tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69270140787285916862024-03-14T00:42:54.500-07:00earthmotherwithinEarthmotherwithin: I am moving to a simple and sustainable lifestyle one step at a time: earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.comBlogger543125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-63673442617313317652024-02-07T23:30:00.000-08:002024-02-07T23:30:40.645-08:00A quilt finish, a new machine and more fixing things<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I wrote my last post about fixing things, DH had a plan on how to fix the pot plant stand which was buckling. I am happy to report that this circle of wood which he cut and fixed to the base is exactly the reinforcement it needed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jyGhWlrJPyH71InCs1XIk3R_u5fPOy8ho_-blgLyAgHJH5jxQQ4JGrE-TjrzI8DnlKwpd4l6n99ShrUs5Q1VeK22keKSDcapl_urT4w1p0fDlYKT7K61qFCcpsHesFlSJFcWp5E_fqQNb-ghhrK0PvAxg2XvYs_LFHbUYlT8xQyQV07E-u2uEZunBmyr/s2992/20240205_104225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jyGhWlrJPyH71InCs1XIk3R_u5fPOy8ho_-blgLyAgHJH5jxQQ4JGrE-TjrzI8DnlKwpd4l6n99ShrUs5Q1VeK22keKSDcapl_urT4w1p0fDlYKT7K61qFCcpsHesFlSJFcWp5E_fqQNb-ghhrK0PvAxg2XvYs_LFHbUYlT8xQyQV07E-u2uEZunBmyr/s320/20240205_104225.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can now turn the ficus benjamina around towards the morning sun, to help it grow more branches and become less uneven in its growth habit. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlF2EYOh8ouk4UvekmG6GiehdZnUrXqGAVtfNQMl_cVGr2EHMFiwffrxJfrBqWOWn43gJmtKrio2K3kS6uoIIhuetGtxKdQ0qB5bF9mtnE1H9I1AsVM2GsZ6guXmzDU2-xmEE-FPJJbHBgFPtyXNJTaPSrXtf40qNadhf7v7-poGh8ujQhHAaa6dezhMTj/s2992/20240205_104325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlF2EYOh8ouk4UvekmG6GiehdZnUrXqGAVtfNQMl_cVGr2EHMFiwffrxJfrBqWOWn43gJmtKrio2K3kS6uoIIhuetGtxKdQ0qB5bF9mtnE1H9I1AsVM2GsZ6guXmzDU2-xmEE-FPJJbHBgFPtyXNJTaPSrXtf40qNadhf7v7-poGh8ujQhHAaa6dezhMTj/s320/20240205_104325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week I dropped some things off at the op shop, and as usual went inside for a quick look. This original watercolour (below) was in a broken frame and stuffed in a crate. I saw it, loved it, and so bought it for $7 and another empty frame for $5. DH helped me trim the matt to size and installed some piano wire to the frame to hang it up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are both delighted with it. It would appear to have been painted in 1983. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some time back I decided that we would try to feature original art, or buy prints directly from the artist, but each art work had to cost <i>less than $50.</i> Since that time we have added some very lovely works to our home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6AyHaEyJm8iXxexutRhtd1glH4Mb37gATzqy2WVdZ03MwgnfZV_TdEcj0wtTK2JwgoimmNtECaQ6U2COHA4froPYkOa_QEwc7Pk-MYCBVikhPY3lwMVei1ehhK9ZHlBUcyLww-9jxTYOqB-GbN6bi_EzpY862DMf1hwWUYpgy4d9cfT3LHNg3F9MtRpX/s2816/20240207_161120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2816" data-original-width="2225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6AyHaEyJm8iXxexutRhtd1glH4Mb37gATzqy2WVdZ03MwgnfZV_TdEcj0wtTK2JwgoimmNtECaQ6U2COHA4froPYkOa_QEwc7Pk-MYCBVikhPY3lwMVei1ehhK9ZHlBUcyLww-9jxTYOqB-GbN6bi_EzpY862DMf1hwWUYpgy4d9cfT3LHNg3F9MtRpX/w506-h640/20240207_161120.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My friend's elderly mother received this 1960 Elna from her sister. As she doesn't sew, my friend offered to find it a home, and thought of me! It works well but I need to get the wall plug rewired. I have downloaded the manual and so know where to give it some oil. Stay tuned for how the project goes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKSzp4ue7ldy8RHAa9dZfVvgsh8E51GJXJmldzyrEGNOhP1jGAD7o42lGqKl-9flOFc394zVPY_YM1AYYxYv7HMr70xuPAv6euVHVf3mK1ggJVjlcDjY-vI2IkDZOYOkhq2l5YMDuIegckry3rErYncpXmQWjNKCKbtCdZzGJUlAg4ClcJToXdS9TtfHb/s1600/IMG_7129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKSzp4ue7ldy8RHAa9dZfVvgsh8E51GJXJmldzyrEGNOhP1jGAD7o42lGqKl-9flOFc394zVPY_YM1AYYxYv7HMr70xuPAv6euVHVf3mK1ggJVjlcDjY-vI2IkDZOYOkhq2l5YMDuIegckry3rErYncpXmQWjNKCKbtCdZzGJUlAg4ClcJToXdS9TtfHb/w640-h480/IMG_7129.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally here is the 'forest floor' quilt I have just finished, using batik jelly roll fabric I was given by a friend. It got a bit sidelined over Christmas, but I am happy it is now complete. As my tshirt says "done is better than perfect". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4cbWnUMqQRNYIZKRE07jTYWPiIYzS3J8B9moGZWQkCISszhNvAznTssKyIS9NjlEpkwhQOTuSnsqEQ3iTg0FEn5nOJKHUW1LNNzIvH6vJBpi2X2Pz1_vdOV3O9V86DQptHtbtuHPmzATgOWE9kQrMrnD8psd_2QqPescddLmofmYeX36PsuQSNmgdJ4X/s2145/forest%20floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2145" data-original-width="1832" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4cbWnUMqQRNYIZKRE07jTYWPiIYzS3J8B9moGZWQkCISszhNvAznTssKyIS9NjlEpkwhQOTuSnsqEQ3iTg0FEn5nOJKHUW1LNNzIvH6vJBpi2X2Pz1_vdOV3O9V86DQptHtbtuHPmzATgOWE9kQrMrnD8psd_2QqPescddLmofmYeX36PsuQSNmgdJ4X/w546-h640/forest%20floor.jpg" width="546" /></a></div><br /><div>So that is all for this week. I hope you have some joy in fixing and finishing things too. </div>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-88689230041883805962024-01-26T16:00:00.000-08:002024-01-26T16:00:57.076-08:00How to be happy and frugal: Fix Things!<p> If I think of the things which make me very happy the list is long, and one of them is absolutely <i>the delight I feel when I fix something</i>. The sense of achievement is a real ego booster. What was a problem has now been solved. The item is useful again. In turn this is a big money saver- as well as a way of preventing things going to landfill. I think this is compounded for me by the sense of agency- as a girl I was not expected to do more than cook or sew, but give me a drill and a hammer and I am powerful! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGAxhWssZkovNlVU2NeeNYU87TwPRcbRwFOWQj6XrhQOiIjIidIQcraHOD1WqbLK_DUGTIlYY-MPOGQdA7bj9IZiZt7P9EaM3NU4ge07fZD-DMIOqTFfp7P0QiFqC3IlkoTb8RLZ5DnzzgJx-sT2QSWS6lvKkaVUGLzxJf0R8Xktif5zdKi6CohBNQs3s/s2992/20240122_145542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGAxhWssZkovNlVU2NeeNYU87TwPRcbRwFOWQj6XrhQOiIjIidIQcraHOD1WqbLK_DUGTIlYY-MPOGQdA7bj9IZiZt7P9EaM3NU4ge07fZD-DMIOqTFfp7P0QiFqC3IlkoTb8RLZ5DnzzgJx-sT2QSWS6lvKkaVUGLzxJf0R8Xktif5zdKi6CohBNQs3s/s320/20240122_145542.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>For instance, today the youngest grandchild noticed letters in the letterbox, and wanted to get the key and get the letters. When you are 6 this is a grown up, independent and helpful thing to do.</p><p> The problem was that the key would not turn in the lock. We knew it had been getting worse, but had done nothing about it but <i>jiggle jiggle jiggle </i>everytime we wanted the lock to turn. Today it was a serious problem for Mr 6, and today it took just a squirt with a can of silicone spray to lubricate the lock and make it good for another 6 months. At the same time DH sprayed the tracks in our outdoor blind and made them smooth and easy to use too. </p><p>Some kind of hardware style lubricant is a good thing to have in any<i> 'fix it' kit.</i> Other items might be strong glues of various kinds, a screwdriver or two, some strong adhesive tape, a couple of permanent markers for covering scratches, maybe a clamp to hold broken pieces together as they cure. </p><p>Do you have a fix it kit? I wonder what you would include in it? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXfyGbywkbwesfb_BpRdusUCLbH6dVx8Ul6F-_TNnxIwX5YDKmiLoSgI3SbFDp2UxlJxv33le-twgM-9OJos055h4XYwgNencbcWcy4kPSUiwLFGpOPqUrupk6VwACT9nUEL-C1bWnLk1Z35Q9Yd5UipFz6n8PNgv0jvyRUYi-_caAhyphenhyphenUzh6U1jWiTqvO/s2992/20240122_151131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXfyGbywkbwesfb_BpRdusUCLbH6dVx8Ul6F-_TNnxIwX5YDKmiLoSgI3SbFDp2UxlJxv33le-twgM-9OJos055h4XYwgNencbcWcy4kPSUiwLFGpOPqUrupk6VwACT9nUEL-C1bWnLk1Z35Q9Yd5UipFz6n8PNgv0jvyRUYi-_caAhyphenhyphenUzh6U1jWiTqvO/s320/20240122_151131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>In our hot climate an automatic reticulation system is essential in a garden and because we have a drying climate we use drippers and microsprays. Sometimes these get clogged or broken and a plant will be struggling. Yet it is a task of just moments to replace the broken part and get everything working again. We keep reticulation parts for exactly that reason, in our shed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGK214md0BUqOsIuC1l4HLRWwsbjpNjMfoY-EvCkNtWgu0o6faOUS3YkhISVpWuB5Bw1d7Av3hm1xepP9YhHoazgSKBGeeasIMlqWBR0DveUO0uMVu9KwrUBrOP-EGAI8RxIejPL7WrEDeUvKCnEwZt6qTYvGPKCex0oco_1QbhdYCkBi4rnRqQAo9hhT/s2992/20240122_163143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGK214md0BUqOsIuC1l4HLRWwsbjpNjMfoY-EvCkNtWgu0o6faOUS3YkhISVpWuB5Bw1d7Av3hm1xepP9YhHoazgSKBGeeasIMlqWBR0DveUO0uMVu9KwrUBrOP-EGAI8RxIejPL7WrEDeUvKCnEwZt6qTYvGPKCex0oco_1QbhdYCkBi4rnRqQAo9hhT/s320/20240122_163143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We use two clothes lines outside -the kind we call 'parallines"- a rectangle hung on a wall with lines of wire to hang the clothes on, making great use of limited space. Recently the most used one -up in the sunshine and the wind-had its wires fray and snap. I took a piece of it with me to the hardware store and found a replacement bundle of wire, then worked out how to re-string it again. Not difficult, but so practical and useful. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLuKUE_EORlQAwttAPvicGim6IcXA-ekRJTMpDF3-V-9acLPxO4sus3nIwwgTsz49atI13iWMwYK699oFgYcfN3C1yotHacCIssmh0eaE8z5N9g0q2tTaRjD8Swl_Vj2HQ5_xaQ-i5tlqT3wajhyphenhyphenhjGm8_Bp_JEW3tsVGeKhbr-ZL1ouZc3JqXlQSY_F1/s2992/20240123_142327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLuKUE_EORlQAwttAPvicGim6IcXA-ekRJTMpDF3-V-9acLPxO4sus3nIwwgTsz49atI13iWMwYK699oFgYcfN3C1yotHacCIssmh0eaE8z5N9g0q2tTaRjD8Swl_Vj2HQ5_xaQ-i5tlqT3wajhyphenhyphenhjGm8_Bp_JEW3tsVGeKhbr-ZL1ouZc3JqXlQSY_F1/s320/20240123_142327.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I did the same with the lovely windchime which announces the arrival of our sea breeze. Recently it fell with a clang because the fishing wire which holds it up had broken. I found some galvanised wire in DH's shed and made it secure again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1c51oQTv0urgjK5h5Zncn5G_-1EMrJLRYwOPsyUz1lgCq59I3zmvUEbvOb6kbnTWgJ0EKEQssD4iMAxtml4qWYv3AGZ1Vlw5YGkew52nbbcCvF4PLvSWPO68ze5ar3-dHOZOlvfuweFve8uokHxgnJfUz96Z90mfdowEylNzttmcnJ1fHpVHK_oxf5fN/s2992/20240115_092541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1c51oQTv0urgjK5h5Zncn5G_-1EMrJLRYwOPsyUz1lgCq59I3zmvUEbvOb6kbnTWgJ0EKEQssD4iMAxtml4qWYv3AGZ1Vlw5YGkew52nbbcCvF4PLvSWPO68ze5ar3-dHOZOlvfuweFve8uokHxgnJfUz96Z90mfdowEylNzttmcnJ1fHpVHK_oxf5fN/s320/20240115_092541.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>A common issue in households are things which use batteries, because they stop working when the battery has to be recharged or replaced. One very aggravating place to have battery failure is the computer wireless keyboard, because you can't do <i>anything</i> until you replace the battery -and the batteries for mine are AAA -the very small ones, not used for anything else around here. Other things in our house which use batteries are wall clocks, torches and hand held devices. If you have little children you may have night lights, toys and games which also need batteries. </p><p> We keep a selection of battery sizes on hand so we don't have to run to the shop at awkward moments to get a new battery. This is just a bit or regular household 'magic' that can de-stress an awkward moment and sometimes be a big thing. We recognised this week that our battery stash is a bit scattered. Maybe I should try to find a good receptical and bring them all together so that we don't do a mad scramble when something dies. Nearby could be a place to stash used batteries, so that I can take them for recycling (they should never go in landfill!).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIfFieOUVGuHLuSBfvj3FdXs7sWJMYmxyu_6omDmGpwGJqn3ngipiEA-S0uReqHGWnTZPM51bODA3p8eaZ0KRwfpKpgh5cec53C6hlOw6D_ZVX8LrcP8WAtdow700EmPsa6KvUAM72LoiTVAQmZhxcrNixxrJrisgDNdBtAccc8xzs6ubCWgu1Qd8lw9h/s2992/20240125_154727.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIfFieOUVGuHLuSBfvj3FdXs7sWJMYmxyu_6omDmGpwGJqn3ngipiEA-S0uReqHGWnTZPM51bODA3p8eaZ0KRwfpKpgh5cec53C6hlOw6D_ZVX8LrcP8WAtdow700EmPsa6KvUAM72LoiTVAQmZhxcrNixxrJrisgDNdBtAccc8xzs6ubCWgu1Qd8lw9h/s320/20240125_154727.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>One major cause of frustration is anything 'remote controlled' -including TVs, garage doors, etc. Our CD player is used daily during our morning meditation, and has a remote control. Just replacing the battery gives a moment of joy when the click starts our Hilda of Bingen music.<br /><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rxi5EnE0-PDDaghkpnAS-sy8kO6MSN_KVmiewUYgIAS3PZIuPIsiwOh-XZ5AapvENltPG2zSbyyseGK1Iq82SqBW2rD-5_BNhOck80nMkZqmHALucYAJ6-I5Fi5AWqpe4-k8z72JogQxJptYQt7p-eKFgNgZuAfZJ0UBtb_4iMKlaySW6jHUnxfYpmka/s1920/20240122_163422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="1920" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rxi5EnE0-PDDaghkpnAS-sy8kO6MSN_KVmiewUYgIAS3PZIuPIsiwOh-XZ5AapvENltPG2zSbyyseGK1Iq82SqBW2rD-5_BNhOck80nMkZqmHALucYAJ6-I5Fi5AWqpe4-k8z72JogQxJptYQt7p-eKFgNgZuAfZJ0UBtb_4iMKlaySW6jHUnxfYpmka/s320/20240122_163422.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">DH keeps a pretty well resourced handyman shed. Now that his knee replacement is behind him, he is back to tinkering in the shed again. One of the projects on his bench at the moment is a wheeled plant pot stand. It got buckled because I put a heavy pot plant with a ficus benjamina in it on the stand but it was too heavy. I like to have wheels on that pot plant so I can turn it around and keep the tree symetrical as it responds to the light. DH is going to reinforce the pot stand with a scrap piece of wood so that it can be used again, and we don't need to buy a new stand. This will require a bit of nifty cutting with one of his favourite tools -the band saw. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaKjrDJvA2VspLP-b5V0iiTf3C-ymgIgIQT3zX5W22k1MKb3rVfdZSJfybhSoc_lTiyLvSEVQvzBiPBojalLozgf1e06AD_MpKNg7t_C0HaUXB0yO9RCtUNWvYsFQ8pIyWPuKuWgQm5UhBQQxHHLQgfuGGsuHjbLgsWL7HmpBUdT-LOhBhVnZzIAf7VMy/s2992/20240123_142729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaKjrDJvA2VspLP-b5V0iiTf3C-ymgIgIQT3zX5W22k1MKb3rVfdZSJfybhSoc_lTiyLvSEVQvzBiPBojalLozgf1e06AD_MpKNg7t_C0HaUXB0yO9RCtUNWvYsFQ8pIyWPuKuWgQm5UhBQQxHHLQgfuGGsuHjbLgsWL7HmpBUdT-LOhBhVnZzIAf7VMy/s320/20240123_142729.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We keep warranties and ownership manuals in plastic pockets in a lever arch file. This has been invaluable. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Why is that light flashing on the induction stovetop? </li><li>How do I clean the exhaust fan over the stove? </li><li>Can I fix the dishwasher by buying a new part? </li><li>How do I program this new appliance?</li></ul> Lots of things can be solved by reading the manual. If you can't solve it sometimes you can find the address of the supplier/manufacturer and order a new part which will solve the problem. If you have bought an appliance second hand you can often get a manual online. I did this recently with my new-to-me icecream maker.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmCvvLGDCNvxKx142EpZdTTicT4zgN4kXlYFPum1IZ8Lcje_0ro3eKKFDvhU5lHhzsPqNxVv4b5weeegeynLzhzKHzYhTC-JQ63v5jDXz3ul0IBoP_aBDHI9qSfANGxlRFNPqATjPArVFmvmH-TsCXikZ8o-ftAgB_VQeXAUUg5bk2y1uyULnE6oNR5hF/s2992/20240122_145805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmCvvLGDCNvxKx142EpZdTTicT4zgN4kXlYFPum1IZ8Lcje_0ro3eKKFDvhU5lHhzsPqNxVv4b5weeegeynLzhzKHzYhTC-JQ63v5jDXz3ul0IBoP_aBDHI9qSfANGxlRFNPqATjPArVFmvmH-TsCXikZ8o-ftAgB_VQeXAUUg5bk2y1uyULnE6oNR5hF/s320/20240122_145805.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>If not, there are many good videos on the internet which will show you how to fix a lot of things. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgAULesBUhuV8STMaBP6mOgc3lreD93VcZNWlG6ycBkEGQ4Y999VoLVKQOaOrVpYtgBuQHFIxYIQ6hTzy_XD4twuqAx-ddPPTV_eSAf2vEecgjjEnjKs09iK9JANXJ2F_286gw6MHJyyVvrI43dNMeZ_r7Gv8jywGn7ILXV-3YUOfl1HMGUC1DdDlxM8v/s2992/20240108_142739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgAULesBUhuV8STMaBP6mOgc3lreD93VcZNWlG6ycBkEGQ4Y999VoLVKQOaOrVpYtgBuQHFIxYIQ6hTzy_XD4twuqAx-ddPPTV_eSAf2vEecgjjEnjKs09iK9JANXJ2F_286gw6MHJyyVvrI43dNMeZ_r7Gv8jywGn7ILXV-3YUOfl1HMGUC1DdDlxM8v/s320/20240108_142739.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Then of course there is the good old 'tie it up with wire' approach, time honoured in the song <a href="https://youtu.be/qfmHPF5qoV0?si=U8LwnVnOZz_ijnsU" target="_blank">True Blue by John Williamson.</a> The real masters of this approach are the stars of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDeHI3fOlzo&ab_channel=RebelFilmshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?" target="_blank">Bush Mechanics</a> -a humorous TV show about First Nations people hacking cars in the outback to keep them functioning 'some how". For these times, a creativity and a 'she'll be right' approach can be what is required. In the garden, my cable ties and bits of scrap wood or tree branches can make a whole lot of useful shade in a temporary arrangement, like this I have made at the east end of a struggling garden bed, when I realised the hot morning sun was making the silverbeet struggle. I just cut a couple of branches of bamboo and cable tied them to the end of the bed. Instant shade! Not too dark, and no money required.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdmv97sZA8k6XX8o5D8hqWhCZkgCDF6rrY66-YYwPQaqDfNkU-fASU5qKQ3ZUpXSi4s4GNw0Z3QGtqDFKiVQ-Z648QxOCn10JBtGP_SJ94MiHwAdVmh1n-DhWeXRppJ8NP3bo4U3nBQ6WZlfgzwErChw0SauaGfJKt7PtI87hEbZFPbS06eXs7r_ZLcUa/s2992/20240122_163209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdmv97sZA8k6XX8o5D8hqWhCZkgCDF6rrY66-YYwPQaqDfNkU-fASU5qKQ3ZUpXSi4s4GNw0Z3QGtqDFKiVQ-Z648QxOCn10JBtGP_SJ94MiHwAdVmh1n-DhWeXRppJ8NP3bo4U3nBQ6WZlfgzwErChw0SauaGfJKt7PtI87hEbZFPbS06eXs7r_ZLcUa/s320/20240122_163209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Then there are the things you might find in an op shop, or a skip, or offered for free from a neighbour. They might be a bit battered, or neglected or broken, but maybe you can fix them and get more life out of them? </p><p>We bought a rather battered old dining table at the tip shop for about $10. DH thought it was 'good wood' underneath, and had an idea. He cut down the legs, sanded and smoothed the top, turned some of the boards around...and then we have this fabulous coffee table. He used a waxed finish, so that anytime its life has been a bit rough, we can get the wax furniture polish out and buff it up again. We both love it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAGVNTBowLYBdeHdanUeRd1LEdIzkg9E1FkLYRFb7W8aWtpSmlt815yWEbuKNmSGEoN8B_1V6kQ1G-WRMYjn7W4X1dF6Y_7esRf8LFlYOAFhicDV1EcykAlb1ROmpToDPQR4DMCNR05luihV1FKh7rXG0EPK4_5DfGthxQ6eI6yw93CQ3e6QL5uCsko8V/s2992/20240123_142242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAGVNTBowLYBdeHdanUeRd1LEdIzkg9E1FkLYRFb7W8aWtpSmlt815yWEbuKNmSGEoN8B_1V6kQ1G-WRMYjn7W4X1dF6Y_7esRf8LFlYOAFhicDV1EcykAlb1ROmpToDPQR4DMCNR05luihV1FKh7rXG0EPK4_5DfGthxQ6eI6yw93CQ3e6QL5uCsko8V/s320/20240123_142242.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We also try to keep a list of repairers and general 'fix it' helpers -the computer shop which is able to replace a mother board, the sewing machine mechanic who can source old parts, the 'guy up the road' with a history of fixing garden equipment, all sorts of helpers. In Australia if your spectacles are broken, you can take them to any optician and they will fix them on the spot, usually free of charge. These people are rare and valuable. </p><p>Finally a thought from <a href="https://www.brennaquinlan.com/category/prints-posters" target="_blank">Brenna Quinlan, Permaculture illustrator and teacher</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJYDzaLINgU8vLwYF1Fq-YHeqgBXBMOCY_B13ICNDY9FkAvBaUf1Ly6S3YTbV4zKjJmARM8wcePPwfTk26aS13JBczgs7yWILAgw8iiYc0QU-EhbIAQOl582Nz8Amrxz6jGQ-ZhjOjTltaS7XN_kWEvQN7jkZkOdWS0iQN5mpOcXzvjh9cjkD8F9l93le/s593/brenna%20spend%20less.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="593" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJYDzaLINgU8vLwYF1Fq-YHeqgBXBMOCY_B13ICNDY9FkAvBaUf1Ly6S3YTbV4zKjJmARM8wcePPwfTk26aS13JBczgs7yWILAgw8iiYc0QU-EhbIAQOl582Nz8Amrxz6jGQ-ZhjOjTltaS7XN_kWEvQN7jkZkOdWS0iQN5mpOcXzvjh9cjkD8F9l93le/w640-h632/brenna%20spend%20less.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>So, save money and be happy: Fix Things! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-66563051447970395452024-01-13T15:34:00.000-08:002024-01-13T15:34:19.273-08:00Adventures in Second Hand purchasing<p> If we are to live more sustainably on this <i>One Planet </i>Earth we all share, it is pretty clear that we in the industrialised and wealthy countries need to reduce our consumption. One of the ways I try to do this is by choosing to purchase things second hand rather than new, wherever possible.</p><p>When we buy second hand, we keep things from landfill, we dampen the demand for manufacturers to make new things all the time, and as a by-product we save money. I try to always look for anything I need first in the free or second hand space, before buying new. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00bx6ebTeRAWuDdCjkcrTRqcGDjZEd5x2QGNhugHOWgfVfJfN7EKyM9GN56yQ6E0orJqLXWBwPvWSl-IINu-fWw9aVqmtq9DIxHWk2WTNUFwwBDOFetwknPlQpCisUBXSk9ffCIjjdP6BT7NXsVgYjb0MPICBLkFHet4QlpGF1fp4jhTCGsNQzhQ-tYbV/s3264/20230823_151105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00bx6ebTeRAWuDdCjkcrTRqcGDjZEd5x2QGNhugHOWgfVfJfN7EKyM9GN56yQ6E0orJqLXWBwPvWSl-IINu-fWw9aVqmtq9DIxHWk2WTNUFwwBDOFetwknPlQpCisUBXSk9ffCIjjdP6BT7NXsVgYjb0MPICBLkFHet4QlpGF1fp4jhTCGsNQzhQ-tYbV/w640-h288/20230823_151105.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i>A picture of our veggie garden and fruit trees</i></h4><p></p><p>As I try to limit my exposure to all kinds of advertising, I generally have identified an actual need or a sensible 'want' before I go out to look for a product. This month I have been aware of the fact that I have a LOT of last year's citrus harvest in the freezer, and it wasn't moving fast enough into our meals. I need to move it through the freezer to keep the rotation going and have room for other things. Then it occurred to me that I could make sorbet or gelato or icecream and use up the juice that way. That meant finding an icecream maker!*</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahRR3KT5IAOwjMbr5GiVaavqmlwGHsiOhvGjgSRhEwIDtHfnqpbCZ_0LPTVsAYwSrjZY4iBANEqUpy4rzsvZCMfp4kuB_GgFRcfPrwdt6R6NTQFPrTdtusenb4uYrqvCM1cGBs_mwUm1ngEwyWakX-XAUz1FAyYmlxz_KcPCXazrEn7iQml3iOzQZqeVR/s2992/20240108_142739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahRR3KT5IAOwjMbr5GiVaavqmlwGHsiOhvGjgSRhEwIDtHfnqpbCZ_0LPTVsAYwSrjZY4iBANEqUpy4rzsvZCMfp4kuB_GgFRcfPrwdt6R6NTQFPrTdtusenb4uYrqvCM1cGBs_mwUm1ngEwyWakX-XAUz1FAyYmlxz_KcPCXazrEn7iQml3iOzQZqeVR/w640-h640/20240108_142739.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><i>The ice cream maker I bought second hand</i></h3><p></p><p>As it happens, ice cream makers are just the kind of appliance to be often available in the second hand market. People buy them with all sorts of aspirations, and then don't make a habit of using them much. At some point it is just an appliance taking up valuable real estate in their kitchen and in their freezer. </p><p>I found a good brand ice cream maker for about one third of the price of a new one. If it should happen that I don't use the machine as much as I think I would, then I have not been much out of pocket. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIa5ysSBKwIquTxAUgdD3IjRGRrb9RSQIJOj5dB8aoRQQbbcsMiaoOViiKX37OJAEj9E-b2oIfKxWlW-Fdvz_74jzLzpB1J2kwby6T2As2zcpTmWFK8Q_p3tbLKmWUktHSEyhyWde5KR_JZVgUyJeOxmFAKV8oCJy3QXswGagIJJKNox88Pz0RUzqqee8/s4000/20230910_204830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIa5ysSBKwIquTxAUgdD3IjRGRrb9RSQIJOj5dB8aoRQQbbcsMiaoOViiKX37OJAEj9E-b2oIfKxWlW-Fdvz_74jzLzpB1J2kwby6T2As2zcpTmWFK8Q_p3tbLKmWUktHSEyhyWde5KR_JZVgUyJeOxmFAKV8oCJy3QXswGagIJJKNox88Pz0RUzqqee8/w640-h288/20230910_204830.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i>Lemon cake with lemon icing on </i></h4><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i>a second hand cake stand, plate and glass cover</i></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">In order to make room for the icecream maker in the cupboards in the kitchen, we advertised our dehydrator on our local </span><i style="text-align: left;">Buy Nothing</i><span style="text-align: left;"> group. We have realised that in this climate we don't really need a dehydrator. Firstly, most herbs grow all year round, and fresh herbs are usually more flavourful. Secondly, we have a LOT of dry sunny days, and anything we needed to dry could simply be hung somewhere shady and a day or so later it would be crisp. We are happy to let someone else have the dehydrator- we got it for free, so we passed it on for free too. </span></div><p></p><p>So I looked on line in a popular marketplace and found a suitable machine. Sadly, after I got it home I discovered it had a piece missing. The seller didn't have the piece, and offered to reduce the price if I could find a replacement piece from the manufacturer. The manufacturer was not helpful -they said they had a backlog and would take 8-10 working days to get back to me! Hmmm.</p><p>I got my money back from the first seller, and checked if I could find a similar machine new in a shop Just as I was reconciled to this, another machine of exactly the same type as the first one, turned up for sale -and for $10 less! Off I went again and this time all the pieces are there. </p><p>The first Icecream I made is from Stephanie Alexander's book <br />The Kitchen Companion" : lime icecream. It was extremely nice, and worth taking to dinner on Friday when our Friday friends group gets back together after a month recess over the Christmas and New Year period. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNrLITihkdO-vAZiOOShGoX-zaCT71KL6iRoNy6HyaevgOD5uQEQkTg-rYOgKR7mqEU4-nVfNCjtJyNRxq1yx8OsMlJ2RMVq78z8eaHpQ95imzuceCSnUl3KWMdLHbzVVQyia01jTE700W9RKu74i2CGk39GM5Jm5MM0aErpFaR02D4fI8yMSjGaDo_gv/s2992/20240112_193334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNrLITihkdO-vAZiOOShGoX-zaCT71KL6iRoNy6HyaevgOD5uQEQkTg-rYOgKR7mqEU4-nVfNCjtJyNRxq1yx8OsMlJ2RMVq78z8eaHpQ95imzuceCSnUl3KWMdLHbzVVQyia01jTE700W9RKu74i2CGk39GM5Jm5MM0aErpFaR02D4fI8yMSjGaDo_gv/w640-h640/20240112_193334.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I have been reading over the summer period. One of the books I enjoyed from the library was Kate Rawles's story of riding a bike around South America and visiting both biodiversity hot spots and places in trouble, and the people trying to heal the land and change the system.</p><p>Everything is connected, they say. One mine, one extinction, is felt everywhere and by everything. Just doing things like taking the trouble to buy second hand or fix something rather than throwing it away, is a tiny act of restoration and rebellion against the forces that will destroy everything we hold dear. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWE9ZNrb2dC3S-Yzf4GIeqmmeKvW_ebY2wjdK5mQEJrMmESHYNjLlVgtE-IqsX1gLzFlLOHG_BsWMQfkIRQGMLmdX4soYcchZhfTZmqYxzQQR6s7iIn09oINfHbJqQJTAowwNcluDB9UPXRzsUKHA0AdJ1WJS3jiHdOhqESUbEnNhlMj2Jt0Wq7GpJIeY/s2670/20240113_204534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2670" data-original-width="1900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWE9ZNrb2dC3S-Yzf4GIeqmmeKvW_ebY2wjdK5mQEJrMmESHYNjLlVgtE-IqsX1gLzFlLOHG_BsWMQfkIRQGMLmdX4soYcchZhfTZmqYxzQQR6s7iIn09oINfHbJqQJTAowwNcluDB9UPXRzsUKHA0AdJ1WJS3jiHdOhqESUbEnNhlMj2Jt0Wq7GpJIeY/w456-h640/20240113_204534.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>* Of course, citrus is not just used in icecream. I have been using lemons instead of stuffing in a roast chicken, for a long time. I also use lemon and lime juice in salad dressings, risotto and just flavouring iced water for long summer drinks. The DH makes marmalade from many citrus varieties too. Cakes can be great with citrus.</p><p>If you have as many trees as I have, there is a big need to find uses for citrus- even after giving many of the fruit away there is still a lot left. </p><p><br /></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-4943552009255148092023-12-26T14:58:00.000-08:002023-12-26T14:58:03.425-08:00Midsummer update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlO7w3Bc4cspmqQ5Heh4ePIrT_SkeGJBH8NkTaY707AaO1GJ_h02JHzhMILb_IPEL9WkO3OzXypWD6wInvrgCRJE1uoUlEmsvr7EURoJVDBMzApnBo5iWxxxMLE2uN3fCXf0ulnjcP94If2saxDI6-NOhW8tYUG2CDqwNgvhGji8cJVjAi_K8GA_J-YHV/s2992/20231215_082219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlO7w3Bc4cspmqQ5Heh4ePIrT_SkeGJBH8NkTaY707AaO1GJ_h02JHzhMILb_IPEL9WkO3OzXypWD6wInvrgCRJE1uoUlEmsvr7EURoJVDBMzApnBo5iWxxxMLE2uN3fCXf0ulnjcP94If2saxDI6-NOhW8tYUG2CDqwNgvhGji8cJVjAi_K8GA_J-YHV/w640-h640/20231215_082219.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Here we are still, in midsummer, and just after Christmas 2023. A lot has happened since my last post, so I thought I should do an update. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0P66rurwMphW3lnqhu1RgXqnFxXxT0XwJTnhBkVMqCVlZ3BeG8cDb01QkO1hn6UhuT9v9INEx6MlqcsCZSfdy-OugM-x3LDCmjq1h8G9cVjTlCmy_qiVe26QTYFNHUvU8KR-ZEEgVjk1c_1_kXHs_Vh0pqr8Nw55zEJJTjVX11In8ecjBUQObH0VLknhh/s2992/20231128_194043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0P66rurwMphW3lnqhu1RgXqnFxXxT0XwJTnhBkVMqCVlZ3BeG8cDb01QkO1hn6UhuT9v9INEx6MlqcsCZSfdy-OugM-x3LDCmjq1h8G9cVjTlCmy_qiVe26QTYFNHUvU8KR-ZEEgVjk1c_1_kXHs_Vh0pqr8Nw55zEJJTjVX11In8ecjBUQObH0VLknhh/w640-h640/20231128_194043.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Christmas was quite lovely. Made special by family and friends.<div>This little picture is of a series of fairy light strings which now grace our home. Our grapevine has these coloured LEDs, and there is a string of white solar powered ones which enchant a small area near the DDs room.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgPgLcPG-_3Oo7Si2-AFj02naK3N8esmVoTq6VGzptSTTyyVkHNMM68ciI8yWybFD6-SPAqtPr0VnvTfQdjWUq-zdnVvr540Z4Feuvsdvp0ej2VNvXeZj60kTZeQY5MvLXpQffz628tzjLouRsNduEcOXfbcVhFR9EipC408FRbMredfzB5UAmSbq-IoG/s2992/20231128_133747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgPgLcPG-_3Oo7Si2-AFj02naK3N8esmVoTq6VGzptSTTyyVkHNMM68ciI8yWybFD6-SPAqtPr0VnvTfQdjWUq-zdnVvr540Z4Feuvsdvp0ej2VNvXeZj60kTZeQY5MvLXpQffz628tzjLouRsNduEcOXfbcVhFR9EipC408FRbMredfzB5UAmSbq-IoG/w640-h640/20231128_133747.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There is a new bee bath near a frangipani and Geisha Girl duranta repens which I have decorated with glass beads and stones so the bees can escape the water while drinking. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcFlHSuJ7xbdM_2EJLZfwspzAS93cK42XztgSGcC7i9y8ncwXIUmXT0plJ-Dr1CajuxrmQjY4BchbwlEUzlhy2caqt_1ytHma3iMbDKbyhtzkoXRAaR86R5xmutgote6WTZAWS3jDHZV-_cS387_bO0n8ngbf-gTUGt9s6NiRJ44HVRKWKVJWGW-CFBh8/s2830/20231123_112542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2830" data-original-width="2272" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcFlHSuJ7xbdM_2EJLZfwspzAS93cK42XztgSGcC7i9y8ncwXIUmXT0plJ-Dr1CajuxrmQjY4BchbwlEUzlhy2caqt_1ytHma3iMbDKbyhtzkoXRAaR86R5xmutgote6WTZAWS3jDHZV-_cS387_bO0n8ngbf-gTUGt9s6NiRJ44HVRKWKVJWGW-CFBh8/w514-h640/20231123_112542.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We finally got our ugly old asbestos fence replaced with green colourbond. The workers did a great job, and I am happy to report that the large jasmine vine has had a big haircut but is very much alive at the end of the patio. This picture above was just after the fence was installed. Since then I have been decorating the space and seeing what I can do about plants. </div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hLdkxfTbbCtgVbuvCVRq7en2RUxkARcJqF77Vc9gNkQ_ytjJcWxK_D4zkzkGBdmBCSoDc6LuPARGMd7itzgJEQ4QFtJ1-XGmFX9uN0eRoQxZdONmo88Zf5FZ-9FRfTH5uSaMQiRDCQ131yOfDTRBECvDNlJLP2PrFc5KH0E9WIWB8tcEugc_SQbpUxj4/s2992/20231110_100132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hLdkxfTbbCtgVbuvCVRq7en2RUxkARcJqF77Vc9gNkQ_ytjJcWxK_D4zkzkGBdmBCSoDc6LuPARGMd7itzgJEQ4QFtJ1-XGmFX9uN0eRoQxZdONmo88Zf5FZ-9FRfTH5uSaMQiRDCQ131yOfDTRBECvDNlJLP2PrFc5KH0E9WIWB8tcEugc_SQbpUxj4/w640-h640/20231110_100132.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">DH and I escaped for a week to Albany for a holiday prior to him having a knee replacement in the first week of December. He is not driving at the moment due to his pain medication, but is doing well. He can walk around inside very well, and has ditched his wheeled mobility aid for a simple walking stick. We are now in 'rehab' mode which will ramp up as his healing progresses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are very grateful for a modern and free health system! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I haven't done much quilting for a while -but I hope that now the surgery and Christmas is behind us, I can get back into the several projects I have on the go! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you for visiting this site. Gosh, I hope we can all see a renewal of peace for the new year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-3029447348740160752023-11-01T01:19:00.001-07:002023-11-01T01:19:27.343-07:00Getting ready for summer -it is going to be hot and dry<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It didn't take long for the winter rains to dry up here in Perth. Far too early, for me, the forecasts began to be for weeks of no rain, and in this Mediterannean climate that could go on until March. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sandy soil dries out quickly unless mulched and shaded.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What is even more concerning are the reports and predictions that this summer will be hotter than ever, and the sea temperatures hotter also. The toll on our environment is going to be a major concern. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Click here for the BOM prediction of hotter, drier weather in Perth <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-01/el-nino-weather-pattern-in-wa/103032024">https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-01/el-nino-weather-pattern-in-wa/103032024</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRfuhkYC9lGwFO5QDpm9oIURXztF7XdInWqzTjZ5nGqqs2Ld_O-6IL9oPXvXBXCnEIyIgWVUeNHinSkNwf8dW9gWjmpb8ZMTNKsB8_qDKL-mnDqY4iPDqbpkQ-bRBeLdBZOUtG-kumw96uqE1uBE6ohNK8r5nMLqZQFP3n6ArQCI_EFpZe4mcHoXWUL_p/s3062/20231010_102304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3062" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRfuhkYC9lGwFO5QDpm9oIURXztF7XdInWqzTjZ5nGqqs2Ld_O-6IL9oPXvXBXCnEIyIgWVUeNHinSkNwf8dW9gWjmpb8ZMTNKsB8_qDKL-mnDqY4iPDqbpkQ-bRBeLdBZOUtG-kumw96uqE1uBE6ohNK8r5nMLqZQFP3n6ArQCI_EFpZe4mcHoXWUL_p/w640-h376/20231010_102304.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div>About two years ago, Perth and the South West had one of those 'heat bubble' type of weather patterns. The accustomed afternoon sea breezes never arrived. The houses got hotter and hotter and had no time to cool down before the next hot day arrived. It was just after Christmas and went on for about 10 days. </div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVo2Agkap0ZorX8FR7ZlpxcZbpgtOzzDDCnAyMdGiB6gVpO9Z_ko-e7jHESDddSxVzGfk6tZ_cAhvNPnyPZXEG84gB1HkLg0YmLydnuzH1raenbW489ILmiKKip7Ed1Kk2ppy_8x9COEiREBomqkAjRblwmNmddZBf92WyKpOoNdaC_1Y3bHOn_RfBxjdA/s2992/20231019_114742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVo2Agkap0ZorX8FR7ZlpxcZbpgtOzzDDCnAyMdGiB6gVpO9Z_ko-e7jHESDddSxVzGfk6tZ_cAhvNPnyPZXEG84gB1HkLg0YmLydnuzH1raenbW489ILmiKKip7Ed1Kk2ppy_8x9COEiREBomqkAjRblwmNmddZBf92WyKpOoNdaC_1Y3bHOn_RfBxjdA/w640-h640/20231019_114742.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>All the passive cooling strategies we had set up around here, all the shade sails and grapevine pergolas, all the ceiling fans were suddenly not enough.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was hard to sleep.</div><div><br /></div><div>Plants died in the heat. Trees were stressed.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYmjGoa0yQL9i3kd2tfxdX4WthExOC48H8kGUZswfG78gx85f5VrckJLOp62RNJBb3II569OE4rcb2jC1exPhwQReZPfyx1b3bj_tQyhBjEtPQWdb9Ca1Yib55_XrgLQ8dQc-saM20wLgBxMSALANdSqBNvRlX0lG2TP8Hil0U0uEnL4yQel83gKStpXf/s4000/20231003_160417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYmjGoa0yQL9i3kd2tfxdX4WthExOC48H8kGUZswfG78gx85f5VrckJLOp62RNJBb3II569OE4rcb2jC1exPhwQReZPfyx1b3bj_tQyhBjEtPQWdb9Ca1Yib55_XrgLQ8dQc-saM20wLgBxMSALANdSqBNvRlX0lG2TP8Hil0U0uEnL4yQel83gKStpXf/w640-h288/20231003_160417.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We went to the shops to see what we could add to the house to help cool us down. They were selling out of anything which might cool people down - fans, portable air conditioners, the lot. The sales staff confessed the warehouses were empty and that even if you could buy something more permanent like an evaporative air conditioner, there were no installers free to put them in. One guy said his own flat was too hot to sleep in. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the end we got a house wide evaporative air conditioning system installed in March of that year, and we LOVE it. In our dry climate it works really well, is very cheap to run and if there is any run off I was able to put in on the garden via a low-pressure sprinkler. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are times, however, when we know this system won't be enough. If there is a lot of smoke due to bushfires, or if the humidity is too high, you can't run the evaporative air conditioner. It is not normally a problem in Perth, but the climate is changing! </div><div><br /></div><div>We saved up for months, and this week we put in a couple of Reverse Cycle Air Conditioners. They are in the bedrooms. This is so that we can ensure a good night's sleep, and we can always retreat to the bedrooms if the rest of the house is too uncomfortable.</div><div><br /></div><div>DD is also happy that it will also give her a heater for the winter time. These RCACs are efficient but can be noisy, especially for neighbours. In the process of cooling rooms, they vent hot air outside, which makes the problem worse for our cities. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbwC53SjJa1_9a-C2lyFUOmpDLb8fAY8cu1ryUK8hMQXnsQADap9s3JFmgTZOrJbjuRIWpVy3l3LlSVriSNQLfGOZYe4I7fipaONFWRfLV4NuMEnpbQVzuepwF4QRn_J6GEk2Uy-n2vfiLYsgqkSrLYzu62R6xzGQ9l3baRaaLptnOoPQLo_OMB_BOzvC/s2448/20231030_112816.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbwC53SjJa1_9a-C2lyFUOmpDLb8fAY8cu1ryUK8hMQXnsQADap9s3JFmgTZOrJbjuRIWpVy3l3LlSVriSNQLfGOZYe4I7fipaONFWRfLV4NuMEnpbQVzuepwF4QRn_J6GEk2Uy-n2vfiLYsgqkSrLYzu62R6xzGQ9l3baRaaLptnOoPQLo_OMB_BOzvC/w640-h640/20231030_112816.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Apart from this, I am working hard to get the garden ready for the summer. The reticulation is always in need of some tweaking after winter. I have shade on the veggie beds. I try to grow climate hardy plants, but in summer there is really not much which will survive a 45C day, especially if it goes on for weeks. </p><p>Of course, some of these strategies are not available to people who are renting. There are landlords who do not even have insulation in the roofs of places they let out, and in this climate it should be mandated by law. </p><p>I support the team of activists at <a href="https://www.betterrenting.org.au/" target="_blank">Better Renting </a>. Better Renting is a community of renters working together for stable, affordable, and healthy homes. They are doing a survey this summer of the type of conditions renters are facing, and also will be providing strategies for those who are too hot in their rental. Click the link to find out more. </p><p>Meanwhile, I have found some tips for renters<a href=" https://www.milkwood.net/2022/10/10/rental-permaculture/?fbclid=IwAR3gSv5SRP-RpaeRa-WxkQ9rq0XrPmZ07lugZyteNMPN-1_Qc7VBReBxZdM" target="_blank"> here</a> from Milkwood -and they are really practical. </p><p> <a href="https://www.milkwood.net/2022/10/10/rental-permaculture/?fbclid=IwAR3gSv5SRP-RpaeRa-WxkQ9rq0XrPmZ07lugZyteNMPN-1_Qc7VBReBxZdM">https://www.milkwood.net/2022/10/10/rental-permaculture/?fbclid=IwAR3gSv5SRP-RpaeRa-WxkQ9rq0XrPmZ07lugZyteNMPN-1_Qc7VBReBxZdM<br /></a></p><p><a href="https://www.milkwood.net/2022/10/10/rental-permaculture/?fbclid=IwAR3gSv5SRP-RpaeRa-WxkQ9rq0XrPmZ07lugZyteNMPN-1_Qc7VBReBxZdM"><br /></a></p><p><a href="https://www.milkwood.net/2022/10/10/rental-permaculture/?fbclid=IwAR3gSv5SRP-RpaeRa-WxkQ9rq0XrPmZ07lugZyteNMPN-1_Qc7VBReBxZdM"><br /></a></p></div>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-78292273317353573832023-08-24T17:43:00.003-07:002023-08-24T17:43:41.619-07:00It's here! First days with the EV<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbUuNsKXrMpmLDT8inDrbgbcqh2UshmI5Yj9y3p3lqHkqmBxHC64noh8dWvYR_7lxAcnqUd_e3rUcpniyemKS8YxXYO2bhl-w5CNB0gpXtB-G3xpY5QHFmPVWCzayTazR4t1ufY-TmYJs06ByH3mMq5RDTcnMWLnk-cYW7RGoRAwRfIOKeMo-Nrr0rBkh/s697/EV%20here.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="697" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbUuNsKXrMpmLDT8inDrbgbcqh2UshmI5Yj9y3p3lqHkqmBxHC64noh8dWvYR_7lxAcnqUd_e3rUcpniyemKS8YxXYO2bhl-w5CNB0gpXtB-G3xpY5QHFmPVWCzayTazR4t1ufY-TmYJs06ByH3mMq5RDTcnMWLnk-cYW7RGoRAwRfIOKeMo-Nrr0rBkh/w640-h500/EV%20here.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />We picked up and registered our EV (Electric Vehicle) today and I have had my first drive in it! It is a Nissan Leaf. <div><br /></div><div>(For the leadup to this post, <a href="http://earthmotherwithin.blogspot.com/2023/07/waiting-for-ev-changing-our-minds.html" target="_blank">see the last one here</a>)<br /><p></p><p>There are many feelings involved!</p><p><b>There is the novelty of a new technology</b>, because this is like having a mobile computer. There are displays, cameras, readouts, switches, toggles, modes -so much information at hand. It feels supportive- five camera angles to help you park, warning alarms for all sorts of things -"you wouldn't be silly enough to do that thing, would you?" kind of noises. There is a warning beep when reversing -because the car is very quiet, and people need to know you are coming. </p><p>The first drive in any car is exciting. The first drive in an EV even more so. It is quiet -it is powerful-<i>it is just like any car</i>, but not like it at all. Now, I still have to figure out how to find my favourite radio station, and which of those switches turns on the aircon? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHE8sYmHmN3U_HaSm2AWZCTBMKsWtkcpad6Y-emBdJHoACrwXKnPe6hnWzV3_6yglvdSJiN01fHkcorenkojih11NDVcX_Es47zYZh0nCQGMRJ74iCSz3nmJjMjkXOfRykr9wHef17MN5H0aliVldM4z-ssWHOSyEiyI2j8kIlXmvpsxtHzmXlLGoCPnR/s1094/drive%20ev.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="1094" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHE8sYmHmN3U_HaSm2AWZCTBMKsWtkcpad6Y-emBdJHoACrwXKnPe6hnWzV3_6yglvdSJiN01fHkcorenkojih11NDVcX_Es47zYZh0nCQGMRJ74iCSz3nmJjMjkXOfRykr9wHef17MN5H0aliVldM4z-ssWHOSyEiyI2j8kIlXmvpsxtHzmXlLGoCPnR/w640-h288/drive%20ev.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><b>There is relief.</b> Did you know that we acually bought this car <i>on the internet</i>? </p><p>As a result of Australia's geographical size and stupid car policies which do not promote electric vehicles at anything like the rate we need to decarbonise our future, there is almost no second hand market for EVs, and new ones are hugely expensive and have a wait list. We found <a href="https://www.goodcar.co/" target="_blank">the Good Car Company</a> could import vehicles from Japan, second hand, at reasonable prices. We bought and paid for the car weeks before it arrived in Perth, as it had to be trucked across the Nullabor, and then we had to register it in this state. I must say, all the way along that the Good Car Company has been very helpful and supportive. There were moments of doubt however, and the relief is real. </p><p><b>There is satisfaction.</b> DH went to put a few $$ worth of fuel in the ICE vehicle we are selling, and had great delight in saying "<i>This is the last fossil fuel I ever buy</i>!" For me, this is the culmination of a dream more than 5 years old, to say goodbye to fossil fuels and drive a clean green car. We sold our ICE car! </p><p><b>There is excitement.</b></p><p>Friends and family are very interested in the new vehicle because, unlike countries overseas, EVs are relatively rare in Australia and most have never seen anyone who fairly ordinary, like us, with one. We are fielding many quesions and enquiries, which is great. The more the merrier! </p><p><b>But what about RANGE ANXIETY?</b></p><p>Well, yes, it is a thing for new EV drivers to be constantly aware of the approximate number of kms left in the battery before recharging, because, unlike ICE (Internal Combustion Energy) cars, we can't fill up on every corner at the fossil fuel petrol station. </p><p>We are learning to drive in such a way as to enable as much recharging of the battery as possible. This is due to regenerative braking. As you slow the speed of an electric vehicle, regenerative braking engages the motion of the wheels to act as a sort of crankshaft, sending energy to the motor via rotation of the motor shaft<span face="Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">. </span>The Nissan has several driving modes to promote this regeneration, one exiting one is a 'one pedal drive' in which you don't use the brakes at all!!!</p>This means that, unlike an ICE vehicle, the car can top itself up a little instead of just running down the fuel/charge gauge. For example, yesterday afternoon we travelled about 18 km in city driving, but when we the car dash suggested we had used up only about 11 km of range. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Our own Power Station</b></div><div><br /></div><div>It took a few days before we could perform our first recharge at home -because of course, the battery needs to have some capacity used up first, so that we can, actually, have room for more charge! This was a new skill-but it was very easy to do. DH was greatly relieved that the set up we installed a month or so ago, actually works with this car. I was relieved to know that we can power up the car at home, easily and whenever we need to. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv-jPl1X_IjkvOojlTgFt3c5y8oAiOJzf8TyuoedFzXtWfGZ_aXJsHxqYr-H1UBzTx_nYGadaQl4i_1h77ILEDmbw7eVKsuT-HF-iZhC04K2uxAATBuqxGTGiNYRtCOoE6A3VzP5qEKXT2kkdPP7EOfpA81lNTdDDAiqa9WfmCCTurpLdRGANqbTOh3Tp/s347/charge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="231" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv-jPl1X_IjkvOojlTgFt3c5y8oAiOJzf8TyuoedFzXtWfGZ_aXJsHxqYr-H1UBzTx_nYGadaQl4i_1h77ILEDmbw7eVKsuT-HF-iZhC04K2uxAATBuqxGTGiNYRtCOoE6A3VzP5qEKXT2kkdPP7EOfpA81lNTdDDAiqa9WfmCCTurpLdRGANqbTOh3Tp/w426-h640/charge.png" width="426" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Charging an EV takes some time, compared to the 10 minute approximate filling up with a fossil fuel in an ICE vehicle. </div><div><br /></div><div>If we stop at a public EV charger, we can do a rapid charge which may take up to 30 minutes. Too slow? But it will cost about one third of the price of the fossil fuel! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkAN_b0VTiWrKdS_iZOIxmRrDTbJP64VvYC8a9dSrzL7Dbe423axs-9gH-SBQ8jMwcmSvUhBo4-N1mGKBZNpYHrR3_tXSBQ0zFEU10l_AFti7aHZO9yX0TYq320yo09VaiGtEJbBHMtWVSJFL609Ex9IT_iAPsUIknvg2IQiogRVMLBAemDIfgCyQ5FUg/s4000/20230725_111348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkAN_b0VTiWrKdS_iZOIxmRrDTbJP64VvYC8a9dSrzL7Dbe423axs-9gH-SBQ8jMwcmSvUhBo4-N1mGKBZNpYHrR3_tXSBQ0zFEU10l_AFti7aHZO9yX0TYq320yo09VaiGtEJbBHMtWVSJFL609Ex9IT_iAPsUIknvg2IQiogRVMLBAemDIfgCyQ5FUg/w288-h640/20230725_111348.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><i>If we charge up at home</i> on a medium speed it will take about 5 hours or so, but as the car sits outside for many hours per week, it is hardly a big problem. We will be strategic about charging up where possible when our solar panels are pumping the most electricity, and when the household is relatively powered down. For example, we wash clothes in the morning so the car is going to be cheapest if we wait until the afternoon. I will be keeping track of our use, and comparing the price on our power bills. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our first charge took about 4 hours, at home, while we were eating dinner and reading books. We had planned to do it earlier in the afternoon with the sun shining on the solar panels, but we had to get a grandchild from school who was unwell, so we did it in the evening fron the grid. We calculate that would cost about $10.</div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;">In Australia, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> a</span> car is typically parked at home 80% of the time according to statistics <a href="https://theconversation.com/end-of-the-road-why-it-might-be-time-to-ditch-your-car-72097" target="_blank">here. </a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oASVf69QLhyKTQKWZZSlsb5kOiWtLZEtW90cv26D0uPEr8IuNdFdI8XaZrTjG-efLRsZZX6QBq2KlEKglL1GOW16WuQb4-QYRqyF1Wx4hjOSjOCPMGAlrZPbXWVGLT_S_jQbA9koIkjIWQNq3apwk6R5lHzWnrnGWHD6eCp_OOzn0gXOwrfu9CbcYCn0/s3264/20230822_135031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oASVf69QLhyKTQKWZZSlsb5kOiWtLZEtW90cv26D0uPEr8IuNdFdI8XaZrTjG-efLRsZZX6QBq2KlEKglL1GOW16WuQb4-QYRqyF1Wx4hjOSjOCPMGAlrZPbXWVGLT_S_jQbA9koIkjIWQNq3apwk6R5lHzWnrnGWHD6eCp_OOzn0gXOwrfu9CbcYCn0/w640-h288/20230822_135031.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The car has a nice roomy boot, deeper than normal because it doesn't have a spare wheel. What it does have is one of those repair kits for a puncture which squirt some kind of jell into the tyre. You then go to a shop and buy a new tyre! <div><br /></div><div><b>So, now we are driving emissions free</b>. Australia needs to do this quickly to meet our emissions target. I hope this experience of ours will give confidence to others to consider an EV the next time they need to change vehicles. <br /><div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p></div></div></div>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-6023397412426035152023-07-24T20:42:00.000-07:002023-07-24T20:42:24.167-07:00Waiting for the EV! Changing our minds<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpDC_yi1HWMjh-jeWJWaL6FlaCO12pbqZdW9exnzG0ChR8LsSQFjhwJwKaQo1iLqB18JCFKXC0PX5hGAFNblxdH7HhFhbM8a8Luoa0MOVxi4gJH9wM5KiM9IwQWBYMqeRgizYxjhP1w9Q13vu_GmEYPWhdjIVLdtjTxZ8cBQqGX_U9n3EXoOVWLS_3D2c/s1024/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpDC_yi1HWMjh-jeWJWaL6FlaCO12pbqZdW9exnzG0ChR8LsSQFjhwJwKaQo1iLqB18JCFKXC0PX5hGAFNblxdH7HhFhbM8a8Luoa0MOVxi4gJH9wM5KiM9IwQWBYMqeRgizYxjhP1w9Q13vu_GmEYPWhdjIVLdtjTxZ8cBQqGX_U9n3EXoOVWLS_3D2c/w640-h480/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />For those following along, it is not news that the climate is seriously overheated and we have to decarbonise immediately. Every tonne of C02 we save is worth it. Read about it <a href="https://planetwild.com/about-us" target="_blank">here </a> but it is not hopeless, eg read about it in NZ -<a href="https://www.newsroom.co.nz/we-are-bending-the-climate-curve" target="_blank">here</a><p>We have wanted an electric vehicle for a long time but they are expensive in Australia, so much so that when we bought our last vehicle 6 years ago, we could not make the numbers work even though I factored in years of savings of buying petrol into the purchase price. EVs are expensive in Australia. </p><p>There is a lot of anxiety about owning an electric vehicle in Australia, judging by the comments we see online and get from people in our community. Unlike places in Europe, the numbers are small, the distances are large and the distribution of public EV chargers is patchy. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsG67P52QSe0ir7ABXL4exJbDGOzjhzt9Iw6mLnwMIIXjGEQ1uAcGv0z6VBn5rvUetynd4TH7BDFCzoSw5QHzpBniyQiB25ZvBFYOIifj8KPw3zjB3U5R0VFWSk7mqhl-xpd508FGCbviwfB17mPZdR3m9xvk9DRPsTvdec_ptA-4pKGuP8-SFJrW2s4_7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1200" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsG67P52QSe0ir7ABXL4exJbDGOzjhzt9Iw6mLnwMIIXjGEQ1uAcGv0z6VBn5rvUetynd4TH7BDFCzoSw5QHzpBniyQiB25ZvBFYOIifj8KPw3zjB3U5R0VFWSk7mqhl-xpd508FGCbviwfB17mPZdR3m9xvk9DRPsTvdec_ptA-4pKGuP8-SFJrW2s4_7=w640-h376" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>I read Saul Griffith's book "The Big Switch Australia's electric future". Read a summary<a href="https://thefifthestate.com.au/energy-lead/energy/saul-griffith-on-why-we-need-to-electrify-almost-everything/" target="_blank"> here </a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>"Climate change is a planetary emergency. We have to do something now-but what? Saul Griffith has a plan. In Electrify, Griffith lays out a detailed blueprint-optimistic but feasible-for fighting climate change while creating millions of new jobs and a healthier environment. Griffith's plan can be summed up simply: electrify everything. He explains exactly what it would take to transform our infrastructure, update our grid, and adapt our households to make this possible. Billionaires may contemplate escaping our worn-out planet on a private rocket ship to Mars, but the rest of us, Griffith says, will stay and fight for the future. <br /> <br />"Griffith, an engineer and inventor, calls for grid neutrality, ensuring that households, businesses, and utilities operate as equals; we will have to rewrite regulations that were created for a fossil-fueled world, mobilize industry as we did in World War II, and offer low-interest "climate loans." Griffith's plan doesn't rely on big, not-yet-invented innovations, but on thousands of little inventions and cost reductions. We can still have our cars and our houses-but the cars will be electric and solar panels will cover our roofs. For a world trying to bounce back from a pandemic and economic crisis, there is no other project that would create as many jobs-up to twenty-five million, according to one economic analysis. Is this politically possible? We can change politics along with everything else".<br /><p><b><i>What happened next?</i></b></p><p>When we noticed that there was a company started up in Australia with the purpose of improving the uptake of EVs by importing second hand models from Japan, we were intrigued. As it says on their website: </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;"><i><span style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.18px;">"</span>It's as simple as changing our habits and showing a desire to adopt new ways of being. <br /><br />We have the power to write our own stories and create the future we want. We can mobilise as individuals and communities to steer the market and policies towards a clean transport and energy future. <br /><br />The ripple effect can create powerful change well beyond our borders as people realise that there is a cleaner better way of doing things. As we all know, stories are powerful, and an idea worth spreading can change the world". <a href="https://www.goodcar.co/" target="_blank">Read more here</a></i></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;"><b><i>Was this the opportunity we needed to get an EV?</i></b> We had saved for our next vehicle, but not enough to buy a car with a 400 km battery range, but we could afford a car with a 200km + range. We thought about it when we drove to Bunbury, a town 175 km south of Perth. If we needed to charge the vehicle on the way, we would have to turn off the Bussell highway into Mandurah, which would be a bit of a diversion, but there are rechargers in Bunbury. A car with a 200km battery range would get there and when charged again, could get back as EVs regenerate some power in stop/start driving. What about other places? Not to Albany -not enough chargers on route, we think for a car with that smaller range. This may change in the future- as more people own electic vehicles there will be more chargers. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;">For everyday use, however, a smaller range vehicle would be fine for our use. As we are retired, we often have days when the car goes nowhere, sitting in the driveway all day, or we go to visit friends or go to the shops, very short drives between 5 km and 80km. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;">We also have a small solar panel array, which even though small, means we sell to the grid about as much electricity as we use in the house. We can use the excess production for at least 9 months of the year in recharging the car for less than 2c per Kilowat hour, which is what the electricity company buys it from us for. Perth has an average of 8-9 sunshine hours per day (<a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/watl/sunshine/" target="_blank">source BOM here</a> ). This means there is a huge amount of take up of solar energy on rooftops. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;"><b><i>This is where the real change of minds came in! </i></b></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;">We simply decided to purchase an EV with a 200km range, and to save up for a hire car when we want to go on holiday to Albany! After all, we already budget for rental accommodation! If we really want to, we can go down on the free Seniors card bus, and rent from an Albany supplier. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;">The car is a Nissan Leaf 2018 with 65,000 km and a battery of 85%. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;"><b><i>What preparations have we made? </i></b></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;">1. We sold the trailer, as the new car won't have a tow bar. This raised some cash towards the second step. It is OK because we can always hire a ute if we need one, to move something or just pay for delivery. This is part of the <i>change of mind</i> that is required-instead of storing a trailer for the 3 or 4 times per year we need it, and paying for its upkeep and registration fee, we hire something as and when we need it. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;">2. We have installed an EV charger to our house. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VbKWCSvK9kkS-I1HhXpG_WYRkvpjg_cwcNf1lU5m0VADcDuspxwJj4M4qea6Yw1BNC27fzG5oMb0bYmslTiiGxoi2CSfHzHxb2cY3pppgMp0uL1yMr5aCugahqowgKAuCTRx3EGrSo44_lWlzEG1b5e3FhZ0mfQA0fsD5M06uaS4Wpj-kbKxMGF8MRcD/s481/charger.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="205" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VbKWCSvK9kkS-I1HhXpG_WYRkvpjg_cwcNf1lU5m0VADcDuspxwJj4M4qea6Yw1BNC27fzG5oMb0bYmslTiiGxoi2CSfHzHxb2cY3pppgMp0uL1yMr5aCugahqowgKAuCTRx3EGrSo44_lWlzEG1b5e3FhZ0mfQA0fsD5M06uaS4Wpj-kbKxMGF8MRcD/w272-h640/charger.png" width="272" /></a></div><br /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;">3. We have been reading and watching videos about how to own, drive, and recharge the vehicle. It is a change of habit, and a change of technology. Many acronyms to learn! </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;">4. We have a buyer for our ICE vehicle (internal combusion engine -smelly, inefficient and climate damaging). </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;">5. We are waiting! </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;">The vehicle is going to be shipped from Melbourne on the back of a truck, then go through registration in Western Australia. The delivery date is still a few weeks away. We will let you know when it arrives and how we find it! </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1em;"><br /></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-70406976196748106362023-06-03T20:28:00.000-07:002023-06-03T20:28:39.802-07:00Makuru -winter in the South West of Western Australia 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExv7-1v54cY_xRfFJSAOLryMXV04PKp9ygJk4zKk0qJAhqMbBSMsK5KQw9uUno5qgJDOgJAokRQLopkdpNFUXBMraaeb71AwWAKbQKy021rm9eNRL5-Sz8MgJwbi0ZDGsC5SAo0gqiyk4v7wiYWtNnNjRs-9tsy6WUr8k5LkfPwmL-ogSvESQPGK4LA/s3798/20230519_142048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="3798" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExv7-1v54cY_xRfFJSAOLryMXV04PKp9ygJk4zKk0qJAhqMbBSMsK5KQw9uUno5qgJDOgJAokRQLopkdpNFUXBMraaeb71AwWAKbQKy021rm9eNRL5-Sz8MgJwbi0ZDGsC5SAo0gqiyk4v7wiYWtNnNjRs-9tsy6WUr8k5LkfPwmL-ogSvESQPGK4LA/w640-h232/20230519_142048.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>We had a lovely week away in Kinjarling/Albany at the time of our 47th Wedding Anniversary. Strangely, it was still and warm and sunny, and everywhere was the most amazing blue. I have a strong emotional connection to this coastline and love returning to it year by year. DH's family lived here at one time, and the first thing we did as a couple was visit this coast.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFfhaBVVg9t9TgO0dDKXO8neLIgwOY8qNbvWOkdhxGZnms5YHEAtiJYmnLH2gatzCLjtqzI0wRWXStQ10Ck_r3lnulvEabDBif7_i_FmYooo4IFTZGZInvzcl-8SmA-Ej4d7khoScuXjLQxB3OhsRL9layNvw-09lGrAb5jCVeQet73k_dXqJJZJNLQ/s1859/20230521_143155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1859" data-original-width="1786" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFfhaBVVg9t9TgO0dDKXO8neLIgwOY8qNbvWOkdhxGZnms5YHEAtiJYmnLH2gatzCLjtqzI0wRWXStQ10Ck_r3lnulvEabDBif7_i_FmYooo4IFTZGZInvzcl-8SmA-Ej4d7khoScuXjLQxB3OhsRL9layNvw-09lGrAb5jCVeQet73k_dXqJJZJNLQ/w614-h640/20230521_143155.jpg" width="614" /></a></div><br /><p>Since getting home, I have been working on a series of reversible gift bags -one side Christmas fabric, one side generic. I have made 5 so far. I need eight, but it is getting harder to keep going now it is a bit repetitive. The idea is that we no longer will need to throw out shiny paper which is hard to recycle. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBf9SzfobVegNLawoEJeSKR-UPjq57LsXujGhNlF0xrSl-NNijbUhynnBvbgzK8ZnhrDXGJAdBL-4BANoEyymTRQn3qrQskdqwTigbqZy-kA82X5xzeU6FM6TqYvO_iGj8kdzyjdq8jgimq84YA1LwrQqUfsfuyIlpI5AXe3l_Q-BA2e5QAVP4OzU0-Q/s3277/20230526_152045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3277" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBf9SzfobVegNLawoEJeSKR-UPjq57LsXujGhNlF0xrSl-NNijbUhynnBvbgzK8ZnhrDXGJAdBL-4BANoEyymTRQn3qrQskdqwTigbqZy-kA82X5xzeU6FM6TqYvO_iGj8kdzyjdq8jgimq84YA1LwrQqUfsfuyIlpI5AXe3l_Q-BA2e5QAVP4OzU0-Q/w352-h640/20230526_152045.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><br /><p>The garden is responding to the seasons. This poinsettia is huge, even though I cut it back hard last year. I think it grows up to get the maximum amount of light.</p><p>We have harvested the limes, which we juiced and froze.For the first time I experimented with freezing juice in glass jars and it worked out well. We did some flash freezing of slices for drinks too. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatbKAunUTJjQA44CZbF_HBYXm5W9SjVNPnFKwFSofUvE5uYE1Y70YDX_E4QswkPkuDAmD28qCsc_WBy1cYk8xbg_xdO_IQmiG72HhQvSZ9L4d0WAdo3OqDR2g8ZLCM7E7Dah_6Y_xIIn4sjC7FEJ9NGmytxzuE_IVo3JHnFxe3OCjBxM19eFssTpPXA/s2876/20230509_104227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2876" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatbKAunUTJjQA44CZbF_HBYXm5W9SjVNPnFKwFSofUvE5uYE1Y70YDX_E4QswkPkuDAmD28qCsc_WBy1cYk8xbg_xdO_IQmiG72HhQvSZ9L4d0WAdo3OqDR2g8ZLCM7E7Dah_6Y_xIIn4sjC7FEJ9NGmytxzuE_IVo3JHnFxe3OCjBxM19eFssTpPXA/w640-h400/20230509_104227.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwx8SY84AERiwv2-CdK1XVxd9TRSGthVwPsX9_LGEtOCgJhHwK06zv6SWzcJqtYs71myZ6o2_zIZ9rBDHyBmJB9NxmhweoESFLao7nkcyVnGeVLzS5G7KXCgBRM-pKUbh-xFjuCThq1Xto-o_mO4QIhg88PN2bnyWCj5CdlmIThmtS8zXO5qh5RP2uAA/s3273/20230509_101215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3273" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwx8SY84AERiwv2-CdK1XVxd9TRSGthVwPsX9_LGEtOCgJhHwK06zv6SWzcJqtYs71myZ6o2_zIZ9rBDHyBmJB9NxmhweoESFLao7nkcyVnGeVLzS5G7KXCgBRM-pKUbh-xFjuCThq1Xto-o_mO4QIhg88PN2bnyWCj5CdlmIThmtS8zXO5qh5RP2uAA/w640-h352/20230509_101215.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p> We are eating tangelos and grapefruit. The myer lemon has only a small crop this year, after I cut it back hard to reduce the spread of citrus gall wasp. I will be giving away grapefruit very soon -the crop is very heavy. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vA9l2fM9pq7rvMKtyVIxBY11UT0dxFhpzoZsepwDgWI4sqkiJZpMGurioI8EeH3EspoIfo4zlv0lJ5ZHlO_zOPS2nY-5RgmamFkmSEE_4LrEvDsapkXTuXXa81Iz9LBQKSzCb97o7RgBKkalTGUZgjtnysnHUcXbLEBcpfx0SOeI-n5zpj21I0tvJA/s2334/20230603_110513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2334" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vA9l2fM9pq7rvMKtyVIxBY11UT0dxFhpzoZsepwDgWI4sqkiJZpMGurioI8EeH3EspoIfo4zlv0lJ5ZHlO_zOPS2nY-5RgmamFkmSEE_4LrEvDsapkXTuXXa81Iz9LBQKSzCb97o7RgBKkalTGUZgjtnysnHUcXbLEBcpfx0SOeI-n5zpj21I0tvJA/w640-h494/20230603_110513.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The rains held off for quite a while, but last week we copped a bucketting. It was a bit disappointing to see how badly the gutters fared, seeing as we had them cleaned only a couple of weeks ago. I have actually been using some water from the smaller water tank on the garden, although it absolutely does not need it, just to create a space for the next rain events which are expected this week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LS1c4RG0BW0_AYzok7pYRt6E4OmRFODEGvBAo-ykpqXedq2AVD0L-QXsLYP7DOLZfVIMQQAnoiel1fGe_UE2ucn1JcV8ulb3NX-S9Pwy46qr1Q4mkaldvnYLaPR2Eh2irbMxjXiGCw6-JgVA1PLTWSZU_D9LXpQAnfR6Yc4GGvFoKS2UEw89lp0aLQ/s3060/20230526_152225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LS1c4RG0BW0_AYzok7pYRt6E4OmRFODEGvBAo-ykpqXedq2AVD0L-QXsLYP7DOLZfVIMQQAnoiel1fGe_UE2ucn1JcV8ulb3NX-S9Pwy46qr1Q4mkaldvnYLaPR2Eh2irbMxjXiGCw6-JgVA1PLTWSZU_D9LXpQAnfR6Yc4GGvFoKS2UEw89lp0aLQ/w376-h640/20230526_152225.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><br /><p>We are all sick! After 3 and a half years, we are sick with COVID. DH was eligible for the antivirals, and I am pleased to say he is doing quite well 4 days in. DD is crook too, and I tested positive on Saturday this week. We have been taking advantage of the extensive selection of food in our freezer, pantry and larder as none of us find much energy for elaborate cooking. This is one of the real benefits of the simple living lifestyle- the preparation we did months ago and now being appreciated. Stock in the freezer, left overs saved for another meal, rice of all kinds- I rarely run out of something without having a back up somewhere. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJJTsOiPbmg8bWqXcgk6G-Xn2dA_pRJ3pZeTd2dmH8wriZJQ6dkQojmbZz1NAo2dymPrRH0ik5nuK4BvGAw2dB2jbZzAylRcoPH9r_eF2tYL1zH_AQqIgWX9Av-_Uw5OG5JS_RgKAkm1h8rQYt3qI_nH6sMJSeSMT5aZyZls8uJu3prOSUNZsQZeY4w/s4000/20230603_080852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJJTsOiPbmg8bWqXcgk6G-Xn2dA_pRJ3pZeTd2dmH8wriZJQ6dkQojmbZz1NAo2dymPrRH0ik5nuK4BvGAw2dB2jbZzAylRcoPH9r_eF2tYL1zH_AQqIgWX9Av-_Uw5OG5JS_RgKAkm1h8rQYt3qI_nH6sMJSeSMT5aZyZls8uJu3prOSUNZsQZeY4w/w288-h640/20230603_080852.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><p>While I am sick, I have been reading books and here are some I recommend:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlEJMIf8oyPs2alXLfzOINpPQtqWwLcwH_g-UWPf49_mDt-2L1cy0KiIfmrHa3Gy__crlpVoMdN3QWSlrl6PaliGVe5B0d0zz_BjfaFhm8RYauSf3_qlUEJtasLZHmKzBjRGP-u0jtVtM5q6xAMViEUicIl6Fw1vHMxY5_8H3kvLyyZNSLPEvXgQ0Xw/s2314/20230603_170242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2314" data-original-width="1468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlEJMIf8oyPs2alXLfzOINpPQtqWwLcwH_g-UWPf49_mDt-2L1cy0KiIfmrHa3Gy__crlpVoMdN3QWSlrl6PaliGVe5B0d0zz_BjfaFhm8RYauSf3_qlUEJtasLZHmKzBjRGP-u0jtVtM5q6xAMViEUicIl6Fw1vHMxY5_8H3kvLyyZNSLPEvXgQ0Xw/w406-h640/20230603_170242.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a fascinating book about indigenous astronomy. Easy to understand for a person like me without a lot of science background. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z_DLZ_WGvkgo9TiWASr8to7zYlvwNoTGk4XMl3wPUpTFJP23e1oMga6h9ljCkHRDlAymC8hoQ7d6OGLmwhJLqBEXbRxxoBs1agl3SJghRuwVlPMNFWtV-s_qNk14vwVz-CTNAMVemoWPUvF2UleJzrlEv1Q2LME5lkE0WrrcDYRIa3UqzNAw5-8Svw/s3145/20230527_123304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3145" data-original-width="1770" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z_DLZ_WGvkgo9TiWASr8to7zYlvwNoTGk4XMl3wPUpTFJP23e1oMga6h9ljCkHRDlAymC8hoQ7d6OGLmwhJLqBEXbRxxoBs1agl3SJghRuwVlPMNFWtV-s_qNk14vwVz-CTNAMVemoWPUvF2UleJzrlEv1Q2LME5lkE0WrrcDYRIa3UqzNAw5-8Svw/w360-h640/20230527_123304.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is not a cookbook but a rationale about why it is better to go slowly in our food habits -cook well not just to save money but to provide nutrition and flavour boost our health. I really liked it. If you can find them in your library I reckon you might enjoy them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well that is about it for today. Thanks for reading</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-65426605799701506612023-04-19T00:28:00.002-07:002023-04-19T00:28:39.188-07:00BUY these things at an op shop! They are useful, hard working and durable*<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNO9omjIeV_iy4JWPP3Z3MH5lvXidS2zt-U5_aZuFtfsgZm8P5Yv3AebMZFWoyhQMpa8GhcqzR_AkHkNq18qTL33IDkippTddhrzwzgL_B-FoxueZ5LuyDfCt7KDffCiJwObbSFjj7xXzu4BiDmDTHb-1xVKGQGnzpCPZQ3MIGwDQIvHjjxLI30DdURg/s2465/20221003_183805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1753" data-original-width="2465" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNO9omjIeV_iy4JWPP3Z3MH5lvXidS2zt-U5_aZuFtfsgZm8P5Yv3AebMZFWoyhQMpa8GhcqzR_AkHkNq18qTL33IDkippTddhrzwzgL_B-FoxueZ5LuyDfCt7KDffCiJwObbSFjj7xXzu4BiDmDTHb-1xVKGQGnzpCPZQ3MIGwDQIvHjjxLI30DdURg/w640-h456/20221003_183805.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> I was browsing in one of those kitchen tool type shops recently. They have lovely things, and I had 20 minutes whilst waiting for my husband. What shocked me, though, was the price of things I have at home which I got at op shops and have loved and used for years.<p></p><p>In each case, buying them from the op shop extends their useful life, saving them from landfill. (<i>However, only buy them if you can actually use them. The Op Shop Goddess likes people who are considerate of others!</i>) </p><p><b>1. Wooden salad bowls, plates and boards</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo29t6QjNcg33FU8iE8yQjxRl7L2UrweNbHlfq4dIIXfXsvMqgCqwo_d-mPOvHiTqCK0TH-Uuj1MlBmIY5LSAudRbGGvcAHLs0mmqNmDBHV3nfVH4EyH_NWagJgQd90q4Ktg0Ssf8-7ZwBfqzJCSATNmacgmMkPd3j4_CuaOKOymM7_LlP_T07XDPD1Q/s2935/20230414_100813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1790" data-original-width="2935" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo29t6QjNcg33FU8iE8yQjxRl7L2UrweNbHlfq4dIIXfXsvMqgCqwo_d-mPOvHiTqCK0TH-Uuj1MlBmIY5LSAudRbGGvcAHLs0mmqNmDBHV3nfVH4EyH_NWagJgQd90q4Ktg0Ssf8-7ZwBfqzJCSATNmacgmMkPd3j4_CuaOKOymM7_LlP_T07XDPD1Q/w640-h390/20230414_100813.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>We buy wooden salad bowls and use them a lot around here. Mind you, some of them looked pretty drab in the shop as no-one had cared for the wood for years. That large teak salad bowl was desert dry and had tuned almost blond in colour. We brought it home and gave it a wash, then layers of lovely food safe Orange Oil (<i>an Australian product and I don't have any links to the company- substitute whatever food safe product you can find</i>) were applied and this is how it came up. I wash it in soapy water, dry it and use it over and over, but about once a year, I slick the orange oil over it and take care of it.</p><p>Sometimes we have found a nice handmade bowl -but someone has put plastic estapol on it. DH sands it back and then gives it the orange oil treatment. </p><p>Salad bowls are of course, <u>just a bowl </u>which can hold all sorts of useful things. Many foods are most flavourful when at room temperature: tomatoes ripen slowly on the bench on a cute raised bowl . If I had chickens I could put eggs in them. </p><p>Scones look lovely on a table when served in a wooden bowl with a linen napkin lining. Bread is a natural on a wooden platter or shallow bowl or a wooden chopping board. </p><p>There is nothing to stop us using wooden bowls for mixing bread or cake batter and other things in -I must confess I never have, but once upon a time wooden mixing bowls were standard in kitchens. </p><p>Wooden chopping boards and cheese boards can take a bit more of a sanding back, because they are flat and thicker -DH gives ours a turn in the workshop if they need it. to freshen up the surface before treating with the food safe oil again. </p><p>Oh, just so you know -wooden salad bowls were $70 or more in the kitchen equipment shop! </p><p><b>2. Serviettes or Napkins</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35aC04Yu8EmpnsV9ttx9_WDoCWtNaURcCsOu5ABo5bLEgxjXEPVXV-koZh-29leHQ9THMDpF7pp1Y2WKi091Mi2m5DMihBmK_xlMOjEyfaim-ttqGZYJGqRScIVoAuAvGuBJ1YmWe37v04FYLvH-CHRZLZXlJJhPpNhUZMCqRSSmxPHwfHoy50C6voQ/s615/napkins.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="615" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35aC04Yu8EmpnsV9ttx9_WDoCWtNaURcCsOu5ABo5bLEgxjXEPVXV-koZh-29leHQ9THMDpF7pp1Y2WKi091Mi2m5DMihBmK_xlMOjEyfaim-ttqGZYJGqRScIVoAuAvGuBJ1YmWe37v04FYLvH-CHRZLZXlJJhPpNhUZMCqRSSmxPHwfHoy50C6voQ/w640-h502/napkins.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p>I have a lovely range of wash and wear table napkins which we use a lot. No need to have single use or disposable ones. These are generously sized, easy to use and easy to wash-honestly, I don't worry if they are used for greasy fingers or to wipe tomato spills-after all, they cost only cents. I can't remember any of them staining that badly though. I have a couple of sets of colours to go with my table settings. You can shove them in the picnic basket and not worry. </p><p>These are cotton and synthetic blends mostly, which is why they are pretty indestructable. I would rather use all natural fabrics, except in this situation where the fabric already exists, and is practically bombproof. <br /></p><p><b>3. Table cloths</b></p><p>I have a couple of table cloths which fit my table and were bought at op shops for tiny amounts of money. They make it look like I made an effort, and are so easy -just wash and fold. Recently I borrowed a book from the library about how to emulate French Country style -and guess what? Table cloths were recommended! If you have ones that don't need ironing, or find them at the op shop for a few dollars, why not put them out and enjoy them? </p><p><b>4. Tea towels</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4Pg77dO4DDfIxAUITcSU9P4FNolieSF6Zxh6a-bzSDMwnhoBAbBNLJ4PagmlYUV30lxqRvstCzdsmBUiR2Otth2ciPnzKzOIZlk3GvGnyv3kcOdqSY3us6bgnGeLmrOINjLgY2XgbaTxyQIuLfAUfcXDFDAOHsZBVveYQqKtfsI7RLUn9Q0ARAiWpw/s720/tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4Pg77dO4DDfIxAUITcSU9P4FNolieSF6Zxh6a-bzSDMwnhoBAbBNLJ4PagmlYUV30lxqRvstCzdsmBUiR2Otth2ciPnzKzOIZlk3GvGnyv3kcOdqSY3us6bgnGeLmrOINjLgY2XgbaTxyQIuLfAUfcXDFDAOHsZBVveYQqKtfsI7RLUn9Q0ARAiWpw/w640-h480/tea.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Many opshops have souvenir type teatowels which are made of linen, and will cost very little! I buy them and wash the shiny sizing off, and use them in the kitchen. Have enough to change them every day! <p></p><p><b>5. Glass storage jars</b></p><p>I store my food in glass in the pantry and in the fridge whereever possible. Glass jars are expensive to buy new, but cheap in op shops. They can be refreshed in the dishwasher and come up nicely. If you need lids they can often be found online. <a href="https://www.greenlivingaustralia.com.au/home-preserving/equipment-accessories/jar-lids/twist-top/" target="_blank">Here is an Australian supplier. </a></p><p>Yes, I do freeze food in glass jars! So long as you leave a 'headspace' for the food to expand as it freezes you will be fine.</p><p>If you are lucky enough to have one of those bulk dry goods stores near you, you can fill up your glass jars with all sorts of spices and flours and bypass the plastic bags in the supermarket entirely. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_F2mDyzKIEN3CABI8QvwvwFwhe_sDTpAFNtpWwjQmJBZ82JX_HPS1w98-xahRpmF8yStZRmt1KBYpn61YdmXcRU1nixa68VSLcr-Nkl2ev0RyIVeTjlh4tx2Te0rsH7K9kSiTlUqVI8Yzq0_ZKRIw40zHS1ssqsepDr8jBwG0zXZ7mXIM2Qso1treRA/s1512/20230304_122238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1383" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_F2mDyzKIEN3CABI8QvwvwFwhe_sDTpAFNtpWwjQmJBZ82JX_HPS1w98-xahRpmF8yStZRmt1KBYpn61YdmXcRU1nixa68VSLcr-Nkl2ev0RyIVeTjlh4tx2Te0rsH7K9kSiTlUqVI8Yzq0_ZKRIw40zHS1ssqsepDr8jBwG0zXZ7mXIM2Qso1treRA/w586-h640/20230304_122238.jpg" width="586" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-7EoMyvwdvfQWeCWybfBYVJdkrec6LM7XWgjk1wX641RooCdOpP5BxoToBwYDxhgAFyflzmV9UxjN6GBcfuOyhpRmS21HaZogNkF_ZSr1udWzOEO2CU1p7yC3cnOtKzZAMsJ2m0Y5YALZgcu6HyCZLFemRRZpAJrgZUDGMqhZZz_NGWBAJh44xw2Ww/s4000/20220819_100121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-7EoMyvwdvfQWeCWybfBYVJdkrec6LM7XWgjk1wX641RooCdOpP5BxoToBwYDxhgAFyflzmV9UxjN6GBcfuOyhpRmS21HaZogNkF_ZSr1udWzOEO2CU1p7yC3cnOtKzZAMsJ2m0Y5YALZgcu6HyCZLFemRRZpAJrgZUDGMqhZZz_NGWBAJh44xw2Ww/w640-h288/20220819_100121.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>6. Baskets</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzSkPsubY2_DdhQRKCHmh87HslTbeo1vaU3b78VvR89y-sPYj5OC9xjdk_LA5kB_L91junBRFacOSk9aWs9ZP_RM-WOSzgQNyVC00JaYP6Nrk3eBTvNX4Av-khZYgw_zuhCqy1sdK6hGiiQkDKEmwgl6weq1ueie_tWpztSWeDFh0ykf15_HY6MZcsA/s2509/20230314_171939.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1764" data-original-width="2509" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzSkPsubY2_DdhQRKCHmh87HslTbeo1vaU3b78VvR89y-sPYj5OC9xjdk_LA5kB_L91junBRFacOSk9aWs9ZP_RM-WOSzgQNyVC00JaYP6Nrk3eBTvNX4Av-khZYgw_zuhCqy1sdK6hGiiQkDKEmwgl6weq1ueie_tWpztSWeDFh0ykf15_HY6MZcsA/w640-h450/20230314_171939.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia8Wq8lS3DxqHPaa9E22O6S-FqxJ_EnU6IexLdVMLwC16iXRi88UQblxz_AuFQBg-qYutuG8a7TwKDIKSOgbmcYPkfxxfFdY7Xt6UXF3HuLix8RidMHM0u4Hla-6zRX2ek3TCjMZ4-0ith5OK3AVm4t7QA3D0osGOrwjZN_Ar0f-neVzTOoXPHCF6CQ/s2419/20230414_104004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1742" data-original-width="2419" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia8Wq8lS3DxqHPaa9E22O6S-FqxJ_EnU6IexLdVMLwC16iXRi88UQblxz_AuFQBg-qYutuG8a7TwKDIKSOgbmcYPkfxxfFdY7Xt6UXF3HuLix8RidMHM0u4Hla-6zRX2ek3TCjMZ4-0ith5OK3AVm4t7QA3D0osGOrwjZN_Ar0f-neVzTOoXPHCF6CQ/w640-h460/20230414_104004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO-DZ8Xt1rwf9hs3Jvg-UgfphuF6_202TpnZxwMVgs6LClxN1GJW48KXZT9llQD1kFcjsEC5UPMXdUPfqD8T3RoADMjyfbZgzEzyevnyD1n-Y_usfgVIOtKjMObxz6xP1vjepHFO5ykoJOZEI2n296dKyKZGHPNkl3BgejW4TI703-rVJ3UAUC2U7kA/s1532/20230414_100839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1532" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO-DZ8Xt1rwf9hs3Jvg-UgfphuF6_202TpnZxwMVgs6LClxN1GJW48KXZT9llQD1kFcjsEC5UPMXdUPfqD8T3RoADMjyfbZgzEzyevnyD1n-Y_usfgVIOtKjMObxz6xP1vjepHFO5ykoJOZEI2n296dKyKZGHPNkl3BgejW4TI703-rVJ3UAUC2U7kA/w640-h572/20230414_100839.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Baskets are the MVPs of my house. </p><p> I have dedicated baskets for my library books, so I can keep them safe by my favourite chair, and then pick them up and go the library when it is time for a renewal.</p><p>Decent baskets with useful handles and a fair capacity can be picnic baskets, shopping baskets, harvest baskets, fruit baskets, there are so many uses.</p><p>Those little flat bamboo baskets are great for drying herbs </p><p>The lovely thing about baskets is the way they feel -sort of old fashioned and they swing as you walk.</p><p>One of mine needed a bit of a repair when I got it -the edge was a bit broken and likely to catch on things. I wrapped some string around it and now it is fine. I believe in making things last -no need to hide a repair, enjoy it. </p><p>And, of course, there is always a creative use for baskets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRpSEKLIGCd2UA-5dZdZcTwO3QdLEvYp3cMrp5VYqABpyyO53E9IvwZqfnBTtHsD3zN8z0PMt9Zp1da9PacXceW8mBj3kGzfOJKaICQAZZOaYrsatnUSrt4WbA7t1t2Xw8ZQ-PbocVPPvVaFMUdNOaiZn6bQJhZXi2ct68OliV2QiMdc8bVGZwYwCiA/s2135/20230319_204023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="2135" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRpSEKLIGCd2UA-5dZdZcTwO3QdLEvYp3cMrp5VYqABpyyO53E9IvwZqfnBTtHsD3zN8z0PMt9Zp1da9PacXceW8mBj3kGzfOJKaICQAZZOaYrsatnUSrt4WbA7t1t2Xw8ZQ-PbocVPPvVaFMUdNOaiZn6bQJhZXi2ct68OliV2QiMdc8bVGZwYwCiA/w640-h424/20230319_204023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><b>7. Kitchen tools </b></p><p>I have a number of kitchen tools that I picked up at Op Shops. I like things like tongs, strainers and double boilers that will fit a number of saucepan sizes. The good thing is that if they don't work, you can easily return them and let someone else have them. </p><p>*<b>Footnote</b></p><p><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">You can also barter these things for a jar of your home made pickles, or get them for free from a local share/swap site, or find them in garage sales. Whatever, if you use them they are not in landfill. </span></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-816328230328330852023-04-01T19:23:00.000-07:002023-04-01T19:23:17.839-07:00Djeran - Seasonal changes, and a catch up<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvFbyB7P_szwCP8YAxrYH0Gf97TP7LQ8diVH23azA9kjXVtXI3zypcgaQkBTtmscgcB8xBYRm_NwqsiiGsf4TkhSPClofvlG9ABFx0d0fqpz8ykj--A0WgX771XpBMhr7MjODMeCvUxFO4insjiJb8xLqsbAmmpnE2OatLkzf0TsRZ_cv7Tf3yutNhA/s3281/20230329_103043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3281" data-original-width="1768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvFbyB7P_szwCP8YAxrYH0Gf97TP7LQ8diVH23azA9kjXVtXI3zypcgaQkBTtmscgcB8xBYRm_NwqsiiGsf4TkhSPClofvlG9ABFx0d0fqpz8ykj--A0WgX771XpBMhr7MjODMeCvUxFO4insjiJb8xLqsbAmmpnE2OatLkzf0TsRZ_cv7Tf3yutNhA/w344-h640/20230329_103043.jpg" width="344" /></a></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> GARDEN</h3><p>It has been pretty obvious that we have slid towards Djeran -the local Noongar season which we would think of as Autumn. Nights are getting cooler -down to around 18C, and we have had one significant rain event. When you have a summer drought as long as we have each year, the first decent rains are very welcome. As soon as the dust is washed off the leaves, and the ground softens with moisture, all sorts of plants emerge from their summer half-hibernation and begin to get leaves growing. My water tanks were pretty low, but the 1500 litre was full after a night of rain, and the 3000 litre is about three quarters full. </p><p>The shade sails and other shade structures are coming down, as I work my way around the garden. </p><p>I have been harvesting limes, quinces and pomegranates. There is a pot of quinces on the stove right now, slowly turning pink and perfuming the house with fragrance. Our newish apple tree has tiny apples on it.</p><p>There is a lot of basil, which means that we are making batches of pesto and freezing them for later use.</p><p>Autumn is a time for sowing seeds and taking cuttings. I am watching with interest my experiments with duranta and curry leaf tree cuttings, and have sown calendulas for the bees. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> FOOD</h3><p>Inspired by the podcast <a href="https://www.eatdrinkbreathe.com/category/podcast/" target="_blank">"Eat drink cheap,</a> I have been getting used to making sausages, using the fancy attachments I got for my Kenwood Chef for Christmas. This time I had sausage casings, so that took the process up a notch or two. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmkQMEn-PogM8UsSbXwE71R3hWJ6ZKnOhzXck2INQ7Dxazm8Q3rWmZCc3BfuUk7ZchBabALredBnU3O9JoMmc5ZDTzc9CuirzQWmQsDHJitWpeBA4uf6cKijoDNgEMPAiYIGAKMHO2tQfOJT4TXWJMu17l8KcrucJPNbmVIiXBHpsP7GKsdnkqESP6Q/s4000/20230326_172948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmkQMEn-PogM8UsSbXwE71R3hWJ6ZKnOhzXck2INQ7Dxazm8Q3rWmZCc3BfuUk7ZchBabALredBnU3O9JoMmc5ZDTzc9CuirzQWmQsDHJitWpeBA4uf6cKijoDNgEMPAiYIGAKMHO2tQfOJT4TXWJMu17l8KcrucJPNbmVIiXBHpsP7GKsdnkqESP6Q/w288-h640/20230326_172948.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h3>CAT</h3><p>Dora has returned to her favourite spot on the table in front of the window in my sewing room. It is too hot here in the summer, but with the cooler weather she likes to watch the birds come to the bird bath in the garden. She is still holding her own as a teenage cat, with the help of a bit of vetinary medicine. One day I was delegated with the task of taking her for a checkup. Somehow she must have picked up a vibe, because when I needed to load her into the cat carrier, we found her hiding in the depths of an inaccessible part of the storage cabinet under DD's bed, and would not come out. DH has more success at this than I do, so he took her a week later, after we barracaded her into a room with fewer hiding spaces. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZGXJJSVfdbz80w7tpvWW9SLNDA1lRKyFQmU5udASLhnFPVOCY8onMmmEJe9VTtiKsx7uSRzNVGnt042gPfOu5gLXBiPzPuaHHKRjqnkCnTBRa57Bo9BQK5Pp85mokAn7AfzuGtyvnMG3LJFxDGYSO0S_wwG_lshANy5GkCqrFhis39tJmFQycMb4Mw/s3123/20230321_152327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="3123" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZGXJJSVfdbz80w7tpvWW9SLNDA1lRKyFQmU5udASLhnFPVOCY8onMmmEJe9VTtiKsx7uSRzNVGnt042gPfOu5gLXBiPzPuaHHKRjqnkCnTBRa57Bo9BQK5Pp85mokAn7AfzuGtyvnMG3LJFxDGYSO0S_wwG_lshANy5GkCqrFhis39tJmFQycMb4Mw/w640-h326/20230321_152327.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">QUILTS</h3><div>While the weather holds, I have used the outdoor table to pin two quilts together. This one was made with scrap fabric printed with all kinds of music motifs. It is now pinned together and waiting for me to start the free motion quilting on it. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnXKfoCW5qhbfp17Np-K9tbo7Q-vjPgZRyFaFUC7Lw5SVZaBtT6zIrkVTJiuEYe1V_OPLI3-qSjHVDP_5PY0ZrIftmVOBpYj3umO0_sdr9ad_xtDox68s3eeb__Hh6a7a1zY1eURHpNcTmx7R1s6zeyeSy_YZ13AghxwvsBDqlRhCbrk9QxlF9kkWtA/s4000/20230325_142258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnXKfoCW5qhbfp17Np-K9tbo7Q-vjPgZRyFaFUC7Lw5SVZaBtT6zIrkVTJiuEYe1V_OPLI3-qSjHVDP_5PY0ZrIftmVOBpYj3umO0_sdr9ad_xtDox68s3eeb__Hh6a7a1zY1eURHpNcTmx7R1s6zeyeSy_YZ13AghxwvsBDqlRhCbrk9QxlF9kkWtA/w640-h288/20230325_142258.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other is a scrappy which I have now given to the WAQA Community Quilts group for donation to refuges and such facilities. I am grateful for this "potato chip block" design -it was so easy that the quilt came together really easily. I cut up a lot of scraps from previous projects into either 2.5 inch squares, which I will use later, or these 2.5 inch by 4.5 inch rectangles. The tidiness of the quilting room is an added bonus. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQui1rwGALdBJ6m6JWz-Ro_Fc8iJWEh4feo6hpoekXqdqxaBkP_407GSLnLW8ebhxl-j-M8ipwuc8Eb204KEyWWf_ppyMiE1gE8fB-C3WV1r1O6ugGphR4ja_9FzSECgn1mu1yPQ5wSPDcyhMfT94yjLh8zHtIQcWOsHcmyoYO4nT-aIhlH-4Fmb3tg/s1894/20230310_131326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1894" data-original-width="1453" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQui1rwGALdBJ6m6JWz-Ro_Fc8iJWEh4feo6hpoekXqdqxaBkP_407GSLnLW8ebhxl-j-M8ipwuc8Eb204KEyWWf_ppyMiE1gE8fB-C3WV1r1O6ugGphR4ja_9FzSECgn1mu1yPQ5wSPDcyhMfT94yjLh8zHtIQcWOsHcmyoYO4nT-aIhlH-4Fmb3tg/w490-h640/20230310_131326.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><br /><p>DH and I had a lovely day travelling to Harvey in the south west, about an hour and a half from here, to attend the Quilt and Craft show this month. As usual, the quilts were very fine -here is just one example. We love to have lunch in a country cafe where they still remember how to make a decent salad sandwich with all the fillings, and then go and enjoy the craft show for a gold coin donation entry fee. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUCI_gB-HeJKNxCX72td72nEYI_aft6EbqoeQc1UrQk98meamoWPOoO2RiLcQ82XblV4dImlHYFIOKNyxyrDhTmDxqKaSP9sW7KCakvGF_YqO5EIzFVFrDRWG9FTcIZAOZt9xWXzsytA1qp1sh2t2xT8C-XwYLsERHv0pRvYOp-IBmKI7obG-LyBnmQ/s1679/20230320_122739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1679" data-original-width="1468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUCI_gB-HeJKNxCX72td72nEYI_aft6EbqoeQc1UrQk98meamoWPOoO2RiLcQ82XblV4dImlHYFIOKNyxyrDhTmDxqKaSP9sW7KCakvGF_YqO5EIzFVFrDRWG9FTcIZAOZt9xWXzsytA1qp1sh2t2xT8C-XwYLsERHv0pRvYOp-IBmKI7obG-LyBnmQ/w560-h640/20230320_122739.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The label below tells us who made it and how. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_pMsbGIg4nkrSN4NJYkVovUCJXJ7n1bI_jUz6d588TFqP66Ic_xdaBgUR8AZo6l96Y0T3emERuGgqTicCOLX2xyDBA05Uev4MSHI1t1CE-G9-O1bJaTN36yH6a5Ii42mHCU4MxPvdsv2gvBXSFLahoIXCeO2Yaqk-MjqMlHaigbo--KDZevSHHWBxQ/s4000/20230320_122755.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_pMsbGIg4nkrSN4NJYkVovUCJXJ7n1bI_jUz6d588TFqP66Ic_xdaBgUR8AZo6l96Y0T3emERuGgqTicCOLX2xyDBA05Uev4MSHI1t1CE-G9-O1bJaTN36yH6a5Ii42mHCU4MxPvdsv2gvBXSFLahoIXCeO2Yaqk-MjqMlHaigbo--KDZevSHHWBxQ/w640-h288/20230320_122755.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">VINTAGE SEWING MACHINE</h3>I have added a new-to-me sewing machine to the fleet of vintage sewing machines. <a href="http://earthmotherwithin.blogspot.com/p/vintage-sewing-machines.html" target="_blank">Read about it here.</a><div>Vintage sewing machines are repairable and serviceable by ordinary people -there are no computer mother boards to fail. I love the sound of them and the feel of them when I sew. The extra bonus is the feeling of empowerment when I solve minor technical problems with a pair of tweezers, a drop of oil or a minor cleaning. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">MUSIC</h3><div>Well I think we have bragging rights on this one, for sure. This month, we had a wonderful afternoon with the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, when they played <i>our son Ben's</i> composition Karinup fanfare. <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FCxUt5HJUdtY%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2YRkInW9B_0zmhXugyH2JL7EmGVi_5VK5lTVke6O8Ai6fBfvRXABARXak&h=AT18fIYvEbCZd_vzNUXko5rGTU-MoBXEVJc_OZ6BAAl0y8nIfhKc2XIuOGVo4gZWOyTOH-0dBBensMvhmUEGJAxUuM2MtYUl-GVuBJqp8Pm0Ww60NjW-5YdgpAbhNkKpww&__tn__=%2CmH-R&c[0]=AT22w_DkEe3qFoH3pwbePk-1OHM6x8azi17x2DRuL3A70d8UcXGQWdGZMuTaRnxwZTqXFqlg4VMe6BMswrmf3j_cinIra7YZ228e_LrkGrLXibOgruTI3OvpRS9Nqp5zd3GQL29MFvCF4ZaUNMPpPKSz8AKtmN5otbT7xpoxObCoNbcov9o1zg" target="_blank">Listen here </a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw149ftIQZHl9r9vJh4ZqakvOCpDiXLqAaIp4LvidH65PXo7x8QBqvslqiXEGxqm2kGtYoggILCbwOPmd5v1FCIQL5ZEMf9d1kCpgJcjBQBxKsMAp654x7WBXu9iCJ3KsdDWXKEIrvcjBB-qHEaoS1oDWuiVS90Uev5Yj-NDKejcnjeiiMcMMpWwU62A/s4000/20230401_152455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw149ftIQZHl9r9vJh4ZqakvOCpDiXLqAaIp4LvidH65PXo7x8QBqvslqiXEGxqm2kGtYoggILCbwOPmd5v1FCIQL5ZEMf9d1kCpgJcjBQBxKsMAp654x7WBXu9iCJ3KsdDWXKEIrvcjBB-qHEaoS1oDWuiVS90Uev5Yj-NDKejcnjeiiMcMMpWwU62A/w288-h640/20230401_152455.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This blog is my record of our simple life -but it is so nice if others visit it too.Thanks for reading. <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-31416275662210811012023-02-12T19:54:00.002-08:002023-02-12T19:54:18.400-08:00Bunuru - a celebration of many things!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It has been a succession of celebrations around here since my last post. Our son and daughter in law graduated with master's degrees in teaching from ECU and our daughter graduated with a Grad Dip in Information and Library Studies from Curtin. These were very happy moments of recognition of a lot of hard work and it was lovely to be able to celebrate together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love graduation ceremonies. Each person who crosses the stage has a whole story of struggle and achievement. The whole thing is full of hope in a way that is not often found. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4R88EJWN9fw1H6uYwCjtXdhYRDCBsQHEvmtbalug6W6-aQBHlIEemNYwS9Zsd7hFQimcgDAe1IRaNUclwdu4PNUHWMvrAjMjdqwqKwJW3Oi1peSxwtIf-LFfdYhb6QtvEgLjSHMn3meFYqK7WAK8G1gGsn4WvSf39eeW0BIptQxoPmrbIcNZgayAokw/s2572/20230208_184634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2572" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4R88EJWN9fw1H6uYwCjtXdhYRDCBsQHEvmtbalug6W6-aQBHlIEemNYwS9Zsd7hFQimcgDAe1IRaNUclwdu4PNUHWMvrAjMjdqwqKwJW3Oi1peSxwtIf-LFfdYhb6QtvEgLjSHMn3meFYqK7WAK8G1gGsn4WvSf39eeW0BIptQxoPmrbIcNZgayAokw/w640-h448/20230208_184634.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__ThSn5mkyKi0JfFBVVd_flSbsR7BWQKAT53oCUJfOaZTAyj0ATlYx68-Wb_SWYVh6TH4OSpzuq4_27MlFAzlCcGGutdgFPLaMJHF2OycWFR8T1D26iL_fEB9In_SKjx9ZfaDYGTYrgcfr-ZGSg46SEM6SYskfrOtP3uiHXf5j0QoOPK2i1zcdBAWDQ/s3019/20230204_174510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1652" data-original-width="3019" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__ThSn5mkyKi0JfFBVVd_flSbsR7BWQKAT53oCUJfOaZTAyj0ATlYx68-Wb_SWYVh6TH4OSpzuq4_27MlFAzlCcGGutdgFPLaMJHF2OycWFR8T1D26iL_fEB9In_SKjx9ZfaDYGTYrgcfr-ZGSg46SEM6SYskfrOtP3uiHXf5j0QoOPK2i1zcdBAWDQ/w640-h350/20230204_174510.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our youngest grandson needs a pick up and delivery to a group event on a Thursday afternoons every fortnight. This gives DH and me a chance to spend some hours in the vicinity of the beautiful Swan Valley. We love this little cottage cafe in the middle of the vines, and take time to sit under the fig tree and enjoy our afternoon together. There are great plant nurseries nearby, and on-farm produce sales, and lots of wineries. We will be trying to make the most of our fortnightly visits out this way this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMrjimpZiFualkG8BCM1ty7oyszSsGjIqbSd0KXon6h4E2Z-VjxiiP3rRwJ95Ij_JA8m4viP7RqGw3n9o9kzZxYdptqHCzSwjZl6SdW75p0PIcpeUW1K3E39mNxgM33Evyh4f0yHfSEuxCF7gk8fF4kzFU8ijrQp2CvmWkXmeJn_1lz8wsvxkgpCJyQ/s4000/20230202_140149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMrjimpZiFualkG8BCM1ty7oyszSsGjIqbSd0KXon6h4E2Z-VjxiiP3rRwJ95Ij_JA8m4viP7RqGw3n9o9kzZxYdptqHCzSwjZl6SdW75p0PIcpeUW1K3E39mNxgM33Evyh4f0yHfSEuxCF7gk8fF4kzFU8ijrQp2CvmWkXmeJn_1lz8wsvxkgpCJyQ/w640-h288/20230202_140149.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was very happy to get back to the West Australian Quilting Association monthly meeting after nearly a year. The whole thing is very inspirational. Here is the display of quilts donated to the Community Quilt group for donation to hospices, shelters and other needs in the community. I have now started my annual quilt for this group. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxODpVU4AwlrTilmMG0Sug8Zm00o4ikS_m4XoyYvo4A2HYgK5zr1iXC_VCE0_ZokWSaP6sP2UaOsnzfrSXVRuC6Y6LSAUGMuNSXeyMIdQOIwGJWAasSwo9ufNTSEVshcHiyZkbZ1nwGFTBkZ2uQSROWDayh4dV4xB2VuXa59aFkoZxMyiq2kON1AURg/s4000/20230117_104419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxODpVU4AwlrTilmMG0Sug8Zm00o4ikS_m4XoyYvo4A2HYgK5zr1iXC_VCE0_ZokWSaP6sP2UaOsnzfrSXVRuC6Y6LSAUGMuNSXeyMIdQOIwGJWAasSwo9ufNTSEVshcHiyZkbZ1nwGFTBkZ2uQSROWDayh4dV4xB2VuXa59aFkoZxMyiq2kON1AURg/w640-h288/20230117_104419.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the beginning of the donation quilt -potato chip blocks from a whole bundle of scraps that I cut up into 2.5 inch x 4.5 inches and have started sewing together. I am really enjoying the project and it is good to get my 'sewjo' back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocTUbzOsxlbai36qM4n9nHSYhGikjiM2yI97dIFDkt8veEKi7AxQhHUuxtPpfa9txtWmIZe7WEwctBIaITS1feqZwAyi1bKMJ0EfKPJfvysIoeXJjrbw1m2oT18kaED43xGtIX7cvss4576wExcMFLQK1dT2TC6GUpfdVMeknP1nm8vTsd4_ijQVxrQ/s2380/20230129_165904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1741" data-original-width="2380" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocTUbzOsxlbai36qM4n9nHSYhGikjiM2yI97dIFDkt8veEKi7AxQhHUuxtPpfa9txtWmIZe7WEwctBIaITS1feqZwAyi1bKMJ0EfKPJfvysIoeXJjrbw1m2oT18kaED43xGtIX7cvss4576wExcMFLQK1dT2TC6GUpfdVMeknP1nm8vTsd4_ijQVxrQ/w640-h468/20230129_165904.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I enjoy borrowing cookbooks from the library. Sometimes I make a recipe from them, sometimes I actually go out and buy the whole book! One such book I recently bought and will heartily recommend is the book<i><a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/use-it-all-alex-elliott-howery/book/9781760525682.html?msclkid=e36c911fcce318a36269f2f66217fe60&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Booktopia%20-%20AU%20-%20Shopping&utm_term=4585169650599087&utm_content=All%20Custom%20Label" target="_blank"> Use It All The Cornersmith guide to a more sustainable kitchen. </a> (no affiliate link). </i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja78MaU57lvCHVffZ14kkYu-riATjMxMA0dkvCQk7ZuxSSuvOneWAvkv768DuvlLHBAkEEy92yT3K6TzdIrhbOcfXyE_--vvWVtRn4TYjGq1QqE9DEyMxsU0tsiE4xXfqaYV9VkInTIUeECCag72n1_ts9fw-EMOJ9tT8taZNWLRQ9UnYeraQN1KHJrQ/s396/useitall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="310" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja78MaU57lvCHVffZ14kkYu-riATjMxMA0dkvCQk7ZuxSSuvOneWAvkv768DuvlLHBAkEEy92yT3K6TzdIrhbOcfXyE_--vvWVtRn4TYjGq1QqE9DEyMxsU0tsiE4xXfqaYV9VkInTIUeECCag72n1_ts9fw-EMOJ9tT8taZNWLRQ9UnYeraQN1KHJrQ/w502-h640/useitall.png" width="502" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, sometimes it is just a matter of revisiting cookbooks I own, and trying something new. We have a small group of friends which meets on Friday nights where possible, to eat together. We each bring a course, and that way it makes it easier for the host. These brownies (without the hibiscus leaves!) were well received. The book is Annabelle crabb and Wendy Sharpe's book "<i><a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/special-guest-annabel-crabb/book/9781760634537.html" target="_blank">Special Guest -recipes for the happily imperfect host". </a>(no affiliate link). </i></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdwDNyUIaoIwfumBSeE88O18H1QRl87NjfCJD4D7bqp-AT4B-TBytoM8W9Fv7TiBxiVgsjovsJCmo2iL9b3pL4d6irc9QTfK0pa_6RW0GMjig-kzmqTR3A3_ZrFtyqKbXY3IMV1pnNmfDZH0cUp0vD20P-CjQUTo8rbHYRtQ1Vg-q_RJBsfHS6PETsg/s1779/20230120_150058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="1638" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdwDNyUIaoIwfumBSeE88O18H1QRl87NjfCJD4D7bqp-AT4B-TBytoM8W9Fv7TiBxiVgsjovsJCmo2iL9b3pL4d6irc9QTfK0pa_6RW0GMjig-kzmqTR3A3_ZrFtyqKbXY3IMV1pnNmfDZH0cUp0vD20P-CjQUTo8rbHYRtQ1Vg-q_RJBsfHS6PETsg/w590-h640/20230120_150058.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My DH painted my sewing room door and installed the perfect sign! For a quilter who loves vintage sewing machines it is a wonderful thing and it gives me joy. I have a whole page on this blog about <a href="http://earthmotherwithin.blogspot.com/p/vintage-sewing-machines.html" target="_blank">my machines here</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdaG_i9DJVeVQM9j9vRmjTawNMl7MIjECD2xeZv-LCO8qbcJ0OPSvSdNNWbIBsoHArvn7iBDICHKIwtehn9RzhVhiqO673a8kXFG5VSxytkOva5HS5mAMKNFn6Rfrlgb2CJvNkX81LKE6Yw5YUbzae6ksKHyBuNTl6ToKpikEAk_pP6zJaRr4IREhZg/s4000/20230109_151034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdaG_i9DJVeVQM9j9vRmjTawNMl7MIjECD2xeZv-LCO8qbcJ0OPSvSdNNWbIBsoHArvn7iBDICHKIwtehn9RzhVhiqO673a8kXFG5VSxytkOva5HS5mAMKNFn6Rfrlgb2CJvNkX81LKE6Yw5YUbzae6ksKHyBuNTl6ToKpikEAk_pP6zJaRr4IREhZg/w640-h288/20230109_151034.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Giving me joy is the health of the indoor plants I am gradually collecting around here. While summer sees some of my garden under stress outside, and I am battling pests and fungus and rats (grr!) I find that it is important to allow the season to be what it is, and to sometimes retreat indoors and just read books! I trust you are also finding moments of joy and celebration in your life. Maybe leave a comment and let me know? <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-22066347203987841322023-01-02T17:32:00.000-08:002023-01-02T17:32:06.602-08:00New Year, old me, same slow living<p> Welcome to my first blog post of the New Year and thanks for visiting.</p><p>One of the things which happens at the end of the year is that we have lots of birthdays to celebrate, including mine. I always start the year officially older. Our celebrations of Christmas and New Year always spread over several days, to try to give the birthday girls a moment in the sunshine too. We had lunch with friends and lunch with the adults of the family, and a picnic afternoon tea in the park with the grandchildren, just for birthday celebrations. </p><p>Did you give and receive presents recently? One of the things now residing in my house is a new attachment for my Kenwood Chef- it is a food grinder. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFvtct0zA9JJ5JNSJC4qZFlD66Ux6hk6nCdhz5qz5lmgVuSgrjuVqEWqU4Y6CgRPYGLlGrrw59oF3DQijQzJSM49-1f_fBDG8rP5i2YnZUYF9l9IliwKsN7cy4hnNh5GzXNYbWP_PaEEh4ulBLUV1urjZs2BPJKAIDWBYI2yyPVg1rH7wf3qtB_ckjJQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="773" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFvtct0zA9JJ5JNSJC4qZFlD66Ux6hk6nCdhz5qz5lmgVuSgrjuVqEWqU4Y6CgRPYGLlGrrw59oF3DQijQzJSM49-1f_fBDG8rP5i2YnZUYF9l9IliwKsN7cy4hnNh5GzXNYbWP_PaEEh4ulBLUV1urjZs2BPJKAIDWBYI2yyPVg1rH7wf3qtB_ckjJQ=w640-h418" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The reason this grinder was on the Christmas Wish list is that I was interested to go further with my experiments in building skills for slow food, slow living. The questions was, would it be cheaper to make my own mince and sausages? The 2.3 kg pork shoulder I bought was $20. Pork sausages are about $8-9 per 450g this week so making my own would save about half the money of buying 2.2 kg of sausages. (I am using for this example good quality sausages, not the cheap '<i>goodness knows what is in them' </i>kind). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I tried it for the first time this week, making a boneless shoulder of pork into mince. I then made meatballs with some of it to serve with pasta and tomato sauce, and froze the rest. I have some sausage casings on order -it will be interesting to see if I can manage the process of actually filling the cases and making sausages. I am also looking into what else I can make with this attachment. The process, though slow-ish, was enjoyable and I will certainly go further with it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sXQv22yTup4zAGtC4wd8D6-BejEsiNu1Oza4MP4nD1ykgzYqshi1X-pU6QH3R0W6iS7D1RZALHYpoaDwhqCuBIoEgNef-NaW4PE43cZfJIH4eY1B1zeIhqYXDo33P0gODqn6kLlxrbFJCEsH2-ljFyRD-FxNcRLaY3w_UexKh54xIJCQJBZQbPb3MQ/s4000/20230102_083842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sXQv22yTup4zAGtC4wd8D6-BejEsiNu1Oza4MP4nD1ykgzYqshi1X-pU6QH3R0W6iS7D1RZALHYpoaDwhqCuBIoEgNef-NaW4PE43cZfJIH4eY1B1zeIhqYXDo33P0gODqn6kLlxrbFJCEsH2-ljFyRD-FxNcRLaY3w_UexKh54xIJCQJBZQbPb3MQ/w640-h288/20230102_083842.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I already have established several old timey sorts of habits and skills - I can make a pretty good sourdough loaf, most of my cakes turn out fine from scratch, I am now a regular pastry maker so pies and flans are often eaten here. My husband makes yoghurt and jams and chutney. There are pickled onions and pickled vegetables in the fridge for summer salads, which we made ourselves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuElZkvGzHcfvEapaP4dnlk2XbvVRhsERZEpBEl7RXKXx2f8in4SWNeDblf4wDnzvv7dvoikzzHhfTAN8B7uH1DsDgCyJ5_9RnhMzd9ZG_V1wCDiAdxpZMQK3jtim2_ay-Fv2RfhPu0MVWWcdYBk-GIi0ebFuQzkeCcRZCN5it7tT1agvuUPoggkDkw/s2941/20221214_101724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2941" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuElZkvGzHcfvEapaP4dnlk2XbvVRhsERZEpBEl7RXKXx2f8in4SWNeDblf4wDnzvv7dvoikzzHhfTAN8B7uH1DsDgCyJ5_9RnhMzd9ZG_V1wCDiAdxpZMQK3jtim2_ay-Fv2RfhPu0MVWWcdYBk-GIi0ebFuQzkeCcRZCN5it7tT1agvuUPoggkDkw/w640-h392/20221214_101724.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course we also try to grow food in our suburban garden, and whilst there are some successes -the blueberries have been fabulous-there are also failures. No strawberry has ever made it to ripeness in my garden without some pest eating it before I did! After several years, the mulberry is now producing decent fruit, and the rhubarb we pick is now both chunky and red. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Summer is well established now. The rains have gone, my water tanks are half full, and the irrigation is the focus of our garden survival. DH thinks we need a new solanoid thingo and a new controller for it. Shade has been spread around to help everything cope.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOZD5okhlt-ec9t4F_O9mQw-Dd6NjmN-FM8oSoQkslxUBUCjOrACJbD_x4G7RJnyuLn5kdzQfC1xXiZLx4WeXEN73zKp6u1CJet3Xl_O8pn_vC512GA3MUKCLu6mNNAQE2RhLbVDzQTbizsPPJHW7WLDeYdaWG6wz76oVZ-B0YQ8agEh4kui4OW1wVA/s3264/20221219_093148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOZD5okhlt-ec9t4F_O9mQw-Dd6NjmN-FM8oSoQkslxUBUCjOrACJbD_x4G7RJnyuLn5kdzQfC1xXiZLx4WeXEN73zKp6u1CJet3Xl_O8pn_vC512GA3MUKCLu6mNNAQE2RhLbVDzQTbizsPPJHW7WLDeYdaWG6wz76oVZ-B0YQ8agEh4kui4OW1wVA/w640-h288/20221219_093148.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPEn5tWYP7JgUPQ35j47xY__XCE6gMPC31DXM2P7qz_gM1mzq5QBkwdqM6AAIlSpKW52-Z9OTlB2VwepOQ1wr869loNcp69YGctSPcCaatLq7ElFAJQlh1L83IqB2SwFGJ_ju2fCU3yhEktU4DoCNt-G_41kt9RU3Qdbg7VhlHdM2WAD_XLbZoCjJCA/s3264/20221219_093052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPEn5tWYP7JgUPQ35j47xY__XCE6gMPC31DXM2P7qz_gM1mzq5QBkwdqM6AAIlSpKW52-Z9OTlB2VwepOQ1wr869loNcp69YGctSPcCaatLq7ElFAJQlh1L83IqB2SwFGJ_ju2fCU3yhEktU4DoCNt-G_41kt9RU3Qdbg7VhlHdM2WAD_XLbZoCjJCA/w640-h288/20221219_093052.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">DH is a partner in the old fashioned skills, with his fabulous set of tools in the shed. Today he is working on my sewing room door, repainting it after sanding and making it nice again. I have a new sign to go on it when it is done. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXhZ2IDCG4MFdGbVXVrOT3X9yl59I-11eXinJfh5Iauythp9omNjv-h_34pUv77H00y7Z4IIabIMEl3fEYHW9lx3sSPUn0FSpYx9czMaqrAcu3EsBmSj1Ly2aXPRboSkeIJHF4wi1dOPiElD8jA8u_1WNviUeHZ5RdBuM4U6elCOSaQHfSdCWgm8yyg/s1485/20221231_072431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1485" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXhZ2IDCG4MFdGbVXVrOT3X9yl59I-11eXinJfh5Iauythp9omNjv-h_34pUv77H00y7Z4IIabIMEl3fEYHW9lx3sSPUn0FSpYx9czMaqrAcu3EsBmSj1Ly2aXPRboSkeIJHF4wi1dOPiElD8jA8u_1WNviUeHZ5RdBuM4U6elCOSaQHfSdCWgm8yyg/w640-h464/20221231_072431.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The grandchildren have a swing set in their garden, and one of the components that they loved was a stand-on swing. On Christmas Day it broke, so we brought it home and DH made a new piece for it out of wood, and sealed it. It was a bit tricky due to the ropes involved, which he did not want to undo, but he worked out a design which enabled the new wood to be inserted without undoing the ropes at all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVJOkg8dkuqB7ElBlhOCw4cHXImyUGqNF7CQcz5j4CLVPj6egOksP89a-gZM2cf55oT_PR_kJjgDHwoUm9N4nVPa5HankrmoTzngnqGiNa_wlN7CwAcomfIFdObOuzxEPby15zNVyiZOV0OGNUK2nvPI42H74lc9ne9qzyu087xverokSk1tEp4nb0Q/s2048/swing%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVJOkg8dkuqB7ElBlhOCw4cHXImyUGqNF7CQcz5j4CLVPj6egOksP89a-gZM2cf55oT_PR_kJjgDHwoUm9N4nVPa5HankrmoTzngnqGiNa_wlN7CwAcomfIFdObOuzxEPby15zNVyiZOV0OGNUK2nvPI42H74lc9ne9qzyu087xverokSk1tEp4nb0Q/w640-h288/swing%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The thing about this kind of slow living that many people comment upon is that it seems like a lot of work, and that they don't have time. Yes it is work but my feeling is that the work is the kind that gives deep satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. How else should we fill our days, except with the stuff of being independent and resourceful and practical, about the things which go to a good life without consuming more of the earth's resources than we need or can afford? Now that we are retired, of course we have more time to devote to these things. It would be hard to live like this in the conduct of a full time job and with young children, unless something were to change -if you could afford a part time job, for example, or if finally the kids were in school all week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally some resources for you:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jill WInger the Prairie Homestead - https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/author/jill</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-88914983888244318092022-12-01T21:50:00.004-08:002022-12-01T21:50:56.015-08:00Oh look! Newsy post<p>I have been a bit quiet of late on the blog, but not any more! Here is a bit of what we have been up to lately. </p><p>I recently decided to splurge and treat myself to a subscription to Grass Roots magazine, and wrote them a letter when I got the first copy. They printed my letter and a photo of my back garden.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOQYxBA3G9ghSI8CJTvVyLVQ0_nrMM_QFewV3G0ljUo2hMs1ZG3xlqaY_sFkt7FuRTOanp0N-4IItHJoYXEUYYlRMJM8nv14XDfpD7uDdfa1mLA5UAXIk65UnwMlk6m0SEjfpFMqPitErv0M_mob4WT77ch1-S7WPaoDkz7J1bVRDH23k1KnJsIii6A/s2846/20221201_184923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2846" data-original-width="1674" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOQYxBA3G9ghSI8CJTvVyLVQ0_nrMM_QFewV3G0ljUo2hMs1ZG3xlqaY_sFkt7FuRTOanp0N-4IItHJoYXEUYYlRMJM8nv14XDfpD7uDdfa1mLA5UAXIk65UnwMlk6m0SEjfpFMqPitErv0M_mob4WT77ch1-S7WPaoDkz7J1bVRDH23k1KnJsIii6A/w376-h640/20221201_184923.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My husband's insulated 'hot box' cooker was featured on <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.underthechokotree.com%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D805%253Athe-eira-cooker%26catid%3D36%253Acooking%26Itemid%3D54%26fbclid%3DIwAR0RXn_kkiybjyfCmhdiCqudaFcJXpJGli7OIbRbj102UNFwrjeRx4ecjO0&h=AT1ciax3aL2xAI3GRU_7_8hMGlQKxUurvhfmOV-LvXAHsg2bU6IQrqdyra3J5FgoYRicpaIX1EpASVM8NDtZp5TdTqxOzKOFFkzv7r4obhKiGMKe1OcnbR4Ou1lG9OOuKA&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT01AZqmIU_EkciYXBW7-rZIr_v-gZ7OKCWSh5U3tvSTSATGxuOg-aLrN0eiPhEehTxlLzmJyKQrkembdBmvV_U7PBfFtL3-dLlpPdU63zeNtK9ILCaAjEbqh6RIxTao8_7foVjzX_sSYG81KT0bQdZX187v29vTc3j5Cz3pST5Pc-FB2DzbI9Sfa0_kZWu-KjKal8ApyOsXPANoio5TYnHY" target="_blank">Nev Sweeney's blog here </a>. If you haven't read Nev's blog Under the Choko Tree, I do recommend it. Nev does a great job of writing up sustainability and permaculture practices we can do wherever we live. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoNCZ2mT0DqpbnldLPfihpWtcnT2EUAkz7CiQKfqf4VwlZ1aseKUbx2y5ylAVTFVooE_zR4a9RKQpzqMbE4Oc9niTDTS41RJJ8QAeDpNDnhie9snQOQFU9OWOKMVfkW8pOWOzIrVKQlcietxmAwz39USbieSC3dnrtBdc7MG2JuXXCqS--L9zDysvMQ/s4000/20220927_143621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoNCZ2mT0DqpbnldLPfihpWtcnT2EUAkz7CiQKfqf4VwlZ1aseKUbx2y5ylAVTFVooE_zR4a9RKQpzqMbE4Oc9niTDTS41RJJ8QAeDpNDnhie9snQOQFU9OWOKMVfkW8pOWOzIrVKQlcietxmAwz39USbieSC3dnrtBdc7MG2JuXXCqS--L9zDysvMQ/w640-h288/20220927_143621.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Spring is sliding into summer and we are now harvesting lots of blueberries, mulberries and rhubarb. The chillies are ripening and I have just picked some to hang up to dry. The zucchini are now growing fast. This one was 550g! I have a lot of basil growing in a water well pot. The passionfruit are flowering and we wait anxiously for signs of fruit set -this will be the first season for this vine and we are hanging out for passionfruit! Of course we still have the rainbow chard and the spring onions and the various herbs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The grapevine has almost covered the trellis on the north side. We sit under it to eat our lunch. The pomegranate has started to set fruit, and the quince is looking better than ever. We have some baby apples on the new tree growing in the wine barrels. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRQhQBilBJJxSwLeRx5Tw2pP2UrRb7I3oeMaIeaVtBhCVsAJpOZOIBw29BMz89BXFpPGV-4LWvaSxbAfvdr49U3r5jH3no-wSBMdyfBdLpyqj1YfHPsNVj1Ut1jjMcI9PD_omLszE4Vn_rR-7EyDqAYM544nGdxl-sqwcMuvvk8Gt1fdnQM8qsaEamw/s4000/20221118_111703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRQhQBilBJJxSwLeRx5Tw2pP2UrRb7I3oeMaIeaVtBhCVsAJpOZOIBw29BMz89BXFpPGV-4LWvaSxbAfvdr49U3r5jH3no-wSBMdyfBdLpyqj1YfHPsNVj1Ut1jjMcI9PD_omLszE4Vn_rR-7EyDqAYM544nGdxl-sqwcMuvvk8Gt1fdnQM8qsaEamw/w640-h288/20221118_111703.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the garden dries out from spring to summer, the nasturtiums are dying down and everything looks a bit less lush. This is the time for me to begin spot watering if I see plants in stress. The verge garden is not irrigated, so I keep an eye on it, although I have planted very hardy and sun tolerant plants there. . The new jacaranda tree the city council planted on the verge will need extra help this summer in the way of watering on hot days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I planted a new passionfruit to grow over the dead Eureka lemon in the front garden. It will get extra water from the outflow of the evaporative air conditioner we installed last summer, so I hope it will do well and cover this rather unsightly dead tree. I am not sure what happened to the lemon, althought the fact that the neighbour took out and poisoned a large New Zealand Christmas Bush not two meters away from it, probably did not help. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmPYusHGn6qe-Nt98bO7bi83xr7ZdYemFJcEOkYZnaB96JXya7JmKv6FrAXmRaaDm-27slmROXxoS5r0MxLXdJ4KNS_6FUUlsCYGrHFw2vR8_4jUzGSVp4F_BPXYY7MUZfQYD4Pa7PDNtC7rV3SNL2DcPDZTcmHMieTKrU-6MEWOLvIdNk9MOkAqN7w/s4000/20221025_162015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmPYusHGn6qe-Nt98bO7bi83xr7ZdYemFJcEOkYZnaB96JXya7JmKv6FrAXmRaaDm-27slmROXxoS5r0MxLXdJ4KNS_6FUUlsCYGrHFw2vR8_4jUzGSVp4F_BPXYY7MUZfQYD4Pa7PDNtC7rV3SNL2DcPDZTcmHMieTKrU-6MEWOLvIdNk9MOkAqN7w/w640-h288/20221025_162015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We bought a new set of string lights -which are solar powered and quite pretty- and have hung them up on the patio ready for long summer nights. I am sure they will turn up soon! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChho8zyAcYrssytT-AOO4_MsiVkGiUi6eBI6zYAE3g2Xu2-4zhpuFZq2XzqT0VoQLVaLpNeDP61fzabKvZ86k8dxLYxEFlZycZPX3XH72HO_FFMjM-aGEeZ3WAUOMcVBogFZYzHTktLF3iCGA5J7562V6F1LfI2bhAqDA5pLmb_OcgVsAXaMGzeUvPQ/s3264/20221021_192300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChho8zyAcYrssytT-AOO4_MsiVkGiUi6eBI6zYAE3g2Xu2-4zhpuFZq2XzqT0VoQLVaLpNeDP61fzabKvZ86k8dxLYxEFlZycZPX3XH72HO_FFMjM-aGEeZ3WAUOMcVBogFZYzHTktLF3iCGA5J7562V6F1LfI2bhAqDA5pLmb_OcgVsAXaMGzeUvPQ/w640-h288/20221021_192300.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Sometimes I think I don't get enough of a yield from my garden, and then at other times I realise that I do pretty well given the challenges of the climate and the fact that the block is only 700sq meters, and that includes the house. It also gives me a lot of joy, and a lot of good exercise, as well as providing passive cooling to the air around the house. These things are not without value in themselves. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you have a moment, here are some links to a couple of good articles about gardening here: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span> </span>Comprehensive description of<a href="https://www.frugalandthriving.com.au/gardening-for-free/" target="_blank"> how to do gardening for free here </a><p></p><p><span> </span>Lemon Balm -give it a place in your garden -<a href="https://witcheskitchen.com.au/garden-pharmacy-lemon-balm/" target="_blank">link here</a></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-35271877513724843742022-10-25T01:56:00.002-07:002022-10-25T01:56:54.451-07:00Food security? Small and slow solutions <p> Spring has arrived and we are as busy as can be, whenever the weather is good. With drier weather, and occasional warm days, we are feeling the need to get stuck into some jobs which always come around in spring. With our Australian economy dealing with global energy spikes and the poor farmers of the eastern states being flooded -some for the second or third time this year, our fruit and vegetable prices have gone up by 14% this year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozegZOg1fuMfbJLqPBjD-t85o3Djg_NDNfp8Wkv6Ic-aQ9-nREwYqfSC5ImtmWYl8fjBueP1myEEFMsxJO3RU59yafbh-t1A8onAe0PfJzXqI0i5RwcLW7zKGc4qqHKYYYTzXQriNtbrKEy1uIKg9bnVYIOeZU0NZU0LSJMywTThrrrJxVMHzYWMdTg/s4000/20220924_103607.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozegZOg1fuMfbJLqPBjD-t85o3Djg_NDNfp8Wkv6Ic-aQ9-nREwYqfSC5ImtmWYl8fjBueP1myEEFMsxJO3RU59yafbh-t1A8onAe0PfJzXqI0i5RwcLW7zKGc4qqHKYYYTzXQriNtbrKEy1uIKg9bnVYIOeZU0NZU0LSJMywTThrrrJxVMHzYWMdTg/w640-h288/20220924_103607.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>DH renewed the oil on the outdoor furniture. This is a preservative and it gives us a chance to make sure the furniture can stand another year of outdoor living. </i></p><p>The garden is busy! We flushed the reticulation pipes and repaired the spots that had got broken since it was last used. The reticulation is now on again, two days a week. Our gardens have to be hardy in this climate! I water pots if they need it, and about once a week I water the non-irrigated front verge if anything is looking distressed. The plants out there are chosen for their ability to survive once they have had their first summer in the ground. </p><p>As the annuals in the front garden start to dry off, I am planting perennials like pelargoniums in their place. I have dug up some iris corms and replanted them in other spots. There is warrigal greens ( a native edible) growing as a ground cover in the front garden too. This garden is both a food garden and an ornamental one. We have a pomegranate, olive, mulberry, lemon and two grapevines here. Tomatoes come up in the compost and I let them grow. Maybe in the future I will be wanting to grow more food out here too. Pumpkins could ramble along under the trees. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvWXZiFknKG-NWmxSHk56lRA7Guyv4S2PoqUgaJrqx8nO_ATUrmGoVCEP9G7vW_aESbPvLoSQ2w91IryNeFMuvoTJlGeYerHu0YmpYpWU0VxWZQNjWbAgTEySONlurJgKv0qRK0aKT2_9--1cghOLRXjpZgFCgEyWdobSGcLdrCRSgFE8adixBwnqJg/s3264/20221018_100157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvWXZiFknKG-NWmxSHk56lRA7Guyv4S2PoqUgaJrqx8nO_ATUrmGoVCEP9G7vW_aESbPvLoSQ2w91IryNeFMuvoTJlGeYerHu0YmpYpWU0VxWZQNjWbAgTEySONlurJgKv0qRK0aKT2_9--1cghOLRXjpZgFCgEyWdobSGcLdrCRSgFE8adixBwnqJg/w640-h288/20221018_100157.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq8EAGKV6Iy3iYqXRXIe4A_Ayk2WO-3pSIENyRt4LJiC7y_DMGyYMNopRebFmeFyYxApNhPbyL85eLurSraJe3e2vC5zZqk82gdIlAmGwmn8pdPUzaXqqRZ8f2AiUutDfHMfO7w80i6gjF-MjDy-LKPw1nRAqj8xAZKSvWkGqfYjOOImgFe6cc7cELw/s2154/20221008_123644.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2154" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq8EAGKV6Iy3iYqXRXIe4A_Ayk2WO-3pSIENyRt4LJiC7y_DMGyYMNopRebFmeFyYxApNhPbyL85eLurSraJe3e2vC5zZqk82gdIlAmGwmn8pdPUzaXqqRZ8f2AiUutDfHMfO7w80i6gjF-MjDy-LKPw1nRAqj8xAZKSvWkGqfYjOOImgFe6cc7cELw/w534-h640/20221008_123644.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><br /><p>As herbs and flowers are in their prime now, I am drying some and also making sure I leave some to go to seed. I have coriander hanging up to dry, to harvest the seeds for my curries. Lavender is drying to perfume new heat packs which I will stuff with rice. Mint is known as a good help for digestion and can be good for the brain too, I understand. These may be small harvests, but they are very welcome in my kitchen. Calendula petals can be in a healing salve or tea, or added to risotto. </p><p> I find herbs to be a very worthwhile group of plants to grow. They are expensive to buy in the shops when you just need a bit for a recipe, but most are very hardy in the garden. Once you have planted them you have fresh herbs for a long time, and they really make a difference to the flavour of the dish you are making. Many of them contain important nutrients too. Herbs I grow include Basil, Borage, Calendula, Chilli, Chives, Coriander, Curry Leaf, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lemon Grass, Mint (four varieties), Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme -2 varieties, Verbeena. Most of these grow easily from cuttings so I can give them away for other gardeners to enjoy. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlV6Y0nI1hE-Rzs5gvfS290MLHIHHJWaUaQcyrvyc-duR7_F_NUqrvCIE08nZqwP4O_jCTXocsi9YdnZ3xw7_mFoUaQUtLOENBFuPZk3acsgogf4EJpPLm5vbc9in1RLTGQsyUVgpSgcr9NZgBrKFNqGXKK5kai6K63XMVh9Pb3O3MQMgvYcD5oLWPw/s3264/20221018_102333.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlV6Y0nI1hE-Rzs5gvfS290MLHIHHJWaUaQcyrvyc-duR7_F_NUqrvCIE08nZqwP4O_jCTXocsi9YdnZ3xw7_mFoUaQUtLOENBFuPZk3acsgogf4EJpPLm5vbc9in1RLTGQsyUVgpSgcr9NZgBrKFNqGXKK5kai6K63XMVh9Pb3O3MQMgvYcD5oLWPw/w288-h640/20221018_102333.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Mizuna and blueberries </i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4clJNZr2rtEwpLb8xBzlU3Qhb-B9eFZf75cMR40WaogDC_Fcobz0bHvkPPUHFHPW0D9clvMlRKMoDZJFdFdSUslOXGj2EHOZXeG-pkpivx1lvmBdSFNWafVGqGLAyOloDTStJmrMDenvemIZE4tm9tW0icr2IzXOD1rImDfnBEx3-isTIC-hQD4y5w/s3264/20221018_101928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4clJNZr2rtEwpLb8xBzlU3Qhb-B9eFZf75cMR40WaogDC_Fcobz0bHvkPPUHFHPW0D9clvMlRKMoDZJFdFdSUslOXGj2EHOZXeG-pkpivx1lvmBdSFNWafVGqGLAyOloDTStJmrMDenvemIZE4tm9tW0icr2IzXOD1rImDfnBEx3-isTIC-hQD4y5w/w640-h288/20221018_101928.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The garden bed which lines the fence near the driveway is an important garden space. Here I have curry leaf, rhubarb, blueberries and chilli. </i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5nt9bmbzYheNSzFEdXKcptP8cfPNhk9vsVbRrdeN46eZ-TTg38lsgnTEgRAZeXhYSvRR1Yrmz5m03dhm2TklRxicde89PfYMYCfCh3n4vH_VklfJqMZNzv2X8QLYwi0cQlOcmTZSKTS6YnmiNmZy9spj7xuhB_suHGEFdYqVY1IJaly3ofg3KIHWRw/s3264/20221018_102342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5nt9bmbzYheNSzFEdXKcptP8cfPNhk9vsVbRrdeN46eZ-TTg38lsgnTEgRAZeXhYSvRR1Yrmz5m03dhm2TklRxicde89PfYMYCfCh3n4vH_VklfJqMZNzv2X8QLYwi0cQlOcmTZSKTS6YnmiNmZy9spj7xuhB_suHGEFdYqVY1IJaly3ofg3KIHWRw/w640-h288/20221018_102342.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I have planted tomatoes in all sorts of places and I am experimenting with various kinds of supports and feeding regimes. Nearly everyone says that you should not 'over feed' tomatoes in case you just get leaves and not fruit. Jackie French, the Australian gardener, novelist and all round nice person, says the opposite, so I am trying that out in one pot by adding compost and lots of mulch around a cherry tomato plant. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">We are picking asparagus and rainbow chard and cherry tomatoes. The blueberries are a few days off ripening. I had a lovely big handful of rhubarb with bright red stems from my oldest pot this week. </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25rSSRx0FEEDAtn31on32ASpwW8Uyx5_UXMK4ambp0r6raSQwQEaunTemMBYGClwFeDPsBLK-B-z4wKlYGG1fWv8xVOBqcGF3tf4XbhCr-n3YBvTC8vPpu1l7Z6DIuZVeXU-aYoq92v4Tqj1sErWokcjPcBrHcCSL9SrrfzN9cgtNDDvS2SXCWQy3Bw/s2573/20220914_104726.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2573" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25rSSRx0FEEDAtn31on32ASpwW8Uyx5_UXMK4ambp0r6raSQwQEaunTemMBYGClwFeDPsBLK-B-z4wKlYGG1fWv8xVOBqcGF3tf4XbhCr-n3YBvTC8vPpu1l7Z6DIuZVeXU-aYoq92v4Tqj1sErWokcjPcBrHcCSL9SrrfzN9cgtNDDvS2SXCWQy3Bw/w448-h640/20220914_104726.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br /><p>There is a mulberry tree on the verge near a park in our suburb. DH brought home half a kilo of ripe berries from his walk today! This is very welcome, as my new FODMAP friendly diet requires me to eliminate some common fruits, but the good news is that berries are fine! My grandson had his first ever mulberry today, and announced that he loved them- and why not? As an urban forager, we know that the polite thing to do is to always leave some for the next person who comes along. Meanwhile our own mulberries are weeks away from being ripe. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RsHvPSu-KeY5UbnE8Ip64FqoKNUblZMM6K3qtLIaudwugbi0ITcC-GEdOqlZ-gIfXl5VPB1ZQfUmeSJDjA3vel0Yn3CmD62JarvMNQnHje0mMhB4z_jf81YA-nK5jeaqMEwtDX2Ox80myKOAPJL2bsOc8IU6Q1zOvU1T79VppdJCWwr-8gCEYR4PlA/s2623/20221004_091136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1551" data-original-width="2623" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RsHvPSu-KeY5UbnE8Ip64FqoKNUblZMM6K3qtLIaudwugbi0ITcC-GEdOqlZ-gIfXl5VPB1ZQfUmeSJDjA3vel0Yn3CmD62JarvMNQnHje0mMhB4z_jf81YA-nK5jeaqMEwtDX2Ox80myKOAPJL2bsOc8IU6Q1zOvU1T79VppdJCWwr-8gCEYR4PlA/w640-h378/20221004_091136.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This week we will be helping our grandson plant carrots, sweet potato and snow peas at his place.<div>In the kindy garden where I am a volunteer, we have rainbow chard, rhubarb and strawberries. </div><div>I love helping people discover the joys of growing a little something edible, and hope to inspire a long lasting journey into growing some food to improve food security.</div><div>I am also supporting a little "street pantry" where the community leaves food for others, no questions asked.</div><div><br /></div><div>A lot of people in Australia are food insecure. There have even been cases of scurvy and malnutrition. I would like to think that those who can squeeze a jar of soy bean sprouts onto their window sill in the kitchen, or a pot with rosemary or parsley on the balcony, would be able to get just a small amount of extra nutrition as a result. It is not necessary to use a lot of money to do this -you can grow things in old tins and styrofoam boxes, and just straight in the earth. Compost can be made in a bin or a bag or a bucket with an old house tile as a lid, and compost is what most plants want to grow in.</div><div><br /></div><div>The only way for people to be food secure would be for the rate of social security to be raised substantially -but that is sadly, unlikely to happen this year. </div><div><p>Inspiration for hard times: <a href="https://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2014/04/06/simple-ways-to-garden-without-spending-money/" target="_blank">simple ways to garden without spending lots of money </a></p><p>Make a wild food<a href="https://www.milkwood.net/2022/10/24/wild-food-map/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=general_value&utm_content=blog_wild-food-map&fbclid=IwAR3kyM2cFRKmdxCj2ZgZ-kTtcRGW0i8WX3k3ET3G5oxNEKh8dXXPLo7P4SY" target="_blank"> map of your area here</a> </p><p>Food insecurity in Australia <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/one-third-of-australian-households-are-experiencing-food-insecurity-why-are-the-numbers-so-high/mqjr981t3" target="_blank">-read here </a></p></div>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-60622795024931773562022-09-23T17:11:00.003-07:002022-09-23T17:11:39.906-07:00Choosing a variable tarriff for electricity? Ummmmm<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm8PQNSncWYw47w0ZpWLK8GhDJuBVmYP2fFZe1KYmcSzAVUM0W36tQVmuFfOHAIvvUVIt-_Gd0PO5JVNCON0y0hTKrsFAfn_YoCfumPSmPuaBYECzC7NOYRlFbp5p7E8VDTrwskxlxDy-lu5r3pEXiZGLaFfzMaoYbGDiKqDZWFqVkKubDfluHUjvqA/s2178/20220907_134111%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="2178" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm8PQNSncWYw47w0ZpWLK8GhDJuBVmYP2fFZe1KYmcSzAVUM0W36tQVmuFfOHAIvvUVIt-_Gd0PO5JVNCON0y0hTKrsFAfn_YoCfumPSmPuaBYECzC7NOYRlFbp5p7E8VDTrwskxlxDy-lu5r3pEXiZGLaFfzMaoYbGDiKqDZWFqVkKubDfluHUjvqA/w640-h244/20220907_134111%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It all started a week or so ago, when I opened an email in which our electricity company Synergy which offered us a deal whereby, if we had a 'smart meter' we could choose to pay a<i> variable tariff</i> -in which some parts of the day were quite cheap and the peak times quite a lot more expensive. </p><p>Up until now, we have had only a standard rate no matter what time of day you used the power. The details of the offer are: </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Between 9 am and 3pm the charge would be 8c per unit.</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>From 9pm to 9 am would be 22 cents per unit.</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>The most expensive time would be between 3pm and 9pm when it would be 0.50c per unit.</h4><p><i>Our current charge is 28 cents no matter what time of the day we use it. </i></p><p>One thing we noted, was that the supply charge per day for the variable tariff has been increased from about 96 cents per day to $1.20 per day.<i> You have to read the information quite carefully to find this out! </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eg_dj3okI8oM5q8wvQ2ZGMYVUl22X3ta4mv3eVRlLMrcc1bdPOSXhdkNXTAyPPyXVn3RQBJ7GU0leItIVCb9gkViXWDeUtndD_kxf4k2BG5_qIcGiFtZYnkGFGjaRQpDK5AA5kMSRTPrF6oWkplVOoGSSTw_QBAVGb3eYsBE1Xn4IYr-lLt0HklnoA/s320/solar%20panels.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eg_dj3okI8oM5q8wvQ2ZGMYVUl22X3ta4mv3eVRlLMrcc1bdPOSXhdkNXTAyPPyXVn3RQBJ7GU0leItIVCb9gkViXWDeUtndD_kxf4k2BG5_qIcGiFtZYnkGFGjaRQpDK5AA5kMSRTPrF6oWkplVOoGSSTw_QBAVGb3eYsBE1Xn4IYr-lLt0HklnoA/w640-h640/solar%20panels.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The aim of the proposal is to '<i>stabilise the grid</i>"- Perth is a great place to have solar panels, so many days of sunlight - but they make a lot of energy during the day when many people are at work, and then when they go home and turn on their TVs and stoves and things, the sun is going down and the grid is at peak demand but without solar input. This week we got news of a problem with the grid due to a coal mine going bankrupt is <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-17/power-supply-fears-as-wa-runs-out-of-coal/101449628" target="_blank">here</a>-it is only a small part of the way WA gets energy -we have wind farms and plan to get more. There are a few places where there is a local energy grid using a battery and wind farm combined with solar power for homes.</p><p>DH and I considered that we should be in a good place to do change to this tariff -we are retired so at home a lot, we have <a href="http://earthmotherwithin.blogspot.com/2012/09/solar-panels-on-our-roof.html" target="_blank">solar panels and a smart meter</a>. As DH said, we should also be prepared to play our part in this. For decades, enviromentalists have talked about 'peak oil' and the necessary adjustments away from fossil fuels. We are all going to have to live less profligate lives in the energy sphere. Our simple living lifestyle, which we have been working on since this blog was started in 2008, should set us up for success. </p><p>We have watched with great concern about the fuel crisis in Europe and especially in the UK, we have noted that many people will struggle with a low energy future if the rent in draughty, poorly designed homes (if they can afford to rent!) or if they are sick or in need in some other ways and need to use power for life saving machinery. Practicing low energy lifestyles seems like an act of solidarity, somehow. We have the choice -which we know is a luxury- of saving money this way, and helping out our community. Over the years we have been carefully renovating our home and changing our practices to live simply. </p><p><b>WHAT WE DID</b></p><p>DH loves to work with numbers. In order to decide if we want to change our tariff, we started collecting data on our current use, and put it in a spreadsheet. DH collected the data three times a day. </p><p>The first week we did not change our habits at all. </p><p>The second week we did the following things:</p><p>1. As it is still cloudy and raining at times, we have a time switch on our solar hot water system, to boost it with electricity if the sun has not been shining enough to get the water hot for a shower. We get about 8 months of free hot water from the solar hot water system, so cost of this boosting in the winter this is not a big issue for us. <b>We adjusted the timer</b> to boost during the cheapest period. . </p><p>2. We have checked that there are <b>no chargers left on during the peak period</b>-and this is particularly true for things like tools in the shed and phone chargers in the house.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7YTrj1gdKewHPNw-Bdu-aIoK5BP36-GbT70IB5yDcAfhBqetc38yts-ERgyR8s-TvGNTnGipTIgB0c8lRflwlzfxHOoZUZPGTNBzEpfBBV9sZGVKPk8uVxkrXUkdKhjlrk7tqPZ6LRnjGKf2_dnHsvqivF7hzOY0hqcdt99FjxhYirS5zg1i1JXiSA/s4000/20220917_085847.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7YTrj1gdKewHPNw-Bdu-aIoK5BP36-GbT70IB5yDcAfhBqetc38yts-ERgyR8s-TvGNTnGipTIgB0c8lRflwlzfxHOoZUZPGTNBzEpfBBV9sZGVKPk8uVxkrXUkdKhjlrk7tqPZ6LRnjGKf2_dnHsvqivF7hzOY0hqcdt99FjxhYirS5zg1i1JXiSA/w640-h288/20220917_085847.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>3. We <b>adapted our cooking</b> - trying to either cook without the oven, or make bread and use the leftover heat for other things, or cook earlier in the day. As a baker of sourdough, this means that I need to go back to proofing my bread overnight and cooking it in the morning. I used to do this but winter temperatures overnight made this impractical., and to be honest, I just didn't feel like making bread in the evening. Long hot summer evenings are much more conducive to this. </p><br /><b>The electricity company's own suggestions include:</b><div><br /></div><div>1. Setting your washing machine or dishwasher to run during the day instead of at night, to take advantage of super off peak rates. There might also be a ‘delay’ button or timer feature on your appliances to help you to do this.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJseWRtAKfbTjZU2GalQ20OrOoaamS_I9Xvc4T7Gpd0u41mxvsIOpDl1nSzBjhEMREHRMPqYfRq_oEFkC3AIxaf944u22f0LVa2X4QSgNI0dKabe_3Bsoq2-vkViHLgqODg0SYeZPlL7s-wonakbpmUuNRzcHx5O4mhitSIS_YtQWiurfrGRbDS_qMQ/s4000/20220917_085900.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJseWRtAKfbTjZU2GalQ20OrOoaamS_I9Xvc4T7Gpd0u41mxvsIOpDl1nSzBjhEMREHRMPqYfRq_oEFkC3AIxaf944u22f0LVa2X4QSgNI0dKabe_3Bsoq2-vkViHLgqODg0SYeZPlL7s-wonakbpmUuNRzcHx5O4mhitSIS_YtQWiurfrGRbDS_qMQ/w640-h288/20220917_085900.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />2. Charging up your consoles and other devices during the day, and switching your chargers off when you don’t need them, particularly during times you’ll be charged at peak rates.</div><div><br />3. Doing the bulk of your cooking or meal prep before you head out for the day, or setting your dinner to cook during the day in a slow cooker, rather than cooking with your appliances when you get home in the evening.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHZXeSyHXcG6-AnrTUIlmWl5bFbTNKE4w5yBkyMCwxz7jdD6gQ6UBt2_wD2RswkB9MiYLAzTsFbElrgTBUEACbaRCiflbLM8FcSn5NSPx0adceAmXlUz0DQGS9ZRUbiObdzk4BshMYDw3_6wyNkyh9QH9cs5tLdo-O-pgUGmp1SSoI5LXPH-abdRMRQ/s4000/20220408_171440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHZXeSyHXcG6-AnrTUIlmWl5bFbTNKE4w5yBkyMCwxz7jdD6gQ6UBt2_wD2RswkB9MiYLAzTsFbElrgTBUEACbaRCiflbLM8FcSn5NSPx0adceAmXlUz0DQGS9ZRUbiObdzk4BshMYDw3_6wyNkyh9QH9cs5tLdo-O-pgUGmp1SSoI5LXPH-abdRMRQ/w640-h288/20220408_171440.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>WHAT WE FOUND: surprising</div><div><br /></div><div>DH found that the first week's average daily use was 16 kw hours spread pretty evenly over the 24 hour period. If we had signed up to the variable tariff this usage would be expensive -more than $1.20 more or at least $62 per year. </div><div><br /></div><div>The second week of consiously <i>making changes</i> meant we used the same number of kilowatt hours, but reduced our overnight consumption drastically, mostly by changing the hours of electricity boosting. We also turned off chargers, and computers more consistently when not in use. Some things were easy enough -waiting to turn on the dishwasher or dryer is not often an issue.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lXZLOs4-sHFq8Wm3GGptJkbkkGiqsp87wsfOAhd4g6eJqJ026U9bST-OSsbyTSstMxbru0UPsM_HedIYiFOXXv2agOxbjN2qSkLwo9fPGOwNGZ0nozrrb803G7-IQEHXHs3LI5LlqOiNyKUdOGx72gdFro4DbYLndvyoqOckio7KsoYYFm2OGoXtdg/s2932/20220902_175916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2932" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lXZLOs4-sHFq8Wm3GGptJkbkkGiqsp87wsfOAhd4g6eJqJ026U9bST-OSsbyTSstMxbru0UPsM_HedIYiFOXXv2agOxbjN2qSkLwo9fPGOwNGZ0nozrrb803G7-IQEHXHs3LI5LlqOiNyKUdOGx72gdFro4DbYLndvyoqOckio7KsoYYFm2OGoXtdg/w640-h392/20220902_175916.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Changing our cooking practices</i> required some thought. One day I made a vegetable soup -first roasting the veggies for extra sweetness, straight after the bread came out of the oven, after 9 am but before 3. Then I put the soup together and simmered it on the induction cooktop before 3. Then I put it in our insulated hot box until dinner, when I will blend it and serve it. Most of the cooking was done on what would be the cheapest tarriff. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another day, I planned a 'baking day" - making a quiche for dinner and some banana bread in the oven on the lowest tarriff setting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfYB-CknIOP05uSBd8uuJyHIL9Q4CRm7OSOweibk0BqfDTHVNQDUTPW88CxK77gOUGxSvOwKhG8aPcf8LS_7KtbOcn2oq4cUGT36L3tUUNZo8bRv8svbsuzhDuK8RRCoRa_PfLcemcXEkMdNXeq_N-FzjETeiow84qGerFYSbnKqyjrqk5ZJwOCJ_Bg/s4000/20220919_131722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfYB-CknIOP05uSBd8uuJyHIL9Q4CRm7OSOweibk0BqfDTHVNQDUTPW88CxK77gOUGxSvOwKhG8aPcf8LS_7KtbOcn2oq4cUGT36L3tUUNZo8bRv8svbsuzhDuK8RRCoRa_PfLcemcXEkMdNXeq_N-FzjETeiow84qGerFYSbnKqyjrqk5ZJwOCJ_Bg/w288-h640/20220919_131722.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNgt6Jgp8yDuEZjarJ1k_Eu4MnqM3Q0Mfyno7R5JJ_soYvJf-dLMDWVA7s8y6fs1s84X77vF5DIJLHr7v1mHybcbBlx9ExRY-qJm6dWbxRV8-XbTlY1UHHhwqNV4puG-31AVWhRdwd0nAllugm9nKEpVKsntWHT5leJfXMJf-mW4HB8ywuXrZEEl-kQ/s4000/20220919_131756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNgt6Jgp8yDuEZjarJ1k_Eu4MnqM3Q0Mfyno7R5JJ_soYvJf-dLMDWVA7s8y6fs1s84X77vF5DIJLHr7v1mHybcbBlx9ExRY-qJm6dWbxRV8-XbTlY1UHHhwqNV4puG-31AVWhRdwd0nAllugm9nKEpVKsntWHT5leJfXMJf-mW4HB8ywuXrZEEl-kQ/w288-h640/20220919_131756.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>IF we took up the variable tariff, but changed our ways and could keep them up over the year, we would save $40.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, in a cost of living crisis, that might be significant, but it required a lot of effort on our part. </div><div><br /></div><div>AND what about the other seasons? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VuwGQhFXu5wKJTJp2QIyg7l3-9x6oZ8Em3gRRF2hJKw4Vhceltq1o7F7ynqJ_DcTN9xTbnNbXzGAbK6RMtRI1JdOB4uoPdpz9QSvmhyb42jTt93xv-NHLYpTekTQpjqSa_8NLoLwC92nzREpyzOSeCqD42zoFM91k4ndCW9vK-gYwCyUOpwDyG-6qw/s3264/20220203_082134.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VuwGQhFXu5wKJTJp2QIyg7l3-9x6oZ8Em3gRRF2hJKw4Vhceltq1o7F7ynqJ_DcTN9xTbnNbXzGAbK6RMtRI1JdOB4uoPdpz9QSvmhyb42jTt93xv-NHLYpTekTQpjqSa_8NLoLwC92nzREpyzOSeCqD42zoFM91k4ndCW9vK-gYwCyUOpwDyG-6qw/w640-h480/20220203_082134.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>SUMMER if it is still hot after 3pm in summer and we want to use the power to cool ourselves down -won't that be expensive? We often get sea breezes, but they sometimes come after 4pm or later. Earlier this year we had a 'heat bomb' where the temperature did not drop much overnight for over a week of soaring temperatures. The evaporative air conditioner we installed this year uses a lot less power than a refrigerated air conditioner, however. </div><div><br /></div><div>WINTER we are usually pretty active and don't use any heating until evening -and then we sit together in DH's study where a column electric heater and some rugs and quilts is enough. It could be expensive though....In winter you want warm food -and even using our insulated hot box and microwave, and the smaller than the oven convection microwave, you would still use power at the most expensive time of the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of our friends said that most people would not go into the detail of the Synergy offer -I guess that is true. We did, however, and right now we are not signing up.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am happy to try to save power where we can though. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">Finally -stuff I found on the internet related to simple living! </span></b></div><div><br /><p>Growing veggies -<a href="https://transitionaustralia.net/growing-our-own-veggies/?fbclid=IwAR2mQjmHnD4PJnkgrHJP55MENG2ObB0oJ4Pc86sVVFsE-iWwHBohoZQ8wfA" target="_blank">encouraging tips here </a></p><p>Rhonda's wise words on<a href="https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> reducing expenses here</a> </p><p>Green Godess sauce <a href="https://witcheskitchen.com.au/green-goddess-sauce/?fbclid=IwAR3DBfM6tYsP4Cuj5Mvk9MXmd41uvenVdRm4Iy7QrdRDtQPnaTrX3WTh1s0" target="_blank">here</a></p><p>Baking zucchini slice in the slow cooker <a href="https://slowcookertip.com/slow-cooker-zucchini-slice/" target="_blank">here</a> </p><p>Enjoy this wonderful <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Bealtaine+Cottage+Goddess+Permaculture&sp=EiG4AQHCARtDaElKcldJeG5GT09Ya2dSMFU2R0RkRmM2c00%253D" target="_blank">Youtube channel in Ireland</a> called Bealtaine Cottage</p></div>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-24294224296464782702022-09-04T23:57:00.002-07:002022-09-04T23:57:26.508-07:00Djilba- everything is growing! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzz9-XAKXCss4l2B7d5q_p8giCSD-zH1MP9Mxa6V49PyMNwu18Z37wQ5V29U89jiKyFb089GyKxNj7c2OjHDyr-FKpYWNo__RMATKGldNCkcs9eBIMi3VrykIZlAnoIeDcKvV9VPSIPPopbGM3ghlDwFc2rPXmtoXfml9tyROB73Hpmri-CKDW6rpPHg/s883/flowers1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="883" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzz9-XAKXCss4l2B7d5q_p8giCSD-zH1MP9Mxa6V49PyMNwu18Z37wQ5V29U89jiKyFb089GyKxNj7c2OjHDyr-FKpYWNo__RMATKGldNCkcs9eBIMi3VrykIZlAnoIeDcKvV9VPSIPPopbGM3ghlDwFc2rPXmtoXfml9tyROB73Hpmri-CKDW6rpPHg/w640-h418/flowers1.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just part of my garden.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko8rCo492uquzprmbd9b3E2hTzviWQaBURqNqOkf_lZRocLF1OWPmUdDUGxWiDWOIYZqYBPpDx8YOGG2l1_XAp5y1kwu7Yc-oLjwyaF3Hm4YVj72rHUDBHjXiulNUWWRRj0Ta_fDF0IjF-73RTvm8SzJn44MxzB_OVi6HXkEVZ2PuLUYs91RXwPfRxg/s1706/20220814_113023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1706" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko8rCo492uquzprmbd9b3E2hTzviWQaBURqNqOkf_lZRocLF1OWPmUdDUGxWiDWOIYZqYBPpDx8YOGG2l1_XAp5y1kwu7Yc-oLjwyaF3Hm4YVj72rHUDBHjXiulNUWWRRj0Ta_fDF0IjF-73RTvm8SzJn44MxzB_OVi6HXkEVZ2PuLUYs91RXwPfRxg/w640-h612/20220814_113023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>After a lot of winter rain and some warmer days, it is clear that <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/iwk/nyoongar/djilba.shtml" target="_blank">Djilba is in full swing</a>. I am really enjoying the lushness of the garden -there are so many flowers, so much abundance. Djilba is a transitional time of the year, with some very cold and clear days combining with warmer, rainy and windy days mixing with the occasional sunny day or two. Our water tanks have been full for months now. <div><br /><div>We are harvesting rainbow chard, asparagus and snow peas. The rhubarb is growing. Deciduous vines and trees are budding. The parsley has self-seeded, and so of course have all the herbs and annuals. We have bees back in the garden again- all over the rocket flowers and the happy wanderer vines. </div><div>There are also a lot of very active birds! We are delighted with the tiny honeyeaters and the parrots and the wattlebirds which are zooming about among the flowers. They are picking off the pests from my plants too. One embarrassing moment for our cat Dora was when she went out casually (she is never out for more than 5 minutes) to drink from her favourite bird bath, and got swooped by the wattle bird! She had to beat an undignified retreat! </div><div><br /><p></p><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3qq5Z7NxYvboHKBo9ne10grptKQlT5ZoqDdQw-rQyXGAtUQY0gAljqo2mjDYMMHP6BQo0b8c2LrEasGR2LpyB6Q3zDbSr3WB3HHrEnyfUdoCzodkfdkQZilLtFIMpaI0TTwuMp7mIBwQdc9giDRY-97tjSHEQBOKPQ3Fbq-bukvywEUCUf2WzZ1u5w/s1120/river.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1120" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3qq5Z7NxYvboHKBo9ne10grptKQlT5ZoqDdQw-rQyXGAtUQY0gAljqo2mjDYMMHP6BQo0b8c2LrEasGR2LpyB6Q3zDbSr3WB3HHrEnyfUdoCzodkfdkQZilLtFIMpaI0TTwuMp7mIBwQdc9giDRY-97tjSHEQBOKPQ3Fbq-bukvywEUCUf2WzZ1u5w/w640-h370/river.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Derbyl Yirrigan is full and flowing nicely up in the hills. We had a lovely trip out here on a very rainy day, then popped into a pub in Guildford for lunch. Sometimes you just need to break with the routines of retirement life! </div><div><br style="text-align: start;" /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_kghDIdhAjQ_ETo2d_jROTkVTzmdXCSdvEny-D-1vVDyCpCr2Ogfqq3ltEpunZKF21oSjHGWZgVDb-TQCqqGOh__43KibcW8GY9F6kedkwXVvmja9NlT1PR1v3_2Qd61m9_IolvecKdKui1ezSN6Dz-GEtybNn9NbDHLJdW4OPawvfujFnQSBLjmEw/s1366/kp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1366" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_kghDIdhAjQ_ETo2d_jROTkVTzmdXCSdvEny-D-1vVDyCpCr2Ogfqq3ltEpunZKF21oSjHGWZgVDb-TQCqqGOh__43KibcW8GY9F6kedkwXVvmja9NlT1PR1v3_2Qd61m9_IolvecKdKui1ezSN6Dz-GEtybNn9NbDHLJdW4OPawvfujFnQSBLjmEw/w640-h290/kp.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Djilba is the start of the massive flowering explosion that happens in the South West. This starts with the yellow flowering plants such as the Acacias. Also colours that are around at this time of year are creams, combined with some vivid and striking blues. </span><span style="text-align: left;">We went for a walk through King's Park Botanical Gardens recently -where so many flowers are massed from the various regions of the state, and it is quite glorious. </span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrcUnGacrPRkxM1O4m9wrmTQnmtdM0iU3SzV-X9G97ffVZqHsLEXIKHogaU8Jd5gZQueUeCV2WeN9mxd-Cbtrd_Twa8n46HXLLl6PS92zOPFCBhLfUAHSv_q82Q4qqNyWh5cRPqj4S-1mKFdUzZl8b5lkiosalhkasELXEtXYAK8mlppV1Omx3xJNVQ/s1366/araluen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="1366" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrcUnGacrPRkxM1O4m9wrmTQnmtdM0iU3SzV-X9G97ffVZqHsLEXIKHogaU8Jd5gZQueUeCV2WeN9mxd-Cbtrd_Twa8n46HXLLl6PS92zOPFCBhLfUAHSv_q82Q4qqNyWh5cRPqj4S-1mKFdUzZl8b5lkiosalhkasELXEtXYAK8mlppV1Omx3xJNVQ/w640-h280/araluen.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />The Araluen Gardens have a different display -massed tulips planted by their volunteers -which made a great day out too. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLasnUADSr-C1eY8xS87D3xNLTNFXphA9lVdHwDZ9hYdlrk8CZuYbOzSjP2okIM2SYCFVMofKa7gBrpwKLZahj8ZD5sC5Rq-CqlEGL16JLTXq9FQGsC-xMRIvczYvx43hLLF22FKGTFQ8XufS1ZSDDetCb7pjLKgUPi_pyegGZD20Q9regB9BSYO8QkA/s1440/rich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLasnUADSr-C1eY8xS87D3xNLTNFXphA9lVdHwDZ9hYdlrk8CZuYbOzSjP2okIM2SYCFVMofKa7gBrpwKLZahj8ZD5sC5Rq-CqlEGL16JLTXq9FQGsC-xMRIvczYvx43hLLF22FKGTFQ8XufS1ZSDDetCb7pjLKgUPi_pyegGZD20Q9regB9BSYO8QkA/w640-h640/rich.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>There is no doubt that, with so much going on in the garden, and available for free in national parks, we feel very rich indeed. </div><div><p> </p></div></div></div>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-54812452788329807522022-08-16T18:26:00.001-07:002022-08-16T18:26:15.095-07:00My Kunanyi quilt is done <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKOK1j4ybQatc0xFZoNy7y8VU_osT5do_RkXKNmfNH8KI8XZpzvfRoFoCOFLW-HNMrqiWgVqjJHSN7ONh2uWwsXJq8tI9Sq14LQQHN7XpDYQ6JXPh6OOILJQURuTeUwr4_6hfslEal0YgorQ4k-nMI0heg85_li2YZZNWQclZ0KoK9p-wykGXFLPKkw/s1606/20220809_190425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1606" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKOK1j4ybQatc0xFZoNy7y8VU_osT5do_RkXKNmfNH8KI8XZpzvfRoFoCOFLW-HNMrqiWgVqjJHSN7ONh2uWwsXJq8tI9Sq14LQQHN7XpDYQ6JXPh6OOILJQURuTeUwr4_6hfslEal0YgorQ4k-nMI0heg85_li2YZZNWQclZ0KoK9p-wykGXFLPKkw/w640-h494/20220809_190425.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Here it is, on our bed -the quilt I call Kunanyi, after the mountain in Hobart which often has snow at this time of the year. After all the quilt is made from 'snowball' blocks!<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRiN7nDXdqCCfRNSbuS9AZ_Ecg_2xVdY9zyOpU26spG-BiHbz0WuxaoPye7qfARIzkzVQYGpA2Y3FgOx_aMW0VLm2_L_D0VBI6x_FayP9NWP2KvKMk5eCqilBEfRMj_JDQt_gwo-2HdRluchAMQyastrxySJRpdQsn9peV4-fkJZ2aHcvudfLRoFKIw/s2594/20220812_072950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2594" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRiN7nDXdqCCfRNSbuS9AZ_Ecg_2xVdY9zyOpU26spG-BiHbz0WuxaoPye7qfARIzkzVQYGpA2Y3FgOx_aMW0VLm2_L_D0VBI6x_FayP9NWP2KvKMk5eCqilBEfRMj_JDQt_gwo-2HdRluchAMQyastrxySJRpdQsn9peV4-fkJZ2aHcvudfLRoFKIw/w640-h362/20220812_072950.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is lovely to wake up to, on one of those sunny but freezing mornings we get at this time of the year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNI1YuOXWWqxGLbVzxiDmQjMWURHtS0SeW271p_b2ksMv7IotXxhvqowob_orqwx6qPY1S1koBtHK0VSd70kB1Wc1QvsAOc6YDYdeistjGesrudDUUz_A2XU1F51h5HLR6_zSz6SqFBsNaxYfSB5gbFEDrdrmgyMrSrUCNmLdoars8Lr90QQa9WNyJSQ/s4000/20220809_190523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNI1YuOXWWqxGLbVzxiDmQjMWURHtS0SeW271p_b2ksMv7IotXxhvqowob_orqwx6qPY1S1koBtHK0VSd70kB1Wc1QvsAOc6YDYdeistjGesrudDUUz_A2XU1F51h5HLR6_zSz6SqFBsNaxYfSB5gbFEDrdrmgyMrSrUCNmLdoars8Lr90QQa9WNyJSQ/w288-h640/20220809_190523.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made it with fabrics which were given to me at Christmas time one year. It features Nordic designs -pine trees, hearts, stags. There are snowflakes too -so I guess it is a Christmas quilt! Sort of "Christmas in July" which some people do in Australia, to give an excuse to eat all the traditional Christmas fare which is inappropriate when it is hot in summer, our actual Christmas time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8W9yOxW5BpAnMu8KBYxvTdHgm4A-2ZNkCR7Th1wKrZMIU-SeIU1_2MNeUze_6F-ARTBPUSpaZr-SgBPyXQCh_L591kf6mt0BfC-u05z17kqoXSeCKyNfG7LsmI2JbKZVqMRaxEd7WD7mX4_nWOxSpYiYErgbfUsavFgcdljip_jKKLU3ver_aLlgQg/s4000/20220809_190515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8W9yOxW5BpAnMu8KBYxvTdHgm4A-2ZNkCR7Th1wKrZMIU-SeIU1_2MNeUze_6F-ARTBPUSpaZr-SgBPyXQCh_L591kf6mt0BfC-u05z17kqoXSeCKyNfG7LsmI2JbKZVqMRaxEd7WD7mX4_nWOxSpYiYErgbfUsavFgcdljip_jKKLU3ver_aLlgQg/w288-h640/20220809_190515.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Db-RFbzAt3qNGn_yzQPRoP99rJ1s-uCLi-xwVUW-B4prrG89mpDCpoCcFaBP0M1Ufxt-LCxdphRcm-E6gm7yx2VkPhHN6BFyw8fqXKn0mtV_uFWB3pbaiYWTXkI116MoPcVPqhvOcFWFOj_jXbufD905GpsqHlV55DZmcmMhntiNfX6PuyZ0PxQx0w/s4000/20220809_190452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Db-RFbzAt3qNGn_yzQPRoP99rJ1s-uCLi-xwVUW-B4prrG89mpDCpoCcFaBP0M1Ufxt-LCxdphRcm-E6gm7yx2VkPhHN6BFyw8fqXKn0mtV_uFWB3pbaiYWTXkI116MoPcVPqhvOcFWFOj_jXbufD905GpsqHlV55DZmcmMhntiNfX6PuyZ0PxQx0w/w288-h640/20220809_190452.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV41SZZMiUJz13mC16Mebv41yWy39BYpuq3i4DjZCXN70STQ0NN5zC9aIHZ9ZOw_RAizLYBTtWcIM-FH7_FaxqeH1rmYsYEf-xJDF6M2vdLiQ6jMvkznOx9P-9eO1O2wYcF_JZ6ZXxTCUvCgp4ywRCCFulA4zYzCop72botcgYESF-3lNtidR6Tk04xQ/s4000/20220809_190501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV41SZZMiUJz13mC16Mebv41yWy39BYpuq3i4DjZCXN70STQ0NN5zC9aIHZ9ZOw_RAizLYBTtWcIM-FH7_FaxqeH1rmYsYEf-xJDF6M2vdLiQ6jMvkznOx9P-9eO1O2wYcF_JZ6ZXxTCUvCgp4ywRCCFulA4zYzCop72botcgYESF-3lNtidR6Tk04xQ/w288-h640/20220809_190501.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gXslLQkWNXd5_mE8XpaCizyYC5PzXH1W9hdhRAvc5YztA621MoF_0wVBSfFIvrQQgWwYS3ROVWtw3KYq1797cOyvXmGtFVjbmqCU5jkFx_zhTRsRwVr1UoesQZiJPkJYe6ABoT_TOGa809ZbGkopIrsk-jVSKPZ09_Z2Pve0Esc7ApvRbnEb6Q2NtQ/s1612/20220808_184604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1612" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gXslLQkWNXd5_mE8XpaCizyYC5PzXH1W9hdhRAvc5YztA621MoF_0wVBSfFIvrQQgWwYS3ROVWtw3KYq1797cOyvXmGtFVjbmqCU5jkFx_zhTRsRwVr1UoesQZiJPkJYe6ABoT_TOGa809ZbGkopIrsk-jVSKPZ09_Z2Pve0Esc7ApvRbnEb6Q2NtQ/w396-h640/20220808_184604.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br /> It is a big quilt so I got a longarmer to do a lovely swirly pattern -sort of like the wind which swirls at the top of Kunanyi.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj40o0fgkhMZWL1B1Wo09XT7fnUKVxdCHZzdWs74dNjWVf9yuKnkCReHRt86b1j6AKg4EqXDwYMq7mkwNLturK5GG7YWQDf2ufMwY4wMwOnzpZNzB8tQAfBGSWLgEUZRz0L_SHbRstEfLEq4uQRmyhXFygn6vKuNSMRWkorZFTG004QzCUTUEGDTJ12w/s3072/SDC10159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="2304" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj40o0fgkhMZWL1B1Wo09XT7fnUKVxdCHZzdWs74dNjWVf9yuKnkCReHRt86b1j6AKg4EqXDwYMq7mkwNLturK5GG7YWQDf2ufMwY4wMwOnzpZNzB8tQAfBGSWLgEUZRz0L_SHbRstEfLEq4uQRmyhXFygn6vKuNSMRWkorZFTG004QzCUTUEGDTJ12w/w480-h640/SDC10159.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a link to more information and pictures about Kunanyi -Mount Wellington.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tasmania.com/points-of-interest/kunanyi-mt-wellington/">https://tasmania.com/points-of-interest/kunanyi-mt-wellington/</a></div><br /><p><br /></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-47085419743447527282022-08-06T23:25:00.001-07:002022-08-06T23:25:21.680-07:00New Design Wall- with how to do it yourself<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7yOH9CtlUCiiQLTha5siVYtT95SbFj-FhAihPrSHBs_6r8W10oXdnMiafeJcSEC2nMxxV6HWnb1WwYtPLGYmAPAWm9Wq8GsJgPed5_N6I0gekmOhn7Kf-IqepS3gVXLb4fQfNvYcQWMdnTwBwHq0hrd1S7K7s5Iv2PyP_7GrZd_lvc1gXXnnQJTBIA/s2191/20220729_163041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2191" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7yOH9CtlUCiiQLTha5siVYtT95SbFj-FhAihPrSHBs_6r8W10oXdnMiafeJcSEC2nMxxV6HWnb1WwYtPLGYmAPAWm9Wq8GsJgPed5_N6I0gekmOhn7Kf-IqepS3gVXLb4fQfNvYcQWMdnTwBwHq0hrd1S7K7s5Iv2PyP_7GrZd_lvc1gXXnnQJTBIA/w526-h640/20220729_163041.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Twelve years is a long time for a temporary design wall to work. This design wall (above) is a piece of batting, sewn to abacking, and hung from curtain rods in my sewing room, just behind the door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It worked pretty well, but it was small and flimsy. I often had to use pins to keep heavy pieces on to it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My dream was to one day have one of those design walls I saw on quilter's blogs- made with some kind of insulation foam blocks covered with batting. The love of my life (apart from my garden and quilts) Mr DH, heard my call, and started to work out how to do it. The design brief included the idea that the boards should be relatively easy to dismantle -ie no sticking the boards to the wall with glue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He did the research. He made the plan. Five boards. Four stuck together horizontally with gorilla glue and tape. One cut down the middle and stuck vertically. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXklofWnIdAea_ZCHdJLcruEnmzmPYkO2ZiKxz8PmEz_8RPpSrINwSyRNzK8KwZWNbY3v_UAa63VjFN_0_knZVK7RWuGzlGhcHyY_dC--sxpG5pVVByhxuOa6vZHVB2EBs-DWs7221sFwPSXzJ_kZFxYb_kYhXuBST3mr9OgvBKfBKdHXQgFNNA92Ow/s4000/20220806_152035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXklofWnIdAea_ZCHdJLcruEnmzmPYkO2ZiKxz8PmEz_8RPpSrINwSyRNzK8KwZWNbY3v_UAa63VjFN_0_knZVK7RWuGzlGhcHyY_dC--sxpG5pVVByhxuOa6vZHVB2EBs-DWs7221sFwPSXzJ_kZFxYb_kYhXuBST3mr9OgvBKfBKdHXQgFNNA92Ow/w288-h640/20220806_152035.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He created a solid shelf for the bottom of the design wall to sit into. He created metal brackets for the top, to hold it in place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7hPjeNV7VaPCvCD23G4TgdtHgIb6dzZB8c9h_-kaZLsSGZt-l2XNZxGGu_BCNxQqDNO1ka4aBaxaWuO7OzKXyuUWOqFHKJs_DMwq9BxTnuGJG4FJ0BO4L722rULYtjf2RhqkmrFnnQl7IOMzzm11nYudEnw3xfwmS_5Ts0O9xSn2RTIM6qbQIr4XnA/s3264/20220807_102433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7hPjeNV7VaPCvCD23G4TgdtHgIb6dzZB8c9h_-kaZLsSGZt-l2XNZxGGu_BCNxQqDNO1ka4aBaxaWuO7OzKXyuUWOqFHKJs_DMwq9BxTnuGJG4FJ0BO4L722rULYtjf2RhqkmrFnnQl7IOMzzm11nYudEnw3xfwmS_5Ts0O9xSn2RTIM6qbQIr4XnA/w288-h640/20220807_102433.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had a bit of a blip when we realised that the piece of batting which I had saved for the project was about 20 cm or 10 inches too short! Quick trip to a shop, and we were here stapling the batting to the back of the boards, and using tape to secure the corners.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgK_8tdZhRs3GXTIhBkRQ1jk0sAE2I-GWeo8OsxC0ptZ_rjZaS9toqqhwvEGAqz1t81_9Sl3-XgSw59ojHvcfbeMGtNLTQKr_sSBcHMOIX95FzAVRX8LuyWhpI2sIfqxCU99fpo6RCOqWmUf-vP2fpVZ3uRPW0vfLvVgcVlwLerIdc99jVzw5YREcFXA/s4000/20220807_115607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgK_8tdZhRs3GXTIhBkRQ1jk0sAE2I-GWeo8OsxC0ptZ_rjZaS9toqqhwvEGAqz1t81_9Sl3-XgSw59ojHvcfbeMGtNLTQKr_sSBcHMOIX95FzAVRX8LuyWhpI2sIfqxCU99fpo6RCOqWmUf-vP2fpVZ3uRPW0vfLvVgcVlwLerIdc99jVzw5YREcFXA/w640-h288/20220807_115607.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Here it is in all its glory! Solid, smooth, not wobbly or flimsy.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYR0gb_Pi_vswHRsRHeENFdd1zQr304OOFM_vynI7nnEyV5_0P054IDkPhePE2CzDTtn0TVLCo1UwzlaMLukABFKhtOM_xxx8k1LkNYK9pqts07Wk3JG-MuMyxDaV9BWLhlGiwqYjaKFEdjS1-jWVUlwiKyRCREnYVd2uCqtbYKlzUL4DnFhJ9Vcs9w/s3264/20220807_132748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYR0gb_Pi_vswHRsRHeENFdd1zQr304OOFM_vynI7nnEyV5_0P054IDkPhePE2CzDTtn0TVLCo1UwzlaMLukABFKhtOM_xxx8k1LkNYK9pqts07Wk3JG-MuMyxDaV9BWLhlGiwqYjaKFEdjS1-jWVUlwiKyRCREnYVd2uCqtbYKlzUL4DnFhJ9Vcs9w/w288-h640/20220807_132748.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>I love it<p></p><p>Thank you Mr DH! 💗💗</p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-27864931654666189712022-07-17T23:40:00.001-07:002022-07-17T23:40:45.923-07:00Winter -lots of sun, and then lots of rain?<h3 style="text-align: left;">Our Garden</h3><p>It has been an off again and on again sort of winter so far. We had a couple of good downfalls, -enough to fill the water tanks- then about a week or more of sunny dry weather. The garden thinks it is spring -and so I am finding tomato seedlings everywhere, and it is hard to prune roses when they are growing madly. </p><p>As a result of climate weirding, our rain bands are sliding away down south of us, so that the northern suburbs of Perth are often in sunshine when the south is getting a drenching. This is the way it has been going for decades now. Given that we are in a mediterranean style climate, where we get a long summer drought and a short wet winter, the effect is that we are now relying on desalination plants for our water to such an extent that the state government is going to build a third desal plant, and our water costs are now getting much more expensive. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wspIDIhvimd5ibZjJ6XwjDOfFUcuepwJC3eS3A2BKoBcxLk3st4q9x6HPAJBSeFwdSmoyKriM6d1m1oTRgUhS0VMHmMh9MEaCPan9ejM12X-arHY9bxwE2tKc9nYZ_KCyAZDlaVcHIbjk7W9XLxRViiou_4P1R1703Z8v7Ws3lybUZ7AINu2X_Zd4A/s606/rain%209%20july.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="509" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wspIDIhvimd5ibZjJ6XwjDOfFUcuepwJC3eS3A2BKoBcxLk3st4q9x6HPAJBSeFwdSmoyKriM6d1m1oTRgUhS0VMHmMh9MEaCPan9ejM12X-arHY9bxwE2tKc9nYZ_KCyAZDlaVcHIbjk7W9XLxRViiou_4P1R1703Z8v7Ws3lybUZ7AINu2X_Zd4A/w538-h640/rain%209%20july.png" width="538" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>We live in the northern suburbs, and so I am glad that we have already planted a number of trees which can provide some shade for the garden. Our city council has a program of planting street trees. I have been lucky enough to get them to deliver and plant a <a href="https://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-sheets/in-the-garden/flowering-plants-shrubs/jacarandas-trees/" target="_blank">Jacaranda tree</a>. It is going to have lovely blue flowers, and as it is deciduous will let winter sun into the garden. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTYdbX5q0WzEHkgFTg1u0u3fqGoMp5ziV_dljBzrSD1TwmMoxPwEEH2LBolaz8x3hN_FyyCWGXbG4mxR9iqhIaUs3X3ag-IFdkOz-N7Pbc6LrE07SkUSD7Lqgosw0FkgED0QLHVRnVYKHU1O3hrMPKSBQh7QchI9JQQ2-Ji9RXpdIkZO_d6rX4u3Pug/s2572/tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2572" data-original-width="1664" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTYdbX5q0WzEHkgFTg1u0u3fqGoMp5ziV_dljBzrSD1TwmMoxPwEEH2LBolaz8x3hN_FyyCWGXbG4mxR9iqhIaUs3X3ag-IFdkOz-N7Pbc6LrE07SkUSD7Lqgosw0FkgED0QLHVRnVYKHU1O3hrMPKSBQh7QchI9JQQ2-Ji9RXpdIkZO_d6rX4u3Pug/w414-h640/tree.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br /><p>As a result of the winter sun, I have been able to do a lot of gardening. I have planted a dwarf mulberry in a pot -which I will need to keep under control rather like a large bonsai, but which I hope to get some big fruits. I have a mulberry tree in the garden, but the fruit is small. As my dietician and I have worked out that I am super sensitive to sorbitol, found in many stone fruit, I am looking to berries more. Fortunately citrus is OK in my diet because we have lots of citrus. The pink grapefruit have been abundant this year -I keep pressing them on people when they come to my house, and the basket at the letterbox has been filled several times. </p><p>I bought another crown of rhubarb -this is another 'fruit' on my safe list. </p><p>I planted a wicking bed of mint varieties -grapefruit mint, lime mint, chocolate mint and variagated pineapple mint. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBY-lThOQ0-9-XELPh6RNhQr2ehRZebShZago89WscZJ-wi45eYmGuqyMH3nz5Kjmt0c6EmIV2EyMiW8zVMaE96Lhovni4uCRz-kH5KDzg_d9O-3GJ_Whg8Np2S88T1ZO1AzHPWtxaPiS_d3aOBjn2__-9eB6cf8uyJtTOcUFST_jKIsHa8Y9eifofTg/s4000/20220718_133510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBY-lThOQ0-9-XELPh6RNhQr2ehRZebShZago89WscZJ-wi45eYmGuqyMH3nz5Kjmt0c6EmIV2EyMiW8zVMaE96Lhovni4uCRz-kH5KDzg_d9O-3GJ_Whg8Np2S88T1ZO1AzHPWtxaPiS_d3aOBjn2__-9eB6cf8uyJtTOcUFST_jKIsHa8Y9eifofTg/w288-h640/20220718_133510.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I am very happy with the way the verge garden is growing. This was brick paved 18 months ago. DH and I got a load of free mulch from the council recently, so it is looking fine at the moment. The mulch cools the soil, keeps it moist, and rots down to feed the microbes in the ground. There is a 'river" of everlastings which I planted, which should look pretty good once spring arrives. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLOma792JxOw2-83KwCMjV7VblsDyCURB92hPp3Py9X45jT56jTgMKqY8oEO6KPMsfGjgJJTenODyYA3V-xYPDHsb6wBKbQpsOFT_GV9PQFzNQQfU09gMCsVOVBgYbh9_D9BjOQM0Oiakh-Nd1t58Nr-vVyDbncsy9NB6-3xJmaFtSYyuOdIw_IviuQ/s2445/20220621_103319%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2445" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLOma792JxOw2-83KwCMjV7VblsDyCURB92hPp3Py9X45jT56jTgMKqY8oEO6KPMsfGjgJJTenODyYA3V-xYPDHsb6wBKbQpsOFT_GV9PQFzNQQfU09gMCsVOVBgYbh9_D9BjOQM0Oiakh-Nd1t58Nr-vVyDbncsy9NB6-3xJmaFtSYyuOdIw_IviuQ/w640-h402/20220621_103319%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Recommendations</h3><p>I ordered some <i>actual hard copy books,</i> during the Black Inc end of financial year sale. I usually just read ebooks or get library copies, but these were cheap and quite good reads. Lisa Wells book "Believers" making a life at the end of the world" was particularly good. </p><p>We have also been re-reading Pope Francis's encyclical <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html" target="_blank">"Laudato Si" </a>which is very good. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDx-7y2F1jhA58yuXMtxrYcf-XMrvwaklxtXqSXtQQV4MAAFOKB9mEq2JZTKjiCyQfMH7ijQ6o5HCDMpkZUcYuaVelNG9N45sgYGvsXi5F14178wKliv4mEM0-BwWnsXtjjZyMiFe9sDt4c4SZIuyEWnhMFAJPUIK-XYz1v3FaFTnNfvTJgevwy7uag/s3343/20220623_131101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="3343" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDx-7y2F1jhA58yuXMtxrYcf-XMrvwaklxtXqSXtQQV4MAAFOKB9mEq2JZTKjiCyQfMH7ijQ6o5HCDMpkZUcYuaVelNG9N45sgYGvsXi5F14178wKliv4mEM0-BwWnsXtjjZyMiFe9sDt4c4SZIuyEWnhMFAJPUIK-XYz1v3FaFTnNfvTJgevwy7uag/w640-h302/20220623_131101.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>You might also like this article: </p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jul/07/kronos-quartet-david-harrington-violin?fbclid=IwAR1YtjyX3V-7OAmmv-ip9wVWhl5izkvmUe_IJpupddTbJJgRxlNCTCNulc8" target="_blank">War with the trees by Rebecca Solnit </a></p><p>Or you would watch on YouTube- <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2Fxg_YzAdjU_U%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3qe_j6Kd7PKflQyJ_peGT5HTCA94aDMerAcAlwgKlUDNdtPrLDbjnE22Q&h=AT0BuGkuguE55G_bdKQNPOp20_JTPvCAu9YPgLTV5QPqCcB9hg5EsA_XNG9zKyyHM3k8QKl8CKMqlE8N1ZL3iMmsYjOz6QM0BxvHZN5Gl_mfwPVE2mDKpTBUpgN4B3YOLg&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT1BpjLqCapB0rgyYJSE-xTi514iMryhvW7Kdn9NndPe2IVBQSjWUko8QNMTmta-BPJMpFf43aLOb1JSzO3tTbJ_kKUlwIXzoajbZwUSrH6R158ryh-xD2tUoP0BkJ9j10XMJHi80CHwjwoVAUaN26JyQYA_tZe-jFeNXdvnrM6r0ItnSg-L9wAoP2gyCH5nR3Zhrn4LBQ" target="_blank">Shade as a dryland strategy</a> -with Geoff Lawton </p><p>And here is someting interesting -Free pdf -<a href="https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/" target="_blank">Biophilic design </a></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Quilting </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgvHcyDXIfxT0FrH4rHWnkumSpSwIfT_jrIZOQH8NktlbfygD08spMzux0DMOoiq8JsNxMBAmvLLwY-zRux_JHTNVNUw2kJ_n5CGUmnztN4M-9Wel_XuYL_BlUVesMW5v2Y6GeO5ksTayDW60K0gIjWrNf6rU5lN3ft_c7iaLL2wfCanlZRO54k3-hg/s2874/kunyani.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="2874" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgvHcyDXIfxT0FrH4rHWnkumSpSwIfT_jrIZOQH8NktlbfygD08spMzux0DMOoiq8JsNxMBAmvLLwY-zRux_JHTNVNUw2kJ_n5CGUmnztN4M-9Wel_XuYL_BlUVesMW5v2Y6GeO5ksTayDW60K0gIjWrNf6rU5lN3ft_c7iaLL2wfCanlZRO54k3-hg/w640-h400/kunyani.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I delivered my Kunyani quilt (above) to the long armers, and have started on a fun improv quilt below. This is still very much a work in progress. It could be very different when it is finished. It is too dark at the top and bottom in this photo, so I am creating something different. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUy407xRf3X5LPiXE3O7fytfzlbdgKqwoXrnMCAvGp-nu67rILCNsze0hVPFMOqXKGPNYnVJpUQl0UcLRL8JTHyz83PJvN9mmoh_MeNA3lg1e5BYcEjrd52XCBQtKTGO4CiTSX3AbUrUplgAIwfLqyZq-cN_5zfnncNRpDnW_kT_mynNcMVItz1-I3TA/s1938/20220628_162214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1938" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUy407xRf3X5LPiXE3O7fytfzlbdgKqwoXrnMCAvGp-nu67rILCNsze0hVPFMOqXKGPNYnVJpUQl0UcLRL8JTHyz83PJvN9mmoh_MeNA3lg1e5BYcEjrd52XCBQtKTGO4CiTSX3AbUrUplgAIwfLqyZq-cN_5zfnncNRpDnW_kT_mynNcMVItz1-I3TA/w594-h640/20220628_162214.jpg" width="594" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Covid </h3><p>We have been celebrating our grandson's 8th birthday despite the fact that his party had to be delayed due to Covid hitting the parents -again. We went to a favourite park on what should have been his birthday party day, and had a good time.</p><p>Covid is rampant through our community and yet people are still not taking obvious precautionary measures. As it is winter, and there is also a flu epidemic, I find this recklessness to be concerning. DH and I are trying to stay safe without becoming hermits! We wear masks indoors, we limit our exposure to risky settings like shopping centres and restaurants and bars. Nevertheless we have had some friends at our place for lunch and for dinner -with appropriate ventilation. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Podcast fun- and a tidy up too</h3><p>I have enjoyed listening to <a href="https://www.aslobcomesclean.com/podcasts/" target="_blank">A Slob Comes Clean</a>- a podcast about getting control of the house -by someone who is (probably) neurodiverse. The author identifies as a creative person who is easily distracted and who finds it hard to do anything consistently. She says her brain is different than other people's and that is why household tasks are always a struggle for her. </p><p>I guess most people coming to our home would not have seen it when it was a disaster area - DH and I clearly remember having a couple of police officers come to see about a burglary some years ago, and telling them "no, the place hasn't been ransacked-it always looks like this". It was about this time that I started searching for any ideas about how to get on top of things. I found "<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/79393.Sidetracked_Home_Executives" target="_blank">Sidetracked Home Executives</a>" at the library and that was the beginning of a system which made all the difference. </p><p>Later on I did "Flylady" routines for about a year or so.</p><p>One thing I know, the less stuff I have at home, the easier it is to keep it under control. This is hard for all of us who live here -we are natural collectors! I found the podcast mentioned above a bit of a boost or refresher to keep on ridding the place of stuff we don't use and don't need. It is an on-going task. Right now I am working on throwing out socks that have holes. Yes, I know that I could darn them -I even know how- but unless they are my really good wool ones, that is not going to happen. The sock drawer works best when everything in it is actually wearable, and it feels a bit like a luxury to know you can pull anything out of the drawer and find it useful. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Volunteering</h3><p>Later this week I will be working on the playcentre garden again. They got a grant for some garden improvements, and so I am going to refresh some very tired hanging baskets with new liners and will plant strawberries. We also have a small ficus, a hoya and some mint to plant in the entrance area which is now very bare. </p><p>I hope you are having a good safe time whereever you are -and if it is winter where you are, that you are finding good things to do to keep active. Stay safe and thanks for reading this far. </p><p><br /></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-21482590544450568612022-06-05T23:15:00.003-07:002022-06-05T23:15:39.371-07:00Eat like a peasant <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyCxelzjz9WS7-d_6LH2Cv4z9QGTrsVW9hcW9i2JISaYmwINkJnn4McXcXh7zVFMJ0vkQCg0_rWgQjrrvjybcjT5W2O1nk5t1WnHUfOdDmfdZzyqRXXojz4OB6Nc415qT2yAMn-2DpqR2HOGWJBgx7tq-yf87lORKSH3eVefgUSOS8Gmlib3H9FuhwA/s4000/20220605_145800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyCxelzjz9WS7-d_6LH2Cv4z9QGTrsVW9hcW9i2JISaYmwINkJnn4McXcXh7zVFMJ0vkQCg0_rWgQjrrvjybcjT5W2O1nk5t1WnHUfOdDmfdZzyqRXXojz4OB6Nc415qT2yAMn-2DpqR2HOGWJBgx7tq-yf87lORKSH3eVefgUSOS8Gmlib3H9FuhwA/w640-h288/20220605_145800.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> It is now winter -or more precisely the Noongar season of makuru, which is when we can expect more rain and cooler weather. In the face of the good news of our new government (Yay for democracy! Yay for preferential voting!) we have the continuing bad news of rising prices in just about everything, but especially energy prices. <p></p><p>As I wrote in <a href="http://earthmotherwithin.blogspot.com/2022/05/inflation-some-strategies-for-avoiding.html" target="_blank">my last post</a>, there are some long term things we do to help us cope with inflationary cost pressures. </p><p>I have been reviewing our habits on grocery spending and genearl food habits this month, and thought I would write down some of the suggestions. One of the things I have been doing is reminding myself of the "peasant lifestyle", through some cook books on my shelf*, as the resourcefulness and simplicity of the peasant lifestyle is a bit of a hedge against feeling powerless in the face of the supermarket price rises. I turn to the classic cuisines of the Mediterranean and Asia for inspiration. </p><p>Here is an article about 'cucina povera" -or peasant food! <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2022/06/02/reinvent-leftovers-and-save-money-cucina-povera?fbclid=IwAR1vaEvr6Mc8mkADqh9-rxq2d7UMjM5LHMLrtln6ppmOgCey59TomY09iy8" target="_blank">Click here</a></p><p><b>Growing some of it ourselves </b></p><p>It is fair to say that the garden gives me great pleasure, and good exercise. If it did nothing else, it would be a worthwhile investment, but the garden actually provides us with <i>real food</i> which we can eat fresh picked and without any food miles. I deliberately try to grow things which are expensive when bought in the shops, and things which don't travel well -like herbs. Our diet can be tastier, healthier and more varied by doing this. We don't grow potatoes, carrots or onions because they take quite a lot of room in an small garden, if you want to stop buying them from the green grocer altogether. </p><p>The think you notice about the peasant life is that it flows with the seasons. Seasonal food is cheaper, it doesn't need to be transported half the way across the world, and it is fresher. In the Mediterranean diet -often cited as very healthy- fasting is a normal part of the year but especially for the religious seasons of Lent and Advent. Vegetarian food is common, with meat used sparingly. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07pPel8k3v_FtFTBkH60pJk1URSbcAh05ZQFj4bngMwAP8Ox9WqJDOFvFL-2SJwBWhOD-NUCx-q_x9gJeNoHMf2QgvnIJsZwqDhlJVKhr5l_v_YMu8SrKjJKr9hdDhQtoh-X9UW5xOVs4RV1v59nVuw07z-i3JbV58hgQO6NZtU5x-x7sCt7SNBrAbA/s2272/20220530_104257%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2272" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07pPel8k3v_FtFTBkH60pJk1URSbcAh05ZQFj4bngMwAP8Ox9WqJDOFvFL-2SJwBWhOD-NUCx-q_x9gJeNoHMf2QgvnIJsZwqDhlJVKhr5l_v_YMu8SrKjJKr9hdDhQtoh-X9UW5xOVs4RV1v59nVuw07z-i3JbV58hgQO6NZtU5x-x7sCt7SNBrAbA/w640-h400/20220530_104257%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><i>What we have been harvesting</i></p><p>Tangelos -these gloriously orangy oranges are fabulous in breakfast juice. Our tree has about 20 fruit this year, and I am saving every single one for us. </p><p>Grapefruit-these are the pink ones, and I reckon there are more than 100 on the tree. I have already given a basketful away to the neighbours through our buy nothing group on social media. We add some of these to our breakfast juice. </p><p>Meyer Lemons -sweeter and juicier than eureka lemons, and we have a very productive tree. Have given away a basketful already this season.</p><p>Limes -not just for gin and tonics, but good for these. I will freeze some in quarters, and I am also going to put some in salt -like preserved lemons- for adding to salads and rice and couscous. </p><p>Olives -DH and I are putting away a couple of small jars in brine every few weeks. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SQRNgtQbVlee_-EanFe_lnh93BfsEAzTtQe4j6DgKnGRbSQbQdyR5KK1lrJSE2Kph6O1tHa-N5NFyU8vo0txfm3lJZaE3Rl1pUdK6E2XcfMEgZWa6edrS-31hiGqYZYBuLlkWi8II7CQZSAh30UbYva8ey2foV57CWdf5aV5CoqiYsWbIsr0UorUkA/s4000/20220606_134652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SQRNgtQbVlee_-EanFe_lnh93BfsEAzTtQe4j6DgKnGRbSQbQdyR5KK1lrJSE2Kph6O1tHa-N5NFyU8vo0txfm3lJZaE3Rl1pUdK6E2XcfMEgZWa6edrS-31hiGqYZYBuLlkWi8II7CQZSAh30UbYva8ey2foV57CWdf5aV5CoqiYsWbIsr0UorUkA/w640-h288/20220606_134652.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Salad leaves -I am growing a whole range of 'cut and come again' lettuces, along with rocket and coriander and dill, in the garden at the moment. Most of these are self-seeded, which means that I just let the plant flower, and then the seeds fell into the garden and now I have new plants. Winter is the best time for green leaves in this climate. We also have kale, kan kong, warrigal greens and sweet potato leaves for stir fries. At about $3 per bag of salad leaves at the supermarket, we are doing well in saving money just from this one item alone, especially as ours are always picked absolutely fresh. </p><p>Herbs- soup is better with parsley and thyme, pasta is better with basil and rosemary and oregano. I have bay leaves growing outside. I have makrut lime and curry leaves for curries. Mint for tea and deserts. One read recently that those tiny packs of herbs in the supermarket come out to $200 per kilo! Now, herbs are astonishingly easy to grow- in fact with things like mint and saddle back sorrel the trick is to keep them from taking over the garden. Instead, I keep them in a pot, and feel like one of those TV chefs when I just pop outside and come back with a handful of herbs for my recipe.</p><p><i>How much do we spend on the garden?</i> My budget gives me $50 per month, and I can usually find something to spend it on. I don't buy pesticides or fungicides -but I do buy a bag or two of pelletised manure, and quality potting mix to add to the compost when I am potting up plants. This month I bought rock minerals because Perth sandy soils can be a bit deficient in minerals. I also bought a bag of kitty litter which is made of bentonite clay, because it is a cheap way of getting clay to add to the sand in the garden when I am planting something. Sometimes it is nice to buy a new plant -I got a bougainvillea this month -but I often can divide or take cuttings when I need to fill a space in the garden. We make compost and get free mulch from the city council, and I am always on the scrounge for free ingredients to add to the garden. This pile of leaves was one such opportunity - I had a bag in the boot so I quickly piled them up and took them home for the compost.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pRzqe3yGhb-HnzMb4OuOQqqw-Adu3-WwrGkipw-rvZog4JMubfZuW-5yRl-KU-65b4L4mpRhcPleK4DEIthbSOvq2i8HxHdi2FyroGLStEwrSXstVqaMAWfzGf3bPLLw6YT_ljnbh1lj7oUJzKnGXDYtbbT0vTj2tDwUQFwy85ldTUfSUO60rOwFtQ/s4000/20220601_101811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pRzqe3yGhb-HnzMb4OuOQqqw-Adu3-WwrGkipw-rvZog4JMubfZuW-5yRl-KU-65b4L4mpRhcPleK4DEIthbSOvq2i8HxHdi2FyroGLStEwrSXstVqaMAWfzGf3bPLLw6YT_ljnbh1lj7oUJzKnGXDYtbbT0vTj2tDwUQFwy85ldTUfSUO60rOwFtQ/w640-h288/20220601_101811.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>What is the garden <i>worth in dollar terms</i>? I haven't actually done the figures, so I don't really know. We still shop for vegetables and fruit, but I think our diet is more varied, and we have fresher meals because of it. I saw someone offering home grown grapefruit for $1.50 each! I have more than 50 on the tree -so that is a significant cost saving right there. </p><p>If you have the land -or even a bit of a sunny balcony or a strip of land next to a driveway, I think you can eat from the garden and save money. </p><p><br /></p><p>*Books like <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/honey-from-a-weed-patience-gray/book/9781903018200.html?msclkid=37b52f7bfa7c1138ab3b4de663b59d54&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=!%20Shopping%2090c&utm_term=4585169650599087&utm_content=All%20Custom%20Label" target="_blank">"Honey from a weed" by Patience Grey </a>, and <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/rick-stein-from-venice-to-istanbul-rick-stein/book/9781849908603.html?msclkid=64c961019ce01e7fd7da039c06ede26f&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=!%20Shopping%2090c&utm_term=4585169650599087&utm_content=All%20Custom%20Label" target="_blank">Rick Stein "From Venice to Istanbul" </a></p><p>Other Resources</p><p><a href="https://smarterthancrows.wpcomstaging.com/2022/06/03/a-beginners-guide-to-integrated-pest-management/?fbclid=IwAR0oq1iPLmknMpz0KkMoSwsg4FQDH6cztHPxFmedLaIbibXKFovsa4iO2Ms" target="_blank">Integrated pest management</a></p><p><a href="http://www.underthechokotree.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=469%3Aits-okreally&catid=108%3Aoverview&Itemid=37&fbclid=IwAR0Uj32s1zKCk7uSMd3B_70lUwO8ZE5CSkqcq_o6DuQoD8mvsEkjiYCcrlI" target="_blank">It's OK really </a></p><p><a href="http://frame.bloglovin.com/?post=8493044143&blog=15246145&frame_type=none" target="_blank">Great tips here </a> from Zero Waste Chef</p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-15248087795823443022022-05-06T00:07:00.000-07:002022-05-06T00:07:24.127-07:00Inflation -some strategies for avoiding spending money<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div> In Australia, as in other places, the cost of living is rising sharply at the moment. Interest rates are going up, and for those who have loans and mortgages that means that they will have less discretionary spending money.<div><br /></div><div>Food prices are going up around the world, too. <br /><div><br /></div><div>One of the best definitions of inflation, that I have read, is 'a time when your money buys less than it did before". For anyone on a tight budget, or a fixed income, inflation is a challenge -how manage when prices are going up? What follows are my thoughts on how someone in my situation -one a fixed budget and at the retired stage of life, might do some hedging against price shocks.<p></p><p> NOTE: <i>I know many others have it much tougher than we do, and I am sorry, really sorry. If this blog post is not helpful because you just don't have enough money now let alone when prices go up, please know that I have been there too, and I really hope our society can be kinder and fairer to everyone. In Australia that means, at the very least, we should raise the rate of Newstart to something like $80 per day. </i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Get it for free</h3><p>This is a devil's ivy plant, which was given away on our local "Buy Nothing" site, because it really really needed some plant first aid. Now, I have quite a collection of indoor plants, and enjoy growing them up. They can cost quite a few dollars, but last a long time if cared for and in the right place. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboj67q7_miEvzaiguooQeaDsQiaj-jJiF5h2wskiPYxha-rymnSgd3zQIiNWSs7bO94fO7S4bm2u8wCeWwUt4qJV8XfDxrNlezCUHuGxEmappAwpidP9593R4sx8YsfRqBrorMdV2fHeB34LgTY-GV-exrRUlspQLJvc1OV4omlbrqk6lIxwZVMtqHA/s2048/devils%20ivy%2025%20april%202022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboj67q7_miEvzaiguooQeaDsQiaj-jJiF5h2wskiPYxha-rymnSgd3zQIiNWSs7bO94fO7S4bm2u8wCeWwUt4qJV8XfDxrNlezCUHuGxEmappAwpidP9593R4sx8YsfRqBrorMdV2fHeB34LgTY-GV-exrRUlspQLJvc1OV4omlbrqk6lIxwZVMtqHA/s320/devils%20ivy%2025%20april%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a few weeks of tender care the plant is now thriving in a new pot -this one which actually has drainage- and I am using the pot as a cover pot for another of my plants. It was a fun challenge, and it made me happy. If I want to, I can now give it away as a gift. Free stuff -you might find it in all sorts of places if you are open to it. It is particularly true in gardening -most people are very happy to give away cuttings and seeds, or even whole plants if it is in the wrong place, and you are willing to dig it up for them. Many of my garden plants were grown from cuttings, and often turn out to be the best for this climate, such as pelargoniums and shasta daisies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOxGA9l_hJqgCxEac_lK0Br70-SMJKb371BRfH7iKvyTIxQVMC1SxLxMVpasQgjPJLmNmV0aG9J4pEcbQYLG88Lm6d2DVyA1bqbOE0OrsnqhlUVkABZYuwQ5rgLNnJPNXWamM4OXf_ipEBXku37vurh2RG5dxmZkDgNLPiwFhPJ-INULCdIs10HU5kQ/s4000/20220506_140448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOxGA9l_hJqgCxEac_lK0Br70-SMJKb371BRfH7iKvyTIxQVMC1SxLxMVpasQgjPJLmNmV0aG9J4pEcbQYLG88Lm6d2DVyA1bqbOE0OrsnqhlUVkABZYuwQ5rgLNnJPNXWamM4OXf_ipEBXku37vurh2RG5dxmZkDgNLPiwFhPJ-INULCdIs10HU5kQ/s320/20220506_140448.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I will also mention libraries as my favourite place to get reading material for free. I absolutely love my library -I am an avid reader. It would cost a fortune to keep me in books, so libraries are a great source of entertainment and education and they cost nothing. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Books to find at the library on frugal living</b></div><div><a href="http://bit.ly/frugalhedonismbook">The Art of Frugal Hedonism</a> bu Annie Raiser Rowland and Adam Grubb</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19652958-a-girl-called-jack" target="_blank">A Girl Called Jack</a> -recipe book for those who are living in a low cash environment -and all the other cook books Jack Munroe has authored, like "Cooking on a bootstrap" and The Tin Can Cook. </div><div><br /></div><div>Regarding free stuff -it may be important to check what subscription items are in your budget that you could replace for free things -I am thinking of subscriptions to various apps and channels. If we are creative, we can find our entertainment and educationw without paying each month for it. </div><h3>Lend it</h3>If you can't get it for free -maybe you know someone who would lend you something you only need for a little while. I read somewhere that most electric drills are used for only 4 hours. People want it to do one thing, buy it and never use it again. In some parts of Australia folk have set up lending libraries of things like camping equipment, garden and workshop tools and the kind of things you need for a big party, but don't need very often. If you take good care of the item you borrow, and return it on time, you will keep your friend happy.<div>Don't forget to return the favour -maybe you have some things you could lend to another. The kind of reciprocity of this exchange builds community. <br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Maintenance Pays Off</h3><p>We have all had that experience of suddenly discovering that the washing machine won't work, or the dishwasher is making odd noises, or the car has a warning light on the dashboard. Not only is it often extremely inconvenient, it is also really expensive. Getting a tradie to visit your home involves a 'call out fee' even before they have started work. </p><p>I try to do routine maintenance on my appliances to ensure that they last as long as possible, and that such emergency service calls are only required infrequently. I am not in any way a technical or mechanically minded person, but I can easily clean the filter on the dishwasher, and often give it an extra clean with lemon juice or vinegar, to clean off scale and mould in the pipes and hoses. One of my friend's adult daughters watched some YouTube videos before succesfully fixing their washing machine. </p><p>My car does get it's regular service, and now that we use a mobile mechanic who comes to our home, we notice that they do not try as much as the franchise mechanic, to on-sell us extra parts like air filters.</p><p>Cleaning out the gutters before the winter rains is a good maintenance tip. Water in the roof can be really expensive to fix. </p><p>If you can sew, a bit of repair on a hem or a button can save money on buying another item of clothing. </p><p>If you have your appliance handbook, there may be some tips about regular maintenance and what to do if it stops working. I have mine in plastic pockets in a lever arch folder, and this has saved the day many times. Like the time we somehow put the child lock on the induction cook top -and nothing worked. before panic set in completely, we remembered the manual, which told us how to fix it, without a call out fee! </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Plan for replacement -or do without</h3><p>We are using <a href="https://www.youneedabudget.com/the-four-rules/" target="_blank">YNAB for our budgetting</a>, and I love it. One of its rules is that a good budget knows the difference between an emergency and a 'true expense'. True expenses are things like buying new tires for the car -usually not an emergency, we should be able to predict that we will have to do this at least months if not years in advance. Similarly, we should be able to predict that a 7 year old appliance is probably going to need replacing sometime in the next year or so. If we set aside small amounts regulary to cover such replacements, we should not have our budget wiped out by them. In fact, if it works well, <i>we just pay it! </i>No drama at all! </p><p>Of course, if there are too many things which need replacing all at once, before the budget has enought in it, we might be in difficulty. At such times we might just have to get by without the appliance for a time. In an inflationary environment, it will possibly be much more expensive to replace our appliances than when we bought them some time ago, and so knowing how to do without for a time, is a really good strategy. I know that I can wash all the dishes by hand, even though I would rather not, but I would struggle to wash clothes by hand so I would priorities a washing machine over a dishwasher if it had to be one or the other. </p><p>Of course, you can budget this way without YNAB -we did for years with a spreadsheet, but the idea of true expenses is important to know. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Do It Yourself</h3><p>Some years ago I was part of a website and forum which taught frugality. One of the people there was a woman who had suffered an injury at work and so was unable to contribute cash to her family by paid work. She worked hard on finding ways to replace the things they had bought with cash, with things she could make using the time she had once traded for dollars at work. If she had been used to purchasing a packet of biscuits, for example, she made biscuits. If they were used to buying soap powder, she made her own. She actually went to the shop, studied the list of ingredients, went home and researched and experimented to find replacements. If you have the time to give, you can replace many consumer and manufactured products with your own ready made items, at cheaper cost, without fancy packaging, shelf stabilisers and funny ingredients. </p><p>You can make your own curry powder, grow your own herbs, bake your own bread, culture your own yoghurt and make clothes. I learned a lot from this woman's example, and now have many items we regularly make ourselves.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje61y4eXFX7eol_eufShtISVwsqD-u1PUAJ-UzttMm3WJ4bGCxacn3cL33hnFyLrFUgjabcjqdc8LRk3Zy-N_78bxaCnQaf1VnC7fjzWzgU0b-ORjmb47-fEgA3Ee-hxkCCBOYKEJCaaMb4H--1EwnbCvrTHMK-yl7cjyXuFmGeSwbIXkIZo05dc-lVQ/s3000/IMG_20211008_124911_684.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje61y4eXFX7eol_eufShtISVwsqD-u1PUAJ-UzttMm3WJ4bGCxacn3cL33hnFyLrFUgjabcjqdc8LRk3Zy-N_78bxaCnQaf1VnC7fjzWzgU0b-ORjmb47-fEgA3Ee-hxkCCBOYKEJCaaMb4H--1EwnbCvrTHMK-yl7cjyXuFmGeSwbIXkIZo05dc-lVQ/s320/IMG_20211008_124911_684.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>In the garden I make compost, which uses up things we would otherwise throw away, and get a soil amendment to help me grow fruit and vegetables which saves me money too. Our worm farm makes the best soil amendments. Sometimes I simply take the 'do nothing' approach -if the plant is a bit sick, and I have watered it and fed it, and it still has problems I wait to see if the ecological niche it lives in will support it or whether it was just wrong for this place. I don't buy poisons and amendments for the garden. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnwXR1se_V_gZWKwOMlHQ6gH4fXv_gtIolXPL1bYsoFntHka7nOwyXBfYgR4RVawd2TP_fALXzb-WbJVPYB94lDtVZZr0oLjVodQ1ZTJmJKCW2JGFeS6-v55G11Hl9gmh-XcL9I52N1A788p7ftBSfNDs_GbgvLvmnyMMjN_IzQVWXyQ6nFjpRQ5fwg/s750/icaw2022posterwinner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnwXR1se_V_gZWKwOMlHQ6gH4fXv_gtIolXPL1bYsoFntHka7nOwyXBfYgR4RVawd2TP_fALXzb-WbJVPYB94lDtVZZr0oLjVodQ1ZTJmJKCW2JGFeS6-v55G11Hl9gmh-XcL9I52N1A788p7ftBSfNDs_GbgvLvmnyMMjN_IzQVWXyQ6nFjpRQ5fwg/s320/icaw2022posterwinner.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>DH is a handy person who has helped us a lot by putting up shelves, painting walls, making and repairing furniture, repairing loose screws and such. Often a simple tool kit, picked up cheaply in garage sales, can make a big difference-every house should have a screw driver or three, a hammer and a pair of pliers. Dh often recycles things we get for free from our local Buy Nothing group, or cheaply from the Tip Shop. These lovely windows came from a neighbour for nothing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQHEh62gyO_WfezZQZN-3NjHkzD1CsRNXGoEBqfB8DfbeLoHKn54cqINERxNIhq5o8PyxEktJR4Gz_eXYY0Sli19j9_YLZth42UIXOFBNKn7BMJPrWVKTaojGFBPM0H8xVSvODtVxPu-RyJo538Fa5xmJEJnNmqBZYXpauM5lnRB2wtMqXqGrn8huGg/s1080/IMG_20220114_150908_406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQHEh62gyO_WfezZQZN-3NjHkzD1CsRNXGoEBqfB8DfbeLoHKn54cqINERxNIhq5o8PyxEktJR4Gz_eXYY0Sli19j9_YLZth42UIXOFBNKn7BMJPrWVKTaojGFBPM0H8xVSvODtVxPu-RyJo538Fa5xmJEJnNmqBZYXpauM5lnRB2wtMqXqGrn8huGg/s320/IMG_20220114_150908_406.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Just today he replaced a towel rail in the main bathroom, which had actually broken off at the part where the rail joins the supporting plate attached to the wall. Imagine if we had to get a tradie in to do that job -it would have taken a lot more than the $70 for the new rail.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Don't forget to Pay it Forward</h3><div>If the times are bad, our community can be a powerful force for good. It is hard to face hard times alone, so if we can, we should offer our surplus to others. This is a basket of limes from my tree which I have put near the letterbox for others to take.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwICKdnC9eRx-s7xJzOQjWYFKTf6ryQ2Koeo2KFq8CVl5luN7VtJ8e_J5kWHE4XMaJ4ZtLn-laddVspaujrNFouCcJO0wYO1ubb_2s1w-2eV1FCQqmF7-ZE_ZC8lrhuXAI6T3weSDyN_8zw3GoWisU7JHJfsXtDU6qi_w9kHYW81jSRqRtqjudSoY5xQ/s4000/20220504_112358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwICKdnC9eRx-s7xJzOQjWYFKTf6ryQ2Koeo2KFq8CVl5luN7VtJ8e_J5kWHE4XMaJ4ZtLn-laddVspaujrNFouCcJO0wYO1ubb_2s1w-2eV1FCQqmF7-ZE_ZC8lrhuXAI6T3weSDyN_8zw3GoWisU7JHJfsXtDU6qi_w9kHYW81jSRqRtqjudSoY5xQ/s320/20220504_112358.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If we have free time we can volunteer at a community organisation -it costs nothing, but can be very rewarding. If we are living in a tight economic environment, and feeling pinched, giving back to the community by volunteering might be something which gives us a feeling of bounty, of abundance and of connection. Both DH and I volunteer in community organisations and we love it. He is treasurer of a mediation community and I work in the garden of a play centre. </div><div><br /></div><p>Finally my advice is to <i>try to be content</i> with things -and here is a small article which may assist </p><p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/sustainable-home-renovation-on-a-modest-budget/101024706?fbclid=IwAR1qbdKTA9yN4hP4U386YrP7ntht1DMWzv9ztFlB9CTnkc9O_msNSdLgnHg" target="_blank">Home renovation of a modest budget</a></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-30501113456663421552022-04-24T23:28:00.001-07:002022-04-24T23:28:19.963-07:00When you do stuff, stuff gets done<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVkDGM9QtcZGgz0XjaZUWgSvBMx61zjkDyQqOuDPfablOaydyVAPLhzBqi_A0XchtfDvdys4VZbCYwPpx9WOj-OTNyeqSQ_2sVuJwRS4m0BkV0hoB6nzoSJ9KvgsS_Ft985eVwnaREdYV8vsyd8Z2I8_Kt84qystroWlJA3HJ32r5kG5dedQH5neOWw/s4000/20220416_095727.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVkDGM9QtcZGgz0XjaZUWgSvBMx61zjkDyQqOuDPfablOaydyVAPLhzBqi_A0XchtfDvdys4VZbCYwPpx9WOj-OTNyeqSQ_2sVuJwRS4m0BkV0hoB6nzoSJ9KvgsS_Ft985eVwnaREdYV8vsyd8Z2I8_Kt84qystroWlJA3HJ32r5kG5dedQH5neOWw/w640-h288/20220416_095727.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the Easter weekend I was out in the garden and thought it was time to harvest the quinces and pomegranates and the one single pumpkin which survived the summer. When I put them in the basket, I realised just how pretty they all looked and so I took a picture of it. Sometimes you just have to celebrate the abundance of what you have and how wonderful it is that some things survive and grow and multiply. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are also harvesting limes and basil, and the first of the pink grapefruit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj068OoHfl7xUWbpJDV7Tw0_HPh4j7_2nj2PGpqTHjntyiBeD_oO6JEI0Ji7qF1CPAWpX2sGxT3PiKmhg2NuCq_uPVq1SX4Qy6g40JxbAVztLuOhbhc5lB1EsLvf_RAqTXf2jgvJMzgDrc_1YxRmxtql5dspoOSbJcknPCLlma91kDRneInzi4ZILPgMQ/s2473/20220424_151708%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2473" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj068OoHfl7xUWbpJDV7Tw0_HPh4j7_2nj2PGpqTHjntyiBeD_oO6JEI0Ji7qF1CPAWpX2sGxT3PiKmhg2NuCq_uPVq1SX4Qy6g40JxbAVztLuOhbhc5lB1EsLvf_RAqTXf2jgvJMzgDrc_1YxRmxtql5dspoOSbJcknPCLlma91kDRneInzi4ZILPgMQ/w466-h640/20220424_151708%20(2).jpg" width="466" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have a new chorister in the choir at the moment, a mature person who is taking a sabbatical from her academic work in England by working here at our university. She commented that she couldn't get used to the idea that our autumn is not about things dying back, but everything springing to life. These banksia flowers are a sign that autumn is here -or Djeran, the Noongar season name. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzv3Ok_pl2fTcD0xcW9s5xwddzAarnsQrRyMeWgH4E-tInKD7PD0U9G4hGGRBxe4xqnGxFD8G5FDBZ1zO67a-xlpr_jEXJoXk1INWe1X40WP3I2H9mcpjZZHMpbSEpRN2Vjf-r9z4BEzCAA7Ml-ANg5RTrOxSN5Bumc8iHtKS1no5nfpMaWV7C1EfjQ/s2874/20220417_090012%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="2874" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzv3Ok_pl2fTcD0xcW9s5xwddzAarnsQrRyMeWgH4E-tInKD7PD0U9G4hGGRBxe4xqnGxFD8G5FDBZ1zO67a-xlpr_jEXJoXk1INWe1X40WP3I2H9mcpjZZHMpbSEpRN2Vjf-r9z4BEzCAA7Ml-ANg5RTrOxSN5Bumc8iHtKS1no5nfpMaWV7C1EfjQ/w640-h400/20220417_090012%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have completed the quilt top for my queen size quilt.Finally! I will be taking this one to the long armer to quilt up, because it is way too big for me on my domestic sewing machine. I bought a large piece of fabric for the back, and some wadding, but now I have to make the binding. The long armer puts the binding on one side before she is finished with the quilt, which is a lovely service! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_5f9qICToPDJkKL6qo33ztgZIBfImD_DfQHEJ0MKaLt4cP6P9wawvVL5n5Mt7_TV6f8qYDBTOyKFNtlmnjA_0SZtll6FbrRP0uB23AWCcByfw265xRvk36VESSn5tHjrXhvwpR2lkeIua8_MuhP4Ljv2D1WSLb7X3wWQFXk1ynkQdQbNB9jC7m3QeQ/s2223/20220416_094634%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2223" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_5f9qICToPDJkKL6qo33ztgZIBfImD_DfQHEJ0MKaLt4cP6P9wawvVL5n5Mt7_TV6f8qYDBTOyKFNtlmnjA_0SZtll6FbrRP0uB23AWCcByfw265xRvk36VESSn5tHjrXhvwpR2lkeIua8_MuhP4Ljv2D1WSLb7X3wWQFXk1ynkQdQbNB9jC7m3QeQ/w518-h640/20220416_094634%20(2).jpg" width="518" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The garlic is planted, and I have seeds of coriander and dill in the ground. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have today planted two new plants on the verge: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.australianplantsonline.com.au/carissa-desert-star.html" target="_blank">Carissa Desert Star</a> and <a href="https://www.australianplantsonline.com.au/chrysocephalum-apiculatum-yellow-buttons.html" target="_blank">Chrysocephalum apiculatum (yellow buttons)</a>. Our local tip shop has a bit of a plant section and they often have quite good bargains. I am hoping both will be as hardy as described, because it is tough out therre on the verge. We have a few days of rain forecast, and I hope they will be bedded in nicely by the rain. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Here are some good things to read or listen to: <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /> <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-10/primary-water-source-in-perth-drying-up/100974130" target="_blank">Perth is drying up</a> <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.permaculturenews.org/2016/03/11/5-simple-ideas-for-transitioning-into-a-permaculture-garden/" target="_blank">Ideas for transitionng to a permaculture garden <br /></a><p></p><p><a href="https://www.permaculturenews.org/2010/09/20/how-to-establish-a-small-space-intensive-food-garden/" target="_blank">How to establish a small space intensice food garden </a></p><p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0016pjy" target="_blank">Jack Munro on the Food Program (Listen)</a> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-62234449489427934622022-04-01T23:44:00.001-07:002022-04-01T23:44:06.557-07:00Waiting for rain, and other Djeran activities <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIZiBRUS3kMhYR-z0czgaGOsvEBT8ZC_zPmUx-lx9YFNoGSPSs9QRv7Y-VVCbQBNKOty8fYDnRTGTvFWSDplXHBSYdOOcEVQmZhYge_DEu0iskQ01Nd3sBC-c3HJNZokmXy89Qqi5csYanaIXNYLwYttB0F2DUDejWqhxUWc1d54TI6wl8hCVwUN9eA/s526/djeran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIZiBRUS3kMhYR-z0czgaGOsvEBT8ZC_zPmUx-lx9YFNoGSPSs9QRv7Y-VVCbQBNKOty8fYDnRTGTvFWSDplXHBSYdOOcEVQmZhYge_DEu0iskQ01Nd3sBC-c3HJNZokmXy89Qqi5csYanaIXNYLwYttB0F2DUDejWqhxUWc1d54TI6wl8hCVwUN9eA/w640-h640/djeran.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Djeran season at last sees a break in the really hot weather. A key indicator of the change of season is the cool nights that once again bring a dewy presence for us to discover in the early mornings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The winds have also changed, especially in their intensity, with light breezes being the go and generally swinging from southerly directions (i.e. south east to south west). Many flying ants can be seen cruising around in the light winds.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Djeran is a time of red flowers especially from the Red Flowering Gum (Corimbia ficifolia), as well as the smaller and more petite flowers of the Summer Flame (Beaufortia aestiva). As you travel around the Perth area, you may also notice the red 'rust' and seed cones forming on the male and female Sheoaks (Allocasuarina fraseriana). Banksias start to display their flowers, ensuring that there are nectar food sources for the many small mammals and birds that rely upon them. <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/iwk/nyoongar/djeran.shtml" target="_blank">Source: http://www.bom.gov.au/iwk/nyoongar/djeran.shtml</a></p></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinroMnRTdh7lfOhoESxn2nxC6exoIaoBN3Tcp8KSMxdum7LMYunRnMXf8CmSDUulSPUaE4CNZej1nzVHvl1xKdUVZk_bUYXLRsC-9wU8YCZ2yMYyUYGb8JqMpfO8pEqrTsvEKuKXWRlksGDXrZhyKfMxNeyKIkK-0eUDX8iHdXIM5Q2uiaVjYEwZP5zQ/s1834/20220324_165129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="1689" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinroMnRTdh7lfOhoESxn2nxC6exoIaoBN3Tcp8KSMxdum7LMYunRnMXf8CmSDUulSPUaE4CNZej1nzVHvl1xKdUVZk_bUYXLRsC-9wU8YCZ2yMYyUYGb8JqMpfO8pEqrTsvEKuKXWRlksGDXrZhyKfMxNeyKIkK-0eUDX8iHdXIM5Q2uiaVjYEwZP5zQ/w590-h640/20220324_165129.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><p></p><p>Eagerly we are watching the skies, the weather charts, the plants in the garden. There have been a couple of very short showers of rain, and the temperatures are gradually cooling down to the low 30C. Is the summer over? Can we start planting autumn crops? Can the garden recover from the heat? </p><p>A week or so ago I took down one shade sail, on the western side of the house. We have a large bottlebrush tree there, and the bed is planted with cumquat, sweet potato, fennel, basil.When the garden did not die from the heat (!) I took the rest of the shade sails down too. I rather too hopefully planted some rainbow chard and 12 garlic cloves, but it may be a bit early yet. </p><p>The garden has survived the summer, but it was not as productive as I hoped, and I don't really know why. I planted some zucchini but had only one fruit, even though there were plenty of flowers. The passionfruit has had lots of flowers, but no fruit set either. The pumpkin that self seeded has only one fruit on it. The dwarf beans I planted came to nothing. I wonder about the pollinators -was it too hot for the bees? There are some bee attracting flowers in my garden all the time -I have alyssum, which bees love, and nasturtiums, and parsley, and basil, but it has been some time since I saw the bees out in force.</p><p>Gardening, no matter how long you have been doing it, is an exercise in observation and patience. If I was actually relying on the garden to feed us, there would be times when we had a 'hungry gap'. Nevertheless, we are now harvesting limes, pomegranates, fennel and mint. DH found an olive tree on the street near our home, with small black olives, and harvested 3 jars for a quick batch. Our kalamata olives are very green still. </p><p>If the rains come, I hope the parsley will come back again - I miss it! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKsVf0Pgvo74HqQptUYzzARodBVsitWBcka18I_-DSV33_TWNv93OEeDqjw-I1mERakzPRgnsvvC49BsJgkOdJctXPXNIx0iS2yhDtws4bQan2ChxfdqdPMUm83EZ6ClZjS8Hrv3kkcE4skcWWrTyX5IaswAwkVxUrSjW7akqV-HUYRyYw52RETZzAw/s4000/20220316_151621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKsVf0Pgvo74HqQptUYzzARodBVsitWBcka18I_-DSV33_TWNv93OEeDqjw-I1mERakzPRgnsvvC49BsJgkOdJctXPXNIx0iS2yhDtws4bQan2ChxfdqdPMUm83EZ6ClZjS8Hrv3kkcE4skcWWrTyX5IaswAwkVxUrSjW7akqV-HUYRyYw52RETZzAw/w640-h480/20220316_151621.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I continue to play with my sourdough recipe. Lately I have been adding 3 teaspoons of malt powder - I used to use malt extract, the syrupy stuff but I have found malt powder used by amateur beer makers, and it is great. It adds crumb and makes a great crust, as well as adding some nutrients to the bread. I am also using flax seed too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9yk8t8rON_5aK_njjzLeiDSMnlM8qt7LK_-G9WaH4tNXpqd_70mo0CjIFHXphz6LbS8EBOQ9a8lCNRipL0vjsZJYFzX-Eiu6LVoV2g5C_yw-ekvtuhmCPQm9pJf1gSQrn7NxFl86gEgPqFeyycQ0gnfGLP2c272rw1R1flRa5X-dCALmjhtIHNrkiw/s4000/20220316_102644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9yk8t8rON_5aK_njjzLeiDSMnlM8qt7LK_-G9WaH4tNXpqd_70mo0CjIFHXphz6LbS8EBOQ9a8lCNRipL0vjsZJYFzX-Eiu6LVoV2g5C_yw-ekvtuhmCPQm9pJf1gSQrn7NxFl86gEgPqFeyycQ0gnfGLP2c272rw1R1flRa5X-dCALmjhtIHNrkiw/w480-h640/20220316_102644.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My favourite tree is now in flower around the suburbs : Eucalyptus erythrocorys, commonly known as illyarrie, red-capped gum or helmet nut gum, from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Australia">Western Australia</a>. It has smooth bark, sickle-shaped to curved adult leaves, characteristically large flower buds in groups of three with a bright red <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operculum_(botany)">operculum</a>, bright yellow to yellowish green flowers and sculptured, bell-shaped fruit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDDqzUjXK3pOxW9cEwsJQdm_f8Ur7gIiqlKE-kTlXnCHzYXUmEK7QcqsUhXdyDzMR3Cg-h-I4LUCNothshe0ITOIZRWzcH_snqvc83lhWE6aCqB2i1bD9i7Q8blwZb-l5gs6yhpsgHi-X282L7VI9yLIZSnZ9WU1IZlnkY0l7aWMKmUQIMva3cDOYAQ/s2048/asq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1153" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDDqzUjXK3pOxW9cEwsJQdm_f8Ur7gIiqlKE-kTlXnCHzYXUmEK7QcqsUhXdyDzMR3Cg-h-I4LUCNothshe0ITOIZRWzcH_snqvc83lhWE6aCqB2i1bD9i7Q8blwZb-l5gs6yhpsgHi-X282L7VI9yLIZSnZ9WU1IZlnkY0l7aWMKmUQIMva3cDOYAQ/w360-h640/asq.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was our great delight to finally -after 2 whole years -see and hear the Australian String Quartet live in concert. They had been unable to attend in person, due to WA's COVID restrictions on travel. We are now open to the world (!) and COVID is at last running through our community. I know this is very different to the experiences of others in Australian states, and in other parts of the world, but our State Government took the stance to protect us until we had the chance of getting most of the population safely vaccinated, before opening up. It was hard for some families, being so isolated from relatives, but so far our hospitalisation and death rates are far below other places. We have to wear masks indoors, and that is a struggle for some people, but it is helping to keep vulnerable people safe. I hope that wherever you are, you are taking care and finding ways to connect with others even though the pandemic is not over, not by any means</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Finally, I have a couple of recommendations for you: </div></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recommended Book </h3><div style="text-align: left;">Henry Reynolds "The Other Side of the Frontier"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QE4RYzMYjXz1jcPEyuwQsUMWaTnrZ7upjMJoADfJbNXFo6SfNXQPupdMlDDpSWnYVqOS_0QTNVOeXZdoUoJ6jeXBq5wjXlMuYBVihLHXRDRhH-z4HAtrg7avZqmg6icomh71eMbwkXkGqvO0YGfgzjiO46eh8NxkXAexMPEhOX0dwLGqIiaEoq-uxg/s3264/20220321_182802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QE4RYzMYjXz1jcPEyuwQsUMWaTnrZ7upjMJoADfJbNXFo6SfNXQPupdMlDDpSWnYVqOS_0QTNVOeXZdoUoJ6jeXBq5wjXlMuYBVihLHXRDRhH-z4HAtrg7avZqmg6icomh71eMbwkXkGqvO0YGfgzjiO46eh8NxkXAexMPEhOX0dwLGqIiaEoq-uxg/w288-h640/20220321_182802.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Recommended Podcast </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/04/01/668-rebecca-ruda/" target="_blank"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/04/01/668-rebecca-ruda/" target="_blank">The Urban Farm podcast episode 668 </a></div>We talk a lot about agricultural practices, climate change, and the global food supply, and the news is not always great. Rebecca Ruda reflects on the anxiety this can cause and reminds us that just as the problems of the world deserve our attention, so does our mental health. She provides tips for recognizing anxiety symptoms and openly shares her own experience. Then Rebecca offers simple but useful strategies for continuing the work of advocating for nature without doing harm to ourselves.<br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-19/perth-residents-count-cost-of-record-summer-temperatures/100921310" target="_blank">Perth heat</a></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-57165478532436179682022-03-04T21:55:00.001-08:002022-03-04T21:55:33.758-08:00I have a new project -helping at the children's community centre playground! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently I responded to a call out on social media for a person to help a community centre for children develop their garden with more vegetables and fruits. I spend a couple of hours each week at the garden. There are two areas -one for little toddles and babies and one for the 3-4 year olds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They already have some good infrastructure. They have two chickens! There are two large rainwater tanks, a worm farm and an irrigation system.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6VSHsC4SOkDXlGME69bQpMxSBMWNTGBzxFPKSkCgov0ah_st3TK1p4FKzDaxGUs4n7KuWWO-yjamUb-DKCB_ctq4iifOSazikC1H1gdqWRNbQPD4BVqs-BTSY-LV98ssvAfQz2eLm0iNEz3C6qNsajdxHlBOAjCBpqMH-9UOaAfFv35ocLT2WKLH21A=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6VSHsC4SOkDXlGME69bQpMxSBMWNTGBzxFPKSkCgov0ah_st3TK1p4FKzDaxGUs4n7KuWWO-yjamUb-DKCB_ctq4iifOSazikC1H1gdqWRNbQPD4BVqs-BTSY-LV98ssvAfQz2eLm0iNEz3C6qNsajdxHlBOAjCBpqMH-9UOaAfFv35ocLT2WKLH21A=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bones of the garden are already set up -shady trees, paths for little feet and trikes, logs for balancing on, sheds for storing play equipment. To the north -through the fence- is a school with a spare block of land, which may one day become a community garden. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxz41WF4Qp4iDGFLwQeJLZpifDIuUR6fGhcV9RuIk68NDMHIJVSCw-kmZWj7YgA4vbfY1fQ6s3nMXZBDoU0XBEA3cNTKoEtpCHeT3kSNZm2zsjchRkliuebnSB9ZJPvSyFfzwZI3MxWYrkjV-bP-yLqkpTSy5Hm7OE0yHkMhMjTyKu8RegVyoOyEcqOQ=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxz41WF4Qp4iDGFLwQeJLZpifDIuUR6fGhcV9RuIk68NDMHIJVSCw-kmZWj7YgA4vbfY1fQ6s3nMXZBDoU0XBEA3cNTKoEtpCHeT3kSNZm2zsjchRkliuebnSB9ZJPvSyFfzwZI3MxWYrkjV-bP-yLqkpTSy5Hm7OE0yHkMhMjTyKu8RegVyoOyEcqOQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It has been really interesting to work in another garden than my own! I have been putting the permaculture principles I have studied privately (not done a PDC) into action. One of the best things I did was take a sketchbook and try to draw what I could see of the garden -it helped me identify the watering scheme and its possible problems, the big trees on the boundary and the shade they provide, the opportunities to get more plants in the ground and where. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are three raised garden beds. One of them had three very stressed eggplants in it. I built a rough shade structure over it to give it a break from the baking sun, and put some dwarf beans in, just to help with nitrogen fixing and to fill up the bed. I was pleased that some of them have come up after just one week! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifPhRvxRfy1wy44DIgf_XSyBC6b0udsyFUq-TghjEylnjUAcI4s-aRz2QE-EjDX4OmPeaGuAvLIWwquoLPYRtwPuk-N_7VM1B6pqeY_UxGgToKRu_Dp-QiRUC0Mej5uyNnGv-h-YCFwLGv43M66AaN99gPn5CNaZCI8hEAo1gVB7AaHb6SA4D9NoA49Q=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifPhRvxRfy1wy44DIgf_XSyBC6b0udsyFUq-TghjEylnjUAcI4s-aRz2QE-EjDX4OmPeaGuAvLIWwquoLPYRtwPuk-N_7VM1B6pqeY_UxGgToKRu_Dp-QiRUC0Mej5uyNnGv-h-YCFwLGv43M66AaN99gPn5CNaZCI8hEAo1gVB7AaHb6SA4D9NoA49Q=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The other two raised beds are even drier and more dead than this one! We need COMPOST and MULCH before we can plant anything in them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Apparently the irrigation system failed over the summer - I think between Christmas and New Year, when the centre was closed and we had that distressingly hot 8 day period of extreme weather. Several trees died -a couple of young citrus and an dwarf apple. In an institutional garden, unlike a domestic setting, there was no-one to notice that things were going wrong. The centre needs a back up plan! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There is a covered play area with a solid roof which could be another opportunity for rainwater harvesting, and a couple of big sheds, which could also have gutters and tanks added. Maybe if there were some more volunteers like me, we could have keys to the garden and go and check when the centre staff are not working, and use the water from the water tanks to make sure the garden stays alive? </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been working on reviving the compost system. There was one compost bin, which was about a third full of very dry weedy stuff. As well as the buckets of prunings I can bring from home, I was given several buckets of roughly made compost from a neighbour- and the plastic bin they had been in! One of these buckets of compost I spread on an empty raised bed, and the others I have added to the compost bin. Today someone has offered me three bags of shredded paper, which will add to the bin I am filling. The new bin will be used when the first is full, so we can have one filling and one turning. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The staff are working on an application for a grant to help us get some tools and some plants. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the middle of the dreadful news from Ukraine, and the IPCC report, and the terrible floods on Australia's east coast, this project has been a blessing. </div><br />Here are some recommendations for you <p></p><p>I read and enjoyed this book by Fritjof Capra</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHGd89RhzSAbiZ_tFmFVBYzFuhBE97Zxyb8RoSmEgWVBAV_TiFVNjiJ89xX2T3EqJSuxdnDeSzg2_36Eho2P2_madW8wlJZmB6NxJ7_Y-JiSqIaomD5POz-s146m-cllp0uyCEMGihX63nUtNLt9N8KIDoTjUaCgWrnJQAGa6b8NKy4PstG0NQ1QxQoQ=s550" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="398" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHGd89RhzSAbiZ_tFmFVBYzFuhBE97Zxyb8RoSmEgWVBAV_TiFVNjiJ89xX2T3EqJSuxdnDeSzg2_36Eho2P2_madW8wlJZmB6NxJ7_Y-JiSqIaomD5POz-s146m-cllp0uyCEMGihX63nUtNLt9N8KIDoTjUaCgWrnJQAGa6b8NKy4PstG0NQ1QxQoQ=w290-h400" width="290" /></a></div><div><br /></div>You might also like this one from the ABC <br /><p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/religion/natasha-myers-how-to-grow-liveable-worlds:-ten-not-so-easy-step/11906548" target="_blank">How to grow liveable worlds </a></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3c; font-family: ABCSans, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"Forget everything you thought a garden was. And everything you thought </span><a class="external" href="http://www.loisweinberger.net/" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: ABCSans, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a gardener was supposed to do</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3c; font-family: ABCSans, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. Your job in the Planthroposcene is to stage plant/people conspiracies to keep this planet liveable and breathable. Your primary commitment will be to support plant growth".</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927014078728591686.post-13102697480624413812022-02-18T19:19:00.000-08:002022-02-18T19:19:47.722-08:00It's working! What we chose to cool our house<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8IMTAftwTg2Zj95VhPEjllnv3Uj3qwPGCkCEGXlRSqzCA8qXRoXmxmkVppwxVLG0uo1ks3EqrxZc6zJeJ_ghxb9LJH6cci0wEbsX03BjvbtWEF0UFvODIWp1lQVUUJXXkD3PD3JgLG2o1_jIb1xFXwrNs_OYtf0unZOnMoI9cbrA2HK8xj9Ppm1L75A=s873" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="873" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8IMTAftwTg2Zj95VhPEjllnv3Uj3qwPGCkCEGXlRSqzCA8qXRoXmxmkVppwxVLG0uo1ks3EqrxZc6zJeJ_ghxb9LJH6cci0wEbsX03BjvbtWEF0UFvODIWp1lQVUUJXXkD3PD3JgLG2o1_jIb1xFXwrNs_OYtf0unZOnMoI9cbrA2HK8xj9Ppm1L75A=w640-h478" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>What is that new thing on the roof? Just to the left of the solar panels is our new evaporative air conditioner, installed 2 days ago in the middle of a Perth run of hot weather, with maximum temperatures running over 34C for more than a week now. </p><p>This post is about our decision to choose the evaporative air conditioning, after deciding that the passive heating and cooling measures we had taken already in retrofitting our house, needed amendment for the changing climate. <a href="http://earthmotherwithin.blogspot.com/2022/01/what-i-learned-in-heat-wave.html" target="_blank">See our post about it here</a> </p><p>I am not sure that everyone understands evaporative air conditioning and how it works. An evaporative air conditioner uses the natural cooling properties of water to lower the temperature of a room through evaporation. A ducted cooling unit is installed on the roof and connected to a series of outlets throughout the home that draws in fresh air from outside. <br /><br />The hot air passes through filter pads located inside the roof unit which cools the air and then distributes it through the vents inside your house. With an evaporative air conditioner, the entire volume of air within the house is refreshed every few minutes. <br />Evaporative air conditioners work best in Perth on days when the air is hot and dry. So essentially, the hotter the air, the better the cooling effect will be. We have LOTS of these. </p><p>Benefits include the use of fresh air to cool the home, and the ability to have the windows open! It is low in energy use compared to refrigerated air conditioning. We have noticed that because it operates with open windows, the patio outside our kitchen is also feeling the benefits of the cool air. This would not happen with refrigerated air conditioners, which rely on keeping windows closed. </p><p>Of course, if the weather is humid, the evaporative air conditioning does not provide much assistance. Compared to the east coast of Australia, where they have summer rain, Perth does has a mediterranean type climate with a summer drought, so evaporative air conditioning has more application. In fact, we estimate about one third of the houses in our suburb have evaporative air conditioners visible on their roof. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIM0xXjS53Es00iMwXNJh1Qig6jRHGV25Fyd1aolS01KVx1SDN8Rvg4HuSCKItsTFRWIsFSAr0LY3R7ygqFrKhlrRPB92BdgPgBPrvR7lCjl503R6mmOLLisQFU97W5lYc5qpqka8kqJvIaDFfe_wwQ39D95L8Huupi37Blko9AB1l7Ao-vOBae8fi8g=s509" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="476" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIM0xXjS53Es00iMwXNJh1Qig6jRHGV25Fyd1aolS01KVx1SDN8Rvg4HuSCKItsTFRWIsFSAr0LY3R7ygqFrKhlrRPB92BdgPgBPrvR7lCjl503R6mmOLLisQFU97W5lYc5qpqka8kqJvIaDFfe_wwQ39D95L8Huupi37Blko9AB1l7Ao-vOBae8fi8g=w598-h640" width="598" /></a></div><br /><p>When the water has been used for cooling, it runs down a pipe to this bin which is on the side of our house away from the entrance, and from there we run it over to our struggling lemon tree. I am hoping the extra water will cheer it up! </p><p>Comparing the cost of a whole of house evaporative air conditioner and a whole of house heat pump type air conditioner, the evaporative is much cheaper. We could have chosen a split system to cool the bedrooms -because being too hot overnight is a really difficult thing, if you want to sleep- or the whole of house evaporative airconditioner. We choose the option which would give more comfort for us wherever we were, for the amount of money we could afford at this time. </p><p>What will we do if it is humid, and evaporative airconditioning is not an option? The system can be operated without the water, as a fan, but I reckon we would rever to the way we did things before -closing the house during the cool of the morning, using our ceiling fans, and waiting for cooler temperatures overnight. We still will have had many more comfortable days than we did before. </p><p>There is still the option for a heat pump -especially a split system for the bedrooms -at some later date, if we so choose. </p><p>How has it been so far? It has made an astonishing difference. It feels cool in here, and we have more energy for living life. I am even happy to turn on the oven and cook in the middle of the day! </p><p><br /></p>earthmotherwithinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506831989357088817noreply@blogger.com2