Change

In permaculture it is often said that within a problem is the solution.  David Holmgren's classic example is, "You don't have a snail problem, you have a duck deficit.".

Today I've been thinking about the fact that the answer to climate change is in the term itself.  Change.  We need change.  We need a change in government attitudes and policies.  We need change to the consumerist attitudes and indulgent lifestyles.  We need change to the way we produce and source our food.  We need major change and we need it NOW!  There is not one of us that could not make some type of change to reduce our impact on the situation.

Luckily lots and lots of people are aware of this.  Yesterday, 21st of September, saw marches all over the world.  There were huge amounts of people turning up to local marches and calling for climate action.  Yay!

Our environment group didn't hold a march.  We decided to do something a bit different.  We decided that rather than march, we would encourage people to address climate change at a personal level. We sat outside a local supermarket for four hours and sewed shopping bags.  They were made from recycled material and we gave them away for free.  We hoped to encourage people to stop using plastic bags which are so harmful to our environment.  With the bags, we gave a flier listing various easy ways people could address their personal impact on climate change.

It was a fun morning and we spoke to many people.  With a bit of luck we will have made a difference in some way.  We certainly didn't get our message across to everyone!  One older woman was delighted with her new bag and also took one to give her friend.  Then she popped into the supermarket and emerged with.... you guessed it!  A plastic bag!!  Argghh!  However, if only five of all the people we spoke to change from plastic to reusable, I would be delighted.  It would be change.

Sometimes I despair that people are hiding their heads in the sand.  I think I understand.  I believe their attitude is born from fear.  Well they should be scared; very scared.  But head burying doesn't seem very wise to me.

Other times I despair that people are so indulgent that, although they acknowledge a climate emergency, they don't want to adjust their lifestyles.  These people are looking for answers through technology.  While I totally support renewable energy and love some of the clever advances that are being made with green products, we live in a finite world.  There just aren't enough resources to go around.  Life needs to be simpler.  If only people could embrace the beauty in life that has nothing to do with beautiful homes, gorgeous clothing, owning the latest gadgets or just shopping in general.  Life is so much more.  It is family, friendship, appreciation for warm and comfortable homes, belonging in a useful and meaningful way to community, and animals, and tummies full of good wholesome food, vegetable gardens, clean water to drink and do-it-yourself and..... I could go on all day!

Change.  It isn't hard.  You need to make a conscious decision that you want to vary the way you do something and stick to it.  That's all there is to it!

Here are the small changes we suggested in our leaflet -

·         Shop with reusable bags (including veggie bags)

·         Buy local

·         Buy organic

·         Drive less (complete several tasks on one trip)

·         Use public transport

·         Grow vegetables

·         Cook meals from scratch (cheaper too!  Woo Hoo!)

·         Keep chooks – they give you eggs and when you feed them scraps you’ll reduce your rubbish

·         Buy second hand where possible

·         Repair items rather than throw them out

·         Use less electricity – turn off lights and electrical appliances when not in use

·         Cook in bulk and freeze (uses one lot of energy for more than one meal)

·         Buy only things you really need, find other ways to have fun than shopping

In summary, I'm delighted to see so many people out there are taking this as seriously as I am and are demanding change.  Together we can make a difference.

So the scenario is ours.  Personal change or climate change.  You choose.

Please add to the ideas in the comments.  I'm sure there are many ideas I haven't mentioned and the more we have, the better.

On gardens, poultry and life

Whew!  I have finally completed a nine week MOOC course on climate change.  It was fantastic (run by Melbourne Uni) but it felt pretty intense!  It probably wasn't but I had to fit my normal life in around it.

Heaps learnt, heaps consolidated.  I'm still as determined as ever that the only way to fix this mess (and it really is a mess) is to change individual lifestyles.  We need to stop producing polluting gases and we need to do it now!!

We've also traipsed down to Melbourne to the VCAT hearing regarding a wind farm near us.  We really want to see it go ahead...

If I do say so myself, my kids were amazing!  The hearing went from ten through till four thirty (with breaks) and they didn't shame me once. 

On the home front I've been getting help in the kitchen...

In the garden I've been trying to keep planting on a regular basis.  Trouble is, I'm running out of room!  Oh, and we're still getting occasional frosts which is really frustrating because it's time to get my summer veggies in the ground.  Hubby's expanding my garden for me today.  Thanks Hubby!

In the orchard we've been having a terrible time.  A couple of weeks ago one of my chooks died suddenly one evening.  She was quickly followed by two more overnight and one the following day.  We called the vet to investigate and we quarantined ourselves at her recommendation.  I thought we were going to lose all of them but the others recovered, thankfully.  We were very disappointed to lose the rooster.  We were going to start breeding soon.

That wasn't the end of our poultry disaster.  The dogs (who never touch our chooks) killed one of our new ducks and then one of the recovered chooks got her leg caught between two poles and broke it.  We also have a gosling that can't walk properly.  We're caring for him inside overnight and trying to leave him outside on warmer days.

 

Now we have a chook, gosling and duck in our 'intensive care' dome in the yard!  Mind you, when I let them out for some exercise, they seem well enough to find the veggie garden!!

 So now I can put the course and chook illness behind me.  I'm going to take a deep breath and then I suppose I'd better start thinking about Christmas.

 

What's keeping you busy?

 

Addressing climate change

Something is very much on my mind at the moment.  So many people seem to be waiting for someone else to do something to address the problem of climate change.  This seems absolutely crazy!  I believe many people think they have no power to change the situation.   They couldn't be more wrong!

Changes to lifestyle on a personal level would make a huge difference.  Reducing your electricity by a very conservative 2 kWh would be easy to do but no, in one household that wouldn't make a dent to climate change.  However if you applied that to every household in Australia, given that the population is 23 million, the change would be huge. 

 

Similarly, we as consumers create demand.  One person demanding organic food produced locally which improves the soil on which it was grown/raised would not find it easy to source their food.  Yet 23 million people demanding organic food would ensure it was available.  Let's face it.  Businesses are in it for the money so we do have power.

Yesterday there was a great article in the Australian newspaper about ethical food.  I am quite passionate about ethical food for many reasons, one of them being that it helps to address issues of water and fossil fuel wastage and land degradation.  In the article, Nick Rose from Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (a brilliant organisation of which I am a paid-up member) described the positive outcomes of choosing ethical food -

"Eating ethically means eating according to values and principles that support an ethic of care about people, animals and the environment. Ethical food is produced, transformed and distributed in ways that: 

Replenish and regenerate soils and waterways. 

Provide a dignified life and death to animals. 

Provide a dignified livelihood to farmers and food workers.

          Promote access to good food to all people, regardless of income or social status.

          Promote appreciation of food, its taste and quality, and the people who produce it."

. - See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/executive-living/food-drink/the-ethical-dinner-basket/story-e6frg8jo-1226730157772#sthash.vJf5s9d1.dpuf

See the difference we can make by our choices?!  Or we can wait for the government to make change and decisions for us.  The previous govt. didn't do an awful lot about reducing emissions and the incoming govt. would like the issue of climate change to just disappear so that it doesn't interfere with mining plans and money making.  One of the first things they did after being voted in, was to axe The Climate Commission.  They were the body responsible for studying the climate here in Australia and they reported to the government and the general public on their scientific findings.

Fortunately for us, The staff at the Climate Commission have responded to public outcry by setting up an independent, apolitical, not-for-profit organisation to give us the information we NEED to know about the climate HERE in Australia!  The newly formed Climate Council have called for support from the general public to fund their work and have begun working on their next report already.  The best news out of all of this is that you are not the only one trying to achieve change. The Climate Council began their campaign to raise money about five days ago and already they have raised $969,000 dollars!!!  This amount is from over 20,000 donors!  Five days!  This proves that there are many, many people out there who care just as much as you and me.  Please consider donating to them on the above link.

Fancy our own government not wanting information on the state of our environment.    It kinda screams, "Don't want to know!  We'll just do as we please regardless of climate change and stuff the rest of you."  Sadly it is others we are hurting, more than ourselves because we are not under immediate threat of sea level rise.  (But others are!)  I hate to think what other countries must think of our self centred behaviour.

I certainly don't sit around waiting for someone to change a situation over which I have a strong element of control.  Particularly when it's obvious The Liberal Party are not going to be my knight in shining armour (more like the fire breathing dragon) and the outcome of waiting will be disastrous!  So don't throw your hands in the air and plead helplessness.  There is heaps that YOU can do and it WILL make a change.

You can:-

• drive less (plan errands to tie in with each other, car pool, ride a bike, catch public transport)
• cook with basic ingredients rather than packet foods (tastes better and is better for you anyway)
• eat less meat in a week (there are heaps of other options like risotto and pasta meals)
• don't buy anything you don't need (spend some time thinking about the true meaning of 'need')
• use less electricity (turn off lights in empty rooms, turn switches off at the wall)
• grow an organic veggie garden (it's easy, fun and tasty)
• donate to groups like the Climate Council
• become a member of Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance
• favour free range chook over meat (there is less environmental cost)
• buy local food and products and use local services whenever you can
• buy second hand, repair broken items if possible
• steer clear of plastic
• shop at farmer's markets
• keep chooks or other poultry
• compost (or give the chooks) all your own greenwaste rather than putting it in a bin
• join a community group that is proactive on environmental issues
• install solar PV panels and/or solar hot water
• learn DIY skills and use them
• repurpose items (old lawnmower catcher as a laying box for those chooks you're getting ;-))

Most of the things on this list are pretty easy so decide on a few and begin (or continue) making change.  It only takes a bit of thought and some practice at changing habits.

Most people who weren't bothering to act on their personal emissions, because they were using the excuse of denying climate change existed, have now changed their tune.  The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was released this week.  They are the leading authority regarding climate change on a world wide level.  Surely this report will leave us with no deniers that climate change is absolutely anthropogenic (due to human activity)!

So if you are not a denier but one of those people arguing that you aren't reducing emissions because there's 'no point because you can't make a difference anyway'.......

Well I hope I've taken that excuse away from you.  Just know you're not the only one and that you can make a difference!  And know that it isn't hard.  When you are feeling uncertain about whether to make a reduction in emissions, remind yourself of the urgency surrounding climate change, weigh it up against comfort or convenience and prioritise from there.

Having said all that I'm sure that most people reading this post are already converts to an energy reduction lifestyle.  I would love your input here.  Please leave a comment and add to my list of ways to reduce emissions.

Happy reducing everyone!  Together we can do this.

UNsustainable sustainability

Something's been niggling at me for quite some time and has recently been brought to the fore.

I spend A LOT of time (most of my waking hours) thinking about sustainability and how we can lessen the impact of our lives on the world in general.  Therefore I can get quite narky when I see people taking advantage of what I am trying to achieve.

Greed and indulgence are what brought us to this point.  We now realise we have caused damage to the planet and just about made it impossible to find good healthy food due to our lifestyle choices over the last half century or so.  In wanting life to be easier, we have demanded quick, easy food and lots of material goods to make us more comfortable without needing to be physically involved in the production.

Ok.  So all that's changing right?  We're realising our mistakes and are setting about rectifying the problem by growing veggies, buying thoughtfully and sustainably and trying to use less electricity.  Heck, we might have even changed to a 'green' washing powder!  Well all in all, yes thank goodness!

There are amazing numbers of individuals shopping ethically, growing veggies, making do with what they have and really making change in their communities.  There are also some great businesses springing up.  Many are certified organic and others spend a lot of time sourcing ethical goods.   Organic farmers are working hard to improve the land they are farming.   Many business have chosen not to become certified due to the paperwork and cost but run very ethical businesses all the same.  I support these businesses as much as I can.

However I believe greed and indulgence are beginning to rear their ugly heads in the world of sustainability.  There seem to be more and more businesses 'cashing in' on the fact that people are prepared to pay more because of their ethics.  These businesses use the label of sustainability as a marketing tool, charge a fortune and really only have the dollar as their main interest. They don't use sustainable practices and don't really have the environment in mind.  They're just savvy enough to realise they can make a buck out of this new market.  It makes me angry because while I'm happy to pay extra to ensure I'm covering costs for businesses that are caring about the environment, I don't want to pay top dollar to someone who is taking advantage of me for their own gain!  Nor do I want to do all the extra things I do in a day (because I'm hoping to fix the mess we're in) only to find someone else sitting around in the lap of luxury ensuring my goal can't be reached!!!

One of the three ethics of permaculture is Fair Share.  If these businesses were fair dinkum about their sustainability they would only be aiming to make enough to be comfortable and ensure their business works.  More than that and we enter back into the area of greed which brought us to this point where products are made shoddily, sent overseas for cost advantage and workers are taken advantage of...........

And while I'm at it, there's another area that drives me mad.  This one is to do with individuals, not business.  There seem to be a whole group of people who feel they are addressing climate change and our impact by simply buying more.  You know.  All the sustainable gadgets!  How have they missed the point so completely?!!  Guilt free consumerism in their minds but they are still consuming the planet's resources like they're going out of fashion! 

Is it really so bad to look at the situation we're in and make life changes accordingly?!  We have over-consumed.  Pure and simple.  We need to use less.  I'm not talking about living dreary and miserable lives.  Just a shift in attitude.  Stop seeing comfort in giant screen plasma TVs, the most expensive skiing jacket you can find, or in solar heated spas and the latest gadget to turn off all your switches.

There is comfort in an op-shopped jacket that will keep you warm.  There is comfort in reading a book or knitting or cooking.  There is true comfort in coming into a warm home to the smell of freshly baking bread and soup cooking from locally sourced or home grown ingredients.  There is even comfort in getting off your butt and switching off the power at the wall.  I remember watching my frugal grandparents washing out plastic bags, switching off the power switches and mending things around their homes.  It was a lovely scene of comfort, care and domesticity!

I don't think our problem is so much about a pressing need to find renewable energy alternatives (though that would be great) or finding some scientific answer to climate change (though that would also be great).  I think the biggest problem is some people's attitudes.  If we could do away with greed and selfishness the world would be a better place.  If we weren't so self-centred we wouldn't feel we needed only the best.  Not only would we accept second rate sometimes, we would be happy with it!  We would work with each other to find a way to live happily, comfortably but with respect for the resources we are consuming.

I'm very aware that when I write a post like this I might sound a little holier than thou.  Let me assure you.............   far from it!  As I've written this post I've walked into the hall and found three lights on in empty rooms.  I turned them off.  Neither am I saying we don't have gadgets.  We bought PV solar panels and are grid connected.  We have, however, also reduced our electricity usage by two thirds.  While writing this I have stopped and walked to the garden to pick the kale we will eat with the lamb that's roasting in the oven.  We bought the lamb at our farmer's market on the weekend.

But hey Joe Blow (average citizen), we weren't born as extreme hippies so don't comfort yourself that it's a hippy thing and that you couldn't possibly do it!  In fact, if you'd have seen the hairspray I consumed in the nineties, you'd have a thing or two to say to me about my contribution to climate change! 

So I'm no ecological saint and I'm not getting it all right but I AM  getting lots of it right and I'm passionate!   I'm a mum who loves her family and life in general and I sooo wish I could make people see sense.  We need to change the way we are doing things and we need to do it now!

*Steps off soap box*

Food Glorious Food and how to buy it!

I have had an amazing time shopping for our weekly food over the last couple of weeks.  It's been a real adventure!

First was the pick up of our bulk order of organic free-range chicken that a lady organises for a group of us.  What an adventure! Heading off in the dark with Hubby and the kids.  Lots of joking about our clandestine rendezvous.........

 Picking up our chook delivery from the back of a car.........

 Then the next shady customer arrived.  Look!  In keeping with my theme, this photo is blurry to protect their identities....

 And a silly husband with the loot!

 How good is it to shop for food so differently?!  Look at how excited the kids look about our purchase.  They don't look like that when we go to the supermarket, believe me!

 Then more wonderful, ethical shopping!  Big news!  A group of us got together a year ago to discuss ways to shop better.  We decided on a bulk food group.  A few of the group worked very hard to find somewhere to buy our goods and set the process in motion. Last week we had our first 'trial run'.  Some of us were seasoned bulk buyers and others (like me) were nervous first timers. 

 Look at all the food!  We've reduced food miles by buying more directly, and packaging by buying in bulk.  AND we saved money at the same time.  All of this while enjoying the company of friends.  What's not to love!!!!

 There was lots of busy sorting and weighing.....

and throughout the process we even worked out the secret of opening bags the right way!  A secret I will soon share!  Just pull the right string and it all unravels.  Something everyone who opens bags of chook food will want to know.  They will be familiar with the frustration of which string?!!

 Some of the very happy customers.

We have not perfected the process yet but it went really well.  We think we'll be buying every three months.

Tomorrow Cynthia will be doing a guest post to share more about the experience.  She was instrumental in the bulk food buying and it was her place we used for dividing the goods.  She and her husband run a small farm specialising in growing organic blueberries (delicious) and they do great things in the way of supporting community and living sustainably. 

Have you had experience with buying in bulk?  How did/do you know how much to order?  How did/do you store your food?

Rally for Renewables

Do you live near Canberra?  Can you get there next Tuesday?  Oh how I wish I could pull the kids out of school and head off for a trip away!

If only I weren't feeling so pathetic at the moment.  I reckon with more oomph and energy I'd probably do it.

I've just received an email from Friends of the Earth to tell me about a rally being held to support renewable energy.  They say bring banners and placards....

 What: Rally for Renewables.
Where: Garema Place, Canberra.
When: 12 noon, Tuesday 18 June.

 

It's being organised on this day because the Liberals are holding an anti-renewable rally in Canberra on this day.  I first read about it here.  Shocking, isn't it?

 

Apparently they want to scrap the renewable energy target.  YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!  Do you know how many people fought to have that target put in place?!  We NEED renewable energy and we need it YESTERDAY!!!

 

If you've never been to a rally and figure you're not 'the type' don't be scared.  You'll be surprised how easy it is.  When you first turn up people will probably be milling around uncertainly, just like you.  Together you will become more comfortable and by the end of the rally, you'll probably leave on a high because you stood up for something you believed in.

 

I had never attended a rally in my  ??   years.  *damn computer won't type my age ;-) must be something wrong with it*  Then last year I attended the National Disability Insurance Rally because I believed so strongly that we needed change.  A couple of weeks ago I attended the March Against Monsanto for the same reasons.  I strongly believe we need food security and don't feel GMO's have a place in our food system.

 

Neither of these rallies were scary and it felt empowering to be a part of them.  So if you can, please attend your own behalf and on behalf of myself and all the other people that live too far away.  Let's show our politicians that we really want renewable energy!

 

Who knows?  You may see me there yet!  Maybe I'll be feeling really fit and well and in need of a trip up the highway by Tuesday!