Debbie Bassingthwaighte

Hi, I'm Debbie

Thank you for taking the time to be here. I’m Debbie Bassingthwaighte, and learning has always been at the heart of my life.

From childhood, I’ve had a deep curiosity about the world and a strong desire to learn and understand. Teaching, mentoring, and nurturing others to learn and grow has been a natural extension of that curiosity, and continues to shape how I live and share.

Motivated by vivid early memories of tasting food freshly picked from the garden, I enjoy growing, preserving, and cooking abundant organic produce with my husband Brodie at our micro-homestead, Bella Vita, in Toowoomba. Living in this beautiful small space has sharpened my awareness and interconnection with nature, with community, and with the everyday choices that shape our lives.

I enjoy design, reading, travel, permaculture, creative pastimes, and living simply. I’m a wife, mother, grandmother (Grandie), sister, friend, and community member. These roles bring me deep meaning and keep me consciously interconnected with nature and community.

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

Mary Oliver, 1990

Curator of Living Wisdom

As I grow older, I feel increasingly drawn to stillness and focusing gently on what matters most. I want to leave this earth better for having lived here, and I’m mindful of the impact my choices have on my family, community, and the living planet.

I’m guided by a desire for my positive handprint to outweigh my negative footprint. This means living simply and sustainably, reducing unnecessary consumption, rethinking waste, and supporting the regeneration of natural ecosystems wherever possible.

I’m continually inspired by the practical wisdom developed over generations through observation, trial, and refinement. Within multicultural, indigenous, and intergenerational communities lies an extraordinary depth of knowledge and skill. This knowledge can empower us to live more regeneratively and consciously with nature; to live a Nurtured Life.

My aim is to help curate and steward this living wisdom, sharing it in ways that are practical, respectful, and accessible, now, and into the future.

Did you know?

Humanity is using nature 1.8 times faster than our planet can regenerate. In fact, if everyone lived like the average Australian in 2025, we would need 4.5 Earths to provide enough resources. Learn more at Earth Overshoot Day.

That’s too much! It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but I also feel empowered. I can make ethical, eco-conscious choices within my home, and I’m motivated to curate and share living wisdom that helps us all live more sustainably.

Many of the ideas and practices I share on Nurtured Life are intended to inspire you to nurture your garden, your wellbeing, and your connection to the natural world, and to live a life that feels purposeful, regenerative, and joyful.

Hi, I'm Debbie