Save Rainforests by searching the web.

I recently started using an Internet search engine that saves 0.1 m² (0.11 yd²) of rainforest with each search you do and it is free to use, just like any other search engine.

The address of the "green search engine" is: www.Forestle.org

So far Forestle already has saved 2,792,895.8 m² (3,054,310.9 yd²) of rainforest!
Forestle donates their profits to The Nature Conservancy and they use this money for sustainable protection of the most precious rainforests in the world.
To use Forestle and help protecting our rainforests, visit their site, where you can find all the information.

Bamboo for a sustainable future

Why is bamboo such a valuable resource and is it considered as sustainable?
There are a lot of reasons for this:
-bamboo grows fast, it is actually the fastest growing plant on earth
-it is renewable because it grows so fast, it takes 3 to 4 years to have a mature culm, ready to harvest.
-it can grow in many different climates
-there exist many different species, divided into 2 groups: running and clumping bamboo
-it is very strong because of its long fibres
-when using bamboo, there is less need for the use of timber, which takes a lot longer to grow
-bamboo doesn't need to be replanted when harvested
-bamboo can be worked with simple tools
-it is easy and light to work with
-bamboo has a lot of different uses:
-food production
-furniture making
-building
-outdoor structures
-flooring
-clothing

postcard made from my watercolour painting

Of course, it is important to consider the manufacturing procedures for certain uses of bamboo. A lot of discussion is going on about how environmentally friendly bamboo clothing actually is, considering the toxic chemicals used for production. A similar question can be asked for other industrial products made out of bamboo, such as flooring.
I love the use of bamboo in small production for arts and crafts, done at home, where there is no need for products that harm our planet.

Workshop: building with the big bamboos

A bit more than a month ago, two of my children and me took part in a bamboo workshop. I love bamboo and it always attracts me to learn more about it. It was a nice weekend out on a beautiful property in Yappoonvale near the amazing Liverpool creek.


The course was thaught by Rob and Jules, who both have many years of experience with bamboo; from propagation, growing, maintenance to construction.
You can find more information on their site: http://www.bamboosolutions.yolasite.com/

We learnt how to maintain the clumps and harvest the bamboo culms, as well as treating and curing them in preparation for future use.

Bambusa Textilis or Weavers Bamboo

Bambusa Ventricosa or Buddha Belly

The second day we went into some structure building.

splitting the bamboo

We learnt the hexagonal weave, which is actually a really fast, fun and efficient technique for simple structures, such as gazebos and tunnels. And it requires cooperative teamwork.


The structures in the photo is not completely finished, we need to add something on top to give shade or protection against the rain. There are many traditional techniques with plant fibers to do so, such as coconut leaves, pandana, depending on the local area.

Recipe for flour paste

Flour paste, also known as wheat paste or flour glue, has been known for centuries as a paper glue. It was the glue that older generations used for book making. These days it is easy to go to the shop and buy one of the many glues available on the shelf.

Talking about sustainable solutions, flour paste is definately worth looking at. Pricewise it is also a very good choice. Okay, it takes a bit more to start cooking and prepare the glue versus opening a premade container. The choice is up to everyone.
I like the idea of looking for alternatives to industrial products.

Here is how you make the flour paste.
Take a few spoonfuls of white wheat flour and mix with cold water until you get a thick paste. Use the least possible amount of water and add it bit by bit. It is very important that all the flour is mixed properly and that there are no lumps.

We now can add boiling water to the mixture, add it gently and keep stirring to mix in the paste progressively. If too much boiling water is added at once, you can get lumps. Now put it on the fire to heat it up. Stirr constantly and add more of the hot water if needed.

For gluing paper we will need thinner glue than for cardboard, so we will add more water. Leave it boil for a few minutes, take off the hot plate and keep stirring now and than when cooling down, to prevent it from forming a skin on the surface.
I also add a bit of borax at the end of the cooking time. This helps to deter insects and prevents it from moulding.

You can store this glue in the fridge for approximately 1 week.
It takes a bit of practise to learn the right amount of water, especially the glue thickens when cooling down.

This is also a fun experience to do with children.

I have used this glue to mount the paper on the boards of the gaia's garden game.

A new website.

I have been so busy the last months that I haven't taken time for blogging. I am catching up now and I am preparing to start writing a bit more about our lifestyle.
Meanwhile I have been working on a new website for the co-operative eco-games that I design:
http://livingearthgames.com.au

Living Landscapes on Pure eco

Pure eco writes reviews about eco products to help consumers find eco friendly products available on the market.
Yesterday they posted a review of my card game Living Landscapes.
Have a look: http://pureeco.blogspot.com/2009/04/living-landscapes-cooperative-card-game.html

Eco fashion

I posted an article about eco fashion in my other blog and like to share the link with you:
http://lizetfrijters.blogspot.com/2009/03/eco-fashion-in-spotlight.html

Redesigning our garden

I love gardening, it always brings me into a good mood.

As our garden got a bit overgrown a few months ago, we decided to redesign it.. Youri was very keen to bring his new knowledge into practice.

Considering that due to the actual location of the garden, it gets easily flooded, we dug out some trenches so that the beds are raised. We were able to leave the beans that were still there and nearly ready to produce. This time we were going to do it properly. We used an A frame to level the ground in the trenches and than we connected them so that the water coming from the roof would run from one trench to another and all the beds would get watered.

This is only useful for heavy rain, mostly in the wet season. Because we are renting we need to adapt to the situation and there is only a few meters of gutters, the rest just runs off from the roof and we catch it in our trench system.

After giving the beds a good layer of compost and mulch, we put in corn, yam bean (jicama),capsicums,yacon,lemongrass,tomatoes, more beans, sweet leaf, shallots,.....

Everything started to grow well and soon we had our first beans ready to eat.

Than came the big wet and the trenches filled up. Unfortunately, the water stayed for a long time and the soil was soaked everywhere. It was only afterwards though, when the water level went down and the sun came out that some plants started wilting and die.

We learned from it and being end of March now, we are ready to start planting again and see what the dry winter season will bring.

I will post about it later when everything starts growing and wish everyone happy gardening.

New year green book sale

I have been browsing the Sustainable Insights site. It is an Australian online bookshop, selling books about sustainability, environmental practices, gardening, organic lifestyle and educational resources.

I like to mention their book sale until the end of January 2009 with 10 to 20% discount.. Besides books they sell DVD's, software and educational products for children.
Unfortunately, the book I wanted is already sold out.

Here is the link: Sustainable Insights

They invest 50 cents on each product sold into sustainable technologies and practises.

More steps towards sustainability in 2009

I wish everybody a successful new year, a year where your goals big or small will be achieved.
I have many goals for this year.
One is to get our garden going so that we will be self sufficient for all our vegies this year.
Another is to make our business work and bring more of the eco games that I have designed into the world, so that everyone can enjoy them.

What are your steps towards a sustainable year. Please comment and let everyone know. The motivation to action is bigger when you tell other people about it, so more change of succeeding.