The Sustainable Communities Plan is on the web

Sydney City Council asked me to make a plan to make the whole suburb of Chippendale sustainable. It’s not just a plan for this suburb; it can be used to make any suburb sustainable – it’s free and you’re welcome to put it to work where you are. Now the Plan can be read on mobiles, kindles and is very easy to search, use and tweet.  Get it here: theplan.sustainablehouse.com… Enjoy. You can see some of the folks who support the Plan. Please sign the... Read More

Interesting questions?

Last week I wanted to serve scallops at a meal I was cooking.  When my friend went to buy some for me at the place which typically has the freshest and cheapest seafood, she asked, “Where do they came from? The answer, “Chile”. So there were no scallops on the table that meal. This exchange brought these questions to my mind: When citizen-funded meals are served when: - COAG meets – the group of federal and state Prime Minister and Ministers, public servants... Read More

The best pies in Chippendale? And Sydney’s best taxi driver?

Let’s speak of two things. Pies, and taxi driver wisdom. To pies, first. It was when my son, Julian, far more fastidious than I, said, “That pie was the best I’ve ever had”, that I thought about the pies at 6,7, ate, the little cafe on the corner of Abercrombie and Levey, here. For location, see map of Chippo put up by Sustainable Chippendale, here: www.sustainablechippendale.com… Then, today, doing my best to do nothing much this long weekend, I... Read More

Making apple juice

For three ways to make juice from apples I can think of no better short guide than George Monbiot’s in his column this week – for terrific writing and clear directions read it here: www.monbiot.com… He’s also provided some beaut photos. Enjoy, Michael  Read More

How to roast your own coffee beans

Every type roasts at a different rate because of a different  density When a bean reaches its individual temperature it cracks, like popcorn pops This first ‘crack’ is caused by the physical expansion of the bean as water and carbon dioxide split and carbon dioxide is released (ah, it’s everywhere this stuff!).  This first crack opens the central divide of the bean and loosens the very light papery sheath that encloses it and which becomes... Read More