I've been searching for a presentation I saw online a couple of years ago, without any joy. The presentation was about 20 minutes long. It started out describing the history of IT, then compares this to the history of the Green Movement, and how that is changing to the Blue Movement.

Anyways, I found this article which I really enjoyed:
http://grist.org/article/the-birth-of-blue/


If anyone knows the whereabouts of the presentation I'm looking for, please post a comment.

Appliances on Standby - this'll let the cat amongst the pigeons

I read once that the clock on the microwave oven will consume more electricity over the life of the appliance than the power used to heat food. I'm not sure if this si true, but it's worth considering.

I found this article on The Register today and thought I'd share it. It's about using Standby on appliances, and a study that was done in the UK.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/29/energy_saving_trust_report/

The bottom of the last page as a summary is worth reading in particular.

Also, a big thankyou to the council for organising The Greenest Street competiton, and congratulations to all of those who joined in and competed, particularly the winners in Alexander Road. As we said at the prize-giving ceremony, we all feel like winners.

Thanks

Robbie

Number 1 Grange park summary

The End of the Competition or is it?

We joined the Greenest Street Competition a little after the others as we had been away on holiday in the UK visiting family.

Family is important to us and all of our children except one lives  away from us. We have only lived in Kapiti for 3 years having moved from the Waikato.

The Competition has firstly helped us to meet others in the street and to feel that we now belong to this community.

It has been hard for us to meet people since moving here so the comaradrie  that this competition has supplied through shared meals, and get  togethers to learn new things has been a godsend to us.

The regular street meetings  have helped us to make friends in the street and we are finding that some of them now stop in for a chat or to collect extra  fruit and veggies we have.

Gardening has become more of a passion for us having met one particular family in our street who are passionate gardeners.  We also now try and listen to the councils green gardener and other council spots that can be heard on Beach FM.  The information has helped us to garden more greenly and economically run our home. We now mulch our garden with the help of the council grant for a street /community mulcher. We had fun learning how to mulch and fun mulching our own tree branches.This has stopped trailer loads of green waste going to landfill.

The highlight for me was the Sustainable Garden Show where we were able to meet up with other  Greenest Street Competitors.  Seeing what they had thought up and what they had on display was very informative. It has made us all give more thought to the environment we live in, and how we can minimise waste . It has made us more aware of how we use power and water and by the end of this year we hope to have our own rain water reticulation system in place.

We will go forward with what we have learnt and we will have on going connections with neighbours as we still have plans to improve our green-carbon footprint.

End of Competetion draws near

Although the end is loaming of this years greenest street competition our street just like the other two will carry on with trying to lower our foot print. Its been great meeting and getting together with others in the street and learning new things along the way. We may not have been the busiest street as we are are already a street of busy working people but we tried our best to have regular get togethers and I feel that if we ever have  a natural disaster at least we now know each other and would work together as a tight community. I think we are better equipped to look out and after each other with the sharing we have done.

Carrots and Working Chooks

Here's another post from Carolyn...

I have to date been unsuccessful in my attempts to grow carrots.  A neighbour had told us when we moved in 9 years ago, not even to bother.  I tucked the information away as a challenge to be addressed at a later date.

This week I was reading a Xanthe White book – all lovely with glossy photos – and got another tip for fighting the carrot white fly to add to my collection which so far consists of

·         cover seed after planting with fleece – as in unspun wool (and I have some)

·         barriers around the sendlings may help protect them as apparently  white fly keep fairly low to the ground

·         companion plant with garlic and onions

·         neem tree granules should help deter any unwanted visitors.

 So into a large black planter, that is reasonably high, I have placed neem tree granules, my precious wee seeds, a couple of garlic cloves and a light layer of fleece.  I’ve crossed my fingers and we’ll see what happens.

I also now have ‘working chickens’ – I have two bantams, Butter and Meggie, who have not laid any egg since January.  Robbie threatens to knock them off but as they are my last two originals I’m not ready to let them go yet.  I saw Kath Irvine’s,  previous Green gardener ,  set up for her chocks to work her garden beds.  While our garden is not as well planned and has evolved, as does life for many of us mere mortals, I am giving it a go.  I have used a random collection of stakes and pools to hold up some plastic mesh and have thrown bird netting over the top – these two are known for their flying capabilities – clipped or not.  Hey also get to use an old rabbit hutch I got from free cycle, which Rob has put a nice new lid , and I figure that perches are a privilege for those that lay.

Yesterday I pronounced there first project complete they have worked the soil and demolished all but a few select weeds – they don’t seem to like dock or a clover type weed, and I am really hoping they like mustard as their new project is in a bed with a green crop.   The ’caging’ set up may not be pretty but it works and they are doing something useful, so it’s a win/win.  I will now remove the remaining weeds from the first bed, aerate with a fork and tuck down till spring with a layer of compost and mulch.  I love playing in my garden.

This is their first project at completion

This is their current project – This was taken two weeks ago and I am pleased to report they are doing well.

A Potluck BBQ and an afternoon get together Earlier in the year

We had a pot luck BBQ one sunny evening.

and an afternoon tea for Oxfam.

Composting Workshop 2nd June

Wayne and tom made some compost bins for people in the street then Rachel came and gave  a lesson on composting. It was a very cold day Queens Birthday weekend so thanks to those who could make it.

Leaves Collected

Bags of shredded paper,pizza boxes,egg cartons,brown pieces collected from street gutter.

Garden weeds etc

Rachel adding First Brown layer needs to be twigs etc so air can get in.

End of the session. We did it!!

Sustainable Show

Have finally learnt how to get the photos off Toms Phone so thats a plus from the competetion.

Setting up our space showing ,

 Give away things you don't need

 Vegs and fruit we grow in Grange Park, 

Home made Household cleaners,

Preserves,

Make your own gifts,

Grow your veg in containers.

Cycling Tips

This is a post from Carolyn. I'm posting it due to various 'challenges'!

The second mulcher training took place on the 19^th with at least 12 households represented.   It was nice to see a few folk from Rainbow Court.  A lovely southerly blowing helped encourage people to put their backs into it and really get the feel of the machine – we had a good pile to practice on. 

This was followed by a very friendly pot luck lunch, hot soup and yummy apple pie – bet you wish you were there!

We wanted a way to ‘mark’ the mulcher so it would be forever identifiable as the club mulcher.  The creative among us came up with the idea of making the mouth look like a crocodile – now we eagerly await the artistic juices to flow.

Double Glazed Windows

We've spent a wee bit of time over the last month getting part of our house re-clad and double glazed windows put in. An extension built before we bought our house was clad in some type of hardy type board. This was starting to crack a little and let water in. At the same time some of the old wooden windows were letting draughts in and we didn't want to put up with the damp (or cascades of water) on the window sills in the mornings.

We bit the bullet and asked a friendly builder to organise recladding and new double glazed aluminium windows. While he was at it, he took the opportunity to insulate parts that weren't already.

They've been in about a month now and the difference is already quite noticeable. We're planning to do the rest of the house over 3 more phases. The house is warmer, drier and quieter.

We managed to get rid of a number of windows to people wanting to make green houses, seed raising boxes etc. I thought about utilising some windows into my green-shed, but with 3 small boys kicking balls around the backyard, decided it possibly wasn't the best idea. There will be more windows to come if anyone is interested...

The Greenest Street competition is drawing to an end now. It's been an awesome time getting to know the neighbours better, coming together for various projects, the Sustainable Living Show and just passing and chatting in the street. There are plenty more projects to come, and you can rest assured that there will be more posts to come. For one, we want to write about what we've learned and continue to learn.

Tom mulching our trees May 2012

Here's a video about another street in Australia who are dreaming big and being sustainable.
YouTube 'sustainability street'

Raumati South Station? Not on the WRC Plan, so go ahead and comment on the Plan

We received an email the other evening from the Raumati South Residents Association regarding the Wellington Regional Councils Transport plans.

Basically, get online to the WRC web site and ensure you have your say regarding a station at Raumati South.

Here's the email that explains what to do:

From:

RSRA Incorporated
Sent:

Saturday, April 14, 2012 9:05 PM

To:

undisclosed-recipients:

Subject:

Raumati Rail Platform - help make it happen in our Regional Transport Plan

　

Greetings,

　
The draft programme is out for consultation, and has not included completion of the Kapiti railway i.e. the　building of Raumati train Platform. Don’t stand for this! There is almost nothing of relevance to Kapiti in the draft plan!
　

Make a comment in the link set out below; then forward this email on to your networks and invite them to do the same.

　

Feedback on the draft can be given on line at　　 www.gw.govt.nz/have-your-say 　　but only up till 4^th May 2012.

　

Open the link above and then click on the section for draft Regional Land Transport Programme.

　

There are PDFs of the relevant documents and below those is the Have Your Say on line submission form link.
　

The structured feedback form asks for overall 　‘Yes’ or ‘No’ votes on supporting:

1. the Projects GW outline; and
2. the Priorities GW outline

Under 1. Projects

- there is a Box for writing in Changes you’d like to see: Please feel free to use the following summary recommendation to copy and paste into the Box; or to devise your own:

　
"I would like to see included in the Projects – the completion of the Kapiti railway line project through construction of the Raumati platform for use by commuters and to create a much needed public transport access to Queen Elizabeth Park."
　

Under 2. Priority Rankings, there is a Box for writing in Priorities you ‘d like to see:

Please feel free to use the following summary recommendation to copy and paste into the Box; or to devise your own:

" Completion of the Kapiti railway project through the construction of Raumati platform is a longstanding priority that was deferred in 2009 solely due to budget miscalculations for Waikanae. This last part of the Kapiti railway project requires Top priority so that Raumati people, like all other communities the track runs past, 　can use the train and also to offer a public transport access option to users of Queen Elizabeth Park who presently must use private transport to go to the Park."

3. Then there is a third box 　- Any Other Comments – this is a good space to copy and paste 　all or any parts that you support of the following section summarising the ideas that the community has presented to GW over many years; and/or add your own comments:

"BUILD RAUMATI PLATFORM TO COMPLETE THE KAPITI RAILWAY LINE

1. GW has omitted from the draft programme, the full completion of the Waikanae/Western line railway plan – on the Plan now for more than 20 years.

2. Raumati is the only community on the Western line without a platform. Please finish the project and don’t leave things on the western line incomplete.

3. The case for Raumati Platform as a commuter station has been long established – it didn’t go ahead in 2009 as the government funds allocated for it, were used for Waikanae instead, when GW ran into trouble there.

4. Two petitions for the platform have been presented over the years with more than 3000 signatures on each.

5. The case still stands – Raumati population = 8,000 +; only a 8% pick up rate on public transport by Raumati people as opposed to 21+% in Paraparaumu and Paekakariki where stations are available.

6. In addition to the commuter population’s needs, GW’s programme should be serving the recreational needs of people using QE Park, especially as a Heritage Trail is planned with the northern (Raumati) end of the Park being a part of this, with linking walkways and cycleways.

7. QE Park has a northern entrance on Poplar Avenue; and this could be accessed by people using public transport by alighting from the train at Raumati Platform.　 Paekakariki station is too far from the Park to be of use, leaving private transport the only option for regional visitors to the Park.

8. The siting of a platform is entirely 　independent of the ongoing Expressway debate. The NZTA interchange at Lower Hutt was built around the rail system design; and this approach should be replicated in Raumati, if an Expressway ever proceeds. GW should take a leadership stance on this.

9. The platform should be sited on the eastern Railway side of SHI with an overbridge to Parking on the West side. This is the same as Paremata, Pukerua Bay and Plimmerton etc whose communities enjoy overbridges to/from their platforms over SH1. The Platform would then be a 7 day a week platform catering for commuters, transport between our villages and recreational users through 　also providing a long awaited public 　transport option for visiting QE Park.

10. Let’s just get on and do it – "it’s only a Platform" – as Regional Chair Fran Wilde once said – let’s make it happen and include the completion of the Kapiti railway line in this 2012 -15 land transport programme, with further detail to be developed in the specific Rail　Plan."
　

If you like, also go to www.gw.govt.nz for the email address of each Regional Councillor –and send them a personal copy of the points you want to make!

　

Let’s make it happen – after all - its only a Platform!

　

With thanks,

Cheryll Read

For Raumati 　Public Transport Action Group

The Mulcher

On Friday the 6th, Daniel Cooper and a number of residents of Grange Park Ave and Raumati South met for Mulcher training.
Daniel talked us through the health and safety aspects of using the mulcher, an awesome machine capable of chewing 60mm branches up into small chips, and we were shown how to safely start, stop and use the mulcher.

All of us then had a go at starting the mulcher up, feeding a branch through it and turning it off. We were all impressed by the ease with which it chewed up stuff, and a little in awe at the power. Tim-the-tool-man-Taylor would love it!

After the training, almost everyone came back to our place for a pot-luck lunch and a chance to catch up and meet people not on the street. It was so good to talk to others in the local community who have a similar desire to see a reduction of waste, more composting and more community interaction.

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Daniel for his time, and all those who came along to be trained. The mulcher was in use over the weekend. Once trained,

Feijoas

We have heaps again this year so am putting them each day in bags under the street sign outside our fence. help yourselves!

After the show and Mulcher

SHOW:Thanks to all those who helped at the Sustainable show. It was great to meet some of the other streets and find out what they have been doing. Shows what can be done we we get together as a community.
Here is one of our recipes for clean green cleaner:
Dishwasher powder:
1 cup washing soda, 1 cup Baking soda,1/4 cup salt,1/4 cup citric acid. MIX.

MULCHER
During the week following our money came through from the council, so Carolyn organised buying our street mulcher, safety gear and getting the training organised.
Easter Friday about 18 people attended the first training..will leave the photos and blogg about this to you Carolyn and Robbie.
Easter Saturday the roar of the mulcher was heard in the street, first tree down and mulched with two neighbours getting together for this project. Yah Ken and Tony!

TIMEBANK
Tom and I have joined the Kapiti Time bank and encourage those in our street to join too.
www.kapititimebank.org.nz

Sustainable Garden Show this weekend

We have a Table at the show Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully we can man it for the two days.

Saturday is covered but not Sunday.

We have on our table

1) Some Preserves

2) Clean Green Cleaning Products.

3) A large basket with produce in ( How many different fruit and Veg do we grow in Grange Park Ave? Plus some containers with veg growing showing that you can container garden if you don't have much garden room on your section.

4) Make your own Gifts with some made. Giveaway sheet.

5) A Container with Help Yourself magazines and anything else you may have spare. Pass it Foreward.

6) Some Giveaways - Recipes, How much Electricity do Appliances use. etc

7) Cycling tips with Anthony Britton..Saturday .

TIME SLOTS so far Tod and  not available

 Prime times to have people there are 10am to 3pm on Saturday and 11am to 3pm on Sunday – 11am to 2pm both days is busiest.

SATURDAY

Set up 8.30 -10.30 Sue and Tom

10.30 -12.30 Brian Hayward

12.30 - 2.30.

2.30-4.00 Anthony Britton Tips for cycling

SUNDAY Wayne can do some of the time to be decided.

10-1

1-3

3-4.30 pack up Sue and Tom

This evening Josh and I went out and picked 6lb of blackberries. (It's funny, but when it comes to weighing fruit for preservers and jam, I always measure it in pounds). Josh ate quite a few, but enjoyed being out and the berries are good. I've sorted them out, removed all (actually most as I'll miss some) the caterpillars and frozen some nice ones for pies and the others for jam. Yum

Life seems to go too fast to write about it – I’m more a ‘just a get in there and do it’ kind of girl.

However I will make an exception..............

We had a great holiday away but felt most concerned as all our rubbish was going in a bin. It’s
just wrong – it’s a waste. On one occasion I managed to pass a bunch of kitchen scraps over the fence to someone with chooks – it felt right, but was not enough. I have posted feedback accordingly.

You see compost is my true passion – this week I collected 11 sacks of beach mulch and 11 sacks of horse poo with a friend (always better with a friend) and have turned my compost. We have two compost bins, both 1.2m square, made up of layers that can be moved. I had emptied one side before I started then added the poo, mulch, some tansy and water as I turned. As one pile got lower the other got higher and I moved the compost surround layers across. I turned till I got down to ‘the good stuff’. The new pile can now do its thing.

I will add my garden and kitchen waste to the top of the new pile and will use ‘the good stuff’ as required around the garden. When I have run out I will go on another collecting mission and turn the new pile until I get to ‘the good stuff’ again. I always have compost – actually I do give
some away to causes I consider worthy but don’t tell anyone. (OCD?)

So today we went to the kindy working bee and ‘did’ there compost, loaded up the gardens with ‘the good stuff’ after harvesting and clearing - all very satisfying. What I would like to say to any novices out there, size does matter. Stuff needs to be chopped up a bit before being added. Composts do work magic – the miracle will just take longer if the bits are too big.

Street BBQ Reminder

Tomorrow Sunday 13th Feb 2012

BBQ for street tomorrow at 4pm outside number 19. BYO everything. If wet will be following Sunday. Meeting first at 3pm!

From Yates seed page on facebook

Yates Gardening

Did you know that most vegetables produce best results if grown at a soil pH level of 6.0 to 7.0. In some areas this may mean adding lime before planting.

Emergency kit

Just been renewing food in our Emergency kit, so thought I would list whats in ours.
Emergency pages from old phone book.
Large Energiser light runs on batteries or from car.
Large First Aid Kit,
We have plenty of stored water in 2L containers.

FOOD: 8 tins tuna, 2x tin fruit, 4x tin cream rice, teabags, coffee sachets , bags nuts, chocolate, museli bars, rice, rolled oats, instant Noodles x4,saucepan
MEDICAL; List of Medications used by family, Ibuprofen tabs, Nitrolingual for angina, Rescue Remedy, Arnica, Cold spray for burns, Sterile gloves, thermal blanket, Celox quickly clots blood, 5x face masks, mini wipes,
PERSONAL: forks, spoons, plates , mugs, toothpaste and brushes, hairbrush with mirrow on handle, soap, dedorant,tissues,4x toilet paper,hair shampoo,sun screen,bodywash sachets,razors disposable,sanitizing hand cleaner,
OTHER: Cleaning cloths, washing powder,Dettol multi cleaner,Air spray,teatowel, Swiss Army knife,Small transitor radio,with spare batteries,Roll black bags,2x towels,2xblankets,

Need to add clothes line, detergent. and sort out bag of clothes with shoes packed to take.
Also paper and pens for leaving notes in letterbox.

ANYOTHER SUGGESTIONS??

Sky TV Energy saving tip

Do you have sky? Found in the january magazine the following...Energy saving is available on MY SKY. You can reduce your power consumption by putting your decoder into energy saving mode.

3 simple steps.
1. On your remote select SETUP button
2. Select SYSTEM SETUP, then select RECORDING SETUP.
4. Scroll to ENERGY SAVING LEVEL  and use right and left arrow buttons to select energy saving level required ( we are trying low to see what happens)
5. Scroll to the bottom of the options and select SAVE NEW SETTINGS  and Exit.

When you go to put Tv on again you need to push power button on  My Sky .

Street meeting .

Had a good street meeting to do some foreward planning for the year.
watch out for street BBQ, meetings for saving water, using the mulcher, visit from councils green gargener, vegetarian cooking, welding , and much more!
Anyone interested in a street garage sale?? April...so get cleaning out your sheds , rooms, garages...

Copied from facebook. Us older folk.

Checking out at the supermarket recently, the young cashier suggested I should bring my own bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. I apologised and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days". the clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for futur...e generations". She was right about one thing--our generation didn't have the green thing in “Our” day. So what did we have back then?

After some reflection and soul-searching on "Our" day here's what I remembered we did have.... Back then, we returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles repeatedly. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 240 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house --not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of Wales. In the kitchen, we blended & stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mums into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint. But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we older folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Tasty Pesto recipe

Place 2 cups of tightly packed leaves and two cloves of peeled garlic into a food processor. pulse to chop, then add one cup of parmesan and one cup of pine nuts (try sunflower seeds for a cheaper alternative) and blend to a pulp. While the motor is running , drizzle in a cup of olive oil and process until it forms a smooth paste. Add salt and pepper to taste and cover with a little olive oil to help keep its colour. If you're cooking with basil, be sure to add it at the last minute to reduce any loss of flavour by heating it.

Weed control and Jam...

It's been a while since I last posted and there has been plenty going on. I've been getting into the garden, mowing the lawn and making jam.

I love my lawn. Well not exactly love, but I like a lawn I can walk on barefoot, without weeds, buffalo/kikuyu grass and prickles. So, most years at the start of summer I've sprayed with Weed'n'Feed or something that promises to destroy all weeds. A couple of weeks later I'd mow and compost the clippings. Then Carolyn suggested I find out if composting sprayed lawn is actually safe.

SO I got on the Yates website and various others and was surprised at what I found out. The best information I found, all in one place was at the Teraviva web site. Their site is very informative, and they have a tremendous pdf document with details titled "Which Weedkiller to use in Home Gardens".

I discovered that my lawn cuttings shouldn't be used for at least 3 mowings. Some poisons make the lawn cuttings unavailable for 6 months. That's a long time. I could have collected my cuttings and dumped them in the bin, but I don't like compostables going into landfills. As they break down, they mix with a lot of other chemicals, metals etc and make a pretty toxic sludge. Also, landfills have to pay for the methane they produce, and garden waste produces a bit.

So, I mowed the cuttings into the lawn, They rotted down and were gone within a week, and I suppose now either the few worms that live in my sandy soil are now glowing green and growing extra heads, or they are fine and the chemicals are breaking down.

I've also been making jam. I've got a lot of raspberries, black and red currents and strawberries growing at the moment. I tend to pick them every few days and freeze them in zip-lock bags until I have several bags. There is also a plum tree nearby that we've been told we can have some plums off. Carolyn and the kids have picked a couple of super-market bags full. I've been busy picking the fruit and jamming it. I also made some Plum sauce (The Edmonds cook book has a great recipe).

Most of my jam recipes basically involve heating the fruit until it boils, then adding the same weight of sugar as the fruit and boiling it flat out until it looks like it will set in the jars. Black current jam gets 1/2 the weight of fruit added in water (eg 1.2kilos of black currants gets 600ml of water added). Old jam and sauce jars are heated in the oven and the lids boiled in a pan, then the fruit poured into the jars, lids screwed on quickly and then sit back and wait for the satisfying pop sound of the lids settling.

And later, I get to enjoy some yummy jam. The kids refer to it as 'Daddy-Jam'.

I thought some might be interested in this link - I love Ted.com

Roger Doiron: My subversive (garden) plot Video on TED.com www.ted.com

Some Random Thoughts

Where to start – so many things have been happening – this
competition really makes you think about life and your impact on the planet. Following is a brief run down on some of the stuff that’s been happening in our garden, kitchen and Christmas preparations.

In the Garden

When we first started talking about the greenest street competition two households that are not full participants said they would happily contribute their scraps to our compost and have been given 10lt buckets with lids and all is ticking along well - we had one household already contributing so our compost and worm farm are doing well. Then there is Tony who is passing his cooked food scraps our way for the chooks. Our chooks are very happy and I have already enquired about one of his recipes – the scraps smell so yummy.

I propagated a large number of seedlings, mainly tomatoes for the school gala - I love growing tomatoes. They were ready a few weeks early but I was pleased I managed to keep them growing strong and healthy with a seaweed liquid feed I had brewed. Several of the neighbours made the most of the opportunity and supported the school and now have full vege patches. I have most of my tomatoes planted out – a few over in my patch at the neighbours, some in 3 places in our main gardens down the back then some in bags the potting mix came in up the top. I got hit by the blight a few years ago and will never put all my toms in one spot again – I cried that year.

When my seedling were small I covered them with the bottom ends of soft drink bottles – had to do some recycling bin raids – the 2 ½ lt ones were best – I cut breathing holes in the top and it just helped protect them from the wind and cool during those early days – and snails for that matter.

Our raspberries are doing well and we have some in the freezer ready for a jamming session and I experimented with a desert the other night – a little refinement is required with regards to consistency but the taste was seriously good.

Today I planted out more corn – I have put the seed straight in this time, so we’ll see how they go. I also planted a small patch of carrots – I recently bought some neem tree granules and it recommended they could be used against carrot fly, so I have lightly worked them into the soil as per the instructions – fingers crossed that one day I will be able to successfully grow carrots.

My comfrey is finally growing well and I harvested a bunch of leaves for another brew. I have
really noticed the effect of the liquid feeds on my sprouting broccoli – they have just kept on going and they have been the largest sprouts I have ever had before – we are still going on my last few plants – my other garden favourite. My next mission is to sow some more broccoli seeds but I am going to put neem tree granules in the seed raising mix – something I read suggested that they might take it in to the leaves and then the caterpillars won’t like them – I live in hope and figure it is worth a try – will keep you posted.

In the Kitchen

We had family visit from the Hawkes Bay bearing gifts which included a large bundle of rhubarb some of which has gone into an experimental rhubarb gin – based on a recipe from a reliable source. We will be testing this week – best I get this blog done before that jar is opened.
I have been making yogurt from a starter I got from a workmate – I am doing it in an old Agee jar and simply wrapping it in a towel in the cylinder cupboard – I have figured out it is best if left just 6-8 hours, after that it seems to get bitter. Made a riata with it tonight – yum! Have
added fruit and the kids gobbled it down. I think I need a cow!

I made a batch of lemon curd as I had a plentiful supply of eggs and lemons. I gave some as a gift
to a friend; she quickly decided this was something she was not going to be sharing with her kids. The short fridge life was still not going to be an issue.

Christmas

Our eldest got the Christmas bug early so we made salt doughand he was away with his own idea of an advent countdown tree, taking off a home decorated peg and adding a new salt dough decoration each day.

We also received a decorated egg carton with 12 very yummy mini carrot cake cup cakes complete with cream cheese icing. Completely environmentally friendly – going to use that idea.

And Finally Nappies

I have gone a bit cold on my nappy recycling attempt – I was taking the insides out – wet ones only – and popping it in different places in my garden. It seems to act very like mulch – but I’m not sure the soil gets to breath. My enquiries into what was actu ally used in the insides got answers that were way too short and I don’t want to contaminate my garden until I have experimented a bit more. But I can’t help thinking the gell could have great benefits for retaining water in our sandy soils. And they make up a third of out weekly rubbish – I live in hope of nappies becoming a distant memory.

I will try to be more regular, so you don’t get such a big blast next time. Wish there were more
hours in a day.

Merry Christmas