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Current Affairs Chaos

September 15, 2010 @ 10:59 By Gavin Webber 6 Comments

 It has been 46 days without a TV and I feel great.  I have had no withdrawal symptoms, however Kim is still happy with her little telly set-up in her study, and if I really need a fix I suppose I could start the digital tuner in my computer and watch the stuff that brainwashing is all about.  That said, I just don’t have the inclination and find that I am far too busy anyway.

For instance, and sorry to bang on about it again, but Sustainable House Day took up an entire month of weekends.  There was not a moments rest during day light hours, but come sunset we let our hair down, and had a relaxing time with family and friends and a few home brews.  It was a well coordinated work effort, mainly because Kim and I wrote a long list that covered the tasks required and split it over the five weekends we had before the big day.  During the day as each task was completed we crossed it off to ensure that we felt like we were progressing in the right direction. 

At the end of the day we re-evaluated each incomplete task to gauge whether it was important enough to carry over to the next day or weekend.  If it was trivial, we dropped it as a priority.  I was going to make some beer to show visitors the fermentation process in action, but the shed got so full of bikes and stuff that in the end I couldn’t get into it.  Other things we planned were to plant out a second potato bed, wash the car, weed the front yard (again) to name a few.  We also had so much help on the day before the event, we came down the home straight through the chequered flag in first place. 

Anyway, as it turned out, the dropped tasks were no great loss because I don’t think anyone would have noticed and were just pleased that someone in our town/shire gave them the opportunity to see how someone else had lowered their environmental footprint at home.  So many visitors were eager to start a small project when they left that I reckon that there were lots of green centric conversation during their journey home.

So where to from here now that the SHD has been submitted and that all the excitement of the fair has died down a little?  I have some annual leave scheduled for the first two weeks of October, but as you have probably figured out, I am not one to rest on my laurels, so I have a guest speaking appearance in Geelong on Saturday 6th October at Ecofest.  I met the organisers, Andrew and Alicia on Sunday and am looking forward to the opportunity to tell the story of my green epiphany to others.  My appearance is free of charge as they all are of course, as I do not expect, nor ask for a gratuity.  I consider it as a gift to the planet as I attempt in my own little way to pay Gaia back for sins past.

Also, around the same time, we have invited a local high school eco-group to tour our home, similar to SHD.  It will be interesting to get a young persons perspective about the whole sustainable living caper.

I have also been in contact with the team at Vasili’s Garden about my availability for a filming day around my garden.  I have to firm up the date, so I better pull my finger out and grab the opportunity.  The 60 Minutes interview is looking like it will take place in early October, so I am still very excited about that as well.

As for other media appearances, I gave a brief interview on Saturday afternoon to the local newspaper about the state of our country rail network that services our town, and the need for more local industry to promote jobs within the town so that people don’t have to travel far to get to work.  You can read the article titled “Melton transport a drag“.  Who thinks up these headlines?  Anyway, a nice photo of Ben and I and a good article if I do say so myself.  Notice that I didn’t fly the green banner very loudly.  It was intentional to get people to think of the issue for themselves and not think that there is that crazy old greenie in the paper again.

So this weekend, in preparation for more organised green promotion and education, we are having a rest weekend.  We will be making another 5kg of soap for the Djerrawarrah Festival in November, and I will be making some Caerphilly for enjoyment when I am on my staycation. 

It should make for a relaxing weekend, fingers crossed.

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Filed Under: green, Media, Sustainable House Day, Sustainable Living

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About Gavin Webber

Gavin Webber's daily goal is to live a more sustainable lifestyle, in an effort to reduce his family's environmental footprint so we can all make a difference for our children & future generations to come.

Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Comments

  1. dixiebelle says

    September 15, 2010 at 11:15

    Thanks for updating us, in amongst your busy schedule. You are doing fantastic work! And yes, while some do have to make money to support themselves & their family from their various sustainability practices, I too think doing things for free, or giving things away, is the least I can do for the planet!

    I filled a survey out yesterday for my managers 18 year old, who is doing a year 12 assignment on sustainability in our area… needless to say, I had alot to say!! I wonder what young people do think about it all!

    Reply
  2. Annet and Kirk says

    September 15, 2010 at 12:11

    Read the article with interest as about 10 years ago, we lived in Rockbank at the Caravan park and I commuted to St Kilda via the train! You’ll also be happy to notice that the article about your SHD is listed in the Top Ten articles, so I got to read that right away too. I am not a regular commenter, but a very regular reader. I have cheese envy. Soon, my friend, soon… feta is in my destiny.

    Reply
  3. GreenerMe says

    September 16, 2010 at 11:28

    Gav, I am really interested in you giving up TV for 46 days. Your about the third person I have heard of in the last fortnight who has given up TV all together.

    The other two gave up TV because they believed all TV was negative and a waste of time (both men are very successful people and are very inspirational – just like you Gav).

    I watch very little TV as it is but when I do it is while doing something else like working with the lap top.

    I would really miss programs like Insight and documentaries but I have to be honest that I am reconsidering TV watching position now too.

    Thanks for sharing Gav

    Reply
  4. Gavin says

    September 16, 2010 at 21:30

    @ dixiebelle,

    I always have time for you guys and gals. If it wasn’t for this blog being popular and all the things that I do around here, I wouldn’t be half as busy as I am! The media wouldn’t give a hoot if I was a drone.

    I am also very keen to see how the young people perceive my sustainable lifestyle. It should be an interesting day.

    @ Annet & Kirk,

    Thanks for your first comment! I know what you mean about the commute. It is a long way. At least I have time to wind down and read a good book, which is more than I can say if I had chosen to drive everyday. My BP would be through the roof. Happy cheese making. I hope your feta is everything you hope it is.

    @ Sarhn

    Yes, I was pleasantly surprised about the TV abstinence. It does kind of help when the device is broken, however we do still have a few options that I just have not chosen to use. I can still catch a good doco via the net if I have the urge! I am not totally deprived, just advertisement free, yipee!

    Gav

    Reply
  5. Kate says

    September 16, 2010 at 22:24

    Oh Gavin! Now you have really made it into the big time….. on Vasilli’s garden and you’re not even Greek! Or are you?? And you don’t even have structures made of metal pipes…. Will he play the accordian too? Oh this is so exciting.
    Well I was on the radio for 20 minutes, with Peter Cundall….and had a whole page in the Tasmanian Mercury paper….now beat that!

    Reply
  6. Leanne daharja says

    September 19, 2010 at 07:43

    Hi Gav – We don’t have our TV connected (e.g. no signal), but it *is* hooked up to the DVD and stereo, so we can watch DVDs. However, I am starting to rethink the TV completely, as my son loves to verbatim repeat whole TV shows (he has a photographic memory, literally – one of the wonders of autism).

    I can’t help but think that if we didn’t have TV, I wouldn’t be subjected to the whole series of Dora The Explorer DVDs, word for word, funny voices, accents and all!

    And now you’re turning into a celebrity! Any chance the content will be “aired” online for we Kiwis?

    Reply

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About Gavin Webber

About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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