Cool roads cool our cities
A cool road: pale road surface, mix of edible and decorative trees and plants, shade over 50% of the road What are cool roads and why do we need them? On average our suburb is 6 degrees warmer than it should be. This is called ‘heat island effect’. Of course, this problem isn’t unique to Chippendale – many cities and suburbs all over the world are too hot. These high temperatures are created by the absorption of heat from dark-coloured... Read More
Bondi Gobbler feeders tour Sydney’s Sustainable House
The Gobbler crew outside Sydney’s Sustainable House Having trialled the Bondi Gobbler at Bondi Pavilion with the cafes there and Waverley Council, and turning food waste into compost in 24 hours to be taken to John Fairley’s Country Valley Dairy farm at Picton for six months I’m convinced this is the way to end food waste, cut on farm and cafe costs and cut air pollution. So I’m working to sell four year leases of the... Read More
Is climate our dictator?
I’ve been walking the streets of Chippendale, reading, and thinking about my life, my children, friends and all that I love. And now I’ve written an article asking, Is climate our dictator? What do you think? I’d like to hear from you if you have a moment. Thanks, Michael Read More
Reclaim the curb
Another sprout of hope and action – a group calling itself “Reclaim the curb” is promoting road gardens. Reclaim the Curb say their goal is to empower people to turn forgotten public spaces around them into productive, edible, enjoyable areas. The collective behind the blog launched a competition last year to create Australia’s most edible curb. Although modest in size, the response to the competition was really overwhelming... Read More
Magic puddin’ pump pumps water 24/7 without electricity
It’s magic. It pumps water up to 200 metres above itself without electricity. Video Glockemann pump It uses the energy of flowing water to pump the water. I’ve stood in a very slow flowing creek at the bottom of a valley and seen it pump water up 65 metres to a rain tank at the top of the hill. It doesn’t pump fast but continuously. Wonderful design, wonderful ‘eyes’ in the designer for the gifts Earth has... Read More
