Step by step
Slowly but methodically we are working as a Family to make our own difference in reducing our environmental impact.
At Sunshine Valley Hut we try and work together and plan ahead making those hard decisions which yield results. Step by step they make Environmental and Economic sense and work to reduce our environmental impact (mostly the Economic sense takes second place, unless the long term is considered).
So far we have achieved:
Water Self-sufficiency; - Despite being in a 7+ year drought the only water deliveries we have had was 2 truck loads 12KL. This was required in a windy month to secure our newly installed water tank. The trucked water was basically to stop the 130,000 L tank from blowing away. I know this sounds strange but a empty large tank is basically like a sail on a boat in strong winds.
Since the tanks installation we have managed to "bank" about 120,000 L of clean, fresh rain water over a 2 year period. This is in-spite of having three children aged 5, 3 & 1. Anyone with small children will tell you the amount of washing generated is hard to believe. The DW has opted for the new clothe and microfiber style nappies. These make up around 60% + of the 1 yo's nappies. They require a insensitive nose, washing and water but at least they aren't "disposable".
Net on going water bill = $Nil
All Waste water generated by us is treated on-site. This is achieved by a low energy intensity, natural ecosystem based aerobic composting system. This system requires no chemicals such as chlorine and no costly service visits. The system can treat all household waste water including toilet water.
The worm based system mimics natural ecosystems to process all of our organic waste including sewage, grey/gray water and all biodegradable organics such as paper, cardboard, fruit scraps etc. It delivers treated, health dept approved waste water to our ever expanding Orchard.
Net ongoing waste water bill = $ Nil
Currently the Orchard in its early stages. It consists of approximately 30 trees and includes three apricots, two chestnuts, two apples, 3 plums, 2 pears, 2 avocados, 3 peaches, a Tahitian lime, two native Australian finger limes, a kafa lime, a mulberry, a mandarin, two cherries, one fig, two lemon trees and two olive trees.
If all goes well they should be producing in another couple of years. A good investment for later on. Looks like we will get our first mandarins soon. Boy3 can't wait!
The Kangaroo worked out recently how to defeat the wire netting and eat all the Lemons and the Lemon tree's leaves!
The orchard is watered by the nutrient rich "worm-wee" from the composting waste water treatment system. (We also use some gravity fed dam water as well in the drier periods). The soil in the area of the orchard is gradually improving with the nutrients and worm eggs from the system. Whenever I dig a hole in the area now to plant another fruit tree I usually see a few worms working the soil. We give these trees a bag of chook poo and a bag of alpaca poo once a year as well to help them along. (These are sourced from farms locally) .
Our Veggie gardens are always expanding and consistently supply fresh organic produce to our table. We aren't yet completely self-sufficient, ...if that is ever possible. However we are very lucky to source most of our everyday vegetables and fruit from the gardens or from local growers at a fraction of Supermarket prices.
We source all of our electricity from the 100% renewable option from Energy Australia.
This was a difficult decision. However, I think the additional 6 cents /kWh is worth it. Apparently 1 million Australian customers have already signed up/ no contracts. This must send a powerful message to those in Govt. The population of Australia is only about 21 million. I am not sure how many households that equates to but 1 million customers must be a significant fraction.
I hope more Aussies will consider paying an extra 6 cents/kWh to encourage 100% renewable electricity. I think it is a worth it, especially considering the long term planetary affects.
By harvesting our own water and treating our own waste water we have a reduced energy consumption. We do not require the long distance infrastructure to enable storage and transport of water, the pumping, treating and processing of water, the use of chemicals on drinking water and in waste water treatment and pumping and eventual ocean outfall pollution that is required by those on the "water-grid".
Surely the initial set up cost of a contained system is a worthwhile investment that everyone can see?
Our winter heating is supplied by 100% renewable fallen timber on our land. This is many times more efficient and climate sensitive then burning coal at a remote site to create heat, to make steam, which generates electricity, which is transmitted 100's of km's to power a bar heater or air conditioner. Each step involves big efficiency losses. The wood heater also heats water for washing, kids bathes, and dish-washing. It also cooks the occasional meal as well.
Net heating bill = a bit of chainsaw fuel, a bit of hard work and a few sharpenings of our chainsaw chain.
We very rarely use aviation as transport and very, very rarely have O/S trips. Apparently each O/S trip is equivalent to a years CO2 emissions by a families car. This helps out, but our biggest effect on the climate is the running of our cars, one is a small 4 cylinder the other uses LPG which is mostly Australian produced.
I would love to reduce our car usage but I have yet to find a workable solution. To maintain our income and to contribute to society as workers we have to travel to work.
I look forward to the first all electric car that can meet our distance requirements. Hopefully it will have Toyota reliability that we have come to expect. If these sorts of cars can be produced soon I think many Australian's will purchase them.
At Sunshine Valley Hut we try and work together and plan ahead making those hard decisions which yield results. Step by step they make Environmental and Economic sense and work to reduce our environmental impact (mostly the Economic sense takes second place, unless the long term is considered).
So far we have achieved:
Water Self-sufficiency; - Despite being in a 7+ year drought the only water deliveries we have had was 2 truck loads 12KL. This was required in a windy month to secure our newly installed water tank. The trucked water was basically to stop the 130,000 L tank from blowing away. I know this sounds strange but a empty large tank is basically like a sail on a boat in strong winds.
Since the tanks installation we have managed to "bank" about 120,000 L of clean, fresh rain water over a 2 year period. This is in-spite of having three children aged 5, 3 & 1. Anyone with small children will tell you the amount of washing generated is hard to believe. The DW has opted for the new clothe and microfiber style nappies. These make up around 60% + of the 1 yo's nappies. They require a insensitive nose, washing and water but at least they aren't "disposable".
Net on going water bill = $Nil
All Waste water generated by us is treated on-site. This is achieved by a low energy intensity, natural ecosystem based aerobic composting system. This system requires no chemicals such as chlorine and no costly service visits. The system can treat all household waste water including toilet water.
The worm based system mimics natural ecosystems to process all of our organic waste including sewage, grey/gray water and all biodegradable organics such as paper, cardboard, fruit scraps etc. It delivers treated, health dept approved waste water to our ever expanding Orchard.
Net ongoing waste water bill = $ Nil
Currently the Orchard in its early stages. It consists of approximately 30 trees and includes three apricots, two chestnuts, two apples, 3 plums, 2 pears, 2 avocados, 3 peaches, a Tahitian lime, two native Australian finger limes, a kafa lime, a mulberry, a mandarin, two cherries, one fig, two lemon trees and two olive trees.
If all goes well they should be producing in another couple of years. A good investment for later on. Looks like we will get our first mandarins soon. Boy3 can't wait!
The Kangaroo worked out recently how to defeat the wire netting and eat all the Lemons and the Lemon tree's leaves!
The orchard is watered by the nutrient rich "worm-wee" from the composting waste water treatment system. (We also use some gravity fed dam water as well in the drier periods). The soil in the area of the orchard is gradually improving with the nutrients and worm eggs from the system. Whenever I dig a hole in the area now to plant another fruit tree I usually see a few worms working the soil. We give these trees a bag of chook poo and a bag of alpaca poo once a year as well to help them along. (These are sourced from farms locally) .
Our Veggie gardens are always expanding and consistently supply fresh organic produce to our table. We aren't yet completely self-sufficient, ...if that is ever possible. However we are very lucky to source most of our everyday vegetables and fruit from the gardens or from local growers at a fraction of Supermarket prices.
We source all of our electricity from the 100% renewable option from Energy Australia.
This was a difficult decision. However, I think the additional 6 cents /kWh is worth it. Apparently 1 million Australian customers have already signed up/ no contracts. This must send a powerful message to those in Govt. The population of Australia is only about 21 million. I am not sure how many households that equates to but 1 million customers must be a significant fraction.
I hope more Aussies will consider paying an extra 6 cents/kWh to encourage 100% renewable electricity. I think it is a worth it, especially considering the long term planetary affects.
By harvesting our own water and treating our own waste water we have a reduced energy consumption. We do not require the long distance infrastructure to enable storage and transport of water, the pumping, treating and processing of water, the use of chemicals on drinking water and in waste water treatment and pumping and eventual ocean outfall pollution that is required by those on the "water-grid".
Surely the initial set up cost of a contained system is a worthwhile investment that everyone can see?
Our winter heating is supplied by 100% renewable fallen timber on our land. This is many times more efficient and climate sensitive then burning coal at a remote site to create heat, to make steam, which generates electricity, which is transmitted 100's of km's to power a bar heater or air conditioner. Each step involves big efficiency losses. The wood heater also heats water for washing, kids bathes, and dish-washing. It also cooks the occasional meal as well.
Net heating bill = a bit of chainsaw fuel, a bit of hard work and a few sharpenings of our chainsaw chain.
We very rarely use aviation as transport and very, very rarely have O/S trips. Apparently each O/S trip is equivalent to a years CO2 emissions by a families car. This helps out, but our biggest effect on the climate is the running of our cars, one is a small 4 cylinder the other uses LPG which is mostly Australian produced.
I would love to reduce our car usage but I have yet to find a workable solution. To maintain our income and to contribute to society as workers we have to travel to work.
I look forward to the first all electric car that can meet our distance requirements. Hopefully it will have Toyota reliability that we have come to expect. If these sorts of cars can be produced soon I think many Australian's will purchase them.
posted by Ramsey at
11:00 PM
2 Comments
