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Electro-Gadget Madness

January 13, 2015 @ 19:51 By Gavin Webber 6 Comments

Electro-Gadget Madness

Electric can opener – Note the can. It is a ring pull. Oh the irony!

Here’s an observation.  Today it seems that for almost every task in the home there is now an electric-powered solution, whether it be a can opener, carving knife or an egg cracker (I kid you not).

These appliances may not all the be most energy-intensive products, but when you add all the energy consumption up and the materials need to manufacture and distribute them, you have to decide whether they are really worth it.

Wouldn’t traditional hand-operated devices be far more practical especially when they cost nothing to run, are cheaper to buy, and less prone to breaking?

We always choose hand-operated over electro-gadgets, but I don’t think this is the norm.  Mind you, I have even seen hand-operated gadgets that are simply a waste of space as well as being made from non-recyclable plastic.  Crazy stuff.

What is the strangest electro-gadget madness that you have seen that has a viable hand-operated alternative?  Let me know via comment and start a bit of a community thread happening.  This should be entertaining because I am sure there are lots of crazy things out there.

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Filed Under: consumerism, Electricity efficiency, Nuts

Making Basil Pesto – Ben Style

March 12, 2014 @ 17:30 By Gavin Webber 10 Comments

We love fresh produce from our suburban food farm, especially this family favourite; Basil Pesto!

As one of our goals was to teach Ben (our teenage son) to cook meals, we thought it would be a good idea if Ben had a go at making it this time around.

Basil growing in a pot

Basil growing in a pot

As I am the main gardener around here, I planted this fine specimen in early spring last year.  All I do is scatter last years seeds on the surface of the soil, and lightly spread a 2 mm layer of potting mix on top.  Basil seeds take ages to germinate, so you just have to be a bit patient, but grow they will.  I will be collecting these seeds again this year.  Wait for them to dry out and pull off the stalk and store in a brown paper bag or sealed glass jar until spring.

Enough about growing, on with the basil pesto!

Ben washing basil leaves

Ben washing basil leaves

Even though we practice organic principles, nevertheless, we always wash our produce.  You never know what bird might have dropped on it over the growing season.  You can see here that Ben is rinsing off the leaves.  As he is a newbie, I will let him off for not putting the plug in the sink to save water!

Basil leaves after spinning

Basil leaves after spinning

Once the leave are all clean and spun dry, Ben moved over to the food processor.

Adding basil leaves to food processor

Adding basil leaves to food processor

Once he managed to get all the leaves into the bowl with a chopping blade in place, he moved on to the cheese!  About two years ago, I made some deliciously sharp Romano cheese which was perfect for this Basil pesto.  I still had a little bit left that he could use.

Grating the Romano cheese

Grating the Romano cheese

He did a great job, and didn’t catch his knuckles.  The aroma of the cheese was mouth-watering, to say the least.  Into the food processor bowl it goes.

Romano cheese added to food processor

Romano cheese added to food processor

If you processed this now, it would be very dry, and not form a paste.  To smooth things out you need two classic ingredients.  Cashew nuts and Olive oil.  About a cup of nuts and half a cup of olive oil.

Now I realise that cashews are grown in the tropics, and not very local, however I have read that you can substitute macadamia nuts if you are looking for that Aussie twist.  The olive oil is from a local producer and tastes heavenly.

Adding cashew nuts and olive oil to make pesto

Adding cashew nuts and olive oil

Ben then ground in some sea salt and black pepper for flavour and then pulsed the lot until it turned into a paste.  He then tasted it, then put a bit on a cracker for me to taste.  It was a bit dry so he added more olive oil, which did the trick.  I normally add a couple of fat, home-grown garlic cloves, but Ben left these out for his recipe.

Basil Pesto ingredients blended to a paste

Basil Pesto ingredients blended to a paste

So Ben, what did it taste like?

Thumbs up by Ben the budding chef

A big thumbs up!  Kim put it into containers, froze half and put some into the fridge until dinner time.

I cooked up some fettuccine and Ben stirred in his special Basil pesto.  He told me that it was delicious.

Separating the Fettuccine strands

So there you go.  If my fourteen year old son can make it, you certainly can!  All you have to do is grow some basil.

Do you have any variations on Ben’s recipe?  He would love to learn more so he can give it a try next time.  There are still plenty of leaves on the basil bushes.

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Filed Under: Cooking, Nuts, recipes

Roasted Chestnuts

May 9, 2012 @ 21:49 By Gavin Webber 15 Comments

I discovered roasted chestnuts when courting my wife Kim in the UK, in 1995.  We had just visited the British Museum and spied a chestnut vendor, of which in the colder months there are hundreds all around the city of London.  Having never tried them before, we bought a bag and found that they were just simply delicious, even though we ended up with charcoal all over our hands.

Back in Australia, these tasty morsels are a self serve option, and I rarely see a street vendor selling them.  So when Kim’s friend gave us a bag I jumped at the chance to roast some up.

Now remembering the black, sooty fingers on my last encounter, I decided to scour the net in search of an easy, clean method of roasting chestnuts in our kitchen oven.  I found one, and this is how I went about it.

Firstly I washed the chestnuts in cold water to remove any mould or dirt.  Then turn your oven on and preheat to 220C or 425F.

Then with a sharp bread knife score the shell of the curved side until you just touch the nut.  It is pretty easy and you can tell when you are through.  I have heard some people use a cross, but I think this was much safer.

Put them in a pan and just cover with water, and bring to the simmer.

Once simmered, take them out and put into a roasting tray.  The chestnuts have split open a little wider.

Set 15 minutes up on the timer. and pop into the preheated oven.

Once roasted, then cover with a clean tea towel and rest for another 5 minutes.  This helps to steam them a little which helps removed the shell cleanly.

Remove the cover and start peeling.  Any chestnuts that are black on the inside discard as they are rotten and taste foul (I know, I ate one thinking that it was just over cooked).

Only the creamy coloured ones are good for eating, however I don’t think it would hurt the chooks any if I gave the black ones to them.

The chestnuts peel so easily with this method, and look no black, sooty hands.

Here are a few that I peeled for myself and Ben.  Kim had already scoffed her share by then!  So delicious and so simple to cook.  It took me about 30 minutes from start to finish, not including the eating which happened in only two minutes.

Luckily I kept some more aside for tomorrow night!  Yum.  So if you have a chestnut tree in your neighbourhood, scrump a few bag fulls, and roast them up.  They are so nice on a cold evening.

I wish I could find a tree close by.  The owners would be my next best friend.

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Filed Under: Nuts, recipes

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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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