Return of the blogger... rocket stoves and light clay straw

It takes a surprising amount of time and energy to keep a blog going... both of these things I have been directing elsewhere.

Transistion town, peak oil, sustainable living are all expressions for the urgent need for humans to use less of the planets resources and for us to remember that we are animals and need to live as part of the ecosystems of the planet.

I personally find that keeping consumption down is really difficult. Ive been seeking out ways to improve the efficiency of my use of the planets resources.
I want to generate hot water from my wood stove.... but the gear I need to buy is not readily availble nor affordable....

Went to the local tip to get some corrugated iron for a planter box, as my raspberries need repotting, only to find that the council has roped of the steel section due to OH&S issues. So no reusing and recycling opportunites at the tip anymore :-(

I got distracted one cold morning by YouTube clips of rocket stoves, really interesting ingenious designs to burn fuel in a way that traps much more of the heat than conventional combustion stoves.



Earth mass heater from ilovecob.com

I love the way that alternative people try  things and share them. This led me to mass heaters....

Cob bench rocket stove from small-scale.net

Then I got interested in construction that doesn't 'cost the earth' but uses earth instead.

Light clay straw is building technique that blends the best of adobe and straw bale construction. More on this another time.



Spring events

Sailors Creek

Echidna train

What can I do to be more sustainable? - back to basics

4 Rs

• Refuse     to buy stuff you don't need, refuse plastic bags and junk mail
• Reduce    buying stuff that you don't need like clothing and shoes
• Reuse      things like glass jars and  clothing
• Recycle    paper bottles, cans and  food scraps etc

Grow some of your own food

• herbs
• vegies in pots like tomatoes (not now of course Oct -Nov the right time)
• fruit in pots like strawberries and blueberries
• Or use garden beds to grow an enormous range of delicious health cheap food

Keep chickens

Coco and Harriet- great workers and providers of objects below

Buy local food

• less fossil fuels used to transport
• keep $ in the local economy
• support farmers at farmers markets
• means you are buying seasonal food right now that means root crops potatoes, pumpkins, swedes, parsnips, citrus etc

Dress for the weather

• keeps heating bills down
• if you wear wool you support non fossil fuel industry
• support op shops

Use energy wisely

Walk where ever you can

Car pool

Leitchs Creek Restoration Project

In late 2008, a number of people who value Leitchs Creek decided they wanted to protect and improve the biodiversity of the creek. They wanted to tackle some of the problems the creek is experiencing and formed the Leitchs Creek Restoration Project. Weeds like blackberry, gorse and cape broom are considered significant problems. They were interested in alternative strategies for weed control. LCRP is made up of new and established Landcare members. With support from Pam Manning, then the local Landcare co-coordinator, they received a $2000 promotion and education grant from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) 2nd Generation Landcare Grant Program.

Leitchs Creek Bushland Reserve -Water Ribbons, Poa and Swamp gums

The project covers a small section of Leitchs Creek. The section begins at Mahoneys Road and heads north approximately 1.5km. The original aims were to assess the current state of the creek and then develop a plan to improve the biodiversity of the creek riparian area (the banks and floodplain), this means we want to repair the landscape, help landowners improve their land by protecting soil, reduce weeds, retain existing native vegetation and encourage the regeneration and revegetation of native grasses, shrubs and trees which improves conditions for all fauna (birds, bats, possums, insects etc).

Other goals of the project included distributing information about the project and holding an information day about alternative weed control, which was conducted on 14 March (photo below)

"Walk and Talk" through the reserve on 14 March

 It is important that people like the ones involved with LCRP are increasingly developing and implementing actions for the sustainable use and conservation of native vegetation. Despite these efforts, native vegetation in many parts of Australia has become degraded and fragmented. Native vegetation integrity is at risk from changing land use along with unsustainable clearing, changed water and fire regimes, overgrazing and invasive species (Beeton et al. 2006). Climate change is a further threat and will also exacerbate other threats.

The management plan sets out to assess the threats to the environmental values of this area and puts forward some strategies to deal with these problems

To recieve a pdf copy of the 40 page management plan please email me

Energy Saving Tips - Winter

Keep the Heat in and Winter Out

• Look for gaps and draughts around doors and windows, then block them up with foam weather stripping, putty or expanding foam

• Heat only rooms you use, close off others you don’t

• Put insulation in roofs, walls and under flooring

• Let winter sunlight in

• Buy and use the most efficient appliances you can afford

• Stop heat getting out through windows

• Put up heavy curtains with pelmets over windows, if fitted well these are as efficient as double glazing
• Close curtains or blinds especially in the evening when you are heating.

• Dress appropriately for the weather. Putting on layers, a jumper/cardigan is better than turning the heater up.

• Use blankets/doonas on the couch

• Cook - steam makes the air more pleasant and ovens help heat room

Use Heating Efficiently

• Turn the heater off when you go out or go to bed.

• If you have a timer, turn your system on about 15 minutes prior to your return.

• Each degree of extra heating in winter will increase energy consumption by about 5 to 10 per cent. Set the thermostat to 18° to 20°C in winter.

• Service all heaters and coolers according to the manufacturer’s instructions.


Tips for Wood Heaters

• Get a good fire going as quickly as possible. This will allow the heater to draw air and function properly, with little smoke production.

• Allow a hot fire to burn for at least one hour before turning it down for overnight burn.

• Avoid unnecessarily running your heater on low overnight. This will save a lot of wood and reduce creosote formation. High pollutant emissions are usually caused by operating wood heaters with the air supply closed off.

• Load firewood with approximately 25mm gaps between the logs to let in adequate air and help to develop pockets of glowing coals.

• Use only dry, untreated wood from sustainable sources.

• Inspect your flue or chimney once a year for blockages such as bird’s nests or creosote buildup. Have chimney swept if necessary.

Is your home as sustainable as it could be? Have an energy and water audit done for FREE

I am an accredited Home Sustainability Assessor No. HO53146.
I can help you:
-save money
-have a more comfortable home
-reduce greenhouse gases

Biophilia - why we need to love nature a bit more

If you had any doubts that we are facing uncertain times with the natural world, check out the articles on the threats to biodiversity in the latest WombatForestcare April Newsletter.