Conversations in the street
I was walking back to my place to pick up the wheelbarrow and some tools and I saw this bloke picking weeds. “What are those?”, I asked. “Chickweed”, he said, and asked, “Are you Michael?” “Sure”, I said. “I’d like to come gardening with you”. “Well, email me and I’ll put you on our gardening list and you can come any time. We garden each Friday”. Later that night, it must have been after service,... Read More
Saima Ali’s photos of hive of activity
Saima Ali (www.saimaali.com…) has provided some beautiful photos of the recent hive of activity and some are here. Close up egg nest with hand and queen bee egg Hive, bees, eggs, resin . . . wow Read More
Road gardens save lives
We’re saving lives with our road gardens. Here’s why. Air quality in Western Sydney has reached several important health thresholds for a pollutant (called, “Nox”) and particulate pollution, and population projections and lack of public transport options will result in more high pollution days. Several NSW Government Reports have reported that high air pollution days are linked to respiratory failures resulting in an average of 550 deaths per annum. This... Read More
Sustainable House 2nd Edition – Limited offer – Signed copies
Signed copies Email me directly here to place an order for $45 plus postage, and I will reply with order details and upon payment mail you a signed copy. Other orders You can also order unsigned copies direct from the publisher at UNSW Press. Read More
Split bee hive goes to Surry Hills
Hive placed on table under tree with holes in hive still blocked up Asylum Centre gardeners with new bee hive - L to R: Chris, Stef, Jessica, Vera The bees venture forth from their hive front door Native Stinglees Bee in flight at Asylum Centre; notice tiny sacs on back legs to carry pollen: photo Jessica Perini On Saturday Jessica Perini came over to pick up the split bee hive and together we went with it to the Asylum Seekers Centre of NSW in Surry Hills where we set it... Read More
Splitting the Hive – Envirotube video
Here is the “Splitting the Hive” video as it appears on Envirotube. To understand more about native bee keeping go to www.aussiebee.com… Read More
Luke’s photos of rough diamond ‘weeds’ and more
Native stingless bee hive on top of chook house - spring clean time The Friday gardeners making a raised bed garden in Myrtle The watermelon Carpaccio with 'weed's - Chippo road garden flowers Wood sorrel (oxalis) - a road 'weed' that graces famous restaurant dishes Salvia flower (pineapple sage) - attracts small birds, boosts soil More chickweed - it's everywhere here One of our Friday gardeners, Luke, is a chef at one of Australia’s most famous restaurants.... Read More
Splitting the hive video
This is one of the videos showing how Michael and friends split the hive on Monday. Here is an alternate view: Read More
Do Australian governments support sustainable development?
A student studying property has asked me a question and the question and answers are below: “I would appreciate if you could give me your thoughts on the following: 1) Do you think “Green” Design and Development in residential properties is supported and progressive in Australia. There is some support by governments. But when you add up the positives and negatives, no, Australia’s local, state and regional governments do not support sustainable residential... Read More
Bob rules
Bob on the case, Bert the enforcer behind Bob the Chook has become my master. Her dominion over life at home is plain. It starts with the sun. If I’m not up with it she starts squarking to remind me that, in breach of United Nation and the World Food Authority’s standards, she is being poorly fed. For a while I would get up straight away, horrified at her operatic sounds, thinking the neighbours may believe she was being abused or dying of hunger. In all of this... Read More
