Current bits and pieces from our life

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Here at Green Renters we spend a lot of time thinking about ways to live sustainably in a rental property. Like everyone, sometimes we find it hard to find time to do everything around the home that we’d like to. But I see it as an ong0ing process rather than a big list of ‘must do now’ items. Finding time to garden can be hard, and finding time to shop ethically even harder.

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Ways to Green Your New Year’s Eve

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

1. Stay home and celebrate
Seriously, I ‘ve always suspected that NYE is the night for people who don’t go out any other night of year.

As green planet suggests

if you stay home and host your own ring-in-the-new shindig, you’ll save transportation emissions—and, of course, money. You’ll also be able to better control the environmental impact of your night, from sending out email invitations to preventing the food and paper waste that comes from bars and restaurants.

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DIY Christmas centrepieces

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

I’m loving these DIY centrepieces using fruit and veg. They are  definitely recyclable as they can be eaten on boxing day!

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from Craftzine

Martha Stewart goes green!

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

foodincReally pleased to find that Martha Stewart has been talking about food and vegetarianism and ethical farming, interviewing the director of Food Inc and organic farmers featured in the documentary. (It’s a great documentary, we saw it this year at the Melbourne International Film Festival) She even spends some time cooking vegetarian recipes. Good stuff as she has an enormous fan base.

Vegan Easy Challenge Day 3

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

I successfully managed to avoid Melbourne Cup shennanigans and did loads of stuff at home. I finally had  time to do some batch cooking. I’m a strong believer in batch cooking. It allows you to cook in bulk and freeze in smaller portions, saving money and food wastage. I cooked up a heap of brown rice, dahl and mexican beans.

polka dot rabbit 002 by you.

Chris picked a heap of produce from our garden so I sorted it out into cooking, salad and beans!Amazing stuff when it’s from your very own garden.

For breaky I had a potato (cooked in the microwave with the brown rice) with mexican beans and avocado.

I paid a visit to the rather good Radical Grocery Store in Sydney Road, Brunswick. I was pleased at the wide range of products but a little disappointed how many products aren’t available in ‘mainstream’ supermarkets.  I guess it shows how hard it is to run a ethical company and compete with all the big producers, let along get your products stocked!

Not everything was super cheap, but it would be no different to doing all your shopping at a gourmet deli or some such. Further, I’m trying to eat lots of fresh wholefoods rather than only vegan alternatives of carnivore products so it’s not like I’m relying on speciality shops for the bulk of my meals. Far from it.

I picked up some quinoa, chai tea, vegan cheese, vegan schnitzel (Chris loves these)  and a rather splendid Funky pie. Funky pies are a vegan pie making company in Sydney that sell their products all around Australia.

The pie was really yummy:

polka dot rabbit 003 by you.
I figure there’s no point going all healthy and not having any treats or alternatively using it as a 30 day detoxing which leads to really bad habits galloping back after it’s done!
Dinner was a mexican wrap, red wine and some strawberries and soy yogurt.

Cool Fire Escape Garden

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Cool fire escape garden

ABC Gardening Expo this weekend!

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

gardenMelb_logo I’m a big fan of Gardening Australia. I love learning about plants I’ve never even seen before, let alone attempted to grow. Jerry provides great insight into how to create a workable organic garden (I know we were doing ok up until the snail infestation!). I also like the step by step projects suitable even for the blackest thumb, all presented in a factual interesting format without the condescension of some television presenters.

The ABC Gardening Expo is a great chance to learn and enjoy all things gardening. Lots of things to buy, people to talk to and information to gather.

I really like the idea of the  Ask It, Solve It Stage – An informal, intimate Q&A panel format featuring ABC TV’s Gardening Australia presenters as well as other industry experts talking on specific plant care and answering all gardening related questions.

As as far as workshops go, we’d be particularly interested in attending Sally Wise’s workshops on making your own jams and preserves from garden produce.

When: October 2-4, 2009
Where: Caulfield Racecourse
Time: 10:00am – 4:30pm daily