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Archives for August 2015

2 Fruit Marmalade

August 24, 2015 @ 21:43 By Gavin Webber 2 Comments

I remember eating 2 Fruit Marmalade when I was a kid.  I also remember not liking it very much as it was always too tart and bitter. I can’t remember who in the family used to make it, but something was not quite right with either my fledgling palate or the recipe.  It was probably my young taste buds as all the adults seems to love it!

Now Kim raves about this brand of Marmalade she used to eat in the UK (Roses), and wanted to know if we could make our own.  I mentioned to her that we made some a while back and I was the only one that ate it, and asked if she wanted to learn how to make a 2 fruit marmalade with the excess citrus we had on the citrus trees that we grow in pots.

She was very excited at the prospect, so here is the recipe and method I taught her yesterday.  The one vital piece of equipment you’ll need, and may already have, is a bread maker.  Yes friends, we are making 2 Fruit Marmalade in a bread maker!  Just make sure it has a jam setting before you start making this delicious preserve (most of them do these days).

2 Fruit Marmalade

2 Fruit Marmalade

Ingredients

  • 250 gm sliced Navel Oranges
  • 250 gm sliced Tahitian Limes
  • 1 and 2/3 cups of white sugar
  • 1 level Tablespoon Classic Pectin

Method

1.  Pick your fruit from your tree.  Wash fruit in your sink, half full of warm water with 1 cup of white vinegar added.  This will help remove any dirt, bacteria, or wax (if commercially bought).  Dry the fruit with a tea towel.

Washing citrus for 2 fruit marmalade

2.  Slice the oranges thinly, then cut in half.  They should be half-moon shaped.  Remove any seeds that may be present as well as large chunks of the centre pith.

Sliced oranges for 2 fruit marmalade

3.  Slice the limes and cut in half.  You will notice that my limes are slightly yellow.  Well it is a little know fact that limes do indeed turn from green to yellow when they are ripe!

Sliced Limes for 2 fruit Marmalade

4.  Add your limes into the bread maker pan then add the sugar.

2 Fruit Marmalade

5.  Then add the pectin.  We used classic pectin that has no added sugar, unlike Jamsetta.  Plus you can reuse the container it comes in when empty!

Add the Pectin to 2 fruit Marmalade

6.  Then place the pan into the bread maker as per your machines instructions.

Breadmaker

7.  Set the bread maker to the jam setting, and press start.

Jam setting for 2 fruit marmalade

8.  In the mean time, whilst the 2 Fruit Marmalade is cooking, wash and rinse some jars and lids.  We found that each batch fit perfectly into two 300 gm Salsa jars (empty of course).  Make sure the lids are in good condition with no sign of rust or stained plastic seal in the inside.  If in doubt, order in some new lids.  If you don’t have all the gear you need, you can find preserving equipment and supplies in our online shop.

9.  Place the still wet jars upside down on a baking tray, and place in a preheated oven at 120°C (250°F) for 20 minutes.  This sterilize the jars.  To sterilize the lids, place them in a Pyrex jug and pour in boiling water and sit for 5 minutes.

Sterilized Jars

10.  Once the 2 Fruit Marmalade is cooked, pour it into hot jars.  Wipe any spills with a clean damp tea towel and seal the lids on tight.  We use the lids that have pop buttons so we can ensure we have a vacuum seal.  As the jars and contents cool, the button pops in.  For any jars that didn’t seal correctly, store in the fridge and eat that jar first.

2 Fruit Marmalade

For the remainder, wipe clean with a clean damp cloth, and store in a cool dark pantry until ready to consume.  Will keep for at least 12 months.

Now there is a variation on this recipe that we also tried.  In the above photo, you will note that two of the bottom jars of marmalade are a slightly different colour (bottom centre and right).  Well they are actually 100% Lime Marmalade.  To make this, just use 500 gm (1.1 lbs) of fresh limes instead of the combination of oranges and limes.  This makes a more tart Marmalade, which is a delicious alternative.

So there you have it.  2 Fruit Marmalade, made with citrus grown here on our suburban food farm!

I am so glad my taste buds matured.  This marmalade is amazing.

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Filed Under: fruit, Preserving, Sustainable Living

How To Pay Down Your Mortgage Quickly

August 20, 2015 @ 21:56 By Gavin Webber 5 Comments

Want to pay down your mortgage quickly or even save for a deposit for your home?

Well Kim and I have found a solution, and it’s not rocket science either, because we’ve done it and are living it.

We have found that the simple practice of living a more sustainable lifestyle and living within your means is the key to successfully paying down your mortgage quickly.

There’s no magic formula.  No ten step process.

Just honest to goodness living as well as growing some of your own food, cutting down on consumption, and banging as much spare cash as you can onto your offset mortgage account, you can save a small fortune in interest payments.

Here’s the key.  By using an offset mortgage account when you first take out your mortgage, any extra money you put into that offset account gets offset daily against your outstanding loan balance, therefore reducing your loan term.

Not only do you save swags of interest, but the actual mortgage gets paid down quicker.

We treat our offset account like one big savings account, throwing as much as we can into it.  We can draw some cash out if we need to without any fuss but it takes a few days to appear in our normal bank account which often stops any impulse buying.

All the time that extra money sits in your offset account, the better off you are in the long run because it is reducing your loan interest each and every day.

Now this is only my opinion as I am not a registered financial adviser, but let me tell you that as we started to live within our means, our mortgage has dropped significantly.

So it goes without saying that if we can do it, you can too!

Just to prove that there’s no magic behind our method, here’s a National 7 News spot I did last year about how living a more sustainable lifestyle can help enough save money to pay down your mortgage quick smart!

 

And the great news is that we’re still on track to be mortgage free for late next year. That’s when the fun really starts!

 

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Filed Under: Sustainable Living

TGoG 123 – Solar Talk with Emma Sutcliffe

August 19, 2015 @ 16:30 By Gavin Webber Leave a Comment

Listen to the Episode Below (00:21:16)
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Recently, I was interviewed by Emma Sutcliffe about my small solar power system that I built myself.  You can read about it in this post titled To Grid or Go Off Grid. Why Not Do Both?  We conducted the interview just before a delicious lunch that Kim prepared, so you will hear her in the background of the recording Emma took.  It was an energetic solar talk!

During this episode we focus more on grid-connect solar PV and talk about my system, what I think about the future of residential solar PV is, and how batteries and hybrid systems will change everything due to a rapidly falling price and a very low feed-in tariff.

Solar Talk with Emma Sutcliffe

View from our gate

At about the 17 minute mark, when I am talking about our visit to the Waubra wind farm, Kim drops her clanger about a few of the people she would like to strap to the blades of a turbine.  A truly laugh-out-loud moment.

So if you would like to learn a little more about residential solar photovoltaic systems then this is the episode for you!

If you want to check out more of Emma’s work, visit her personal blog, theoffgridsolarhouse.com.  She is also a contributing author to the One Step Off The Grid blog.

Emma Sutcliffe Solar Talk

Emma Sutcliffe Solar Selfie!


Don’t forget that this podcast is supported financially by you, the listener.  This not only keeps the show (and blog) advertisement free, but keeps us on the air each week.

If you would like to support the show and pledge as little as US$1 to keep us up and running, please pop over to www.patreon.com/greeningofgavin/ and pledge away!

Also if you like the show, use the iTunes button and leave a rating and a review.  We love to hear what our listeners think about our show.

Until next episode, keep it green!

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Filed Under: feed-in tariffs, Podcast, renewable energy, Solar Power, Sustainable Living, TGOG Podcast

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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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