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Archives for September 2010

You Can’t Beet A Root

September 27, 2010 @ 23:33 By Gavin Webber 4 Comments

On Saturday afternoon, I harvested the majority of our winter beetroot crop.  I planted two varieties this year of beta vulgaris,  Detroit Globe and Chioggia.  


Now Detroit globe looks like your standard dark purple beetroot, however the Chioggia is unusual and has red and white rings throughout the beet.  This is what it looks like;

Beetroot Chioggia – Diggers Club


Look kind of small, don’t they?  Well maybe not ordinarily, but when you compare these to one that I grew, the size of mine looks quite unusual.  Have a look at this!  I surprise myself sometimes.

What a beauty!

Anyway, all jokes aside, it was into the kitchen with my beetroot booty and time to cook them up, peel (with rubber gloves on), make up a pickling vinegar and bottle the whole lot ready for summer barbecues.  We just love our pickled beetroot.  I used this recipe which I really enjoy the taste of;

Pickled Beetroot

2kg beetroot
3/4 cup water
1 and a half cups white vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
2 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon peppercorns
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon salt


1.  Wash beetroot thoroughly and cook in a pot of water until tender
2.  Cool and remove skins (use rubber gloves)
3.  Cut beetroot into slices
4.  Place all other ingredients into a saucepan and bring to the boil
5.  Simmer for 5 minutes and then strain
6.  Pack beetroot into hot sterilised jars and top up with vinegar mixture
7.  Seal and store in a cool place


Use within 6 months.



I managed to make up 7 large jars, 3 red, 4 white/pink, however I doubled the recipe and probably had about 4kg of beets at the beginning.  Click to enlarge.




I am hoping that the Chioggia tastes the same as normal beetroot when pickled, or otherwise the chooks are going to have a feast.  It did taste a little bit less earthy than the normal beetroot, so I suppose that is a good thing.  


I left some more of these two varieties in the bed for salad greens, as the leaves are edible, and taste very nice in a normal garden salad.  All in all, I will probably plant some more beetroot next Autumn.  A good crop all round.


One thing is for certain, and that is that you can’t beat a beetroot!

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Filed Under: Preserving, vegetables

To Seize The Day

September 25, 2010 @ 12:00 By Gavin Webber 2 Comments

There is a new blog in town about refashioning clothes or unwanted fabric bought at charity or op shops, and I am happy to say that it is being written by none other than my daughter Megan.

Here is her bio.

“Hello and welcome! I’m Megan and a confessed refashionista, vowing to recycle, remake and remodel pre-owned, pre-loved clothes into fashionable, new-age clothes that are saving the earth and saving me money along the way.

Buying items and fabric from thrift stores or charity shops and turning them into clothes that are completely individual and unique and totally my own. Gone are the days of spending hours upon hours searching shopping centers for the perfect dress, spending exuberant amounts of money on that ideal outfit. Instead I am spending my time doing what I love: making patterns and sewing.
Follow the chronicles of my tale as I journey
down the long and winding path of refashion.”

Yes, a shameless plug by a doting father, but hey, I like to give new green bloggers a kick start.

Please join Megan at “Carpe Diem: To seize the day” and her adventures of refashioning second hand clothing.

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Filed Under: Family, reuse

The Boy Can Cook!

September 24, 2010 @ 21:35 By Gavin Webber 5 Comments

Yesterday was a day that I shall remember for a long time.  Ben (10) cooked his first meal.  No, I am not talking about a microwave prepackaged meal, which we don’t eat anyway, but the evening meal for the entire family.  I was very proud of the boy when I arrived home and found out that he had assisted Kim with the cooking of Beef Chow mein, which included the harvesting of the three small cabbages that they used in the meal.  Here is a few photos of the junior chef in action.

Stiring the meat and the onions,

 and the cabbage and noodles.
Here is the finished meal.

It tasted delicious, with green crunch and a curry flavoured bite!  I savoured every mouthful.  Kim did most of the preparation i.e. defrosting the mince, cutting the cabbage and supevised the event.  But Ben did all the cooking.  A great joint effort and one I praised Ben again for today.

Ben declared to me that he likes cooking, and we promised to let him help all weekend.  He helped put the topping on our home made pizza tonight, and he is very excited (as am I) to be assisting me with cooking a pasta sauce from scratch and adding it to his favourite Tortellini pasta.  The pasta is locally made (North Melbourne), and I source a few ingredients for the sauce from the garden.  I will coax him into doing a little more preparation than he has done in the last two days.

Kim also informed me during our bed chat that Ben helped her with the Chickens, gathered the eggs, put them to bed and put their feeder into the shed.  I feel proud because he really has begun to take an interest in how our food is prepared and grown, and maybe this new found interest will extend into helping maintain the veggie patch.  He already planted seeds about a month ago, so needs to watch, learn and try to plant some of the seedlings into some of the vacant space that the cabbages have left behind.  I have some pumpkins raring to go!  Time will tell, but I am hopeful that he will maintain interest.

Now, those of you who may think that this sudden interest in cooking has stemmed from watching Junior Masterchef TV, think again.  With the Telly still being absent from our lives, we have not watched an episode, so I don’t believe that this has influenced Ben in any way.  It was just the right time to cook!

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Filed Under: Cooking, Family, The Eco Boy

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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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Podcast Reviews

  • Always inspiring and entertaining!
    August 4, 2016 by floriographer from Australia

    I've crowed about Gavin's podcast before but I just have to recommend it once again - I love that he shares his learning as well as his successes - it helps the rest of us try try try again! Thanks Gavin!

  • ms
    July 22, 2016 by Ketaea12 from New Zealand

    I really enjoy listening to Gavin, he has a kind lovely voice. He covers some great relevant topics for the everyday greenie. With lots of tips or how to or what not to do. Thanks Gavin, love it!!

  • Well worth your time to tune in
    October 23, 2015 by A Vision Splendid from Australia

    I can highly recommend Gavin’s podcast ! I have followed Gavin’s blog since the very beginning and have loved to see his journey unfold. Gavin has a lovely speaking voice so this podcast is always very easy to listen to. Gavin has a very authentic approach to his green living lifestyle. He shares the ups and downs but always provides motivation and practical steps that we can all implement.

  • very good
    June 28, 2015 by Scared pax from United Kingdom

    This is a great podcast if you want to improve your life in so many aspects and become a more sustainable person. I love the soothing voice, the good pace, and it contains lots of useful information. Recommended!

  • opened my eyes
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    A wonderful show!

  • Inspiring
    April 30, 2015 by Alan Whelan from Ireland

    This is a great podcast if you're looking for practical info on saving money by living more sustainably from someone who's made that journey over the last few years. Told in a nice, easy conversational style

  • Green Living, inspiring and practical
    January 8, 2015 by EliseMac from Australia

    Thanks Gav for sharing what has (and hasn't) worked along your journey for living a greener lifestyle. Inspiring and achievable for anyone, I look forward to this podcast weekly.

  • Local food equals less waste
    December 27, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

    Another brilliant podcast from Gavin Webber encouraging us, and showing us how, to cut down on food miles, growing our own food, and cutting down on food waste. Gavin is a really interesting speaker, showing us how to eat better, growing our own food and how to live more sustainably.

  • Honestly australian
    December 15, 2014 by HodgepodgeOz from Australia

    Fantastic podcast, with a wide variety of well thought and researched topics. Gavin is a honest, forthright pod aster with a genuine interest in helping others get green. Like a day alongside is a day wasted, so too is a week without listening to Gavin. Highly recommended for people starting out, or those in the midst of their new lifestyle. Keep it up Gavin, wish there were more great reviews! Kimberley

  • Morning motivation
    December 8, 2014 by Bunnyworm from Australia

    Gavin has a great passion for living this greener lifestyle that motivates others to do the same. The podcasts are always interesting and informative. :)

  • Passionate Advocate
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    Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious. Thanks Gav, you are my weekly source of motivation for living a sustainable life! :)

  • Gavin speaks from the heart
    October 13, 2014 by Green gavin from Australia

    Gavin's podcasts are required listening for anyone planning to live a more sustainable life. He doesn't preach, but tells you his story from the heart. You'll laugh, smile, share in his concerns and along the way you'll pick up some great tips on living a simple life.

  • Green thoughts, so well iterated
    October 9, 2014 by Kwasikwami from Australia

    This is a wonderful podcast. Not only does Gavin talk knowledgeably on a range of sustainability topics from gardening tips all the way to the issues facing humanity as a whole, but he does so in such a wonderful voice, it's like listening to my Dad, love it!!

  • Easy listening inspiration on being green
    September 24, 2014 by Broomedy from Australia

    Gav knows how to share his journey to a more sustainable life in a manner that shows just how easy it really is. Not to mention healthier, economically beneficial and generally rewarding. The podcasts are an easy way to absorb Gav's great lifestyle. I recommend to anyone.

  • Thanks Gavin!
    August 31, 2014 by Honeywoodmilk from Australia

    Great practical advice for a greener lifestyle. This podcast is for anybody interested in growing their own food in suburbia, saving electricity, brewing beer, making cheese, all that wonderful business and most of all, saving money! Thanks Gavin, love the podcast mate!

  • Enjoyed those ideas for staying warm
    August 15, 2014 by enduringdragon from United States

    Like you we are having winter here in Chile—brrr! Every bit we can save on heating we will.

  • Green Podcasts
    July 26, 2014 by Carneu from Australia

    Excellent podcasts, which are full of information to help get started on a sustainable lifestyle.

  • Practical ideas and inspiration
    July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

    I highly recommend Gavin's podcast and blog. Down to earth, entertaining and inspirational. Thank you.

  • Interesting & easy to listen to
    April 27, 2014 by Velocity3 from New Zealand

    Gavin & his guests make this green journey lots of fun.

  • Great green listen
    April 18, 2014 by Obscurenickname from Australia

    Gavin is a great down to earth, tell it like it is aussie with a passion for sustainability and growing food and making cheese

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