Project 333 – What Was I Thinking?

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Posted on June 17, 2013

It is now about 18 months since I first read about Project 333 and a little over 14 months since I first dipped my toes in the water and participated in the April/May/June challenge in 2012.

After constantly and critically reviewing the contents of my wardrobe and having experienced the full seasonal cycle, I thought that there really was nothing extraneous in my closet.

How wrong I was!

I wore this top to work last week. It was teamed with black trousers and I wore my dusty pink suede jacket when I was outdoors on my way to and from work. I felt unsure about it when I left home but it was what I had planned the night before and there was no time for mucking around and trying on other combinations. As the day wore on I was more and more convinced that this was not right and by the time I got home I knew it had to go.

The top has a ‘grandpa collar’, is loose-fitting and is black and cream. I know I look better in white than cream. Fitted shirts with a collar and v-neck suit me best so I am not even sure why I bought this but now I am sure it is going to a new home.

The Great Garlic Massacre & Other Dirty Tales

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Posted on June 16, 2013

We have finally had some of the glorious winter weather for which south-east Queensland is renowned – clear, sunny days and crisp, cool nights.

The majority of yesterday and today has been spent in the garden. I have previously shown you the 3 raised vegetable garden beds. One was planted out with seeds a couple of weeks ago. I planted 2 bean seeds together in each hole and they all germinated so I transplanted the extras. I am not sure whether they will survive the process but it never hurts to try.

We moved some lemon tree prunings which had been in this tank and filled it with soil from one of the old garden beds which is now redundant. The soil is fabulous and it would be a shame to waste it. We mixed it with some mulch (from the poinciana stump which we had ground last year) and also some mushroom compost. In the centre you can also see some bok choy seedlings. The bok choy seeds came up so thickly that I have thinned heaps of them and will thin them out again as they get a bit bigger. I could not bear to just throw the thinnings away so they were all transplanted. Some went into this old esky filled with soil and mulch.

I put some others in between the potato plants in the other raised bed. The bok choy will be well and truly finished before the potatoes take over.

The carrots, onions and beetroot have also germinated and are growing but are probably too small to identify in this photo. You can, however, see the beans and bok choy.

A few weeks ago I bought some organic garlic ready to sprout and plant. It has been languishing in a bag on the floor of the pantry but today was the day to plant it out. Firstly, we had to finish preparing the third raised bed. It was about 1/3 full of leaf litter, mushroom compost and shredded arrowroot leaves. Today we added some grass clippings after The Duke had mowed the lawn area area the vegie patch, more mushroom compost, lots of mulch and soil as previously described. Then it was time to plant the garlic. We peeled off the papery outer layer, separated the cloves and planted them in rows with the sprouting tip pointing upwards. You can see all of the shredded outer layers on the ground beside the bed. It really did look like something had been massacred. The bed is 2.4m x 1.2m and it is entirely planted with rows of garlic. If this is even moderately successful I should never have to buy garlic again!

I cleared some old cherry tomato plants out of another round tank, topped up the soil and mulch and planted these golden sweet potato plants that had been in a pot for ages since my brother-in-law gave them to us.

This is the old garden bed where we have been digging up the soil to re-use. There is still plenty left.

The pile of mulch which resulted from the grinding of the tree stump last year has been put to good use in the garden beds. We still have more that we can take from here to build up the next round of garden beds.

It is gratifying to be able to use and reuse everything from our own property in the gardens. Leaf litter, compost, mulch, soil and grass clippings all go into creating the next lot of vegetables for us to eat. Chickens, chickens manure and eggs are also part of the cycle. Trees provide fallen timber for firewood which in turn leaves ash that we put back into the compost heap or garden bed. Permaculture in action really is the circle of life.

Quilt Update

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Posted on June 13, 2013

I have done some more work on the quilt today. The blocks are all sewn together, the batting and backing are attached and I have machine quilted between the blocks.

Here is a view of the backing with the stitching.

This is the fabric I will use to make the binding.

I was undecided about the binding until I had the quilt assembled. This was a piece which I had planned to use when making reuseable Christmas gift bags. I will buy more if I actually need it for that purpose.

No more craft posts until I show you the finished product. However, I am pleased to have set myself this challenge otherwise this would still be a pile of fabric on the sewing table.

A Bit Less Fabric

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Posted on June 12, 2013

Last night I made a start on the teddy bear quilt. I have cut out 24 blocks of fabric.

It is all spread out on the kitchen bench as I had to work out the combination of colours. Although there are 24 blocks, it is not 8 of each. I actually have 9 patterned, 8 navy and 7 calico. This evolved because of the amount of each fabric that I had. It really is a matter of making do with what you have.

I chose to make it very simply from large blocks of fabric because otherwise the look of the teddy bears would be lost if each piece just had a bit of a leg or an ear.

The first 8 blocks are sewn together.

I plan to have the remaining blocks sewn together tonight.

Fabric Update: This project has completely used the navy and teddy bear fabric so they are now gone from the stash. I still have some pieces of calico left but it is actually a slightly different weight and colour to the piece that I used for the quilt.

Craft Challenge

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Posted on June 11, 2013

It is Tuesday morning here and we have had a long weekend. My mother came to visit and I have been spending time doing things other than blogging. On Saturday we visited 6 open gardens as part of the local Garden Club’s weekend titled, “Gardening on the Edge” which is a specific reference to the escarpment location where we live. These were large, mostly ornamental gardens with stunning displays of camellias which are in full flower at the moment. One garden had a large, productive vegetable patch so that was of particular interest to me.

We arrived home at about 3pm just as it began to drizzle with rain. We have had consistent rain since then with it barely stopping, day or night for 64 hours. The rain is not heavy – just gentle, soaking rain which is predicted to continue for another 3 days. I hope my new vegetable seedlings don’t get waterlogged.

A 3 day weekend meant that I achieved most of the essential housework so I had time for some other activities. Since it was raining I turned to my sewing room. As always, there are some projects underway and many others planned and waiting to start, so my goal this week is to make some real progress and I will share it with you here.

This is a pair of pyjamas I have made for Izz. I had finished the bottoms except for the waist casing and elastic so that was the first thing on my list. This fabric was given to me and I had already made pyjama bottoms for myself and another pair for Izz. This pair used the very last of the fabric and necessitated having an extra join in the back but it is not visible due to the casing. I then found the tshirt fabric in my stash to make the top. I was left over from when I was making school polo shirts for Belle (over 20 years ago).

The next project was another top made from scraps. It can be a pyjama top or would be equally suitably to wear to daycare with her jeans. The white ribbing for the neckband and cuffs is cut out and ready to sew.

This is some material that I cut out and prepared to make a sundress. It will fit a little girl from about 12 – 18 months. The style means that it is very flexible and can usually be worn for at least 2 years. I am not making it for anyone in particular but may sell it or give as a gift.

Here is a piece of plain calico and a smaller piece with teddy bears. I plan to make a patchwork cot quilt – once again, not for anyone special.

You may wonder at me making random items for which I have no specific purpose. Although I do not have a room full of fabric stashed to the ceiling, I do have a reasonable quantity of good quality fabric and smaller offcuts. I love designing and creating garments and useful things that use what I already have so my goal is to gradually work through the pile.

This week I hope to complete several projects and I will share more photos as the week goes on.

Please let me know what you are doing in the craft room, too.

World Environment Day

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Posted on June 6, 2013

Well, yesterday was World Environment Day. So, what did you do? Anything special to mark the occasion? Make a commitment to change something to make your life a little more sustainable? Even just stop and pause to reflect on your journey to lower your carbon footprint?

The theme for this year is Think. Eat. Save and the focus is around the enormous (20%) wastage of all food in 1st World countries. I am planning to encourage people in my workplace to take up the challenge and try not to waste so much food. There will be more details on that another day.

No Thanks, Mr Newman

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Posted on June 4, 2013

Yesterday was a clear, sunny day with not a hint of the political storm clouds gathering on the horizon.

Our household has now been identified as one of the 180,000 households in Queensland who are the culprits responsible for soaring electricity costs.

“Roughly 180,000 households are benefiting with low power prices or getting cheques and well over 1.5 million are paying for that benefit to those people.” The Courier-Mail understands 92,600 Queensland households pay nothing for power or get money back as a result of the generous solar feed-in tariff introduced by the previous Labor government.

Our house has a perfectly angled, north-facing roof with virtually no obstructions (trees, buildings) to the sunlight.

We have 20 solar panels (3.7kW system) which were installed in November 2010. We chose this system because our research and modelling indicated that this would be more than enough to cover our current and future electricity requirements. It also means that by being judicious in our power usage, we are able to export a significant portion of the power generated by our system back to the grid.

According to Mr Newman and his government, we are making money at the expense of others. Rich greenies are wreaking havoc on the budgets of the poor people who are struggling to make ends meet.

I believe that climate change is real and acknowledge that we all need to make an active contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
I have a long-standing commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and do so by a variety of means. Installing solar panels is just one of them.
We funded the purchase of the grid-connected solar panels through a bank loan.
The feed-in tariff was set by government to encourage people to invest in renewable energy sources.
We chose a grid-connected system and pay all of the associated service charges to enable us to access power at any time of the day or night from the electricity grid.
The feed-in tariff is contracted for 20 years (ending in 2028).

We will reconsider our position if any attempt is made to penalise those who have chosen to install grid-connected solar panels. Our preferred option will be to move off-grid and we will invest in batteries to enable us to do this. Therefore, the power generated by our solar panels will be used only by our household and none will be exported to the grid, resulting in a net loss to the electricity grid.

I do not deny that we do receive a monetary gain from the excess power that is generated and exported to the grid, however, all of the households who do this are providing a net gain of green power to the grid. This is then ‘sold’ to other consumers who choose ‘green power’ with a premium cost, so it is only reasonable that we (the producers) should be paid a premium price (feed-in tariff) for our product.

The following information has been taken from here. I cannot articulate these thoughts any more succinctly.

The market fails to take into account the true value and many benefits to the electricity network which arise from the adoption of renewable energy technologies embedded within the electricity grid.

Solar PV, like other renewable energy sources, provide environmental benefits through reduced atmospheric pollution, and social benefits through industry development and job creation – for example through the installation of grid-connected solar systems, each with related economic benefit.

When electricity is transmitted over a distance, some is lost through what is known as line loss. By installing rooftop solar arrays on houses, the electricity can supply not only the house on which it’s installed, but the surplus can feed other houses close by.

Centralised power generation facilities also provide a relatively easy target for hostile parties and can be destroyed in natural disasters such as cyclones or fires. A decentralised network or grid connected systems allows for better energy security as it’s much cheaper and faster to repair a sub-station than it is to replace an entire plant.

It’s in the interests of our national security to decentralise power generation.

During the summer months, it’s becoming increasingly common for blackouts to occur due to an overload of the mains grid. It’s during these months that solar power installations can make their greatest contribution.

A feed-in tariff for grid connected systems redresses these systemic market failures and threats and rewards solar electricity generation for its true value to the electricity market and wider society, by providing a financial incentive for the adoption of renewable energy.

So, to sum up I would like to say “Thanks, but no thanks” to Mr Newman. Try to penalise me for choosing to make a positive contribution to the environmental footprint of this state and I will take my bat and ball (and solar panels) and go off-grid. I am sure I will not be the only one.

Slow Living – May

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Posted on June 3, 2013

Another month has flown by and it is time to review it in the spirit of the monthly round-up at Slow Living Essentials . {nourish*prepare*reduce*green*grow*create*discover*enhance*enjoy}

Here are the Slow Living categories:

{Nourish} Apart from the everyday cooking I discovered that I could make very acceptable gluten-free cupcakes by simply substituting gluten-free flour for regular wheat flour.

{Prepare} I retrieved several kilos of cherry tomatoes from the freezer and made some more tomato sauce. I gave some to Missy and restocked the supply in our pantry.

{Reduce} When I look around our home I can see how much ‘stuff’ we do not have. It feels so much lighter not to have excess in our lives.

{Green} Another raised bed made which brings the total to 3 so far. These have all been created entirely with salvaged or leftover materials.

{Grow} This is the time of the year when we harvest with seemingly almost no effort on our part. The citrus are all producing luscious fruit – oranges, grapefruit and lemons as well as so many avocadoes that we can almost eat them at every meal. We have planted more seeds and the bok choy seedlings are poking theirs through the soil. We planted seed potatoes in another bed.

The harvest…………….

{Create} I made a dressing gown for Miss O.

{Discover} I am discovering some more family history snippets as I keep working on my family tree.

{Enhance} We have applied to have our home included in the Sustainable House Day in September. It was interesting to write the application and really think about all of the things that make our home sustainable. Many of them are things we now simply take for granted.

I also made enquiries about joining the local Friends of the Library group.

{Enjoy} We enjoyed having visitors. Our daughter who lives in Melbourne was here for a weekend – she managed to tack it onto the end of a work trip so that was good. We enjoyed her company and dined at a local restaurant one night. Miss O came to stay for a few days before she went back to school after having had her tonsils removed. She and I had lots of fun and you can read about it here and here. Taking time to savour afternoon tea with friends is special.

Now I am off to check out some of the slow living blogs.

Til next month………..

Reprise

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Posted on May 31, 2013

After reading the latest post from Living Simply Free I was inspired to resurrect the following post which I wrote almost 2 years ago. There was supposed to be a follow-up post which never happened but I will put my mind to it in the next week or so. Meanwhile, I hope you will find some value in Part 1. I look forward to your comments.

The Journey So Far………..

I was reading this older post from Zero Waste Home the other day and it got me to thinking about how and when I came to be on the road to a more sustainable existence. Unlike Bea, I did not have an overnight epiphany from a consumerist lifestyle to attempting zero waste.

A bit of history is probably the best way to start. I was born a little over 50 years ago when Brisbane was really not much more than a big country town in many ways. My parents did not own a car, milk was delivered in glass bottles, the greengrocer, fishmonger and baker called in with their produce for sale and supermarkets were still a relatively new innovation in Australia. We had a wood stove in our modern home which was a mere 6 miles from the CBD. We kept chickens and grew some of our own food.

As I grew up things changed. The wood stove was replaced by an electric one, my mother shopped at the supermarket, my parents bought a car and a television. Nevertheless, we grew up with an awareness that things were not upgraded just because there was a newer, more expensive model. We were taught that possessions were not easily replaced and that it was important to take care of what you had. All types of things were mended, repaired, re-purposed and re-used. They were only thrown out when they truly reached the end of their useful life.

We had new toys but also appreciated the value of home-made. I remember the excitement when our father made kites for us – from some timber dowel, brown paper (saved from the packaging of something), glue, string and pieces old old sheeting salvaged from the rag bag to make the ties on the tail of the kite.

I learned to knit and sew when I was quite young, although crocheting is something I have never really mastered. In my teens I learned how to mix concrete as I helped my father. No-one set out to teach me these things, they were learned by shared experience with my mother, father and extended family.

I believe that although there have been times when I have tended to consume more resources and be wasteful, the essence of who I am and what I believe in comes from my upbringing.

In the late 1980s, with 2 young daughters, I came to realise that there was no way that we could all continue to exponentially use more and more resources and expect that we and future generations could continue on that path.

We were living in Adelaide at the time and I became aware of a conservation group, Gully Environment Network, which was started by Clive and Gloria Bristow. Gloria wrote, “Why Conservation” which was published in 1979, well before many people took any interest in conservation and environmental issues. At the time that I met this amazing couple, they were campaigning against the introduction of wheelie bins (240 litre) in our local council area, arguing that the increased capacity (from the standard 55 litre galvanised bins) would encourage waste rather than reduce it. It is ancient history that the wheelie bins became a fact of our lives but there is a 120 litre option. However, the action continues. The Wynn Vale Community Garden was another brainchild of Clive and Gloria. Gloria was also instrumental in setting up the ReGen Community Op Shop. The link will take you to the Facebook page where there are more links to articles from the local paper. Gloria has consistently advocated and led the way with local and individual action rather than reports and studies. I am proud to say that she has been my mentor in my path to tread more lightly on this earth and try to make a difference.

If you are still reading this missive, I applaud you. I will write more on my sustainable journey another day. Thank you for taking the time to read.

What are you doing to move towards a more sustainable future? Who or what inspires you? I would love to hear your stories.

Winter Woes & What To Do

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Posted on May 30, 2013

While coughs and colds can strike at any time, the prevalence of these ailments increases with the onset of cooler weather. This is not helped by houses that are closed up to prevent heat escaping, working in air-conditioned offices and sharing your daily commute with others who are coughing and sneezing. Several of my work colleagues were off sick for a number of days last week but I managed to avoid succumbing. I have managed to stay well despite having a sore throat about 10 days ago.

I felt less than stellar this morning when I woke and I have some minor cold symptoms so I slid back down under the covers for another 30 minutes and then caught the later train to work.

There are many and varied cough and cold drugs available but sometimes some simple home remedies can be just as effective, especially if you start as soon as you notice any symptoms.

Here are some of my favourites.

Warm lemon and honey drink – I am sure it is no coincidence that our lemon trees are laden with fruit just as the first of the winter ailments strike. Freshly squeezed lemon juice, raw local honey and topped up with boiling water. Sip to soothe a sore throat and just feel better all over.

Apple cider vinegar – mix 2 parts of water to one of vinegar and gargle at the first sign of a sore throat. If you are feeling brave you can add a teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar to your warm lemon and honey drink.

Calendula ointment – you can make your own. There are plenty of recipes like this one but I still have half of a small jar that I bought some years ago. It is a useful addition to your first aid kit and is great for a red, raw nose that is often part of the deal when you have a cold.

Home-made ‘Vicks Vaporub’ – I found the recipe here. I have not made it yet but it is definitely on the ‘to do’ list. Some people swear by rubbing it on the soles of your feet. Pop on a pair of socks and then climb into bed.

Disposable handkerchiefs – worn out pure cotton sheets can be ripped into squares for use instead of tissues. They are much softer on your tender nose than tissues and can be discarded after use.

What tips do you have to ward off the evil bugs?