheers,
Sonya