The Greening of Gavin

Happy Blogiversary – 7 Years In the Making

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7th anniversaryToday is this blog’s 7th anniversary. I started it back on 13th February 2008 with my very first post.  It seems so long ago.  I suppose it was.

So what have we achieved this year.  Well we hit just over 1722 articles on the blog, 101 podcast episodes, 11,497 comments, 4,687 YouTube subscribers, a few appearances on national TV, and over 2000 facebook fans.  I am proud to say I made it this far.  There have been a few times (after receiving rather nasty comments) that I have thought about giving up.  But who am I to give in to those ignoramuses.  Life goes on, good and the bad.

Anyway, just think, way back in 2008 during the first few months, I think that only 3 people read the blog.  Kim, my Mum, and my Dad (thanks family).  It never ceases to amaze me how far it has all come.  We have built such a community around this blog, showing how to build a more sustainable lifestyle; step by step, little by little.  Hopefully you have all gained something from my ramblings.  I realise that I am being a little self-indulgent, but hey, its my party.  I’ll thank if I want to 😉

So to all of you who have dropped in over the years, here’s to you.  A big hearty thank you from me!

I enjoy your visits and comments.  Keep them both coming.

Gav x

Everything Old Is New Again

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Happy New Year to one and all.  I hope that you ushered 2015 in safe and sound.2015

But before we get stuck into the new one, lets reflect a little on the old year past.  And what a year of ups and downs it has been.  There have been two very important life changing events in 2014 for us.

We lost Kim’s mum Pam, which really took its toll.  However she is always in our hearts, and we know that life has to go on.   That is what Pam would have wanted of course.

On the other hand, Kim and I are now proud grandparents, which makes us very happy.  Emily Webber is now with us, daughter to Adam and Sina.  Although they are living in Germany, we know that they only as close as a Skype call away.  Isn’t technology wonderful at times?

Now, Kim and I will be doing a deep dive into last years events during our podcast later on today, but suffice it to say that we are looking forward to what this year brings.

Looking at the year ahead, I think more and more people will begin to realise that everything old will be new again.  By that I mean that older ways of doing things will become popular again.  We are certainly seeing a resurgence in all the things that we teach in our workshops.  It seems that folks want to learn how to make their own things, which is very encouraging.

It is great to see others moving away from being consumers and moving towards becoming producers and claiming back a little more self-reliance.

So here is to 2015 and what it may bring.  May it bring joy and happiness to you all.

TGoG Podcast 089 – Suburban Food Farm Late Spring

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One of my regular Suburban Food Farm updates, this time for late spring.  We, hopefully, had our last frost of the season, so I have been going crazy in the garden planting up this season’s crops.

It certainly kept me busy for most of the long weekend we had here in Victoria.

During the show, I mentioned these links;

I also talked about the method I use to harvest broad beans.  I mention the nitrogen nodules that grow on the roots.  For those who have never seen them, here is a photo I took the other day.

Broad Bean Nitrogen Nodules

Broad Bean Nitrogen Nodules

Near the end of the cast, I let you know about a recent newspaper interview which should appear in the Melton Leader soon, and a little about a blogging course that I taught last night, which is the reason the podcast episode is a day later than normal.

Also, if you live in the Melbourne area, and are interested in attending a very reasonably priced Blogging for Beginners course ($48 for 5 hour course), leave me a comment so I can gauge interest.  I am in two minds as if I should to run another one due to the fact that it took over 8 months to fill this course.

Thanks for listening to The Greening of Gavin podcast!