Talk at Mona Vale Library this Wed

On Wednesday this week at Mona Vale library I’ll be talking about what worked and what didn’t at the house, how the solar panels are after 14 years, how the site has kept over 1.5 million litres of sewage here. The aim is to explain how my new book  gives a full account of what’s happened living in a sustainable house in the city for the last 14 years. For a warts n all evening, and to see what may work for your sustainable project,... Read More

Native Australian raspberries

Native raspberry and suckers, Myrtle St Native raspberry from above Raspberries According to the wonderful Encyclopaedia Botanica by Frances Bodkin (Collins Angus Robertson, 1986) there are three Australian raspberries. Rubus Hillii (Rosaceae), or Wild Raspberry, is a native of NSW, Qld and NT.  The fruit are red, globular berries, 1.2 cm across. Flowers are white or red.  Propagation is by seed. Rubus Parvifolius (Rosacae), or Native Bramble, is... Read More

Heat island being measured in Chippendale

Sydney City Council has begun to publish the temperatures of two roads in Chippendale at: - the intersection of Myrtle and Abercrombie, in Myrtle on the southern side about 20 metres from Abercrombie:  this section of road receives direct eastern and western sun, is black, treeless and causes a lot of avoidable heat - in Buckland street across from Levey Street; this section of road is shielded from the sun by buildings and trees with good canopy You... Read More

Special tours Sydney’s Sustainable House – Saturday 19 September 2015

Tour Fact Sheet – Sydney’s Sustainable House and Chippendale Road Gardens A house tour in September 2013   Special tours Click here for all Tour enquiries I’m giving a house tour on Saturday 19   September  2015;          cost $15 per person. Start 1130 (arrive by 1125, please), finish 1230.   To celebrate the publication of the second edition of the book, Sustainable House, and my new book, Sustainable Food - and... Read More

The accidents in the street that sustain us

First the restive, urgent, surprising rain this morning as first light fumbled it’s way here, then, later in the day, this lovely email from a Chippo gardener, Paul: ” I want to give names for the compost bins…. Maybe pull name sugestions from a hat? My 1st proposal is Thomas (the bin thats had the highest temp) after Thomas the tank engine because it’s always steaming away….. “ The accidents of the street –... Read More

  • Michael Mobbs

    Michael is a former Environmental Lawyer who is uniquely placed to consult in four main areas:

    • Sustainability Coach and Speaker,
    • Sustainable Urban Farm Design greening, watering and cooling the cityscape, roads, parks, suburbs,
    • Major Projects Consultant Commercial and Industrial,
    • Residential Sustainability Consultant.
    For permission to re-print any articles or to book Michael for a speaking engagement go to Contacts. Please ensure all quotes from Michael's blog include a reference to sustainablehouse.com....au.