Blueprint For Living - Full program ABC listen

We explore the problem of plastics in fashion, learn about the art of a good suit from Patrick Grant of London's Savile Row, taste Andrew McConnell's last supper of spaghetti vongole, and share in the gossip surrounding the Singer sewing machine.

The work of Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa is celebrated in a new documentary, Annie Smithers explores the veggie chapter in Elizabeth David's French Provincial Cooking, we ask what benefits 15 minutes cities can bring for women in particular, and visit glass artist Nadine Keegan in her studio.

Chef and farmer Matthew Evans explores the polarising nature of milk, we unpick what parliamentary design means for democracy, and visit artist and scientist Mary-Jane Walker in her studio to explore her art project on Geelong's threatened birds.

 

We go on a grand tour for the 21st century, discuss better apartment design, visit landscape designer Sam Cox in his naturalistic garden, and look to the future when plants can survive on the Moon and sustain us as we journey Mars.

We explore a Blueprint for death on this special episode: why black is the colour of mourning, cemeteries as a boon for the living, Colin Bisset's world tour of monuments, and Jamie Oliver's last supper.

Feeds: Will Aussie cafes and restaurants survive?

Australian restaurants and cafes are grappling with the impacts of the cost of living, COVID, immigration reform, and wages, jeopardising their survival. Wes Lambert is the head of a new peak body, alongside Neil Perry and Chris Lucas, tackling these pressing challenges to sustain the $64 billion sector.

 

Weeds: Rethinking our war on weeds

See a weed, pluck it out, right? Maybe it’s not so simple. Tim Entwisle speaks with John Dwyer whose new anthology, "Weeding Between the Lines," offers a provocative rethink of what weeds are and how we approach them - in our backyards and in the bush. 

 

Seeds: How do we regenerate land when we lack 90% of seeds?

The total area of degraded land in Australia is eight times the size of Tasmania. The need to replant diverse native species is more urgent than ever. But with a critical shortfall in the availability of native seeds, how can we replant degraded ecosystems and meet Australia’s ambitious international targets? Associate Professor Rachael Gallagher from Western Sydney University explains.