Sustainablity tip – how to harvest stingless bee honey
Honey harvest Michael Strelan runs his own web tv station, Myecotv. Michael has just made this beautiful 8 minute video called, Honey Love, showing how to harvest stingless bee honey. The images of the bees, their hive, their honey and industry bring me as much succour as does the unusual light taste of their honey – as it’s about 70% water it’s very light and elegant to taste. The vid shows something vital; anyone can harvest native... Read More
Sustainable Tip 7 – water your garden for free
Water diverter connected to hose from downpipe to irrigate garden Would you like to water your garden for free? Even an unskilled bloke like me can do it; if my unskilled self can do it, so can you. Why: Rain on your garden is rarely adequate to water your plants in most parts of Australia. Many houses or units do not have either the space or the owners or tenants do not have the money for a rain tank. This is simple way of getting good free irrigation... Read More
Sustainable Tip 6 – what’s good insulation?
Timber floors are cool in summer, warm in winter and more sustainable than cement or tiles Good insulation is a material and design which works well in winter and summer and uses least materials. For a wall: The outside material is waterproof eg colorbond + next layer is a 50 mm air gap + next layer is Polyair Performa insulation which also acts as a water barrier + rammed earth from the site www.reflectiveinsulation.com… There’s a useful... Read More
Sustainable Tip 5 – Is it financially worthwhile to go sustainable for water?
Got to love our oceans Do you say to yourself something like this: “I can get mains water and sewer and pay about a thousand dollars a year for it. Why would I spend ten or fifteen thousand dollars, perhaps more, to put in a rain tank or sewage system?” Here’s the answer I gave myself; maybe it works for you, too? What are the costs and savings? My 10,000 litre cement, buried tank and rainwater system cost $11,000. The recycled sewage system... Read More
Tip 4 – how to keep stormwater at your place with a sunken pond
A sunken pond allows you to keep rain water whilst the surface soil is sodden from the rain and unable to absorb your surplus rainwater. When your rain tank or garden overflows into a sunken pond the water will be absorbed down there where the soil still has absorption capacity. How Dig a hole, squarish in shape, at least half a metre deep and half a metre square. Line it with sturdy blocks, preferably sandstone or some other soft and partly porous... Read More
