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TGoG 112 – Megan goes Veggie

June 3, 2015 @ 17:30 By Gavin Webber Leave a Comment

Listen to the Episode Below (00:22:43)
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In the studio this week I have a chat with my daughter Megan. This is her first time on the show, and we discuss in-depth on why and how she now lives a vegetarian lifestyle.

Megan goes veggie

Megan goes veggie

It is amazing that she only embraced vegetarianism a year ago and it has changed her complete outlook on life.

I am one proud Dad!

During the show we talk about;

  • Paul McCartney – If Slaughterhouses had Glass Walls
  • Esther the Wonder Pig
  • Vloggers – Anthony and Kalel (since split up)
  • Animals Australia
  • *includes Calf Rennet

Don’t forget that this show is financially supported by you, the listener, via our Patreon page.  If you believe the show adds value to the sustainable living community and you would like to support the show, please pledge your support at http://www.patreon.com/greeningofgavin.  Any pledge small or large is most welcome, as it keeps the show going and growing week by week.

Become my patreon!

And finally, do you think this podcast episode will help someone you know?  If so, help them out by sharing it using the social media buttons below.  And if you are super excited about what you have heard during this episode, pop on over to iTunes and leave a rating and review using the button under the player.

It helps the podcast get noticed in the charts and makes it more visible for others who may be interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle in the ‘burbs.  Thanks!

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Filed Under: Family, Podcast, TGOG Podcast, Vegetarian

The Great Mushroom Experiment

April 8, 2014 @ 22:03 By Gavin Webber 15 Comments

Mushroom varieties

I can honestly say that I am a newbie to growing mushrooms, with practically zero experience in growing this fungus.  That is why I am so excited, and am starting The Great Mushroom Experiment.

But lets start at the very beginning.  Why do I love mushrooms?

Wild Field Mushrooms

When I was a wee lad living on a dairy farm in Loxton North in South Australia, you couldn’t buy mushrooms in the grocery store, or if there were mushrooms they were way out of reach of our budget.  The only mushrooms we could get our hands on were in one special paddock on the farm which we named the cows graveyard.  A fitting name, as there were old cow bones scattered among the pasture.

However, these must have been special bones, because once a year, in the middle of winter, mushrooms grew in abundance.  Mum always knew when the best time was to pick them, and we only ever picked enough for our needs, leaving about half of them behind.  This was so that they could rot down and release spores that would provide mushrooms for next years harvest.

Mum would show us how to pick them, usually cutting the stalk near the base of the fungi so as not to disturb the white fuzz (mycelium) from which other mushrooms would grow.  We could always tell the difference from toadstools that grew in the neighbouring paddocks, as the mushrooms were not slimy on top and did not go yellow when bruised.

Mum would carry them home in a basket, peel the skin off the cap, slice then gently sauté them in freshly made butter from our cows.  They would be served as a side dish to a big steak from a recently butchered steer.  Dad and all us kids loved these winter mushroom feasts, and I remember them with such fondness.  It was very satisfying to know that we had found and picked the mushrooms ourselves, and that mother nature had provided us with such bounty.

Commercial Mushrooms

Fast forward to the present.  Mushrooms can be bought in all supermarkets and green grocers and are commercially produced in all cities around our wide brown land.  But they are expensive.  Last I looked, button mushrooms were selling for about $10 a kilogram, and shiitake about double that price.  Don’t get me started on the price of other exotic varieties!

These commercial mushrooms are grown in big humid rooms that are temperature controlled, man-made caves, or reclaimed railway tunnels.  Not very sustainable as they use a heck of a lot of energy to emulate the right conditions for them to grow.

There has to be a better and home scale method of growing mushrooms.

The Great Mushroom Experiment

The Great Mushroom Experiment

It made me wonder if I could try to grow my own mushrooms.  How cool and sustainable would that be!

In the past, I have had limited success.  I tried growing mushrooms from those mushroom kits packaged in Styrofoam boxes which cost about $20 all up.  We managed to grow a small crop, but we forgot to water it for a few days, the mycelium died, and so did the baby mushrooms.  Plus the box is an environmental nightmare, and difficult to recycle.

So you can imagine my delight when I found a new type of mushroom kit in my local hardware store as I was searching for a packet of broad bean seeds.

I don’t normally promote specific products (this is not a sponsored post – which I never do), but Mr Fothergill’s Seeds have branched out to include some mushrooms varieties.  I snapped up two packets straight away, and some mushroom growing boards, that are made from poplar.  It cost me $30 in total and I hope to grow at least 4 kg of mushrooms to make it worth my while.

The growing boards are only used for Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms.  Alternatively, the instructions mention that you can use any kind of hardwood log (except conifer), which I might try as well.  The white button will be grown in a box filled with cow manure, straw, and some garden soil (I have yet to make the box), so that should be easy enough.

The mushroom spores are carried on cereal grains which are then dried.  The good thing with these kits is that there is not much too them, and the instructions are very comprehensive.  This fact sheet helped me gain a better understanding of the process.

So tomorrow I begin The Great Mushroom Experiment.  It should be great fun learning how to grow mushrooms, and to see if I can produce a sustainable harvest, just like we did back in the cows graveyard all those years ago.

Wish me luck!  Have any of you had any success growing mushrooms, and how did you do it?

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Filed Under: Organic, vegetables, Vegetarian

Veggie Roast

March 19, 2013 @ 12:00 By Gavin Webber 9 Comments

Hands up if you love a good roast dinner?  Keep your hands up if you think that a roast is still possible without meat?  I saw a few hands go down then.  
So what if I told you that it was extremely possible to make a roast dinner without any meat!  It is true, look at the picture below.  Yorkshire puddings, home-grown roast potatoes, steamed carrots, cabbage, and broccoli, and a meatloaf.  Or is it?
Kim substitutes the meat with a Veggie Loaf, and it tastes delicious.  So delicious in fact that she regularly gets requests from the kids to make it.  
Now being the nice lady she is, she offered to share the recipe with you all, so here it is.

Kim’s Veggie Loaf


Serves 6 adults, with seconds!

Ingredients

1 x 400gm can of Lentils, drained
1 x 400gm can of 5 Bean mix, drained
1 x 400gm can of Cannoli beans, drained
1 cup of cooked white rice
2 carrots, grated
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup zucchini, grates
1 large onions, chopped finely
2 cups re-hydrated soy meat, or Quorn mince
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup stuffing mix
1 cup grated cheddar, half for the topping
2 Tbsp Parmesan, grated
1 Tbsp Italian herb mix
1/4 cup BBQ Sauce
1/4 cup Tomato Sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste.

Method

  • Thoroughly mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
  • Press into a greased loaf 1 kg (2.2 lbs) loaf tin.  Here is usually enough mixture for smaller loaf pan.
  • Cook at in the oven at 180 C (360 F) for 1 hour 15 minutes, until golden brown on top and firm to touch.
  • Turn out onto a chopping board to slice into 2 inch slabs.  It will not be firm like meat, so be gentle with the slices.

We have not had a meat based roast since we started to reduce our meat intake, back in December 2011.  I am not missing roast meat very much at all.

Who else has a similar veggie dish that they can’t get enough of?  I would love to hear about it.

-37.6777778144.5686375

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Filed Under: recipes, Vegetarian

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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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  • 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!

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    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!!

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    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.

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    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!

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    A wonderful show!

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    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
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    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!

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

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

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    July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

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

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    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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