This page has moved to a new address.

Sustainable me - practising what I preach

/* ----------------------------------------------- Blogger Template Style Name: Rounders Date: 27 Feb 2004 ----------------------------------------------- */ body { background:#aba; margin:0; padding:20px 10px; text-align:center; font:x-small/1.5em "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; color:#333; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; } /* Page Structure ----------------------------------------------- */ /* The images which help create rounded corners depend on the following widths and measurements. If you want to change these measurements, the images will also need to change. */ @media all { #content { width:740px; margin:0 auto; text-align:left; } #main { width:485px; float:left; background:#fff url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_main_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; margin:15px 0 0; padding:0 0 10px; color:#000; font-size:97%; line-height:1.5em; } #main2 { float:left; width:100%; background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_main_top.gif") no-repeat left top; padding:10px 0 0; } #main3 { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/rails_main.gif") repeat-y; padding:0; } #sidebar { width:240px; float:right; margin:15px 0 0; font-size:97%; line-height:1.5em; } } @media handheld { #content { width:90%; } #main { width:100%; float:none; background:#fff; } #main2 { float:none; background:none; } #main3 { background:none; padding:0; } #sidebar { width:100%; float:none; } } /* Links ----------------------------------------------- */ a:link { color:#258; } a:visited { color:#666; } a:hover { color:#c63; } a img { border-width:0; } /* Blog Header ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { #header { background:#456 url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_top.gif") no-repeat left top; margin:0 0 0; padding:8px 0 0; color:#fff; } #header div { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; padding:0 15px 8px; } } @media handheld { #header { background:#456; } #header div { background:none; } } #blog-title { margin:0; padding:10px 30px 5px; font-size:200%; line-height:1.2em; } #blog-title a { text-decoration:none; color:#fff; } #description { margin:0; padding:5px 30px 10px; font-size:94%; line-height:1.5em; } /* Posts ----------------------------------------------- */ .date-header { margin:0 28px 0 43px; font-size:85%; line-height:2em; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; color:#357; } .post { margin:.3em 0 25px; padding:0 13px; border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:1px 0; } .post-title { margin:0; font-size:135%; line-height:1.5em; background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_arrow.gif") no-repeat 10px .5em; display:block; border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:0 1px 1px; padding:2px 14px 2px 29px; color:#333; } a.title-link, .post-title strong { text-decoration:none; display:block; } a.title-link:hover { background-color:#ded; color:#000; } .post-body { border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:0 1px 1px; border-bottom-color:#fff; padding:10px 14px 1px 29px; } html>body .post-body { border-bottom-width:0; } .post p { margin:0 0 .75em; } p.post-footer { background:#ded; margin:0; padding:2px 14px 2px 29px; border:1px dotted #bbb; border-width:1px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; font-size:100%; line-height:1.5em; color:#666; text-align:right; } html>body p.post-footer { border-bottom-color:transparent; } p.post-footer em { display:block; float:left; text-align:left; font-style:normal; } a.comment-link { /* IE5.0/Win doesn't apply padding to inline elements, so we hide these two declarations from it */ background/* */:/**/url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_comment.gif") no-repeat 0 45%; padding-left:14px; } html>body a.comment-link { /* Respecified, for IE5/Mac's benefit */ background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_comment.gif") no-repeat 0 45%; padding-left:14px; } .post img { margin:0 0 5px 0; padding:4px; border:1px solid #ccc; } blockquote { margin:.75em 0; border:1px dotted #ccc; border-width:1px 0; padding:5px 15px; color:#666; } .post blockquote p { margin:.5em 0; } /* Comments ----------------------------------------------- */ #comments { margin:-25px 13px 0; border:1px dotted #ccc; border-width:0 1px 1px; padding:20px 0 15px 0; } #comments h4 { margin:0 0 10px; padding:0 14px 2px 29px; border-bottom:1px dotted #ccc; font-size:120%; line-height:1.4em; color:#333; } #comments-block { margin:0 15px 0 9px; } .comment-data { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_comment.gif") no-repeat 2px .3em; margin:.5em 0; padding:0 0 0 20px; color:#666; } .comment-poster { font-weight:bold; } .comment-body { margin:0 0 1.25em; padding:0 0 0 20px; } .comment-body p { margin:0 0 .5em; } .comment-timestamp { margin:0 0 .5em; padding:0 0 .75em 20px; color:#666; } .comment-timestamp a:link { color:#666; } .deleted-comment { font-style:italic; color:gray; } .paging-control-container { float: right; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; font-size: 80%; } .unneeded-paging-control { visibility: hidden; } /* Profile ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { #profile-container { background:#cdc url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_prof_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; margin:0 0 15px; padding:0 0 10px; color:#345; } #profile-container h2 { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_prof_top.gif") no-repeat left top; padding:10px 15px .2em; margin:0; border-width:0; font-size:115%; line-height:1.5em; color:#234; } } @media handheld { #profile-container { background:#cdc; } #profile-container h2 { background:none; } } .profile-datablock { margin:0 15px .5em; border-top:1px dotted #aba; padding-top:8px; } .profile-img {display:inline;} .profile-img img { float:left; margin:0 10px 5px 0; border:4px solid #fff; } .profile-data strong { display:block; } #profile-container p { margin:0 15px .5em; } #profile-container .profile-textblock { clear:left; } #profile-container a { color:#258; } .profile-link a { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_profile.gif") no-repeat 0 .1em; padding-left:15px; font-weight:bold; } ul.profile-datablock { list-style-type:none; } /* Sidebar Boxes ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { .box { background:#fff url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_side_top.gif") no-repeat left top; margin:0 0 15px; padding:10px 0 0; color:#666; } .box2 { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_side_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; padding:0 13px 8px; } } @media handheld { .box { background:#fff; } .box2 { background:none; } } .sidebar-title { margin:0; padding:0 0 .2em; border-bottom:1px dotted #9b9; font-size:115%; line-height:1.5em; color:#333; } .box ul { margin:.5em 0 1.25em; padding:0 0px; list-style:none; } .box ul li { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/icon_arrow_sm.gif") no-repeat 2px .25em; margin:0; padding:0 0 3px 16px; margin-bottom:3px; border-bottom:1px dotted #eee; line-height:1.4em; } .box p { margin:0 0 .6em; } /* Footer ----------------------------------------------- */ #footer { clear:both; margin:0; padding:15px 0 0; } @media all { #footer div { background:#456 url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_top.gif") no-repeat left top; padding:8px 0 0; color:#fff; } #footer div div { background:url("http://www.blogblog.com/rounders/corners_cap_bot.gif") no-repeat left bottom; padding:0 15px 8px; } } @media handheld { #footer div { background:#456; } #footer div div { background:none; } } #footer hr {display:none;} #footer p {margin:0;} #footer a {color:#fff;} /* Feeds ----------------------------------------------- */ #blogfeeds { } #postfeeds { padding:0 15px 0; }

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Sustainable me - practising what I preach


This week I'm talking sustainability, you can read more about why here. Yesterday I shared a list of 
40 simple ways to live more sustainably. To show you I practice what I preach and just how easy it can be, I'm sharing some of the things we are doing right now...


I am making an effort to buy products I need from second hand markets, charity stores and garage sales. I needed a new baking dish and rather than purchase one new, I found this one at my local charity store for $5. It matches a set of mixing bowls my mother and father were given for a wedding gift some 40 + years ago. My mum still uses the mixing bowl. So not only do I have a 'new' baking dish that meets my needs, I have a lovely sense of nostalgia to go along with it.




I'm buying local and loving it. Bent on Food is a local cafe that sell a fine range of products. This is my third jar of Caramalised Onion and Thyme Jam which makes the most divine pizzas. The strawberries in the Ricardoe's Strawberry Jam are grown about 40 minutes drive from here and it is truly the best strawberry jam I have ever tasted (sorry Gran!). As for the honey, it's sourced about 10 minutes drive from my house and tastes divine.




I am buying organic as often as I can. My budget does not always allow as organic products are generally more expensive, but each week I add a few new organic products to my trolley. I figure small changes are better than none. Planning meals, rather than throwing random things in the trolley also helps me to purchase an increased number of organic products and still remain within budget.





I am supporting local farmers, buying high quality products at a fair price. This is important to the sustainability of our industries as well as future food security. No farmers, no food.








I am gradually removing chemical cleaners from my home and replacing with natural cleaners. Lemon, vinegar, bicarb and eucalyptus now play a central role in cleaning my home and I am delighted with the results. Check out this useful link to see how effective natural cleaners can be.






We're growing our own vegetables. We have a two acre block but we can't afford the large enclosed vegetable patches we have planned. In saying that we're not waiting. We gathered up every available pot, elevated them away from the rabbits that roam our property and got planting. We have lettuce, cauliflower, brocolli, red spring onions, leeks and herbs all on their way to our dinner plate. Our own organic fair.





We are reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill by redirecting food waste to compost. Not only does it prevent waste, but it saves money when it comes to composting our vegetables and fruit trees. Did I mention we have fruit trees? We have lots and lots of fruit trees all planted in the last twelve months. We have lemons, limes, finger limes, oranges, mandarins  lemonades, figs, mangosteens, bananas and pomelos just to name a few.




Speaking of trees, plant trees indigenous to your area. Your soil will love it, it will attract local wildlife and reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If you have nowhere to plant trees, join your local Landcare group and support their projects or get your family involved in events like National Tree Day. In the last twelve months we have planted around 60 trees on our property, the majority indigenous natives (we like to think we are teaching the Squishy valuable lessons but he just likes whacking them with bubble wands...sigh).



Educate yourself. Read about what others are doing in a bid to live a more sustainable life. It's inspiring and it will give you ideas about the small (and large) changes you can make to reduce your footprint on the earth.






So we are making an effort to lessen our footprint on the earth with a view to giving back more than we take. It is a day to day choosing to live more consciously, to leave this place in a better condition than we found it.

What are you doing to live more sustainably?

Labels: , , ,

posted by Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye @ 06:20   23 Comments

23 Comments:

At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Redcliffe Style said...

This is great and has got me thinking. I need to put in more of a conscience effort in too. Rachel x

#teamIBOT was here x

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sharing the one car with my husband. Whoever has to go furthest gets the car, the other walks or rides their pushbike.
Got photovoltaic panels on my roof generating electricity when it is sunny, also have solar hot water.
Hardly ever use the heater in winter - we open up all the curtains, & sit under a rug in the evenings.
My extended family share newspapers. Mum & Dad pass their papers on to me after they have read them, I pass magazines back their way.
Never buy books (except text books), always use the library.

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Ames said...

We used to be more conscious about what we bought and where from but then sesame came and we became lazy/short on time. We really should get back onto it and as you've shown it's not that much more effort. Thanks for the insight and push!

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Anonymous Julia Kuku Couture said...

This is great and you just made me feel great about myself as I do most of the things on that list. I especially love the thrifting. I bet the things you buy would probably last longer than new bought things anyway.

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger BossyMummy said...

These are great ideas. I try to buy local and organic And we plant our own and I really need to get around to setting up our compost system. I actually have seen a worm farm that operates on dog poo - since my dog is the size of a bear, that's a lot of poo, so it's something we should really look at doing!

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Catherine Rodie Blagg (Cup of Tea and a Blog) said...

I used to be SO good at this, but in recent years have slipped back in to old bad habits. This is a good reminder - thank you!

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Yvette Bowyer said...

YAY to thrifting.. I think I said this before..

Just wish Perth had better thrift stores.. I must go on the hunt one day!! Maybe today!!

#teamIBOT was here to say hello!!

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Anonymous Modern Nomads With Kids said...

Great post to bring me to my sense Bree. Your right making small changes is better than doing nothing at all.
You will get your big veggie garden one day and when you do, you will have all the compost you need. Enjoy the fruit your tress will be producing soon enough.
Prue X

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Jess@Diary of a SAHM said...

My mother in law is always going on about packaging, and it does make you look at the products you buy.
Unfortuntaltey, where I live I don't have the opportunity to buy local, and groceries are more expensive, so those options aren't open to me. I do try though.

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger carmen said...

This has been our life for the past 17 years. Becoming a mum made me more concerned about how we impacted on the world around us.
Our house is chemical free, organic and as sustainable as we can make it. We grow much of our food and we are basically vegetarian.
Everything is sourced secondhand as a first off and we've just downgraded one of our vehicles for a much more eco friendly version.
We shop locally and make most of our food from scratch. We are very blessed. x

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

Well you are certainly doing your bit! Keep up the good work :-)

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

I hope its the motivation you need Ames. Good luck!

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

I'm glad Julia and you are right, thrifted items are often better quality. They seemed made to last.

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

Worms and dog poo - what a great idea, particularly if you have a lot! I hope you get this started and I hope you get your compost up and running. It feels good to do the right thing.

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

We all need reminders from time to time - I hope you find your sustainability mojo once again!

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

Any excuse to shop!

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

Thanks Prue. We will indeed have our veggie patches one day and I am sure they will be worth the wait.

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

All we can do is try, you might have to try growing a few things in pots too Jess.

 
At Tuesday, 11 September, 2012 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

Wonderful to hear Carmen! I'm aspiring to do as much as I can - I can use you for inspiration :-)

 
At Sunday, 16 September, 2012 , Blogger Peta @ Great Googa Moogas said...

Good for you Bree, I do many of the things on your list but thank you for the reminder on the others.

 
At Sunday, 16 September, 2012 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

Glad to hear it Peta :-)

 
At Wednesday, 19 September, 2012 , Blogger Anne @ Domesblissity said...

This is such a fabulous post Bree and very similar to how I like to live my life. (I had trouble copying one of the photos in the blog post so used your "Twinkle..." button when featuring this post as one of the most hit from last week's Thriving on Thursday. Thanks so much for linking up.

Anne xx

 
At Wednesday, 26 September, 2012 , Anonymous Lisa Wood said...

Great ideas! We have gone to natural cleaning products, cage free eggs, natural washing (clothes) liquid, less hot water, less using of lights, organic food and organic milk.
We also buy home made soaps where ever we can - markets etc because they are cheaper and better for the skin!

 

Post a Comment

Comments make me warm and fuzzy

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home