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Archives for August 2012

The Good Life Is Coming Soon

August 24, 2012 @ 17:59 By Gavin Webber 12 Comments

Did you know that in our town you can buy the good life if you just fork out $155,000 for land, and a lot more for a home built on it?

If you believe the billboard on the wall of our local shopping centre, then the good life is as simple as a massive mortgage and a nuclear family, and is always coming soon.  It makes me laugh.  This to me subtlety implies that you will not achieve this ‘nirvana state’ without buying their product.

It sounds a bit delusional of them to me, because I believe that I live the good life, and it is not coming soon nor as expensive as they claim.  It is here and it is now.  You don’t need to buy much at all to have a good life.

The good life, in my mind, has two meanings, depending on your point of view.  It could be one that our peer pressure consumer society expects you to conform with, which is one where you buy everything you need from others.  I don’t think that having lots of debt does not give one a good life.  I know that it made me miserable in the past.

Or it could be the meaning that I now subscribe to, which is one of the producer/consumer, whereby we try to grow a fair bit of our own food, cook it, and store it for later on in the year.  Our good life includes making things myself, which gives me immense satisfaction and a sense of pride in a job well done.

So don’t believe every billboard you see, because you can have the good life where you are living right now!  You don’t need a big block of land to make a go of a sustainable lifestyle.  I have found that by using space wisely, you can fit in a lot of great things without making it look like a disaster zone.

How have you tried to live the good life where you live now?

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Filed Under: consumerism, Media, Sustainable Living

Pre-Spring Clean Up

August 23, 2012 @ 21:03 By Gavin Webber 9 Comments

Isn’t it weird that when you are a gardener, you actually have to prepare for the most amazing season of all?  Our preparation is two fold, tidying up for Sustainable House Day, and getting ready for the onslaught of growth that is the Spring time garden.

So far, most of this preparation has consisted of weeding, sheet mulching and a general pre-spring clean.  Weeding to ensure that the fruit trees in the front orchard have the best possible chance at developing the very best fruit for our family, and mulching to ensure good moisture retention in the soil.

Here is what we have managed to do so far.

This bed holds two olive trees that I planted in Autumn.  They are now well established due to all the winter rain we have had, and are ready to put on the spring flush of growth.  The bed also has some lucerne which is resprouting, and there were many, many weeds which have mostly been pulled out.

What we do next is to sheet mulch.  Sheet mulching is easy, and keeps the Cooch and Kikuyu grass at bay for over a year.

We lay down layers of newspaper which we wet to keep in place.  About two to three pages think.

Then we lay down thick cardboard.  Here is an example of some cardboard saved from my two recent solar panels.

With my diggers knees on, I had to get down on all fours to lay this stuff in the bed.  Those knee pads are the best investment ever!

As you can see, this is a bit like a patchwork quilt in the making.  Ripping bits of cardboard to fit all those fiddly places around trees and shrubs.

Then we re-hydrate the mulch.  I prefer to use coconut husks, because it contains no dyes like most barks and wood chips you can purchase from landscaping stores, and it breaks down quickly to form a fantastic soil.  The worms just love it, and every bed I have uses it in has the darkest, richest soil that plants love to grow in.  The only problem is that it comes from Sri Lanka, and I cannot find a local source.  Sustainable to be using a by-product of the coconut industry, but the transportation miles are massive.

The mulch comes in compressed blocks, and one block expands to two wheelbarrow loads, which is quite impressive.

This bed was covered in golden oxalis (soursobs), and were sucking the moisture out of the soil.  As the peach and nectarine trees in this bed are now bursting into blossom, it was well worth the effort.

Here is the bed near the front gate that was absolutely covered in invasive grasses.  It took me over three hours to remove as much of the grass and roots as I could, hopefully making a dent it its growth prospects over the warmer months.  Some may ask why I just didn’t spray the grass with Glyphosate, which is the key ingredient in Roundup and Zero.  Well, I don’t use that stuff on my property because it is very nasty stuff, and not only does not kill Kikuyu very well, it leaches into the soil and kills just about everything else including the soil biota, mycorrhizal fungi (which is beneficial for tree growth), and earthworms.  Soil without these things is just dust and not good for growing anything of substance in a sustainable manner and without the massive need for artificial fertilizers.

So that is what we did yesterday.  Two beds complete with another four to go, but not half as weed infested, and they don’t need to be sheet mulched with paper and cardboard.

The two site supervisors didn’t even break into a sweat!  At least they could have handed me the spade when I need it.

Today we did some weeding around the pool, cleaned up the garage area, and had a photo shoot for a newspaper article that will be run in the Melton Weekly the week before Sustainable House Day.  A few photographs around the garden with Solar panels and greenhouse in the background, and a few in the rain of me holding Edwina Chicken in front of Cluckingham Palace.

Then it down came the freezing cold rain, and that was that.  Inside to have a rest and read a book.

More fun in the garden tomorrow, as I going to be planting up Tomatoes, capsicums, eggplants, and sundry other summer crops in punnets and put them in the greenhouse to germinate.  Ben will be giving me a hand as part of his gardening lesson for the day.  Should be great fun, planting with my son, and teaching him all the tricks and tips that I have learnt.

Rock on Spring!  Are you preparing you garden yet?
  

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Filed Under: fruit, Gardening, Organic

Sustainable House Day 2012

August 21, 2012 @ 13:00 By Gavin Webber 3 Comments

What to see our version of a sustainable home?  Do you live within 100km of Melton, Victoria?

Well come and visit our humble abode on Sunday 9th September 2012 from 10am – 4pm, to have a butchers at all the great sustainable projects that you have seen our family build/grow/create over the past six years.

See the clay oven.  See Cluckingham Palace.  See, not one, but two renewable energy systems.  Touch the worms, smell the compost, taste some mint, check out the irrigation system, say gidday to a chook, or just have a chat with Kim, Ben, myself, or many of the other volunteers that will be helping us from the Melton Sustainable Living Group.

Have I convinced you with this corny ad?  No steak knives, but I guarantee a learning experience to remember.

Here is the official blurb from the great team at SHD.

Sustainable House Day 2012

Some of Australia’s greenest homes will open their doors to the public for the eleventh annual Sustainable House Day on Sunday 9 September – showcasing the country’s most environmentally sustainable and innovative homes that invest in renewable energy, recycling and other practices designed to reduce their carbon footprint. 

This is your personal invitation to see what sustainable homeowners have done and how these ideas can apply to you! 

If you’re thinking about improving your home’s energy, water or waste management efficiency, speaking to homeowners about their own experiences is a must. Seeing real sustainable projects in action, and learning what worked well and not so well, will help save you time and money. 

There will be plenty of information available on the day, with architects, builders and energy auditors on hand at many of the homes to provide you with expert tips on sustainable living. 

From retrofits to new builds, there are sure to be many inspirational ideas to adapt to your home. 

Entry to the houses is free. For house locations and more details visit www.sustainablehouseday.com  

We are excited to be a part of this wonderful event for the third year in a row, so if you are local, pop on in for a tour of the grounds, and see what is possible on an average suburban house block.

The address will be listed on www.sustainablehouseday.com two weeks before the event.

See you on the day!

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Filed Under: Sustainable House Day

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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
    May 25, 2015 by Gorn4lyfe from Australia

    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
    October 18, 2014 by BoomOpGirl from Australia

    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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