tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30202166384260466922024-03-05T22:50:10.084+11:00Living Green and ThriftyTips on how to live a more sustainable life in a thrifty way. Tales from our family life as we make our eco journey to a greener life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-41440751486275530572013-06-28T17:32:00.001+10:002013-06-28T17:33:50.531+10:00Recycling Ewaste - Australia sets a new Guinness World Record<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2yC1WginV9sDP04W_KKkL3ryH0TcXxLAtgwfRvWxC0GT2Vw-gFugHMygeZJobr1Cm1REdlDSjlyToZrJL6kirvRiRGjzcdvEbkUAHYudjZsOOBc98N93wL78g1Bw9DriMXxhyjPiaYA/s1600/345897594_e5336f5d91_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2yC1WginV9sDP04W_KKkL3ryH0TcXxLAtgwfRvWxC0GT2Vw-gFugHMygeZJobr1Cm1REdlDSjlyToZrJL6kirvRiRGjzcdvEbkUAHYudjZsOOBc98N93wL78g1Bw9DriMXxhyjPiaYA/s400/345897594_e5336f5d91_o.jpg" title="Pile of ewaste, computers, printers, televisions" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Creative Commons - Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/techbirmingham/" target="_blank">Curtis Palmer</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just got a great email that captured my attention. I have an old keyboard that doesn't work sitting near my door waiting to go to recycling and an old Mac that was donated to us that does work. I knew that was some form of e-waste collection, but have now found out that it will be really easy to do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ewaste collection is a much better solution that just throwing the old tv, computers, printers on the landfill pile especially as we use and rely on more and more techonolgy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The email I recieved was telling me the great news that we Australians have helped set a new Guinness World Record for the most e-waste c</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ollected for recycling in one week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Australians participated in the campaign that saw</span> over 474 tonnes of old TVs, computers and printers collected for recycling by the not-for-profit recycler TechCollect.<span style="background-color: white;"> The amount collected equates to over </span>4 blue whales<span style="background-color: white;"> in weight.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Up to 90% of old TVs, printers and computers can be recycled and made into new items--that's GREAT news!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.recyclingnearyou.com.au/about/techcollect.cfm" target="_blank">TechCollect</a> are a nation-wide group who have taken the role of recycling our computer, TV and printer waste. They are funded by over 60 of Australia’s leading technology companies who are committed to recycling responsibly, these companies fund the recycling which is why it is a free recycling service for households and small businesses. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By going into the <a href="http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/index.cfm?" target="_blank">Planet Ark Recycling Near You website</a>, I was able to find the c<a href="http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/computers/MelbourneVIC" target="_blank">losest drop off point</a> to my home. It is not very far at all, so all I have to do is put that cranky old keyboard and the old Mac that was donated to us (but doesn't work) into my car. Next time I am passing by one of these places, I will just pop them in there. A much better environmental choice than trying to fit them into the bin and adding to the ever rising landill.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-84488468504921583652012-10-22T12:37:00.000+11:002012-10-22T12:37:57.577+11:00Wildflower Walks Out West 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGoLcVXbHiGB9ZLCPKMO2KoGQ5TKcbbQhhqfcv8zWbrgWecry3XP1vtAOgEQmEu_sjQhEEPEpFw80BQO-Qy_8fsEtwmQkjX6YurK4etWLE-OP4tejFl0j4Se8LLLOJGP3UocJ5Svw91M/s1600/Wild+flower+walks+3+-+Final-1+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGoLcVXbHiGB9ZLCPKMO2KoGQ5TKcbbQhhqfcv8zWbrgWecry3XP1vtAOgEQmEu_sjQhEEPEpFw80BQO-Qy_8fsEtwmQkjX6YurK4etWLE-OP4tejFl0j4Se8LLLOJGP3UocJ5Svw91M/s640/Wild+flower+walks+3+-+Final-1+resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuGzDEvxQ25Rl0ZSNlGu-0oZyrjn_lQuEoF18UOxZQL4OFZhq7-cbfvLLkYDum_rDCXKna277pj3jnrkL8iTF1oWCQuZ5G9tHPZMrfWi6ZIP-f3y-uHCQJTlYlQ2syRmb4Eo5TI_5XQc/s1600/Wild+flower+walks+3+-+Final-2+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuGzDEvxQ25Rl0ZSNlGu-0oZyrjn_lQuEoF18UOxZQL4OFZhq7-cbfvLLkYDum_rDCXKna277pj3jnrkL8iTF1oWCQuZ5G9tHPZMrfWi6ZIP-f3y-uHCQJTlYlQ2syRmb4Eo5TI_5XQc/s640/Wild+flower+walks+3+-+Final-2+resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Isn't it grand when someone else comes up with a beautiful walk to go on in a beautiful place...and then they do it over and over again, for free. Well these groups of people have and the walks are through fields of wildflowers. What could be more wonderful? Having experts tell you about the plants, insects, and photography! Can you believe it!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Meg</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-32024657055006997212012-10-20T09:37:00.001+11:002012-10-20T09:40:19.414+11:00Propagating is not as hard as you think it is<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPhy9PdilBQeGcU_61Ppoid0w2VPw6ziFD9_7sBlo4Lln2wf5aYkgHcNPOeYXUQNXUy7zttaPeEuTHvQ2v8ofD6XNRG7ZMZcI-CmDkeIf0pFNK_0IHXTeWCam9hhBrawge94INOMhr-I/s640/blogger-image--311954935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPhy9PdilBQeGcU_61Ppoid0w2VPw6ziFD9_7sBlo4Lln2wf5aYkgHcNPOeYXUQNXUy7zttaPeEuTHvQ2v8ofD6XNRG7ZMZcI-CmDkeIf0pFNK_0IHXTeWCam9hhBrawge94INOMhr-I/s640/blogger-image--311954935.jpg" /></a></div>
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The secret of propagating is to keep the soil moist at all times. I have my summer seeds all on the go: basil, zucchini, cucumber, watermelon, leek, squash, fennel and pumpkin. What I don't use I will take to either the high school or primary school garden.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-25287402459384742852012-10-19T12:01:00.001+11:002012-10-20T09:41:19.212+11:00Get your hands dirty lending a hand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZU-HmCW2Gy3azKmptjSu_2MgA3SOBhx3e2wsevELGzpMPu3Le8XoNzQEcjKMpAtySnBQErm1T6b-MakjvhrBv3J4ODITGrqGxk5WwM8esg_PW3Im2Haz-brafjZdPpZ-Zn5OZ4HGd7k/s640/blogger-image--800886193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZU-HmCW2Gy3azKmptjSu_2MgA3SOBhx3e2wsevELGzpMPu3Le8XoNzQEcjKMpAtySnBQErm1T6b-MakjvhrBv3J4ODITGrqGxk5WwM8esg_PW3Im2Haz-brafjZdPpZ-Zn5OZ4HGd7k/s640/blogger-image--800886193.jpg" /></a></div>
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There's a City of Melbourne spring planting day coming up on Sunday 28 October 11am to 3.00pm and it will be a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and meet people. <br />
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You will have the chance to get your hands dirty and help turn Melbourne green by joining the team from <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/sustainability/urbanforest/pages/urbanforest.aspx" target="_blank">City of Melbourne Urban Forest</a> at our Spring Planting Day in Royal Park.<br />
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Bring your friends and family and join in the fun activities on this fantastic family day out organised by the City of Melbourne. <br />
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It’s FREE and registration is on the day<br />
Plants and tools will be provided. <br />
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Where?<br />
Royal Park<br />
Park Street, next to western oval<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-6816475068913521552012-10-16T14:25:00.001+11:002012-10-16T14:47:47.731+11:00The new chick and coopWell out of 6 eggs we got one chick. Not good odds really and it may well be a rooster still. Three were eaten by what we now think was a rat (they were stolen from the nest in the middle of the night) and 2 were not viable. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigudz7LJFzxVTvVc478LFdlL_zW0llgdVSs-zsmTqNLl23mH2tNgqmKLc8uqT8tQYRLRLZDdgu39xpysP1EupUpDvuukLbxsl6948J9z9SBeuRTMH4j4ZzuYCirrdGwAlbePLVWeM_6tQ/s640/blogger-image-546711745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigudz7LJFzxVTvVc478LFdlL_zW0llgdVSs-zsmTqNLl23mH2tNgqmKLc8uqT8tQYRLRLZDdgu39xpysP1EupUpDvuukLbxsl6948J9z9SBeuRTMH4j4ZzuYCirrdGwAlbePLVWeM_6tQ/s400/blogger-image-546711745.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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On the day the chick hatched it was mayhem in our yard. The other 2 chooks wanted to eat it so we need to separate them and quickly build another coop for mum and chick. Our new dog decided to get in on the action on the day and started to bark at the chooks the two who had been separated were going at each other. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnuZGlaOThh5HirXVSYruAztFQBhVMmxcjWQ43tt_QepaDTD5oocbG4oAwg3UoLWEx8mcdliPjLeWLIOfI-G5dpfbGCNI80QJyFhtIlVz9ZmmKmtHeFDWQcqCkkNELD_9vSvAEQtiLmQ/s640/blogger-image-202396895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnuZGlaOThh5HirXVSYruAztFQBhVMmxcjWQ43tt_QepaDTD5oocbG4oAwg3UoLWEx8mcdliPjLeWLIOfI-G5dpfbGCNI80QJyFhtIlVz9ZmmKmtHeFDWQcqCkkNELD_9vSvAEQtiLmQ/s400/blogger-image-202396895.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Hubby and mr 11 couldn't build that coop fast enough!! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5seTLgE_AhiIr0qY9iqenak17KBPNLCFQIRDgM8a2dVXH_yJIRv4uOkBn3IxS3YdVECrdF5PjWHe3KCpW0vaPjIa92TUf7ddexswdynhZcFHg-H4D5i_aoVg8H0mEmMyQPZSmPARbCt4/s640/blogger-image-506863109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5seTLgE_AhiIr0qY9iqenak17KBPNLCFQIRDgM8a2dVXH_yJIRv4uOkBn3IxS3YdVECrdF5PjWHe3KCpW0vaPjIa92TUf7ddexswdynhZcFHg-H4D5i_aoVg8H0mEmMyQPZSmPARbCt4/s400/blogger-image-506863109.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Mum is very protective</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2pVJnDlFlVMK8Ep_257fi3hbCcO-4TFWxbmfKrXkrp0XxoS8z1vyHNeWJUI7sGa88HX41Fhru8NG74Fvm4XvlW4VLaXBuXSgueGZoLn2oyT9JUBwkIfHT_m9v3jLKsp1AABKYEbpYzU/s640/blogger-image-282514352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2pVJnDlFlVMK8Ep_257fi3hbCcO-4TFWxbmfKrXkrp0XxoS8z1vyHNeWJUI7sGa88HX41Fhru8NG74Fvm4XvlW4VLaXBuXSgueGZoLn2oyT9JUBwkIfHT_m9v3jLKsp1AABKYEbpYzU/s400/blogger-image-282514352.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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It is made from an old ladder cut in half (that was my contribution) and the box was made of scraps of timber (barge boards from the house) we had lying around. The top has bitumen lined paper stapled on top to keep it water proof. They are happy for now - until the chick grows too big. Then we will sort out plan b which will involve returning chooks to their owner (we are only looking after them for 5 months). <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-21797215809360965142012-10-05T16:48:00.003+10:002012-10-05T16:48:45.912+10:00Carbon Price and Your Electricity Bill<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vcJRA4zGCQg?list=UUyzIC2_5JzFtXguXtzmy6rA&hl=en_US" width="560"></iframe><br />
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One of my followers has passed this YouTube on me and it is a great initiative to help make the changes to our electricity bills more understandable. It's a great little video. <br />
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The email came to me at a really good time as my hubby & I were just talking about the increases in power bills and whether those smart meters really are smart for the consumer or just smart for the power companies. Everyone I know who has one seems to have had their power bill go up. <br />
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Have you got one? <br />
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Have you noticed any changes? <br />
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I would love to hear from you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-52283980174847143582012-09-20T15:15:00.000+10:002012-09-20T15:15:19.273+10:00Give your money away???<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HIy9wqNbXSsRBn_RTiqKTF9JWMfKJFhs2mbVf3eJ_DR0tYp6iblrB8TnuhDHQk62OMNoTXjuyFa0BYkmpYPTs_NMUM2q6RIk7AxVVCl0tfePClqSqvapg2aNwNHHbMaGxDG_qsTuTCc/s1600/freemoneyday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HIy9wqNbXSsRBn_RTiqKTF9JWMfKJFhs2mbVf3eJ_DR0tYp6iblrB8TnuhDHQk62OMNoTXjuyFa0BYkmpYPTs_NMUM2q6RIk7AxVVCl0tfePClqSqvapg2aNwNHHbMaGxDG_qsTuTCc/s400/freemoneyday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have always like to live with the motto, “Waste not, want
not” and also am a great believer in the theory that there is enough food and
money to go around in the world – if only we cared enough to share. So, when this press release came across my desk
the other day, it really spoke to me – Give your money away! What a crazy concept – but maybe there is
something in it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Saturday, 15 September at 138 worldwide locations, an
event called Free Money Day took place.
It was timed to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the <span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">collapse of </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">U.S. investment bank Lehman</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Brothers. For the day, members of the public
handed out their own money to complete strangers, asking recipients to
pass half on to</span> someone else. In its second year, ‘Free Money Day’
started</span> conversations about the benefits of alternative economies based
on sharing and captured the attention of hundreds of thousands of people,
from all walks of life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is the Press
Release that they sent me: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;">FREE
MONEY DAY A HUGE GLOBAL SUCCESS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">138 Sites Worldwide
Participated in ‘Free Money Day’ on September 15<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Promoting Global
Prosperity through Economies of Sharing </span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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On Saturday, September 15, at <a href="http://freemoneyday.org/participate">138 locations worldwide</a>, members
of the public handed out their own money to complete strangers, asking
recipients to pass half on to someone else. In its second year, ‘<a href="http://freemoneyday.org/">Free Money Day</a>’ started conversations about
the benefits of alternative economies based on sharing and captured the
attention of hundreds of thousands of people, from all walks of life.<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“‘Free Money Day’ was a wonderfully rich
experience. Across twenty-four countries, people were reminded of the mutual
value associated with sharing and the ‘gift’ economy” </span></em>said Australian Dr. Donnie Maclurcan,
co-founder of the <a href="http://postgrowth.org/">Post Growth Institute</a>,
the group behind the worldwide event.<o:p></o:p></div>
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‘Free Money Day’ was timed to coincide
with the fourth anniversary of the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman
Brothers, now seen as a turning point in the development of the <a href="http://www.wikinvest.com/concept/2008_Financial_Crisis">2008 financial
crisis</a>. <i>“With world debt at over US <a href="http://gulfnews.com/business/features/a-world-of-debt-global-liabilities-grow-faster-than-gdp-1.857167">$190
trillion</a>, and debt connected to growth economics by necessity, now is the
time to explore how we might thrive in futures beyond economic growth,”</i>
said Dr. Maclurcan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One hundred and thirty-eight ‘Free Money
Day’ events occurred across 6 continents and 24 countries, from India to
Nigeria, Kenya, Colombia, Australia and the U.S. More than US $3,600 was given
away as well as land estimated to be worth $30,000. Dr. Maclurcan gave away
$500 of his own money at <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Dupont+Circle,+Washington,+D.C.&ll=38.911389,-77.043986&spn=0.008582,0.021136&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&fb=1&gl=us&hq=Dupont+Circle,+Washington,+D.C.&hnear=Dupont+Circle,+Washington,+D.C.&cid=0,0,10027466050930530667&t=m&z=16&iwloc=A">Dupont
Circle, Washington, D.C.</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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For more information, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/postgrowthinstitute?feature=watch">videos</a>,
<a href="http://freemoneyday.org/participate">a map of worldwide participation</a>,
<a href="http://freemoneyday.org/media">testimonials</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/freemoneyday/">photos</a> from Free Money
Day 2012, visit: <a href="http://www.freemoneyday.org/media">www.freemoneyday.org/media</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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# # #<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The Post Growth Institute is an international group
exploring and inspiring paths to global prosperity that don’t rely on economic
growth<o:p></o:p></span></i></h2>
<h2 style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Additional enquiries:</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <a href="mailto:media@freemoneyday.org">media@freemoneyday.org</a>; Dr. Donnie
Maclurcan (spokesperson), <span style="background: white;">+1 540 </span>556 4857</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Washington, D.C., USA (UTC/GMT -5 hours)<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h2 style="margin-top: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Twitter:</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> @<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/freemoneyday">freemoneyday</a> </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Facebook:</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/freemoneyday">http://www.facebook.com/freemoneyday</a><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Ref: $190 trillion debt figure - Kyle Bass: <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/74335711/Hayman-Nov2011">http://www.scribd.com/doc/74335711/Hayman-Nov2011</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There you go…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Meg</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-4939540553444492682012-09-20T12:49:00.000+10:002012-09-20T12:49:00.569+10:00Eco World Travel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdUgSEMtDL5k1XIq4elsXQZie0CrjOKRDC-Fv7Lmf6hfGqUzY4MBgmjr5V2V14k6ZHropduACND_uPf09-sg6Lq0VBsFbGl9ibTR4ovzal0nVti8Zw9cgI9FUayu9wIfibUCN-95rB54/s1600/prop-img-full-gw1bpq7o-d1138r4sthxc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdUgSEMtDL5k1XIq4elsXQZie0CrjOKRDC-Fv7Lmf6hfGqUzY4MBgmjr5V2V14k6ZHropduACND_uPf09-sg6Lq0VBsFbGl9ibTR4ovzal0nVti8Zw9cgI9FUayu9wIfibUCN-95rB54/s400/prop-img-full-gw1bpq7o-d1138r4sthxc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Aquila Eco Lodges - The Loft House</i></div>
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I, like most people, love travelling, however, I do prefer
to go places that don’t leave me feeling like I have cost the earth with carbon
miles, or that I have learnt something or seen something wonderful. This is where Eco travelling comes in as the
people have set up the accommodation have thought through these issues for you
and are happy to share their knowledge with you. One beautiful place that we took the family to is
the Aquila Eco Lodge just out of Dunkeld in Victoria. They have a fantastic loft house that works
brilliantly for families and it is wonderfully peaceful to stay there. The hosts were very happy to share their
knowledge about how it was built and the sustainable features of the lodges. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmEl9ESRWxFeynbnOwb-IwgEqEEZRKnEDd6Yth8nexyyFtDm-EjX0-DAFOQDr41raCa5wSy9NeXKTATm9lwU8ukSglleV3wXW7ZDiQBM28M3w5QjejoYesew3rBqAzr_Fp5HB9Ehb8e4/s1600/hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmEl9ESRWxFeynbnOwb-IwgEqEEZRKnEDd6Yth8nexyyFtDm-EjX0-DAFOQDr41raCa5wSy9NeXKTATm9lwU8ukSglleV3wXW7ZDiQBM28M3w5QjejoYesew3rBqAzr_Fp5HB9Ehb8e4/s400/hotel.jpg" width="343" /></a></div>
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<i>Gyreum Eco Lodge - Most Eco-Friendly Hotel</i></div>
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If you are wishing to have an eco travel experience further
afield, then TripBase have set up a website that has some of the most eco
friendly places in the world. On this
website they look at the people and organisations striving to make the world a
more sustainable place (from the most eco-friendly country and city right down
the most green home). Some of these may
surprise you and hopefully fill you with hope in a world where rainforests are
being torn down, oil is being spilt and people are losing their land. One of these featured is the Masdar City
which was the ultimate exercise in zero emission in urban planning. There is also a little hideaway in Ireland
that was created almost entirely from the renewable materials surrounding
it. There are still many places, and
this site I think is just the tip of the iceberg, that are places of sanctuary
for the soul. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yiD2WXOItfxan4Dh0-FC3S21dZfD-ws64JxBytkMEgLe1YvduLrkCNfEJ4AymZ-VeYY3ICyPaFa4Gg3BRXnfjN-BO7xhkG5_Jfw_UwYy0RUfFSO6gLx_ZhQGv96CyvPNRjoj-Jjp58Q/s1600/home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yiD2WXOItfxan4Dh0-FC3S21dZfD-ws64JxBytkMEgLe1YvduLrkCNfEJ4AymZ-VeYY3ICyPaFa4Gg3BRXnfjN-BO7xhkG5_Jfw_UwYy0RUfFSO6gLx_ZhQGv96CyvPNRjoj-Jjp58Q/s400/home.jpg" width="347" /></a></div>
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<i>Bear Creak Dome - Most Eco-Friendly Home</i></div>
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If your feet are itching and you feel inspired, then pop on
over to <a href="http://www.tripbase.com.br/content/EcoPlaces/index.html">TripBase</a>
to see what is happening at the most eco-friendly country, the most eco-friendly
city, the most eco-friendly development, the most eco-friendly hotel and the
most eco-friendly home. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-61016538808518786272012-09-18T12:10:00.001+10:002012-09-18T12:10:17.962+10:00Spring into Nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.trustfornature.org.au/data/media/00001275/Flowers-for-SIN-e-brochure-Libby-Woodward-LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.trustfornature.org.au/data/media/00001275/Flowers-for-SIN-e-brochure-Libby-Woodward-LR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I love spring. I think that it is my favourite season. The time of new growth, flowers and babies. <a href="http://www.trustfornature.org.au/whats-new/spring-into-nature-2012/" target="_blank">Trust For Nature</a> have organised some precious private properties that have been nurtured back to something wonderful. If you live in Victoria and would like to have a drive and wander through one of these delightful properties, then now is the time!<br />
<br />
The walks are guided walks and you will get to talk with landowner and Trust for Nature staff about private land conservation. It is a great opportunity to see wild flowers and threatened wildlife in their natural habitat. <br />
<br />
Head to their website for more information: <a href="http://www.trustfornature.org.au/whats-new/spring-into-nature-2012/" target="_blank">Trust for Nature</a><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-91952255452967338442012-08-02T17:11:00.001+10:002012-08-02T17:11:20.742+10:00Kangaroo and Brown Rice Paella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cDh6Rls66ytm4cO5G3wlFnUZIPIGi2ibu3Xfc3oMaCSmgrfkocyD5ucPNiq_zUER1MBVW18cH0QVy2Xuito061zjfxT7C-xYkv1a03hz-FM-PH2ERdOrRtP9EfD__xlX81f4i-P8J_o/s1600/IMG_0973%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cDh6Rls66ytm4cO5G3wlFnUZIPIGi2ibu3Xfc3oMaCSmgrfkocyD5ucPNiq_zUER1MBVW18cH0QVy2Xuito061zjfxT7C-xYkv1a03hz-FM-PH2ERdOrRtP9EfD__xlX81f4i-P8J_o/s320/IMG_0973%5B1%5D" width="239" /></a></div>
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Well, this is not paella in the traditional way, yet it certainly worked for us. It was absolutely delicious and I just used what I had in the fridge and kitchen (no running to the shops at the last minute). I used kangaroo steak as this is one of the main meats that we eat now really for environmental reasons and also because we love it. There are huge benefits to be had by eating kangaroo. It is really high in iron, they are free range (not fed on anything that you would rather not be ingesting yourself), there is barely any fat in the meat and the roos themselves have so little impact on the environment. Living in Australia, I do think that we should eat more kangaroo, so we do. </div>
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That being said, here is how I made dinner last night:</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Kangaroo and Brown Rice Paella, Serves 6</span></b></div>
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2 brown onions, diced</div>
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2 tabs olive oil</div>
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2 cloves garlic</div>
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600g kangaroo steak, sliced</div>
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2 tsp turmeric</div>
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2 cups brown rice</div>
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2 tins of diced tomato</div>
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4 cups of chicken stock</div>
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1 capsicum, sliced</div>
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2 large carrots, julienne</div>
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1 cup of peas</div>
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1 tin of cannellini beans, drained</div>
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Heat your heavy based pan and pour the oil in. Add the steak. Remove the steak when brown. </div>
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Add the onion and garlic and saute the onion and garlic until clear. Add the turmeric, rice, tins of tomato, and stock. Bring to the boil and turn down to medium. Add the carrots and peas. Stir occasionally ensuring that you don't burn the bottom. Cook until the rice is nearly cooked (about 20 mins). Add the steak back in, and the capsicum and cannellini beans and serve once the rice is cooked. </div>
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Add a dash of chilli flakes for those who love the heat! </div>
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If you have any coriander, sprinkle that on at the end. </div>
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YUM! </div>
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x Meg</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-42338804354166442612012-07-29T18:33:00.002+10:002012-07-29T18:34:43.354+10:00Great Energy and Water Savings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGdDPNIaT-Z6cf3gCCwWkjGI58r20AB1XiSNkA3kXQrFqPuQSLImhLEbizs5GmuvdX3KU_-kMOEV5p50fGm_YQlfS3k-6N8Bi4vr4CNQpT7lUuUyS2DjRms3g1jPHZMv0XYpTRjg4yzM/s1600/Bermuda+Hirise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGdDPNIaT-Z6cf3gCCwWkjGI58r20AB1XiSNkA3kXQrFqPuQSLImhLEbizs5GmuvdX3KU_-kMOEV5p50fGm_YQlfS3k-6N8Bi4vr4CNQpT7lUuUyS2DjRms3g1jPHZMv0XYpTRjg4yzM/s1600/Bermuda+Hirise.JPG" /></a></div>
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Through our water company, we were offered a really great deal, where someone from <a href="http://www.ecovantage.com.au/" target="_blank"> Ecovantage </a> came out to our house and swapped our old shower head which we had thought would save water, however it didn't. The new one is GREAT and will actually save water! It is a <a href="http://www.flexispray.com.au/" target="_blank">FlexiSpray</a> Bermuda shower head and apparently will massage us as well. <br />
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The other brilliant thing that the guy Peter did for us was walk through our house finding all of the forgotten light bulbs that I hadn't yet changed over. It is incredible that even after all of this time, I still have a few. He was able to change 3 over, leaving a few still to be done. The ones that he couldn't do were because they had dimmer switches, were dodgy bayonets or were downlights (only 4 of our 6 work and we dislike them so much that we have not replaced them - working with lamps instead). He recommended for the downlights to change them over the <span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;"><a href="http://lighting-store.com.au/lightshop/product_info.php?cPath=38_39_151&products_id=1119" target="_blank">Low Voltage Halogen Dichroic Xenon Lamp</a></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDj9cbgGkWDE3W_HCZ1AiDryDk8nC-UCUMOIlXE2rdtedu2nXb2oZJbidjCHIo2X0g3uLy15JgLBiLqtsWYGnruWJFFgCDUaS-Q8KoZhGCi_uWqLZMutJ23ZrPQ4wHKYFMneUfo8KLIQ/s1600/halogen_dichroic_xenon_lamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDj9cbgGkWDE3W_HCZ1AiDryDk8nC-UCUMOIlXE2rdtedu2nXb2oZJbidjCHIo2X0g3uLy15JgLBiLqtsWYGnruWJFFgCDUaS-Q8KoZhGCi_uWqLZMutJ23ZrPQ4wHKYFMneUfo8KLIQ/s1600/halogen_dichroic_xenon_lamp.jpg" /></a></div>
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Low voltage globe</div>
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At $80 for a box of 10 globes, he reckons we will probably get our money back in a year. The LED is a much more expensive option, it would cost us $125 for the 6 globes that we would need, then the additional costs of about $50 of the fittings (driver & flex and plug) to change over to the LED per light ($300) plus the cost of an electrician. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08W6jpMJAtIfiZmMioWmJJXCRi0xHHErOWYxiMgBscWaQXASawBibuEDZwqzJ2RN8zzcj0qSHSF1KBHZ92OcFHkYMacXy0ElqmjGfa7oSco_nzxnMdnEtdXZzg7lxNC1eyu73B8bPx3g/s1600/led_mr16_bulb_GU5_3_base.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08W6jpMJAtIfiZmMioWmJJXCRi0xHHErOWYxiMgBscWaQXASawBibuEDZwqzJ2RN8zzcj0qSHSF1KBHZ92OcFHkYMacXy0ElqmjGfa7oSco_nzxnMdnEtdXZzg7lxNC1eyu73B8bPx3g/s200/led_mr16_bulb_GU5_3_base.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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LED light</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn90dEeynn4JJm6DDwxsnKmFFEKoDVmeU6gGrTxn0tFWwikvP_AtSBtMhSCuO_9lrCNovWjNuYDfi2dYNzmojHwTAjPT07iqCyhpxKfa6bm58fB6ODGUWmMDw1NTcP7Ipzs6Rj26jSPmE/s1600/12w_LED_Driver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn90dEeynn4JJm6DDwxsnKmFFEKoDVmeU6gGrTxn0tFWwikvP_AtSBtMhSCuO_9lrCNovWjNuYDfi2dYNzmojHwTAjPT07iqCyhpxKfa6bm58fB6ODGUWmMDw1NTcP7Ipzs6Rj26jSPmE/s200/12w_LED_Driver.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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LED fiitting</div>
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This is certainly something that I would take into account when we get the sparky out here to do the work that we do need to do. Until then, I am happy to go with the low energy globes. They are globes that we are can put in ourselves.</div>
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The last couple of things that Peter looked at were putting the computer, TV and DVD on standby. There are a number of new nifty power boards around now that are clever enough to understand when the machines haven't been used for a while and will automatically put the machines onto standby. I was a little sceptical as we normally turn them off when we are done, however, there are some things that still don't turn off. The DVD is one and I know that there are still a couple of little lights around the computer. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4xeO7MW-t7hU3l5Az5GeTgBFREvrZhrQRPOakNQqIwxCKH81YySlb0RBvqtA956nb3O3NBzRy4Rr3VZcYT0SDNHlLD7vw5KvqSs4kxzuCybh3tKJdD2Px4t4Znf9alPF38FVSp5U3Xg/s1600/embertec+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4xeO7MW-t7hU3l5Az5GeTgBFREvrZhrQRPOakNQqIwxCKH81YySlb0RBvqtA956nb3O3NBzRy4Rr3VZcYT0SDNHlLD7vw5KvqSs4kxzuCybh3tKJdD2Px4t4Znf9alPF38FVSp5U3Xg/s1600/embertec+image.jpg" /></a><br />
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On the TV he installed an <a href="http://www.embertec.com.au/" target="_blank">Embertec</a> board which will notice if we haven't done anything with the remote for an hour (we can change that to 2 hours or 3 or cancel it) and then will switch the TV and DVD off. The standby power is then in the Embertec board which uses less power than the standby power in the TV or DVD. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzA4Chwdk7jpoEt6DUFaYybLODeGRlW0Emz0HqSj4OCeR0QEbd-815Ni66Oggq4pJcnqRkIWigrJpZ5WXZOHvT4SBNfNjUwdTLnGvjR2vgz6zZDl-IyaGsmxMcEWmx4lXfbqmwJxOg6Ug/s1600/250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzA4Chwdk7jpoEt6DUFaYybLODeGRlW0Emz0HqSj4OCeR0QEbd-815Ni66Oggq4pJcnqRkIWigrJpZ5WXZOHvT4SBNfNjUwdTLnGvjR2vgz6zZDl-IyaGsmxMcEWmx4lXfbqmwJxOg6Ug/s1600/250.jpg" /></a></div>
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On the computer he installed an <a href="http://www.emeraldplanet.com.au/" target="_blank">Emerald Planet </a>board that will switch off all "slaves" to the computer (ie the printer, external hard drive, monitor) when the machine goes into low power or off. It doesn't actually turn the computer itself off - I have to do that, so there is no risk of losing files. </div>
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Feeling a little bit smuggly happy now (and writing a list of all the things that I still need to do; downlights, dimmable low energy globes, an electrician....etc).</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-67816917330689385792012-07-19T08:48:00.001+10:002012-07-25T12:30:36.939+10:00The girlsWe are looking after a friend's chooks for a few months and have fallen for them. The balance in the family has swung to an even keel. I am no longer the only female. <br />
The girls are brilliant at dealing with all compost. They dig over the ground. They are so peaceful to look at and listen to. <br />
This morning we had our first weird egg - shell free!! The girls had also smashed one egg. My egg allergy kid is on chook duty this week so he couldn't touch those eggs. Easy clean up and removed both to the compost bin so that I don't encourage them to eat their own. <br />
Love chooks!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEpn5x8QAV1PcHuV40qqI_oG2DAbYOaol42ryJH_KWXw41WsIO9w9HbaeXIe1rINI9yG_iXfz0eYHAJBMzIrD_YJQu01KXu4Y8rCVjkXItYCrNseb5k_cqTd2XBfOnadSElBAyt6A1OM/s640/blogger-image--209383358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEpn5x8QAV1PcHuV40qqI_oG2DAbYOaol42ryJH_KWXw41WsIO9w9HbaeXIe1rINI9yG_iXfz0eYHAJBMzIrD_YJQu01KXu4Y8rCVjkXItYCrNseb5k_cqTd2XBfOnadSElBAyt6A1OM/s640/blogger-image--209383358.jpg" /></a></div>
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Elsie & White Tail (Blackie is on the nest)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDo0zVbmupNFC-OHLgqYvyN6f4GI2YCiqLB7dVKRYj3kqRCnYlf2_RN9qYhXSpyHWsmib60C7Nwvvb08mG7CRAV6dbJJATEe_ZQebSPFxJ38DBU-WNRSYcK2Q9i9XxnN9vAaDgoHfSxCQ/s640/blogger-image--1355114707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDo0zVbmupNFC-OHLgqYvyN6f4GI2YCiqLB7dVKRYj3kqRCnYlf2_RN9qYhXSpyHWsmib60C7Nwvvb08mG7CRAV6dbJJATEe_ZQebSPFxJ38DBU-WNRSYcK2Q9i9XxnN9vAaDgoHfSxCQ/s640/blogger-image--1355114707.jpg" /></a></div>
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Elsie & White Tail</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwroTgXiJQH7GXsZ1eoVbosmkzdYm-xz3L_p7NQnnJqAecwLO7cio2ld6GUHbPX-CT4Di6xd7tzGm2znxiexXtP6pRZvnGWNbIPv5jKT84X8sbIpQAb2wIXAyWlObsGd2D4EPcY90KsA/s640/blogger-image--1866018897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwroTgXiJQH7GXsZ1eoVbosmkzdYm-xz3L_p7NQnnJqAecwLO7cio2ld6GUHbPX-CT4Di6xd7tzGm2znxiexXtP6pRZvnGWNbIPv5jKT84X8sbIpQAb2wIXAyWlObsGd2D4EPcY90KsA/s640/blogger-image--1866018897.jpg" /></a></div>
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the smashed egg & the weird egg</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHKYx6n7QvzQ0KBSh9dNeXtY5T3BQo52grWlGVkGbxD4tGkiocaIUJaGkZCfTPFAd5YJu87NvN3-S6I5fLhrFgFvcRNUyuD1JkGMEjdeRXM6QkPYsA854500sHtBCiK-sLpReabe3nKY/s640/blogger-image-938508166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHKYx6n7QvzQ0KBSh9dNeXtY5T3BQo52grWlGVkGbxD4tGkiocaIUJaGkZCfTPFAd5YJu87NvN3-S6I5fLhrFgFvcRNUyuD1JkGMEjdeRXM6QkPYsA854500sHtBCiK-sLpReabe3nKY/s640/blogger-image-938508166.jpg" /></a></div>
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Elsie & White Tail</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1DX-XZ-AS8YtIhGwYxAIJtbFwQQZwzePpU4zzifC9LaKByPAQl0tVn2zWhvYiuBiDIYshyphenhyphendhNdy403uMDq-6AoO0mHDD3qhA4obLfLLePnOJDUXJB-mXHYyQsuyHrcxdPzARKAdytsQ/s640/blogger-image--612531732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1DX-XZ-AS8YtIhGwYxAIJtbFwQQZwzePpU4zzifC9LaKByPAQl0tVn2zWhvYiuBiDIYshyphenhyphendhNdy403uMDq-6AoO0mHDD3qhA4obLfLLePnOJDUXJB-mXHYyQsuyHrcxdPzARKAdytsQ/s640/blogger-image--612531732.jpg" /></a></div>
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Weird Egg</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-15484338810655270762012-05-06T13:29:00.000+10:002012-07-25T12:58:38.706+10:00Living fundraisers: Grow-in-the-bag. Do they really grow?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ejg6aQFDvpkKFBOuTY_jt5Q6K2Z16ZscmneOicHRVo2TLmO002qenedyjoxBml5SN9i5eXmya89C3gCcex4Jq-rOixTU1D_9iwU9Hybj_gE6NvHli3zq55oVRPp75mCF1agvO7gm9i0/s640/blogger-image--2105672545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ejg6aQFDvpkKFBOuTY_jt5Q6K2Z16ZscmneOicHRVo2TLmO002qenedyjoxBml5SN9i5eXmya89C3gCcex4Jq-rOixTU1D_9iwU9Hybj_gE6NvHli3zq55oVRPp75mCF1agvO7gm9i0/s640/blogger-image--2105672545.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Week 1</b></div>
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I bought these beautiful Grow-in-the-bag herbs (coriander, rocket and chives) from a friend of mine to help raise funds for her school a little while ago. They are such a brilliant idea. The bag comes with everything that you need in it other than water, patience and sunshine. They only cost $6 each. The concept of it is wonderful for people who either don't have the space to grow any herbs, or for growing herbs during winter. They look lovely sitting on the window sill in the kitchen. It is also a much healthier way to fund-raise than selling more chocolates.<br />
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That being said, the first photo is from one month ago and as you can see from the most recent photo from today, the chives do not thrive. Now this could be some glitch at our end, or not. It is a little disappointing, however, I can pop my own chive seeds in there with some fresh seed raising mix. The rocket is coming along nicely as is the coriander. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhLslKTbU8rfRA57MxVwNVN80sRZo36qw1HHmtshYkS-Z0oKAJCtbd0V01R3oUcs4byIjthPPIV5QKXhpPTtgAV1JKHIUUAqzSXbl79t9Gaua96hJ-vqWO2JwJVE2zY_cgNIu1wLZemA/s640/blogger-image--1110184679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhLslKTbU8rfRA57MxVwNVN80sRZo36qw1HHmtshYkS-Z0oKAJCtbd0V01R3oUcs4byIjthPPIV5QKXhpPTtgAV1JKHIUUAqzSXbl79t9Gaua96hJ-vqWO2JwJVE2zY_cgNIu1wLZemA/s640/blogger-image--1110184679.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Week 4</b></div>
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The people over at <a href="http://www.livingfundraisers.com.au/" target="_blank">Living Fundraisers</a> have a whole bunch of different options for fundraising other than just herbs and much healthier than chocolate, which I think we are getting quite tired of. </div>
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Other than the <a href="http://www.livingfundraisers.com.au/organic-herb-growing-kits/" target="_blank">Organic Herb Growing Kits</a> there are the <a href="http://www.livingfundraisers.com.au/flower-growing-kits/" target="_blank">Flower Growing Pots</a>, <a href="http://www.livingfundraisers.com.au/organic-vegie-growing-kits/" target="_blank">Organic Vegie Growing Kits,</a> <a href="http://www.livingfundraisers.com.au/living-christmas-cards/" target="_blank">Living Christmas Cards</a>, <a href="http://www.livingfundraisers.com.au/snack-foods/" target="_blank">Healthy Snacks (nut free or not)</a> and <a href="http://www.livingfundraisers.com.au/coffee-tea-and-drinking-chocolate/" target="_blank">Organic Tea, Coffee and Drinking Chocolate</a>.</div>
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I like them because they are Australian owned, organic, there is no upfront costs, 40% profit for your organisation or school and the products pretty much sell themselves. I am hoping that the chive bag is a one off issue, maybe the seeds were planted too low or we may have over-watered the bag (they really don't need much water at all). </div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-8758931732408373622012-05-05T07:49:00.003+10:002012-07-25T12:58:04.116+10:00Garage Sale Trail 2012..Today!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cKfHznb4UVs" width="560"></iframe></div>
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Everywhere you look today, you may stumble on a Garage Sale! What a great way to find a treasure and meet a neighbour. It is the great day of the <a href="http://www.garagesaletrail.com.au/" target="_blank">Garage Sale Trail 2012</a>. There are so many garage sales that it will be hard to miss them. The question will be whether you will be able to carry it all home! <br />
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This is becoming an annual event, so don't worry if you missed out this year, there is plenty of time to prepare for next year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-34341580710805743782012-03-20T09:24:00.000+11:002012-07-25T12:54:32.199+10:00Looking for Soil or Getting rid of it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bo1t6jeTK0nzFKC-V29Rz-SPDB7NSAo_h9ZXF8wtfEfci1WlqxbjXh9ytqPUHX2N-j-n-617YYOlq5zG8Jb097vAnJbz4Gj9fQni9goYK1_gEw66BIjOriCUb6DwJq7B9bJY7ATCSQE/s1600/30455-banner-dirt-pile.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bo1t6jeTK0nzFKC-V29Rz-SPDB7NSAo_h9ZXF8wtfEfci1WlqxbjXh9ytqPUHX2N-j-n-617YYOlq5zG8Jb097vAnJbz4Gj9fQni9goYK1_gEw66BIjOriCUb6DwJq7B9bJY7ATCSQE/s400/30455-banner-dirt-pile.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was busy yesterday doing my research for the high school garden that I am designing, trying to find big rocks in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, when I stumbled on this great website.<br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.soilswap.com.au/images/soil-swap.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.soilswap.com.au/index.php" target="_blank">SoilSwap</a></div>
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This is a site where you can offer the extrea soil that you have (it doesn't matter how much you have, or look for soil that you need. You can rate the kinds of soil etc. What a brilliant, brilliant and FREE tool! <br />
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The kind of things that you find out about the sod are:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Soil Provider</li>
<li>Phone number</li>
<li>Email</li>
<li>Location</li>
<li>Type of fill</li>
<li>Amount of Soil</li>
<li>Will it cost you?</li>
<li>When is it available</li>
<li>Is it fireant free?</li>
<li>Fill information</li>
<li>Collection/Delivery</li>
</ul>
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Get into it and give and receive some sod!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-69492501054711052412012-03-14T13:45:00.002+11:002012-07-25T12:58:52.130+10:00Beware of the incoming Myrtle Rust to Melbourne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0019/141436/current-situation-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0019/141436/current-situation-large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/forestry/pests-diseases-weeds/diseases/myrtle-rust" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #575757; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Myrtle rust on a </span><em style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #575757; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Melaleuca</em><span style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #575757; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> paperbark</span> </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0017/141371/Mrust_Lophomyrtus12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0017/141371/Mrust_Lophomyrtus12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/forestry/pests-diseases-weeds/diseases/myrtle-rust" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #575757; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px;">Myrtle rust </span><em style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #575757; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Uredo rangelii</em><span style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #575757; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px;"> on lophomyrtus ‘Black Stallion’</span> </a></div>
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The dreaded myrtle rust disease is coming into the surrounds of Melbourne and metropolitan Melbourne and all home gardeners (and lovers of nature) need to be aware of what it looks like and what to do if they see it. <br />
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It is a fungal disease only recently found in Victoria and poses a serious threat to Victoria's nursery, forestry and bee keeping industries, not to mention our public parks, native forests and gardens and our home gardens; our places of sanctuary. It has the potential to attack all species of the Myrtaceae plant family. serious concern because the fungus spreads very easily and because the Myrtaceae is a dominant plant group in both natural ecosystems and the plantation industry.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Myrtle rust poses no threat to human or animal health.</div>
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Interestingly, this disease has only been detected in Australia for a very short time, and has spread quite quickly in that time. It was first found in NSW in April 2010 and by December of the same year, the "Myrtle Rust National Management Group" realised that it would not be able to eradicate it.<br />
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It is up to every one us Australian, Victorians, New South Waliens, etc, to do our little bit in keeping our eyes peeled for it, and then following the correct procedures once we have seen it. We also have to be mindful about moving foliage from one forest to another, what is on our tyres once we leave or enter a National Park: are we putting this park into a vulnerable state.<br />
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<b>What does myrtle rust look like?</b><br />
The two pictures above give a representation of the myrtle rust disease on two plants. It attacks young, soft, actively growing leaves, shoot tips and young stems, as well as fruits and flower parts of susceptible plants.<br />
The first signs of myrtle rust infection are tiny raised spots that are brown to grey, often with red-purple haloes. Up to 14 days after infection, the spots produce masses of distinctive yellow/orange spores.<br />
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<b>Reporting</b><br />
In Victoria, it is a legal requirement that any suspected myrtle rust detection be reported to DPI.<br />
Phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881 (toll-free), or email photos of the suspect material, together with a contact phone number and the plant’s location, to plant.protection@dpi.vic.gov.au<br />
To avoid spreading the disease, samples of suspect plants should not be touched, moved or collected.<br />
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<b>Which plants are affected?</b><br />
All members of the Myrtaceae plant family are potential<br />
hosts of myrtle rust.<br />
The family includes:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>gum trees (Eucalyptus)</li>
<li>bottlebrush (Callistemon, Melaleuca)</li>
<li>tea tree (Leptospermum)</li>
<li>lilly pilly (Syzygium, Acmena, Waterhousea)</li>
<li>paperbark (Melaleuca)</li>
<li>myrtle (Backhousia)</li>
<li>guava (Psidium)</li>
<li>midyim (Austromyrtus)</li>
<li>rose apple (Syzygium)</li>
<li>brush box (Lophostemon)</li>
<li>New Zealand Christmas bush (Metrosideros).</li>
</ul>
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<br />
<b>Which plants are not affected?</b><br />
Plants which are not in the Myrtaceae family and therefore<br />
not hosts of myrtle rust include:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>citrus </li>
<li>azaleas </li>
<li>camellias</li>
<li>stone fruit </li>
<li>pines </li>
<li>grevilleas</li>
<li>pome fruit </li>
<li>roses </li>
<li>wattles</li>
<li>vegetables </li>
<li>daisies </li>
<li>banksias</li>
<li>clovers </li>
<li>rhododendrons </li>
<li>ferns</li>
<li>crepe myrtle </li>
<li>orchids</li>
<li>lilies.</li>
</ul>
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However, these and other non-Myrtaceae plants may show similar symptoms due to infection by other rusts.<br />
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<b>How does it spread?</b><br />
Rusts are highly transportable because they can produce large numbers of very small spores.<br />
Myrtle rust can be dispersed by:<br />
• movement of infected plant material (e.g. nursery stock, cut flowers, plant cuttings, germplasm)<br />
• movement of contaminated equipment (e.g. secateurs, chainsaws)<br />
• wind, water (wind-driven rain, irrigation) and gravity<br />
• animals (e.g. insects including bees, birds, other wildlife, pets)<br />
• humans (e.g. on clothing, shoes and jewellery)<br />
• vehicles.<br />
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There are things that you can do if you find it in your home garden, other than just reporting it.<br />
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<b>How to treat myrtle rust in your home garden</b><br />
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<b><i>1. Use an approved fungicide</i></b><br />
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has issued permits for the use of certain fungicides to control myrtle rust in home gardens and to decontaminate infected myrtle rust host plant material before disposal. The permits can be accessed via the DPI website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/myrtlerust. Your local nursery or chemical supplier may also be able to assist.<br />
Before using a fungicide, read the permit together with the product label to determine the applicable directions for use.<br />
In severely infected areas, susceptible host plants should be removed, since re-infection after fungicide treatment is highly likely.<br />
Protection may be improved by treating a plant with fungicide after removing infected parts.<br />
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<b><i>2. Remove infected plants</i></b><br />
Infected plants should be removed and disposed of in a way that minimises the spread of myrtle rust.<br />
a. Spray infected and unaffected plants with a fungicide 3-4 days prior to removal. If fungicide treatment is not possible, carefully wet the plants prior to removal to dampen any spores likely to be dispersed during removal.<br />
b. Remove plants. Small plants should be enclosed in a plastic bag before being either pulled or dug out. For potted plants, the whole plant, plus the pot, should be placed into the bag and sealed, if practical. If pots need to be retained, they should be thoroughly scrubbed with detergent and water, then left to dry completely before they are used again.<br />
Larger plants that do not fit in waste bins can be cut into smaller pieces, securely covered with black plastic or similar and put in a sunny place for 3-4 weeks to kill spores.<br />
c. Dispose of bagged plants by burying on-site, placing in general domestic waste bins, or transporting in a covered vehicle/trailer to a general waste disposal site (not a green waste site). Do not use infected plants as mulch.<br />
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<i><b>3. Remove healthy plants</b></i><br />
To reduce the risk of a significant infection developing on your property, plant species known to be highly susceptible to myrtle rust can be removed prior to infection.<br />
Healthy plants showing no signs of infection can be discarded as normal garden waste. If you are unsure whether plants are infected with myrtle rust, use the methods outlined above for removing diseased plants.<br />
Please note: The removal of native vegetation may require a planning permit. Residents who are considering this option should seek advice from their local council on whether or not a permit is required.<br />
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<b><i>Hygiene</i></b><br />
After removing and disposing of infected plants, wash clothing and clean any equipment with water and detergent before starting other activities that may infect further plants.<br />
You can reuse pots, wooden stakes and other items that have been in contact with an infected plant. However, you should thoroughly scrub these items with detergent and water, and leave them to dry completely, before reusing them.<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
<b><i>Replanting</i></b><br />
If infected plants have been removed, replanting with similar species, or other Myrtaceae plants, may result in re-infection. Select replacement plants that are unlikely to become infected. Contact your local nursery for advice. In bushland areas, including regeneration sites, use local plants not known to be affected by myrtle rust.<br />
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<b>Where I got this information and Where to get the most up to date information:</b><br />
Go to the Department of Primary Industries of Victoria website for the most up to date information on Myrtle Rust Disease:<br />
<a class="current" href="http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/forestry/pests-diseases-weeds/diseases/myrtle-rust" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #fcfcfc; background-image: url(http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/131496/arrow_forestry.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 10px 7px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-left-color: rgb(227, 229, 220); border-left-style: dashed; border-left-width: 1px; display: block; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; text-decoration: none; width: 184px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Myrtle Rust</span></a><br />
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<li class="fourth_level" id="class=''" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a class="class=''" href="http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/forestry/pests-diseases-weeds/diseases/myrtle-rust/how-to-reduce-the-spread-of-myrtle-rust-on-your-property" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: initial !important; background-image: url(http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0019/131518/nav_hyphen_forestry.gif) !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 10px 7px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-left-color: rgb(227, 229, 220); border-left-style: dashed; border-left-width: 1px; display: block; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; text-decoration: none; width: 174px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">How to Reduce the Spread of Myrtle Rust on Your Property</span></a></li>
<li class="fourth_level" id="class=''" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a class="class=''" href="http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/forestry/pests-diseases-weeds/diseases/myrtle-rust/treatment-options-for-nurseries-and-plant-traders" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: initial !important; background-image: url(http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0019/131518/nav_hyphen_forestry.gif) !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 10px 7px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-left-color: rgb(227, 229, 220); border-left-style: dashed; border-left-width: 1px; display: block; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; text-decoration: none; width: 174px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Treatment Options for Nurseries and Plant Traders</span></a></li>
<li class="fourth_level" id="class=''" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a class="class=''" href="http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/forestry/pests-diseases-weeds/diseases/myrtle-rust/treatment-of-myrtle-rust-in-the-home-garden" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 10px 7px !important; border-left-color: rgb(227, 229, 220); border-left-style: dashed; border-left-width: 1px; display: block; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; text-decoration: none; width: 174px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Treatment of Myrtle Rust in the Home Garden</span></a></li>
</ul>
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<i>Remember, always, seek advice when dealing with plant diseases and don't take a piece of diseased plant to your nursery for identification. You can take a picture of it to show them instead, or email the photo to the DPI team at <a href="mailto:plant.protection@dpi.vic.gov.au">plant.protection@dpi.vic.gov.au</a> where they will be able to allay your fears, or assist you with the treatment program.</i><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-15332708854278184172012-03-13T16:54:00.002+11:002012-07-25T12:39:33.939+10:00Out with summer, in comes autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSovEdSUvuuBKCFwQAxQd-c5VTR4vR9VoD8vgu79ULCgH4cMPKGOyuQa52dn54tFytIz4RtH1S0uljl0f0Zviuv-qsvpjc0eAuCI7UcXNNEKcI0UJSsyF2fBR6Mx1pLuksrwM1_hzNaT8/s640/blogger-image-2136093895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSovEdSUvuuBKCFwQAxQd-c5VTR4vR9VoD8vgu79ULCgH4cMPKGOyuQa52dn54tFytIz4RtH1S0uljl0f0Zviuv-qsvpjc0eAuCI7UcXNNEKcI0UJSsyF2fBR6Mx1pLuksrwM1_hzNaT8/s640/blogger-image-2136093895.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>The "before" shots</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYeTToSAFXINK6cCRUUx0wwm4hI7oQnjMb7Vf7IVbf7szwESRFpAkheKpSLpwuVzL48bfJWsMj60A99e6-hFOl_Sffw201QoTtWrn0J_vfsjByrA3ehuybJYja8tSkJu_AjrqcYHx4lA/s640/blogger-image-1153016409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYeTToSAFXINK6cCRUUx0wwm4hI7oQnjMb7Vf7IVbf7szwESRFpAkheKpSLpwuVzL48bfJWsMj60A99e6-hFOl_Sffw201QoTtWrn0J_vfsjByrA3ehuybJYja8tSkJu_AjrqcYHx4lA/s640/blogger-image-1153016409.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5JV_870stZMqSH8z0qda4StsCkod6sJLMnt7Hr5RHxOIobMAlB7KJ5Z5NkmpmEwflTzhOj9QR4x3uoQKTuAYjb6JoAejNCmcDwOc5udlDEJOSKKLX5ozNbAKkIgs1-B5YDUCcbMh48k/s1600/blogger-image-1743856377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5JV_870stZMqSH8z0qda4StsCkod6sJLMnt7Hr5RHxOIobMAlB7KJ5Z5NkmpmEwflTzhOj9QR4x3uoQKTuAYjb6JoAejNCmcDwOc5udlDEJOSKKLX5ozNbAKkIgs1-B5YDUCcbMh48k/s640/blogger-image-1743856377.jpg" /></a></div>
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What a weekend we have just had. I am completely exhausted. My bones are weary, but my garden is beautiful. We had a long weekend here in Victoria and one of my kids had booked a bunch of things in so that meant that we were stuck in town, but not wanting to get down in the dumps about it, I took the opportunity to get my hands into the garden, and boy did it need it!. The vegie garden was sad and over summer. It was time to rip things out, fill it up with compost (I will talk my composting moment another day) and put in the new winter vegetables. </div>
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It was also time to review exactly how many parsley plants I really did need (probably not that as many as I had). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WZ0XgFxiZN7B0M_N8IEKK-JPfUckdKqzBnVla8tzrF2oGb9JCZSppqz2af-AtneR_OBsXjrfgIvuU1mdvQMYtTumuALMJtriZGhrR68Glvog71xshXTm7MBt-ximPDkaEi_5OZloMA8/s640/blogger-image--1045237077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WZ0XgFxiZN7B0M_N8IEKK-JPfUckdKqzBnVla8tzrF2oGb9JCZSppqz2af-AtneR_OBsXjrfgIvuU1mdvQMYtTumuALMJtriZGhrR68Glvog71xshXTm7MBt-ximPDkaEi_5OZloMA8/s640/blogger-image--1045237077.jpg" /></a></div>
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I found that my dwarf peach was shooting below the graft, so that needed to be trimmed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dCYq6L8xqjuOhm1aLNKQ4kamRFJfb1rIHX4bckrCdf_G3UQYj1E-yp6-LYu-EgaXlf56Lvrtuwhhyphenhyphen8j7K9640QUh6LQPCWhXBLckA9omZzsTlTgHsgRHMl2OWraRI2zFjDa_yCpLLDc/s640/blogger-image--630086532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dCYq6L8xqjuOhm1aLNKQ4kamRFJfb1rIHX4bckrCdf_G3UQYj1E-yp6-LYu-EgaXlf56Lvrtuwhhyphenhyphen8j7K9640QUh6LQPCWhXBLckA9omZzsTlTgHsgRHMl2OWraRI2zFjDa_yCpLLDc/s640/blogger-image--630086532.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNa42lfO_uWERylKgzHv9MEZYbRvo5nkQJoEB8p_HawROmBhA4iEIwYkQEiwtmcc5TdeaWhNrYRTyZObq0VGnzbO3TqTeuqIP0KVcaqF5qkcaJ0Y2aeA2wsinPMJz4VTh0ikW3kVK_70/s640/blogger-image--1689347773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNa42lfO_uWERylKgzHv9MEZYbRvo5nkQJoEB8p_HawROmBhA4iEIwYkQEiwtmcc5TdeaWhNrYRTyZObq0VGnzbO3TqTeuqIP0KVcaqF5qkcaJ0Y2aeA2wsinPMJz4VTh0ikW3kVK_70/s640/blogger-image--1689347773.jpg" /></a></div>
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I gave the oregano a really good haircut and put it all in a paper bag to dry out in the kitchen to use. This is the one herb that I love dried and always have a paper bag of this in the kitchen. This my improved version of drying oregano (also known as a lazier version, but it works!). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_LeY_Gu0GlsYYc_mDRlkg09sioidOVRt6nPJkP-jhzZB1-lmB9xSH9e45F9UzU4HhjVXmfseMozUnmAm-IXqQPBfMN7aoiscxk26SEiPK7nyeEEzt9djjqQLBBNfEvc8OB_3ctvupvE/s640/blogger-image-836621877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_LeY_Gu0GlsYYc_mDRlkg09sioidOVRt6nPJkP-jhzZB1-lmB9xSH9e45F9UzU4HhjVXmfseMozUnmAm-IXqQPBfMN7aoiscxk26SEiPK7nyeEEzt9djjqQLBBNfEvc8OB_3ctvupvE/s640/blogger-image-836621877.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LGZOibUlSFEdf31bRjcLeUtVD0JyPdE1wlrSIV7XoSqofdan2I_a65CvmhRYW3KVf9JrHzNTSGEpA72kfZQ3tJLFy3OuFiyf0m0LMbn8iFMpDQCv91lFyi-Y1AyzD8hk0rK8asMy9Eg/s640/blogger-image-1890370894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LGZOibUlSFEdf31bRjcLeUtVD0JyPdE1wlrSIV7XoSqofdan2I_a65CvmhRYW3KVf9JrHzNTSGEpA72kfZQ3tJLFy3OuFiyf0m0LMbn8iFMpDQCv91lFyi-Y1AyzD8hk0rK8asMy9Eg/s640/blogger-image-1890370894.jpg" /></a></div>
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The end result for the vegetable garden was incredibly pleasing when I finally sat down with my aching back. Two beds full of compost and fertiliser, and all of the vegetables planted with a nice wet and soggy layer of sugar cane mulch on top. </div>
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I have planted:</div>
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leek</div>
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chives</div>
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lettuce</div>
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mizuna</div>
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rocket</div>
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spinach</div>
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broccoli</div>
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beetroot</div>
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cabbage</div>
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bok choy</div>
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cauliflower</div>
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red cabbage</div>
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rainbow chard</div>
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marigold (for the bugs)</div>
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I have still to plant once the eggplant, beans and basil and completely done:</div>
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broad beans</div>
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more lettuce</div>
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coriander</div>
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I will plant my carrots in and around my natives as I have always had much more luck with them doing it this way.</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-67499802268809713492012-02-27T14:15:00.002+11:002012-07-25T12:36:24.400+10:00Lemon Tree Woes with Citrus Leaf Miner and Gall Wasp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU6Iz_xb7lyLDmn4jCJte4nDgqXDCiAwwT1lguMUMfOR7_N-prV_ZzxxubD9TTm2si1pPvrSMe6155daxbH58VcqdLzMZapwxVSG0IGQl6bt7xqa-Yu66QOh6_ZIp-yuQdBJ889bHJRk/s1600/lemon+tree+issues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU6Iz_xb7lyLDmn4jCJte4nDgqXDCiAwwT1lguMUMfOR7_N-prV_ZzxxubD9TTm2si1pPvrSMe6155daxbH58VcqdLzMZapwxVSG0IGQl6bt7xqa-Yu66QOh6_ZIp-yuQdBJ889bHJRk/s320/lemon+tree+issues.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you have been following along, you may know that I have not been a <a href="http://livinggreenandthrifty.blogspot.com.au/search/label/citrus" target="_blank">very good lemon tree gardener.</a> This is lemon tree number five, and as you can see, it is already having issues and is not yet an adolescent. <br />
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I called in some experts (ha ha!), well I asked some of my Facebook friends, who confirmed for me that it was the <a href="http://www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/citrus_leafminer_intro.html" target="_blank">Leaf Miner</a> that I was looking at. After doing further research, it seems that this is exactly what it is and it is requiring some drastic treatment.<br />
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I need to cut off all of the affected leaves (which appear to be most of the new leaves plus some of the older ones) and spray it with oil. I have stumbled on a great green oil that will not affect the good bugs, the <a href="http://www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/general_purpose_spray_prod.html#PB116" target="_blank">Eco Oil</a>, which is an Australian product (yay!!) on the Green Harvest site (this is a great site to stumble on if you are looking for green products for the garden).<br />
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Having not used any sprays, poisons etc in my garden so far, this suits me just fine as the benefits of it are that it will kill the bug but not be dangerous in any way to us as it is made of edible, safe products. This is what the Green Harvest site had to say about it:<br />
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<a href="http://www.greenharvest.com.au/images/Pest%20Controls/EcoOil.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.greenharvest.com.au/images/Pest%20Controls/EcoOil.gif" width="176" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: #add996; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Eco-Oil</b><span style="background-color: #add996; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Organic" style="background-color: #add996; color: #006633; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><img class="BFALogo" src="http://www.greenharvest.com.au/Images/Miscellaneous/BFALogoWeb.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; height: 28px; margin-bottom: 0ex; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0ex; padding-bottom: 0ex; padding-left: 0em; padding-right: 0em; padding-top: 0ex; width: 22px;" />BFA Organic</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #add996; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Eco-Oil is a registered miticide/Insecticide. It is a botanical oil that contains canola oil, eucalyptus oil, melaleuca oil and several surfactants. Surfactants help the oil stick to the leaf. It controls pests by contact, so complete coverage of plants is important. For best results spray at the first sign of infestation. Repeat application may be necessary. Eco-Oil controls </span><b style="background-color: #add996; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">citrus leafminer, scale, two-spotted mite, aphids, whitefly</b><span style="background-color: #add996; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> and various sap-sucking insects. Oil sprays should not be used at temperatures above 35°C. Do not apply to plants suffering heat or moisture stress. Application rate is 5-10mL per litre of water.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #add996; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>How does it work?</i></b><br />
<span style="background-color: #add996; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When eco-oil is applied directly onto an insect, including aphids, mites and whiteflies it blocks the breathing holes and prevents the carbon dioxide from being expelled from the body. This effectively smothers the insect. When eco-oil is applied to citrus leaves it prevent the nocturnal citrus leafminer moth from landing and laying her eggs into the leaves. Both the smell and the oil layer left by the spray deters the moth.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/MSDS/eco_oil.pdf" style="background-color: #add996; color: blue; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">Material Safety Data Sheet</a><br />
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<b style="background-color: #add996; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>Benefits of using eco-oil</i></b></div>
<ul style="background-color: #add996; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<li>eco-oil has no significant impact on beneficial insect numbers</li>
<li>under sunlight eco-oil dissipates faster than petroleum-based oils, resulting in less risk of phototoxicity</li>
<li>there is no withholding period when sprayed on edible crops</li>
<li>there is no chemical residue left on plants</li>
<li>no protective clothing needs to be worn</li>
<li>it smells better than petroleum-based oils</li>
<li>it is manufactured in Australia using Australian grown canola oil, which helps support Australian farmers</li>
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So, with no further ado, I will be ordering this, and beginning the project of Save Lemon Tree Number Five.<br />
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<a href="http://gardenworld.net.au/.a/6a010536951c03970b01156fc94567970c-pi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://gardenworld.net.au/.a/6a010536951c03970b01156fc94567970c-pi" width="320" /></a></div>
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When I snipped off the affected leaves, I did notice that there were a couple of beginnings of gall wasp swellings on the tree as well, so these have been snipped off. I know that it is really hard to keep under control living in such a high density area, however, I would feel negligent not doing my bit. It's the little things that make a lot of difference.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-4590766197113156272012-02-21T12:58:00.001+11:002012-07-25T12:38:11.255+10:00Reduce Carbon Locally<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfj8uuaycNjmfo49OaTwGAKkx71_NzWdzrYjDbxy4Isemn1kE6LuWDP7gb544VpW8TCbqqEmniSUPyrTVAeb4Ig39Y4W_yWw8S53MluPODVFHXC4ck1jWQIW5Y6GzDKHJYbmn9fdOiWE/s1600/IMG_0102%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfj8uuaycNjmfo49OaTwGAKkx71_NzWdzrYjDbxy4Isemn1kE6LuWDP7gb544VpW8TCbqqEmniSUPyrTVAeb4Ig39Y4W_yWw8S53MluPODVFHXC4ck1jWQIW5Y6GzDKHJYbmn9fdOiWE/s320/IMG_0102%5B1%5D" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This weekend we decided to have a our own little 40 hour carbon reducing time/reconnecting with each other again time. We were also really hankering for more of a simple time, missing the outdoors. The boys put up the tent with the Big Guy, and I set about organising the fire pit on top of the grassy area.<br />
<br />
It was beautiful to sit around the fire that night, looking at the fire and the stars, remembering different places that we had been camping around Australia and stories that people had told us. It was a great way to connect. we used the solar lanterns from the garden as our lighting. It felt relaxed and peaceful.<br />
<br />
Breaky was slow cooked on the fire (fuel by sticks and hardwood in the backyard), as was lunch the next day. There really is something to be said for just slowing down a little.<br />
<br />
On Sunday night, Mr 12, the oldest, told me that he was much more relaxed sleeping in his sleeping bag and tent than in his bed. This may become a more regular event!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-67545219828248011702012-02-20T15:20:00.001+11:002012-07-25T12:47:31.259+10:00Getting rid of the Deadwood<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMnG7WiIPMt5JJpetbr9kfq3wFCOcOlxvTPZ9KxUFBbZEhyphenhyphenTnB3qXYmZag_J0gpVvSuHO9QaXkmU8AAV7QN7L-jnS1Pwbn1e_rcdDDlzF6PwjSF_sdnmUI5yL9tSoqWinXO4aM9SFiro/s1600/GEDC0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMnG7WiIPMt5JJpetbr9kfq3wFCOcOlxvTPZ9KxUFBbZEhyphenhyphenTnB3qXYmZag_J0gpVvSuHO9QaXkmU8AAV7QN7L-jnS1Pwbn1e_rcdDDlzF6PwjSF_sdnmUI5yL9tSoqWinXO4aM9SFiro/s320/GEDC0242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There comes a time in every garden’s season where one needs
to just get out there and have a good look through to see what is really going
on in there. For us this happened just
a couple of weeks ago. It sort of happened
by accident as we had a number of boxes to take to the green waste (we had
missed the monthly council pickup by moments due to a great deal of
mismanagement) and thought we may as well fill up the car <i>since we were going. </i>So what
began as a “let’s just do a little bit more of a tidy up since it has been
nearly a month”, ended up being a <i>massive</i>
four hour clean-up of discovery.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Looking around we found that lost behind the green beautiful
bushes, were some dead trees! We had
forgotten to look up obviously for some time, time enough for a couple of
wattles to die. I put the 4 boys onto
the job while I set about trimming the unruly Cassia hedge. It has really been the star of our garden
from the moment that I planted it. It
lasted through the drought with barely a drop of water, whilst still giving
flowers, and then when the drought broke, it continued to bloom and grow. While I perched precariously on my wobbly
stool with secateurs in one hand and pruning saw in the other, I did begin to
notice the vast difference between the two sides of the garden. One hedge on one side was low and thick, and
the one that I was hovering over was tall and woody at the top and slightly
thicker at the bottom, but certainly heaps taller than the other side. I had a completely lopsided hedge! <o:p></o:p></div>
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With a swapping of tools, after a little bribing because for
some unknown reason the kids had ended up with the really great long reach
snippers and the hedge trimmers, I got right into it in a way that would make
Edward Scissorhands proud. Before we
knew it, there was no space for hedge regrets.
It was cut; short and sharp. Matt
and I stood back and assured ourselves that it was all ok, it was just like a
really short haircut, it would be much better in a couple of weeks, just a
little woody right now. We vowed to come
back at it with the hedge trimmers on a weekly basis to “<i>thicken it up</i>”, get the sideways, internal growth happening. Inside, I am just crossing my heart, and my
fingers and toes… I hope that it all
works and that I didn’t cut so much that that bushes think that have been
killed (eep!). <o:p></o:p></div>
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The thing is about these plants is that they are hardier
than people realise, and mostly don’t mind a prune. Most native plants actually are able to be
pruned and shaped, just like other plants.
It is possible to have an “<i>ordered</i>”
or slightly ordered garden with natives; they don’t always have to be left in
their natural state. In their natural
state they would actually have animals pushing past them, and people and
weather breaking bits off. This is the
natural pruning, so it is ok to take it into your own hands and give your
natives a good prune, they will be more likely to thicken up rather be
straggly. It is also a great idea to
clear out the dead sticks and branches; it gives you a chances to see what is
going on with the health in the garden.
When we pull out the dead trees, we found borer in them. It is a different borer to what is found in furniture;
however, I will now be on the lookout for them in other plants. This is a reminder to me that I need to
fertilise more and water more. Borer
attacks trees that are under stress, suffering malnutrition and have a lack of
water. In my front yard (where these
trees were) I have not tended to water a great deal as the plants (all being
local native plants) don’t really need it to survive. Well, now I know, need it or not for
survival, there was obviously a need, and I must get water to that area on a
regular basis, along with the Seasol (this seems to work well with the
natives). <o:p></o:p></div>
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So that is my work cut out for me, sorting out my watering
issues, filling in the gaps, keeping that hedge in line and the continual vegie
patch! The lawn has been keeping me very
busy too. I am now down to a fortnightly
trimming (can’t really call it mowing when I am using a whipper snipper), and
it is so lush that I can lie on it! I
now understand that whole lawn pride thing that people get. I have suddenly got it, especially since I
planted each tiny little plant into the ground by hand (how many years ago
now?)! For those who are interested,
Lemon Tree V still lives, although I did note today that there is an ugly leaf
thing going on the very top leaves. I am
going to have to pull it off and visit Russell and Deb at Kensington Garden Centre
to get help before I end up looking for Lemon Tree VI!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am stuffing my face with basil, tiny tomatoes and zucchini
at the moment! Hooray for summer harvests! Til next time, happy gardening! <o:p></o:p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-39668566059915383132012-02-19T16:48:00.000+11:002012-07-25T12:43:22.274+10:00My KeepCup is a Keeper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSkryG5LhEvPfJiZoxyLCA-MtzoCEIM5LfeuzLpdX4W8Wsbs5i5fA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSkryG5LhEvPfJiZoxyLCA-MtzoCEIM5LfeuzLpdX4W8Wsbs5i5fA" /></a></div>
<br />
For Christmas this year I got a really ace present, one that I have been really wanting for ages, in fact, ever since I first saw them in the first design market when they popped out a couple of years ago, but, being a bit of a non-consumer, I didn't buy it, yet. I didn't really have a <i>need </i>for it, but it was gorgeous and a really clever, clever design. <br />
<br />
The best bit was that it was the brain child of Melbournites, people from my town! The KeepCup. Now everyone has one and they come in so many different colours and sizes, even corporate's have got in on the secret. For those who don't know what the <a href="http://www.keepcup.com/" target="_blank">KeepCup </a>is, it is a reusable barista standard takeaway plastic BPA free cup for coffee (and tea etc for those who are not partakers in the caffeine tradition) reducing the need for the takeaway foam or paper cups that so many people use (and are not able to be recycled). It comes with a lid (you are able to choose the colours if you wish) and plug (to stop your coffee spilling out as you run for the train) and a band that gives you the choice to circle the type of coffee type you like so you don't even have to speak to your barista!<br />
<br />
There are so many reasons that Abigail and James Forsyth (a brother and sister team) have got the formula right with the KeepCup and for those out there who have a great sustainable or environmental product, it is worth looking up and taking notice. They have made something that beautiful, that people want and need. It is a product that incredibly usable, without any hippy feel to it. They are not marketing to the people who are already carrying their bags to the supermarkets. They are marketing to those who haven't even thought about the environment yet which gets people who are not necessarily thinking about it, starting their journey towards a better environment. This is a really important thing to think about. <br />
<br />
All that being said, I love my new KeepCup, it is white, pink and purple and keeps my coffee warm until I am ready to drink it (flat white, strong and no sugar please).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dumbofeather.com/" target="_blank">DumboFeather Magazine</a>, another fantastic thing to come out about the same time, have had Marc Whiteway do a beautiful interview with Abigail which I found to be very insightful. It really is worth a watch if you have the time. <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Umevr-y4rfk?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-13820825375662678082012-01-12T11:30:00.001+11:002012-07-25T12:59:19.434+10:00Indigenous Grass, Sedge & Flower Display<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;">If you live in the
North Western area of Melbourne, I would suggest that you get over to this.
Great prices for plants (I get all of my tube stock here) and great
displays of what you can do with plants in gardens:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJAFQLAO-ov1f3xXpz2PLzMHW6duSLNiX273aEvH6kJD_rO05Uxv0Sy2TuuvSHu7RE9cnRu5yR93ANhwfk899eGgnz2u9SakNX29smZRYPCOT1Iwrel-QMOc7RElRjV20j2IVGl0-B_I/s1600/Poa-labillardieri-Eskdale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJAFQLAO-ov1f3xXpz2PLzMHW6duSLNiX273aEvH6kJD_rO05Uxv0Sy2TuuvSHu7RE9cnRu5yR93ANhwfk899eGgnz2u9SakNX29smZRYPCOT1Iwrel-QMOc7RElRjV20j2IVGl0-B_I/s320/Poa-labillardieri-Eskdale.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Indigenous Grass, Sedge & Flower
Display at Newport Lakes Native Nursery. Ph: 9391 0044. <span class="textexposedshow">15/12/11 to 29/02/12. 2 Lakes Drive, Newport. 45+
species of Grasses, Sedges & Flowers on display. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="textexposedshow">FREE entry. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Get to know the plants of your local area. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Over 45 species of Indigenous Grasses,
sedges and threatened herbs in full seed/flower will be on display.
Many other plants indigenous to the Western Basalt Plains of Victoria will
also be on display including several critically endangered species.
Ph: 9391 0044. 15/12/11 to 29/02/12. </span></span></span></b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">FREE entry.</span></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-3413427397874369952011-09-10T13:21:00.000+10:002012-07-25T13:50:51.466+10:00The Green Thing<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27603364@N06/6129103506/" title="ETC by megs threads, on Flickr"><img alt="ETC" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6129103506_6cd61ce0a2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
A lovely "older" friend of mine has just passed this on to me, via email, and I thought that it was "blog-worthy". </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Please read & pass on.<i> </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>In the checkout line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own shopping bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>The woman apologised and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day." </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>The cashier responded, "That's given us a problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment!"</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>He was right ... about one thing anyway, the older generation didn't have the green thing in its day ...
Back then, we returned milk bottles, soft drink bottles and beer bottles to the shop. The shop sent them back to the factory to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>But we didn't have the green thing back in our day. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the shops and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 240 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of QLD. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not styrene or plastic bubble wrap. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>We drank from a tap when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.
</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>But we didn't have the green thing back then. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Back then, people took the tram or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mums into a 24-hour taxi service. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerised gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 kilometres out in space in order to find the nearest pizza place. </i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?</i><br />
<br />
Please forward this on to another "selfish old person" who needs a lesson in conservation from a smartarse young person.</div>
</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-50747007790076770872011-09-09T13:15:00.000+10:002012-07-25T12:38:34.128+10:00It all started with a lemon treeThe other day I woke up to the smell of spring. The sweet fragrance of blossom heralding spring<br />
and this is the poem that was on my lips. It was a poem that my father would always<br />
say every year on the first day that he could smell spring:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Spring has sprung, the grass is ris</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I wonder where the birdie is</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The birdie is on the wing</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>But that’s absurd,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I always thought the wing is on the bird</i></div>
<br />
A terribly absurd poem, however, it is the spring poem and it was an early spring day<br />
after early winter days, it is, I suppose we may well have an early spring.<br />
<br />
I bought in readiness for spring the other day from Russell and Deb down at<br />
Kensington Garden Centre on the Corner of Stubbs and Macauley Sts amongst other<br />
things (punnets of leeks, onions, beetroots and lettuces, snowpea and pea seeds), two<br />
blueberry bushes and a lemon tree. Everything has gone into the garden except for<br />
the last two things for a couple of reasons.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27603364@N06/6045089792/" title="our lemon tree waiting to be planted by megs threads, on Flickr"><img alt="our lemon tree waiting to be planted" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6045089792_ec060185e8.jpg" width="375" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The lemon tree in waiting</div>
<br />
I will start with the lemon tree. This will be my fifth lemon tree. Yes, that is right.<br />
My fifth. I don’t feel very clever at the moment with gardening when it comes to<br />
lemon trees, or citrus in general, as I have managed to kill, yes, kill four (4) lemon<br />
trees so far and one mandarin and an orange. I look on myself in disgust with this,<br />
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yet, I am very stubborn and look at many other gardens and see lemon trees not only<br />
surviving, they are thriving! Surely if I can wing it with everything else in the garden,<br />
then I can do it with the lemon tree. So, hence the fifth lemon tree, and also, the<br />
reticence to plant it; I want to get it right. I now don’t know where to plant it. What<br />
if I plant it in the wrong place? What if I plant it incorrectly? Oh, the stress of it all.<br />
As for the blueberries, they were definitely an impulse buy, all I could think of was<br />
how much I love blueberries and wouldn’t it be wonderful to eat my own (forgetting<br />
about that terrible possum that eats my fruit first leaving me the fertiliser instead…)<br />
and not really thinking about where to plant.<br />
<br />
So now I have come to a point where I have realised that it is time to do some<br />
planning. No more winging it. Plan it out. Work with what I have in the garden,<br />
trees, structures, paths, where the kids go, clothes line, sun and shade and then work<br />
out where the gaps are and where these three lovely, productive plants will be best<br />
placed. Today I have spent the morning with the tape measure, pen and pad, jotting<br />
down numbers and words and trying to transcribe these into plan of the yard.<br />
<br />
My next step will be once I have found a home for these three plants, and dug the<br />
holes for them, planting them accordingly, will be to fill the rest of the gaps in the<br />
garden getting it “summer ready”. By filling up all of the gaps in the garden with<br />
plants, whether they be vegetable, perennial, annual, natives, shrubs, herbs or trees,<br />
I will be helping the garden to protect itself against dehydrating in the summer heat.<br />
No bare patches.<br />
<br />
Other work I have to is the continual weeding (that never goes away) and putting the<br />
weeds into the buckets for “green tea fertiliser”. My fruit trees probably need to be<br />
pruned properly. I saw a segment on Gardening Australia that showed how to do<br />
very clearly, so I am going to watch it again and try to do it properly, with confidence,<br />
as Tino says. I will also get down into my incredibly wonderful native lawn (that<br />
really does look like a lawn now) and pluck some of the plants out of the dense parts<br />
to put out on the edges to encourage it.<br />
<br />
So what started with the lemon tree, led to the whole backyard being redesigned. We removed the sandpit (obsolete now, the old fig - no longer productive) and this opened the yard up for a place for the lemon<br />
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27603364@N06/6128554303/" title="Our 5th lemon tree by megs threads, on Flickr"><img alt="Our 5th lemon tree" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6068/6128554303_0949196742.jpg" width="375" /></a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Lemon tree now planted
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27603364@N06/6128553319/" title="Lemon Tree & new indigenous lawn patch by megs threads, on Flickr"><img alt="Lemon Tree & new indigenous lawn patch" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6128553319_1fc015123e.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Lemon tree planted now with the grass planted into the ground around it</span></div>
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I continue to refer to the www.gardenate.com website for my tips of what next to<br />
get for my vegetable garden so that hopefully it will be an abundant vegetable garden<br />
by summer (it has taken me a long time to bring it back from nothing after a year<br />
away), and visit Russell and Deb at Kensington Garden Centre for the supplies and I<br />
recommend you do too to support local businesses and get any good gardening<br />
advice for your garden.<br />
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‘Til next time, happy gardening, and go sniff a blossom!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020216638426046692.post-73237143250644922062011-09-08T17:35:00.000+10:002012-07-25T13:37:53.778+10:00Minister Burke Responds re: James Price Point<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I received a response to my<a href="http://livinggreenandthrifty.blogspot.com/2011/07/letter-to-tony-burke-mp-re-james-price.html"> letter</a> to Tony Burke about the gorgeous James Price Point:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>"Hello,<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>You previously contacted the Australian Government about protecting the west <u></u><u></u>Kimberley<u></u><u></u>.<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>I'm pleased to let you know that the west <u></u><u></u>Kimberley<u></u><u></u> has now been added to the National Heritage List, following a comprehensive assessment by the Heritage Council.<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>It was an honour to stand at One Arm Point with Traditional Owners from across the west <u></u><u></u>Kimberley<u></u><u></u> to announce that the area's incredible heritage values had been recognised and would now be protected.<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>The outstanding heritage values of the west <u></u><u></u>Kimberley<u></u><u></u> include:<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>- The incredible natural beauty of the coast from the Buccaneer Archipelago to the King George River; the Mitchell Plateau; King George Falls; Geikie Gorge, Windjana Gorge and King Leopold Ranges<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>- Rich biodiversity, including many plants, mammals, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates that are found only in this part of <u></u><u></u>Australia<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>- The mighty <u></u><u></u>Fitzroy<u></u> <u></u>River<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>- Dinosaur footprints on the west coast of the <u></u><u></u>Dampier<u></u> <u></u>Peninsula<u></u><u></u> which are remarkable remnant of past life in the region<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>- Ongoing Aboriginal traditions associated with Wanjina and the Rainbow Serpent and spectacular rock art<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>- Sites which tell a more recent history including Jandamarra, the dispute at Noonkanbah Station and the drove to Fossil Downs which became the longest overlanding cattle drive in <u></u><u></u>Australia<u></u><u></u>’s history<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Details of the announcement are available at <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/west-kimberley/index.html" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank" title="http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/west-kimberley/index.html">http://www.environment.gov.au/<wbr></wbr>heritage/places/national/west-<wbr></wbr>kimberley/index.html</a><u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Make sure you have a look at the spectacular <u></u>Kimberley<u></u> images in the eBook "National Heritage Listing - <u></u><u></u>One Place<u></u><u></u>, Many Stories: <u></u>West Kimberley<u></u>"!<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Yours sincerely,<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Tony Burke<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Federal Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities<u></u><u></u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>P.S. I’d like to keep you updated occasionally on issues relating to the heritage of the west <u></u><u></u>Kimberley<u></u><u></u>. If you don’t want to receive further emails on this just send me a message to this address with “take me off the west <u></u><u></u>Kimberley<u></u><u></u> heritage list” in the subject header. But please don’t because I’d much rather keep you updated!"</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This is a great start to looking after an incredibly rich place. It still has a long way to go with the proposed gas hub by Woodside at James Prices Point being allowed to go ahead. The fight goes on. Join in the campaign, and find out more information at <a href="http://www.savethekimberley.com/">Save the Kimberley</a> and <a href="https://secure.wilderness.org.au/cyberactivist/cyberactions/11-07-kimberley-cyberaction.php">The Wilderness Society</a> where you can sign up the petition. If you are in Sydney, the official <a href="http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley/the-official-launch-of-the-wilderness-society-kimberley-campaign">Wilderness Society Kimberley Campaign</a> is being launched this Saturday at 10 am at North Head Sanctuary, North Head, Manly.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Thanks! Meg</span></span></span></div>
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0