There are many ways that we can make the life we lead more sustainable by reducing our carbon footprint.  Some are little things like remembering to take our own bags to the shops and looking for alternatives to over-packaged goods.  These are the ongoing, day-in, day-out kind of things but today I want to tell you about our ‘big’ items.

We have what I think of as ‘the big three’.  They are rainwater tanks, solar panels and solar hot water.  They are my ‘silent giants’ because they keep on doing what they do every day with minimal input from me.

When we moved to our current property there was a 10,000 gallon concrete tank which was the only water supply as we are in a rural area and not connected to the town supply.  Since then we have added another 10,500 gallon tank which brings our total capacity to 20,500 gallons (a little over 90,000 litres).  We live in a high rainfall area (72 inches/1800mm average per year) and the tanks are almost always full (or overflowing).

Our solar hotwater system was one of the first improvements we made to the property when we purchased it a little over 5 years ago.  We had systems in 2 of our previous homes and were delighted to discover that the group, Sustainable Maleny was looking to organise a bulk purchase.  We joined this venture and are very happy with the system we chose.  We have an electric booster with a manual switch and only turn it on when really necessary.  This made a big reduction in both our electricity bill and our carbon emissions.

We decided last year to take the final step and get a grid-connected system of solar PV panels.  There was a Sustainable Expo at the University of the Sunshine Coast for World Environment where we found a display by Auzion.  We chose a 3.7kW system which we estimate will cover all our electricity needs plus a significant return each year which will see it pay for itself in about 5 years quite apart from the $0 bills.  The system was finally installed in November and connected to the grid a few weeks later.  I love seeing the numbers mount up on the display on the inverter but I have yet to really master calculating the generation vs. usage.

In these days of concern about climate change, drought and rising electricity prices it is a real delight to stand under a hot shower, secure in the knowledge that I am not contributing a single drop of carbon to the atmosphere.  How cool is that?

We set out for Maleny this morning with a long ‘To Do’ list.  We achieved a lot.

Dr appointment for The Duke

Physio appointment for me

4 bags of stuff to the op shop (most of it from Belle)

2 posters (belonging to Missy) to the gallery for framing

Psycho Dog’s vaccination certificate collected from the vet

Meat bought from the butcher

Tyre dropped off to be repaired

Parcel collected and pre-paid stachel bought from the post office

We then headed in the other direction to Caloundra to Aldi and did our grocery shopping.  I am looking forward to the new Aldi store opening in Beerwah in the next few months.  This afternoon we went back to Maleny to collect the spare tyre and also went to the credit union to change some account details.

The parcel we collected was our new mobile broadband USB stick which means I will be able to do stuff on the internet during the 70 minute train trip each way to work and back every day.  It will also be useful for when we are away on holidays.

Since I have now found out what the problem with my shoulder/arm is I need to limit my movement of it to allow it to heal.  Sadly, The Duke will be the one hanging out the washing (and some other jobs) in the coming weeks.

Since the byline for this blog is ‘organised, sustainable’ I will focus on some of the sustainable aspects of our life in coming posts.  Also, please feel free to let me know if there are particular things you would like me to focus on.

Today my organising was in the form of emails and phone calls.  We have recently changed our banking arrangements to reduce the fees we incur so needed to contact various businesses regarding changes to our direct debits.  The Duke did some last night and I finished them off today.  I also booked the car in for a service next week, changed our telephone provider for the landline and 1 mobile as well as purchasing a new mobile phone handset to replace the one we have had for about 10 years.

After 3 long days at work I am having a rest tonight – I have done nothing apart from make dinner.  We had bean tacos and salad which were nice and easy.  I picked the first of our lettuces from the garden for the salad.

Tomorrow I will be doing some paid work from home  as well as some other jobs.  The Duke has a day off so we need to head into Maleny for a couple of appointments as well as going to the butcher, post office and picture framer.  Then there is the car tyre which needs to be repaired and piles of things to take to the op shop.  I think I had better make a list in the morning so that nothing gets forgotten.  Since we live 8km from town we try to do everything in one trip to save on fuel.

I am looking forward to having some time later in the day to do a bit more sewing on the quilt, finish the last few bits of ironing and a bit more sorting in the sewing room.

If I am going to inspire Poppet to be organised I had better set an example.

Every night during the week we do not get home until after 7pm.  Tonight I had dinner prepared – just heat and heat.  I also managed to get a load of washing off the line, fold it up and put it all away.  The dishes are washed – air drying in the drainer, benches wiped down, some papers relocated from the desk to the recycling bin, lunches made for tomorrow, 2 serves of vegie casserole and rice in the freezer for lunches later in the week.

Yesterday I found a dress which Belle had put in a bag for the op-shop but I retrieved it and have started unpicking it.  The fabric is cotton and gorgeous colours so I am planning to make something, possibly for Izz as she is growing quickly and Miss O’s cast-offs barely fit her now.  I will take it on the train with me as it is over an hour trip to work and I can use the time productively or sometimes I have a sleep, particularly towards the end of the week.

I have also planned what I will wear to work tomorrow and now it is off to bed.

After what seems like weeks of rushing around helping others we have finally had a weekend at home.  The Duke and I really appreciate the time to be able to work in and around our haven.  It is so refreshing after the weekday madness of commuting and working in the city.

Today I have washed, ironed, sewed and this evening done some cooking.  I made pizza dough in the breadmaker – which makes enough for 2 pizza bases , so half is now in the freezer ready for when I next need it.  I sliced and roasted some pumpkin which went on the pizza, along with tomato paste, mixed herbs, capsicum, onion, mushrooms and cheese.  There was enough pizza left to pack for our lunches tomorrow.  I made pear and sultana muffins – 4 over-ripe pears in the fruit bowl as well as a muesli slice so that is our snacks catered for the next week or so.  The slow-cooker is now simmering away with a vegetable casserole in it which will be dinner for tomorrow night – served with some rice which is already cooked.  I have not done a menu plan for this week yet but am confident that I have enough to create meals for the week.  I will post the recipes mentioned on the recipe page another day.

The Duke has mulched some of the piles of tree branches that have come down during the summer storms as well as one he lopped last weekend.  We now have some decent-sized piles of mulch ready to spread around the native gardens on the verge.  The mulcher is worth every cent we paid for it and saves loading tree prunings up to take to the green waste disposal at the dump.  Front lawn is mowed so it is all looking pretty good.