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Zero Footprint Week – Sustainable Gardening

November 29, 2008 @ 14:50 By Gavin Webber 6 Comments

Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest.  ~Douglas William Jerrold, about Australia, A Land of Plenty

This is the last post in the series and it focuses on something dear to my heart.  Gardening.  My garden, is place of joy and tranquility.  When I spend time working in my garden, I instantly relax and forget about the worries of the world.  I feel connected with what I am doing at that very time and place.  The simple act of planting new seeds or seedlings and watching them grow in the following weeks, fills my heart with a warm glow.  When one of my hand raised seedlings die, a little bit of me goes with it, but when they thrive, I feel strong and filled with a sense of accomplishment.  It is the best feeling to be able to walk out to the veggie patch and harvest the ingredients for a summer salad or meal, safe in the knowledge that you are reducing your food miles and therefore, your carbon footprint. 

So here are today’s tips about reducing your water usage in the garden and decreasing your carbon footprint.

Using water wisely cuts your overall water usage by up to 50%.  Mulch is a wonderful tool to have in your gardening armoury.  It keeps the moisture in the soil, keeps the soil cool in summer and warm in winter.  Think of it as a big blanket for you garden beds.  They also keep weed growth down.  A great book on the subject is "The Miracle of Mulch" by Mary Horsfall, which describe the types of mulch and its many uses. 

Simple things are also effective for saving water.  Checking the weather forecast for possible rain in your area before venturing out to water the garden.  Check how damp the soil is before watering.  The mulch may look dry, but by looking underneath the soil is most probably moist enough and could last another day.

Wicking beds or wicking boxes are a great idea.  They water the plants from the bottom up with a constant supply of water near the root zone.  Hardly any water is lost to evaporation.  Have a look at this video to get a better understanding of the technique.  I will be giving them a go in the next few weeks.  The principle looks simple enough.

Here is another water saving tip I received from Kate over at Hills & Plains Seedsavers.  I think she called it a wicking pot.  I tried it out last weekend, with some amazing results.  What you do is lay your hands on some terracotta pots that are unglazed and unsealed. 

Wicking pots 001

Then you plug up the hole in the bottom with silicone (I used a rock and some silicon to stop the water from leaking out.

Wicking pots 002

Then you bury the pot into your prepared garden bed up to the lip leaving about 2 cm above the ground to allow for the mulch.

Wicking pots 003Then you plant you water loving plants around the pot.  Veggies like lettuce, celery that need a lot of water are a good idea.  In this example, I planted lettuce.

Wicking pots 005 They look a bit sorry for themselves as it was a hot day, but they soon recovered.  Water the plants in well and fill up the pot to the top and bung on a lid to prevent evaporation.  Then mulch well around the plants and the pots to keep the moisture in.

Wicking pots 006 Since I planted last Saturday, I have filled the pots twice with water.  All of the lettuces survived the transplant and have new growth.  The pots structure lets the water seep out slowly, therefore keeping the soil moist at all times.  I find that it takes about 3 days for the pot to drain completely, and the soil around the pot out to about 20cm is damp to touch.  Fantastic tip, thanks Kate!  Kate used this method last year, and found that she could pick the lettuce during the heat of the midday sun, and found that the leaves were still nice and crisp.

Other great and easy ideas are reusing your greywater for watering fruit trees and non-root and leafy vegetables.  As long as the greywater doesn’t come in contact with the edible part of the plant, you should be fine.  Watermelons love greywater, as do most cucurbits.  Make sure you wash the produce well when picking after having used greywater just to be sure.  If you do decide to use greywater, ensure that you use an plant friendly laundry detergent with low sodium and phosphorous content.  We use Planet Ark Aware laundry powder, and the plants love it.

If you have the space and the funds, a rainwater tank is a must.  Even though I only have a 2300L tank, it saved my veggie patch last summer.  By only being able to use mains water twice a week, the ground dries out very quickly when the temperature get over 35 degrees C and the rainwater is a godsend.

Cultivating less lawn and more garden reduces garden water usage by 40%.  When I see a well groomed lawn covering an entire front yard, I see wasted energy, time, and money.  Last time I looked you can’t eat a lawn.  I will give you that kids can play on lawns but for all the effort to maintain them, it is easier to take them down the park for a frolic.  Plant vegetables where the lawn is.  Not only do you use far less water, but you get a tangible benefit out of your effort in the form of food.  Front yard vegetable patches are the new black!  Gone are the days of the lush lawn and all the petrol required to mow it.  So by not having to use fuel, or artificial fertilizer you can drastically reduce your carbon footprint by converting that antiquated lawn to vegetable production.

Planting native Australian species reduces garden water usage by another 20%.  I dig native plants.  I have a few that require absolutely no watering at all.  After all, this is the climate they survive in so it comes naturally to these plants to last a long time in prolonged droughts.  I have been trying to get my hands on some local bush tucker plants other than the Lilly pillies that I already have, but the knowledge at the nurseries around here is lacking.  All I got were stupid looks when I asked the other day.  I will have to do a bit of research to see what will survive around here and that is edible.  Wish me luck.

Gardening is a kind of disease.  It infects you, you cannot escape it.  When you go visiting, your eyes rove about the garden; you interrupt the serious cocktail drinking because of an irresistible impulse to get up and pull a weed.  ~Lewis Gannit

Well, sad but true, but today is the final day of Zero Footprint Week.  I hope you all enjoyed the series as much as I did writing it, and I would like to thank the team at One at a Time Foundation for contacting me, in particular Dan, and letting me run with the idea.  I hope all of the tips have been helpful and all I ask is that you have a think some of them, and try and make a difference to your carbon footprint in your part of the world. 

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Filed Under: Gardening, water, Zero Footprint Week

Zero Footprint Week – Transport

November 28, 2008 @ 19:15 By Gavin Webber Leave a Comment

 

Transport: How we get from A to B. 

Before man invented the wheel, the only choices we had were shanks pony (our feet), and riding animals.  Both modes of transport were and still are, extremely low carbon.  Then we invented the wheel which for thousands of years were attached to various types of vehicles that were pulled/pushed by humans or animals allowing for greater loads to be carried.  Once again, very low carbon options.

Then the steam engine was invented in the early 1700’s and it took George Stephenson to put wheels on it in the form of the Rocket,  thus began the industrial revolution and the beginning of the human race’s addiction to burning fossil fuels. 

Then, with the discovery of oil and the refining process, and the subsequent invention of the internal combustion engine, it all quickly went to custard.  Cars were relatively rare early on, and it wasn’t until Henry Ford invented the production line method of manufacturing cars making them affordable to the masses, did the automobile have any real environmental impact.  From that day in 1908, carbon emissions have been increasing exponentially  ever since.

So now we know a little history behind transportation, what can we do to reduce our own personal carbon footprint in this area?  Well here are three tips that will help you achieve this goal.

Walk, Cycle or Use Public Transport
A trip to the shop or the beach can be much more enjoyable if you leave the car at home and walk or cycle.  Not only do you save money on petrol, but you can also save time spent waiting in traffic and looking for a car park.  Also remember that kids have legs, and as they begin to look for more responsibility, let them ride or walk to school instead of you being the local taxi service or if they are too little, then walk to school with them.  I used to have a neighbour who’s drove her kids to the same school as Ben, and when I left for school at the same time as her, I actually used to beat her to the classroom, and then win the race back home as well.  We are only talking 1km here people.  So many people forget to factor in the hassle of parking, that they get much  more stressed than I ever would walking, and all because of pure laziness.  You also would not believe how many people actually drop their kids off in their pyjamas that also live very close to the school.  Obviously, none are too worried about their carbon footprint and too eager to get straight back in to bed when they get home!  Which leads me to the next tip.

Drive Smart
Making sure your car is healthy and planning trips ahead of time for maximum efficiency can save on time, money and carbon.  Planning trips will save you a lot of money.  Why do two trips when one will suffice?  When I go out on errands for Kim, she writes me a list of things to do and get, and the places to visit.  I then map the best route out in my head so that I don’t have to backtrack and waste any fuel.  Also, don’t skip on the maintenance.  Make sure your tires are inflated as per the manufacturers recommendations.  Flat tyres increase rolling resistance, and you burn more fuel.  Regular services ensure that the engine is at peak performance and not struggling by moving thicker dirty oil around its block.  This also burns more fuel.  I also find that by accelerating gently from a standstill, I save a lot of fuel.  In my hybrid, it can make the difference of 2 litres per 100km if I have a lead foot for a few hours.  Just think what that is like in a normal car! 

Choosing your next car on the basis of fuel efficiency also helps. Visit www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au to find out more about choosing a more eco-friendly car.  I have notice of late that there are so many V6 and V8 cars for sale on the side of the road around our town.  Even now that fuel prices have gone down a bit from before the global recession started, people are still ditching these gas guzzlers in droves.  I know it is not because everyone in my town has suddenly become environmental superheroes, it is just that the price of fuel is cutting into the household budget more than it used to.  Even by buying a second hand 4 cylinder car, you will reap the environmental benefits and lower your carbon footprint.

Try Car Pooling
Sometimes you need to drive to work, but why not have some company while you do so?  Driving to work with your fellow employees saves money, fuel and stress on your car.  For more information visit http://www.travelsmart.gov.au/links/.  Hey, what a cool link.  Thanks Zero Footprint Week site!  I have asked so many people in my town who work in the same building as me if they want to car pool, and I always get some lame excuse.  I am quite happy to do all the driving, because I have to pay for the lease anyway and have to do a ludicrous amount of kilometres per year to get a tax benefit.  But, alas no one want to share my green trip in with me 🙁

I will definitely be checking out the travel smart site to see if there are any tips on getting fellow travellers in my area.  Share the love I say! 


Tomorrows post will be about Sustainable Gardening, and how you can reduce your carbon footprint in this area. 

Keep an eye on the official Zero Footprint Week web site for more tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint during the week.

See you all tomorrow for the last post on Zero Footprint Week!

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Filed Under: bicycle, cycling, Hybrid, low emission vehicle, Transport, Zero Footprint Week

Zero Footprint Week – Energy

November 27, 2008 @ 07:30 By Gavin Webber 1 Comment

According to the Zero Footprint Week site, electricity accounts for 50% of energy consumed by Australian households and for 85% of greenhouse emissions.  The main reason for this fact is that the majority of electricity in Australia is generated by burning Coal which released massive amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.

So I will also add in my experiences on reducing electricity consumption during my sustainable journey so far.  So here are the three categories for today, plus a few tips of my own.

Switching off appliances and power points can save 10% on energy bills.  I might be preaching to the converted, but standby power adds up over a year.  So what can you do about it?  If you can group appliances together then put them all on a powerboard and you then only have one switch to worry about.  Don’t let the fact of not being able to reach the power point deter you, there are powerboards with switches on them that make it easier to reach.  I have used this system for each PC (we have 3 PC’s and 1 laptop), and the entertainment system in the lounge.  I found that the week I implemented this, we saved 2 Kilowatt hours a day and have done so now for 18 months!  At 15.99 cents per kWh that is a savings of $116.80 and 876 kg of CO2e per year.  All for turning stuff off at the wall!  It is also a good idea to read your meter daily for a week if you can.  This way you can determine if the small changes you make over a week are making a difference.  Have a look at your previous electricity bill, because most of them have your daily average usage listed.  You can use this figure as your baseline and try and improve each month.  If you would like more information about the other things I did have a look at the post titled "Eco House Challenge Electricity 1" and "Eco House Challenge Electricity 2".  Since I wrote that post, we have had two adult kids move out of home, and our daily average electricity usage over the last 32 weeks was 12.2 kWh.  This total includes grid and solar.  The grid daily average was 3.2 kWh!  I love the Sun.

Choose energy efficient appliances can save another 10% on energy bills.  Our big electricity sucking machines are the Fridge/Freezer, Clothes Dryer, Swimming Pool Pump, Entertainment System, and Gas Stove.  Since I began my journey in sustainable living, we have replaced the a Fridge/Freezer, a Chest Freezer and combined them into one twin door energy efficient model.  The old fridge died, so we did our research for an energy efficient model, and found that the one we purchased used 60% less energy per year than the old Fridge/Freezer and Chest freezer combined.  It was a great feeling to see the results.  I only ever replace an appliance when it breaks for good, because I take the embedded energy into account for the new item.  Embedded energy is the energy that it takes to make the new appliance which should be taken into account if you can get the information that is.  To find the most energy efficient appliance for you have a look at the Commonwealth Government Energy Rating site.  It is full of great information that I used when looking for my fridge.  For the appliances that you can’t or don’t want to replace just yet, try and use them less.  We rarely use the clothes dryer anymore and prefer to hang clothes either on an airer or under cover if it is raining.  I got rid of a bar fridge that I rarely used, and turned the pool pump down from 8 hours a day to 3.5 hours a day in Summer.  The pool still stays clean and chlorinated, so I don’t why people insist on leaving these energy guzzling pumps for many hours during the day.  Once again, try and take meter readings while you make changes to your consumption to check the results.

Switching to GreenPower reduces your carbon footprint by up to 70%.  This was one of the first things that we did.  By visiting www.greenpower.gov.au we found that our current provider Origin Energy provided accredited GreenPower to our area.  We first signed up for 20% Wind, and then when our Solar PV system was installed, we changed to 100% wind for the excess that we drew from the grid.  Origin also threw in GreenGas, for free, which is a scheme where they invest in projects to sequester CO2e like new renewable energy, planting trees, research and development etc. 

I am proud to say that our home is carbon neutral for all of our imported energy needs.


Tomorrows post will be about Transport, and how you can reduce your carbon footprint in this area. 

Keep an eye on the official Zero Footprint Week web site for more tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint during the week.

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Filed Under: energy efficency, GreenPower, Photovoltaic, Zero Footprint Week

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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!!

  • Well worth your time to tune in
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    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
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    A wonderful show!

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

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

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    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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