About five years ago a friend of mine introduced me to worm farming and since then I have become obsessed with the little critters. I now own two commercially produced farms but my first farm was a home made job created from two polystyrofoam baby broccoli boxes that my local greengrocer was throwing out.

Since the creation of this masterpiece, many people have asked me how to build a worm farm. Building a worm farm is not only easy but really cheap.

My husband and I made our first farm together (romantic I know) and it lasted us for at least two years. It would probably still be working today but we were given a proper worm farm (from the same friend who got me started) for a wedding present (even more romantic I know).

Anyway, here is how to build your own worm farm. (more…)

You know when climate change has hit the big time when the fashion industry jumps on the band wagon. Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed a Diesel advertisement on many buses in the city.

The ad features a sexy looking couple lounging on top of a New York City skyscraper. In the background skyscrapers are submerged in water and it is clearly a hot day. However, the couple doesn’t seem concerned and the tagline is: “Global Warming Ready”.
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Yahoo!7 is on the lookout for Australia’s most worthwhile environmental initiative and reward it $50,000.

To do this Yahoo!7 is asking “How would you spend $50,000 to create a more sustainable environment in Australia?”. If your answer is the best Yahoo!7 will donate $50,000 to an environmental organisation that will put the funds towards implementing your idea.

While anyone can answer the question, in order to be eligible to have your answer funded you’ll need to register your details with Yahoo!7 using this form.

Ever since I had my son two and a half years ago there has been a growing pile of plastic on our balcony. The pile started off as a box of soft toys and things to chew on but soon grew into two overflowing boxes of plastic toys, things that make noise, blocks, balls, teddies and books. My husband and I don’t really buy a lot of toys; most of the things have come as presents from generous family members and friends.

As I watch the pile grow I am becoming more conscious not to buy my son extra toys that he doesn’t really need. Not because I want to deprive him but just that a lot of the toys he has he doesn’t really play with. Or he plays with them briefly and then discards them for something else.

Besides his prized Buzz Lightyear doll (which is made of plastic) his other favorite toys live in our kitchen drawers - a pair of cooking tongs, which he refers to as a crocodile, and chopsticks, which he swings around like a sword and then flings into our garden.

One way I have managed to keep our toy collection down is to provide him with things around the house. The cardboard roll inside an aluminum foil container makes a great pretend telescope. I also filled some washed out plastic milk bottles with a variety of dried pulses and pasta. These make great rattles for older babies to shake and also work well as tenpins to bowl over when baby grows a little older.

However, one of the best resources I’ve found is the local toy library. It’s part of the normal library - just an extra room full of great toys (mostly wooden) that focus on helping children up to six develop their skills. At my library I can borrow a toy for up to three weeks, which is probably just enough time until my son gets bored. Then we just take it back to the library and get another one. It’s an excellent way to provide young children with the experience of playing with lots of toys but not having to keep them. The kidspot.com.au website has a handy listing of toy libraries in Australia.

A global study of the “water footprints of nations” found that Australian households held the world’s worst record for water consumption, despite our industry and farmers being relatively efficient.

According to the study, Australian households had a “water footprint” equivalent to 341,000 litres per person per year - the global average being 57,000 litres. Ouch!

Thanks to Priscilla Brice-Weller over at Solidariti, I discovered Ripple today.

To quote Priscilla: “Ripple is another one of those “search with us and we’ll donate to a good cause” services, a la Everyclick, Goodsearch, and Magictaxi (there are plenty of others). These three search facilities donate 50 per cent of their revenue to good causes.

However, Ripple is better for two reasons. First, it donates 100 per cent of its revenue to four selected causes. Second, unlike the competition, Ripple’s causes are all based in Australia.

So get clicking to maximise that ripple.

Tonight I went to a follow up GreenHome workshop held by the Australian Conservation Foundation at my local council. The workshop focused mostly on what sort of projects we could do with our friends, family and local community to spread the green living word.

I missed the first workshop, so listened to some of the great ideas that people were already thinking about, plus heard some new ideas and got to share my own. Some of the ideas ranged from holding a party at home to promote chemical free cleaning, organic food and worm farming to encouraging recycling at units, spreading the word about Green Power and starting up an organic gardening club.

The last two being my own have made me realise that I have a bit of work ahead of me. (more…)

Josh Byrne is one of my favorite presenters on the ABC’s TV show Gardening Australia because he mostly covers topics that deal with permaculture and growing food organically.

I’ve just finished reading his recent book The Green Gardener and I must admit I feel not only inspired about what he says but also pretty positive that I’m doing the right things in my garden to improve it organically and conserve water. (more…)

This June the Dalai Lama will be in Sydney and Perth talking at two free events focusing on change and the way we live.

If you are in Perth on June 6 then join the Dalai Lama and the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) at a free Spirituality and Sustainability forum promoting greater awareness and understanding of our responsibilities and interconnectedness with nature.

Horticulturalist, landscape designer and TV personality Jamie Durie will host the forum, which will feature many other speakers plus offer practical tips for helping the environment at home and reducing your carbon footprint.

Details: Wednesday 6 June 9.30 am -  12.00 noon, Burswood Dome, Great Western Highway, Perth.

In Sydney, the ACF will participate in a tribute concert featuring some of Australia’s finest acoustic talent including Mia Dyson. This concert will be staged in Sydney’s Domain in celebration of the Dalai Lama as a living example of the power of compassion and non-violence.

The Dalai Lama will speak for 90 minutes at the event, which will bring together music and a call for change in the way we live.

Details: One Earth Conservation Tribute Concert to His Holiness the Dalai Lama Friday 15 June 2 pm - 6.30 pm The Domain, Sydney.

Visit the ACF website for more information. If anyone goes to either event, please leave a comment to let us know how it went.

Recently a friend of mine Matt wrote a post about building a chook dome. Now he is busy planting garlic, which has lead him on a path to good and evil, magic, witchcraft and Christian fables. (more…)