Michael on Twitter
Funny, honest vids that work (and don’t involve my generation)
There’s some terrific videos, vimeos and apps about how to get on with things and to repair our lovely torn Earth. They often involve kids or folks in their 20s, 30s, not my generation. My generation is the failed generation. We had our chance but blew it. Movies and vids with serious faced professors, ‘guru’s, ‘experts’ from... Read More
ABC TV Landline on food security this Sunday
The ABC TV Landline story on food security, that some of us in Chippendale were involved in, is being re-run on ABC 1 this Sunday at noon. There was some great feedback on this piece last year, so hopefully the repeat will generate a similar response. Thanks again to Chippo folk and the others in the programme for helping bring this complicated issue to life. Enjoy, M Read More
Free Estimator for Solutions for Construction Pollution
Free Carbon Calculator Here is a free estimator. It’s an excel spreadsheet. Any developer, builder, designer, consultant, council or person may use it to estimate the pollution and impact caused by their project. Once you’ve estimated the impact the estimator suggests how you may offset the impact by investing in carbon farming and by turning food waste into... Read More
Toby’s Estate supports Chippo community garden
New lime tree Mulch from reused sawdust from local craft workshop + coffee husks Reused coffee sacks in timber pallet garden On Thursday this week about ten folk from Toby’s Estate coffee gardened with me while we planted out some herbs and fruit trees they’d purchased from a list I gave them. And today a new gardener and arrival to Chippo, Anna, watered the new... Read More
Urban farming on Radio National
On ABC Radio National on Wednesday 4 April at 2 to 230 pm there’ll be a panel discussion of urban farming. There’ll be three panelists: Indira Naidoo, Will Smart and moi. The Panel starts each show and runs for about 25 minutes all up. abc.net… Should be fun. Let’s know if you listen in and find it handy, M Read More
Sydney Water’s bright idea
Sydney Water's bright idea - tap water Sydney Water, the government owned business monopoly, has had a bright idea. They’ve begun to provide empty, stylish glass bottles to cafes to serve tap water in. The label on the bottle says, “Tap – a Sydney Water product”. This is clever and will, I guess, re-position tap water in the minds... Read More
Frasers’ face of greed
Face of greed - pedestrians jammed in narrow footpath to make way for Frasers' car park Trucks, utes and speeding vehicles do left turn here against thousands of pedestrians Took these photos today of the busy Broadway footpath now jam packed with pedestrians. At one point the passage is about 1 metre. The photo of the mum with kid in stroller didn’t come out... Read More
Which solar panel, who to install and . . . so many questions . . .
I keep getting good questions on tours of my house and readers of my book about how to buy solar panels, what panels to choose and what are the best deals. I’ve got another enquiry today and here it is: ‘Hi Michael I came on a tour of your home last month – loved the bees! A friend of mine has been researching solar panels and is considering installing... Read More
Waverley Council poisons our food, kids, insects and waterways
Waverley Council's poison truck and poison sprayers Well, there we are trying to get on with our life, us and the little critters and along comes a Council and poisons things. Here’s an email by Vera, a resident of Bronte in Waverley Council’s area, NSW, to her Councillors about recent spraying of poison by the Council. Has anyone noticed today’s rain? You’d... Read More
Eating fish caught sustainably
I recommend a new phone App that keeps you up to date with fish that are, and are not, caught sustainably. Called, Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide, it’s very helpful in a restaurant or cafe or fish shop if you’re unsure what to buy. It lists the fish and marine critters sold here and can list them in order of sustainability if you wish. I... Read More
