- We try to re-use EVERYTHING! Cans, bottles, plastic bags/wrap and anything else plastic, old clothes (as rags) etc. etc.
- We try to find building materials which are local or recycled. Tom spent weeks a few years ago pulling down an old building, but he has a lot of good quality, recycled timber out of it. In today's building environment, people are happy to get buildings pulled down without having to pay for it. Usually the land these older buildings are on is worth more to them without anything on it. It is a matter of being at the right place at the right time, but you can always scout around locally for these opportunities.
Local rock or clay are also great building materials, and can even be found on your own land! - All paper products are recycled, we have an old paper shredder (bought second hand), which shreds the paper and cardboard down enough so it can be used as mulch. Other (smaller) bits of paper can be put in the centre of banana circles, the bananas love it!
- Opp shops and second hand shops are a great source for clothing, crockery/cutlery and other household items. Instead of buying paper or plastic party products (plates, cups etc) for parties or get togethers, buy some cheap crockery and cutlery that can be used and re-used (it only uses some water for washing up...). Clothing is always best bought from opp shops, at least you know that even though it may have been made in a sweat shop originally, you do not encourage that sort of behaviour by buying it new. Recycled is cheaper for your wallet and the environment; we westerners throw out a lot of clothes, so our opp shops are plenty AND full!
- Grow as much food as you can, in plant and animal form. Milk your cows/sheep/goats and make your own cheese (fetta is very easy and quick to make, even if you are out all day!) and yoghurts. Have some chooks, even in most small backyards you can still have chooks and they love all your food scraps! They give you eggs and manure in return. Try and eat as much from the garden as possible: minimise trips to the supermarket. You can eat simple but still very tasty food.
- Anything you cannot grow, buy wholesale or from a farmers market or local farm. Try produce exchanges. Wholesale products mean you need to store things in bulk (you can get food grade buckets from some second hand stores), it also means the packaging will be minimal, so minimal waste. Nuts, seeds, pulses, grains are all things that are not easy to be able to grow in quantities. Either go without or buy in bulk and store.
- Aim to have only a couple of small shopping bags of waste every week, if not less. Work towards eliminating waste all together. This can be done by not buying any packaged products.
- Ride a bicycle. If you live too far away, or have problems with mobility, research electric bicycles. (They come with solar chargers as well, you may need to search a bit harder for those, but they are available!) Bicycles are the best transport, no emissions, good for your health, no noise and they make you slow down and take in the surroundings. Enjoy your bicycle ride and take your time!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Minimising your impact
In trying to minimise our impact on this earth as much as possible, there are a few things we do:
Thursday, September 2, 2010
And we thought only monkeys eat bananas...
Our chooks love bananas so much that they do not lay as many eggs if they do not have their regular dose...
We believe it is due to the potassium in the bananas, which aids the absorption and retention of calcium. The chooks lay better and their eggshells are nice and firm.
We are lucky, since we have an abundance of bananas on our property.
We have enough to feed ourselves, our chooks AND our dogs... Yes, our dogs love bananas too. They sit under the ripe bunches waiting for one to fall down, so they can get to it before the other dog does... And of course, the birds like the bananas as well, they seem to always get their little bites worth! Bananas seem to be a big hit, and no wonder, because they taste fantastic! Nothing like homegrown and home-ripened bananas.
To improve the laying of chooks and the strength of their egg shell, give them some bananas!
This time of year the mulberries are in season as well. Yumm! We have a reasonable picking every day, just gorgeous!
Hot Banana and Mango with crumble
In a pot put Bananas and Mango (quantity as needed for number of people), same amount of bananas as mango, you may add a little more bananas, as the mango flavour is fairly strong.
Add a can of coconut cream and put on stove until bubbling. Blend with a hand blender in the pot.
In a frying pan, fry some egg and coconut mix (beat eggs, add coconut flour or dessicated coconut). Fry the mix until brown and stir all the time, ensure the mix is reasonably dry when you put it into the pan.
Ladle the hot banana mango mix into a medium size bowl, add the crumble on top. Serve with some yoghurt or (sour) cream. A favourite breakfast of many!
The following was forwarded to me by email:
A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression:According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power:200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness:Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweightand at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness.. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'
PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!
We are lucky, since we have an abundance of bananas on our property.
We have enough to feed ourselves, our chooks AND our dogs... Yes, our dogs love bananas too. They sit under the ripe bunches waiting for one to fall down, so they can get to it before the other dog does... And of course, the birds like the bananas as well, they seem to always get their little bites worth! Bananas seem to be a big hit, and no wonder, because they taste fantastic! Nothing like homegrown and home-ripened bananas.
To improve the laying of chooks and the strength of their egg shell, give them some bananas!
This time of year the mulberries are in season as well. Yumm! We have a reasonable picking every day, just gorgeous!
Hot Banana and Mango with crumble
In a pot put Bananas and Mango (quantity as needed for number of people), same amount of bananas as mango, you may add a little more bananas, as the mango flavour is fairly strong.
Add a can of coconut cream and put on stove until bubbling. Blend with a hand blender in the pot.
In a frying pan, fry some egg and coconut mix (beat eggs, add coconut flour or dessicated coconut). Fry the mix until brown and stir all the time, ensure the mix is reasonably dry when you put it into the pan.
Ladle the hot banana mango mix into a medium size bowl, add the crumble on top. Serve with some yoghurt or (sour) cream. A favourite breakfast of many!
A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression:According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power:200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness:Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweightand at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness.. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'
PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Walls rock!
When you look at your environment, there are always resources you can use with minimum impact to that environment. A resource found in abundance on our property is rock. We have found rock walls a wonderful way to enhance the garden, stop swale walls from eroding without stopping water flow, holding dirt off a site and to build a building.
Rock is a beautiful but difficult building material, you have to have the time to spend with it. Most of that time is taken to try and find the right rock for the right space. Once the right rock is found, it is put on top of the wall (loose rock wall), or fitted onto the spot and held in place with some wooden wedges (cemented rock wall). In the case of the latter, once enough rocks are in place to warrant making a batch of cement, it is cemented into place and the wooden wedges removed. When the cement is dry, it is scraped to mold nicely around the rock.
The picture above shows a rock wall building in progress. Around the area are a number of rocks waiting to be found so they can be put into the right space...
Some wwoofers enjoyed the rock wall process so much, they returned to our property and stayed to finish a rock wall they had started before they left. It truly is a work of art and is now called: "The Great Wall of Kin Kin"...
This wall stops the erosion of the higher swale wall and stops garden beds from being washed into the swale. Water can still seep through the rock wall into the swale.
If you are interested in finding out more about rock wall building, please contact us. We have regular building courses, rock walls being one of them. Rocks are a beautiful addition to the garden, and seem to fit in beautifully with the surroundings. If you are lucky enough to have natural rock on your property, please start using it! It is a low footprint material with a beautiful feel.
Some wwoofers enjoyed the rock wall process so much, they returned to our property and stayed to finish a rock wall they had started before they left. It truly is a work of art and is now called: "The Great Wall of Kin Kin"...
If you are interested in finding out more about rock wall building, please contact us. We have regular building courses, rock walls being one of them. Rocks are a beautiful addition to the garden, and seem to fit in beautifully with the surroundings. If you are lucky enough to have natural rock on your property, please start using it! It is a low footprint material with a beautiful feel.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Home sweet potato...
Today our wwoofers did a bit of harvesting. Natalia, a Dutch wwoofer who stayed with us a few months ago, had planted some sweet potato on the lower side of one of our swales. Our English wwoofer Liz dug one up today and we were speechless by the size of it! It weighed in at over 3kg!
Of course, we had to eat some for lunch, and will have some more for dinner (yes, it is good for 2 meals for 5 - 7 people!)
Sweet potato which is said to be an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), a very good source of vitamin C and manganese, and a good source of copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron. Purple-fleshed sweet potatoes have the highest antioxidant activity among sweet potato varieties. If you are interested in the nutrient content of sweet potato, have a look here: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrientprofile&dbid=128
I also had the wonderful surprise today of walking in the door after having been out this morning and seeing all this wonderful produce laid out on the table. Strawberries, mandarins, broccoli, yakon, lots of spinach and asian greens, lots of lettuce, chokos, cherry tomatoes and other beautiful foods. It was a gorgeous look seeing it on our table, and very inviting to cook with.
For lunch we chopped up all the spinach, endive and asian greens, put it into a pot with a few handfuls of cherry tomatoes and put it onto the woodstove with a sprinkling of tamari before I put the lid on. Half of the huge sweet potato was cut into pieces and put into a pot with a small amount of water, enough to steam the potato without running out of water.
We had this served with lettuce from the garden and home made rocket pesto. It is so satisfying eating from your own garden, and to know that we have low food mileage and organic, nutrient rich produce makes you feel great!
I am looking forward to our next great vegie find!!
Liz with home sweet potato...
Sweet potato which is said to be an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), a very good source of vitamin C and manganese, and a good source of copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron. Purple-fleshed sweet potatoes have the highest antioxidant activity among sweet potato varieties. If you are interested in the nutrient content of sweet potato, have a look here: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrientprofile&dbid=128
I also had the wonderful surprise today of walking in the door after having been out this morning and seeing all this wonderful produce laid out on the table. Strawberries, mandarins, broccoli, yakon, lots of spinach and asian greens, lots of lettuce, chokos, cherry tomatoes and other beautiful foods. It was a gorgeous look seeing it on our table, and very inviting to cook with.
For lunch we chopped up all the spinach, endive and asian greens, put it into a pot with a few handfuls of cherry tomatoes and put it onto the woodstove with a sprinkling of tamari before I put the lid on. Half of the huge sweet potato was cut into pieces and put into a pot with a small amount of water, enough to steam the potato without running out of water.
We had this served with lettuce from the garden and home made rocket pesto. It is so satisfying eating from your own garden, and to know that we have low food mileage and organic, nutrient rich produce makes you feel great!
I am looking forward to our next great vegie find!!
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