Senator Carr launches Sustainable Food on Youtube

Senator Carr speaks about the book and the challenge of sustainable food on Youtube in a backyard in Sydney, thanks to doco maker David O’Brien – 7.4 mins The Minister’s blog post on the book launch is here: bobcarrblog.wordpress.com… The Minister’s post has been linked to twitter as well. Thanks all involved, Michael  Read More

Scenes from Senator Carr’s national launch of Sustainable Food

The sun shone, the lemon tea tree cordial was cool in the glass, the light glistened and flickered through the greens of the garden and friends met friends as Senator Carr gave the book, Sustainable Food, its national launch at Sydney’s Sustainable House yesterday. Here are some scenes from the back garden.  Thanks to Clive Guthrie and Murray Cox for the photos. Senator Carr... Read More

Warren Truss buries his head

When the Acting Opposition Leader in Australia is illiterate, innumerate and more interested in digging up coal than speaking truth what does it look like?   It looks like this:  “Indeed I guess there’ll be more CO2 emissions from these fires than there will be from coal-fired power stations for decades.” – acting Opposition leader, Warren Truss, January 9, 2013 The... Read More

Low, consistent bills that don’t keep rising

A measure of a sustainable place to live is whether the energy and water bills are consistent, low and don’t rise. Today in the first week of 2013, fifteen years after I made my house sustainable – November, 1996 –  and I’ve just received the latest electricity bill for the house and the four people who live here. The energy company owes me $22. The electricity... Read More

Senator Bob Carr to give Sustainable Food a national launch

Invite – National Launch of Sustainable Food Be fun to share some laughter, local food and news with you at the national launch of Sustainable Food.  There’s limited room at the house, tho’, so do rsvp if you wish to join us, please. By asking Senator Carr to give the book its national launch I’m hoping to do something to put food in the centre of our political... Read More

Uncertainty – a homage to a new year

We swim in uncertainty. Lucky us. Here – (play music) – comes the sun . . . . . . will it? And, yes, I see it does now, the magic of it beyond words. Hold tight the zephyr of cold air from this last night’s sunless moments that mixes now with dawning’s warmth. Breath out, breath in. Mark how the sun’s warmth banishes cold.  Such is dawn. And give thanks,... Read More

Making fridges use less energy

This just in from Rosie Knott of South Australia: Dear Michael, I read your book ‘Sustainable House’ 4 years ago, when I purchased my house. Your description of a ‘cool pantry’ interested me, as I had a cupboard in the middle of my house which I thought would be suitable to adapt, as the space under the timber floor is huge and maintains cellar temperature. However . . . I... Read More

How to dig a drain under a path or road

Here’s how to put a drain to your garden and to get the drain below an existing path or other paved area.   This is a simple, easy-to-do way of getting water to your garden when a masonry or other hard surface is between your garden and your source of water. We might sum up this method as, “digging with water”. What’s not discussed here are safety issues which you’ll... Read More

Scenes from Fremantle book launch and conversation

On Monday night this week Fremantle City Mayor Brad Pettit and I had a conversation with over 100 people at the inspiring Replant nursery in Wray Street, Fremantle. Replant saves native grass trees from being destroyed by bulldozers clearing land for housing. We sat surrounded by these trees, many several hundred years old, as the clear evening light came down on us and we talked,... Read More

Making lemon grass and lemon tea tree cordial

Making lemon grass and lemon tea tree cordial from freshly harvested leaves After being crushed in the mortar the leaves are steeped in hot water There was lots of Shovels and Picks 101               More Shovels and Picks 101 At the urban farm working tour last Friday in an hour and 45 minutes we: harvested lemon grass and lemon tea tree, washed... Read More