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 been hives or split them,... 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 to your garden How: Get... 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 drawing of a wall in Sustainable... 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 cost $11,000.  I pay no... 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 material that’s easy to... Read More

Sustainable Tip 3 – Food, energy and water – the real monsters

The growing, production, transport and waste of food is the second highest carbon polluting activity after coal fired power stations in Australia.   Yes, my house is sustainable as it gets its energy from the sun and water from the rain on the roof.   But . . .  my tummy uses 30 to 40 times more energy and water than my house.   Each year, by using the rain that falls with clean, natural energy from clouds, the house saves over 100,000 litres of dam water and stops... 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.