Last night I began my foray into the world of pet food manufacturing. For the first time I have ditched mass produced tinned pet food and begun cooking my own.
There are numerous reasons for this, not the least being financial. However I was concerned about the volume of waste that was going to landfill from pet food containers and packaging. Canned food smells disgusting. I am also sceptical about what the ingredients actually are in pet food. Each individual sachet was not recyclable. As I have two dogs and two cats that obviously equates to four packages a day that can not be recycled, or reused. So, as I normally do, I began to add on the cost of virtual water, energy, carbon emissions, food miles, supporting Australian manufacturers….the list goes on.
I researched websites that have pet food recipes. There are a plethora of websites dedicated to everything for a pampered pooch. Recipes cover everything including, shampoos, soaps, flea powders, biscuits, treats, birthday cakes. You name it and you can find it.
Being me though I did not follow any of the recipes I found. I am saving them for later to add variety and for when I am feeling more adventurous. Although, in saying that, I am going to try making doggy biscuits over the weekend.
So how did all this go? Well, for those of you who know me well, you can imagine that there were a few mishaps and ingredient exchanges with my dinner that I was cooking at the same time. However I can guarantee that I did not nearly set the kitchen on fire!
The cooking itself went well. One stock pot was used for the bulk of the cooking and the gravy was made in a jug using the microwave. I was able to multitask while cooking for ‘the little ones” by cooking my dinner for that night and the next. I have never cooked gravy before and my first experience of doing this was by no small measure a success. It was lumpy and the bits that weren’t lumpy were runny . There was enough food to fill 6 ½ x 750ml containers.
Tonight I fed the dogs their first home cooked dinner. They loved it! Plus they were looking for more. Poppy gulped it down so fast that she nearly choked on it and there was a minor skirmish over the few crumbs around their bowls. The container holds enough to fill four bowls so enough for my 2 cats and 2 dogs. However please keep in mind that my dogs and cats are about the same size (so all small).
There are a few things I will refine to make the cooking more environmentally friendly but for now while I am experimenting I will make do as best I can. For this recipe I bought the frozen no-name vegetables and no-name pasta. These are usually imported and have high food miles, energy and virtual water content. The financial benefits for my purse are huge. On average I spend a minimum of $4 a day to feed the dogs and cats. Over a 6 day period that would be $24. This recipe will feed my four pets for 6 days and cost a total of $6 or $1 a day. The most expensive ingredients was the mince meat and that was $4 for a kilo.
The round up of all this? I am pleased with the pet’s response to my cooking. It was simple and used very few pots and not a lot of mess (most of the mess caused was my clumsiness). The savings are pretty good too. The reduction to landfill and other environmental impacts are bonuses too. It does require planning and I will need to try a few different recipes. But so far so good.
So here is my recipe for basic cheap pet food.
Reg’s Delicious Doggy Dinner
Ingredients:
1kg cheap mince meat
Olive oil
Large packet pasta
1kg frozen mixed vegetables
Garlic powder
Mixed herbs
Gravy
Utensils:
1 stock pot, 1 colander, two spoons, jug, storage containers
Method:
1. Bring to boil water in stock pot. Add pasta and cook until tender. Drain.
2. Bring to boil water in stock pot. Add frozen vegetables and cook. Drain.
3. Heat oil in stock pot. Add mince and brown. While meat is cooking add garlic powder and mixed herbs. Remove from heat.
4. Add pasta and vegetables to meat in pot and stir.
5. Make up gravy.
6. Divide the mixture into the storage containers. Pour over the gravy.
7. Freeze or refrigerate. Serve only once cold.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Peak oil and transportation
This week I have been thinking about transportation and how to get from A to B. In England this week there was a meeting “Policy Response to potential future oil supply
constraints”, which was run by the Energy Institute and Department of Energy and Climate Change. The question being asked in environmental circles is 'Is this the day that the British Government started to acknowlegde Peak Oil'. But what does this have to do with us in Australia so far away? Well lets start with 'Peak Oil'.
What is 'Peak Oil'? It is the point where production hits it's highest level and then starts to decline in production. Basically the Earth's supply of oil begins to petter out.
And why all the fuss? Because everything in our home is there because of oil. Oil was used in the manufacture and transportation of everything in your home. And lets not forget our own transportation - cars, taxis, buses, trains and trams, boats, planes, tractors, trucks etc...
Prices are expected to soar when peak oil is reached. It is expected that not only production but also transportation costs will rise dramatically. In the supermarket at the moment you can buy oranges from USA, canned tomatoes from Italy and pineapple from Queensland. However it is envisaged that with peak oil the cost of transportation of these items will make them too expensive to import or to transport. But it is not only food that will be affected.
Last night was Earth Hour. We were asked to turn our lights off in a global union of recognition of climate change. Some people turned their lights off and lit candles. Romantic! But stop for a minute and think about the candles you lit. Were they normal wax candles? For most of us - yes they were. But the manufacture and production of wax candles is heavily relient on oil for the production and manufacturing process plus there is also the transportation miles added on (and lets not get into the amount of water and the carbon emissions that simple wax or tea light candles use to make them but I digress).
Natural soy candles do not have the same environmental effects as their wax counterparts. I am lucky that there is a local shop, Burning Passion, in Yarra Glen that make and sell soy candles. There is also Conscious Candle Company but they are located in WA. The drawback with that being they are located on the other side of the continent however preferable to 'cheap' imports. With Peak Oil being in mind purchasing an item from one side of the continent or purchasing local becomes an important point to take into consideration.
So back to transportation. Last year I wrote off my car in an accident. I was faced with the decision of replacing my car or not. For a number of years I had been toying with idea of purchasing an electric push bike. I was idealistic and romantic in my vision of going car-less. But after the car accident I thought it was perfect timing to forgo a motor vehicle.
I have had my electric push bike since October 2009, so 6 months now. I use public transport for nearly all my trips (have great friends and family that give me a lift home). I love it! And while my romantic notions of riding a push bike have been blown out the window I think I would be reluctant to go back to a car.
For starters I have significantly reduced my carbon footprint by not driving. I am fitter and I am now off my diabetic medication (Yay!!! because I was looking at going onto cholesterol medication and insulin injections). Through the summer months it has been tough. Anywhere I ride or walk I end up sweaty and smelly. Not too good when you are going on a first date. Now winter is coming there will be more challenges to uncover. On nice warm days it is a pleasure to ride anywhere.
Don't get me wrong I love driving a car and they are incredibly convenient. My short journey to work takes 9 minutes by car door to door. Using public transport it takes about 40 minutes. So why do it?
I want to be prepared for peak oil. It may not happen this year or next year or even the year after. Heck, it may not happen for another 20 years. But when it does happen I want to be as prepared as I can be. It is not panicking about what will happen. I like being proactive rather than reactive. I want to be in a better position to meet the challenges of the future. My next challenge is making my own dog and cat food....stay tuned.
constraints”, which was run by the Energy Institute and Department of Energy and Climate Change. The question being asked in environmental circles is 'Is this the day that the British Government started to acknowlegde Peak Oil'. But what does this have to do with us in Australia so far away? Well lets start with 'Peak Oil'.
What is 'Peak Oil'? It is the point where production hits it's highest level and then starts to decline in production. Basically the Earth's supply of oil begins to petter out.
And why all the fuss? Because everything in our home is there because of oil. Oil was used in the manufacture and transportation of everything in your home. And lets not forget our own transportation - cars, taxis, buses, trains and trams, boats, planes, tractors, trucks etc...
Prices are expected to soar when peak oil is reached. It is expected that not only production but also transportation costs will rise dramatically. In the supermarket at the moment you can buy oranges from USA, canned tomatoes from Italy and pineapple from Queensland. However it is envisaged that with peak oil the cost of transportation of these items will make them too expensive to import or to transport. But it is not only food that will be affected.
Last night was Earth Hour. We were asked to turn our lights off in a global union of recognition of climate change. Some people turned their lights off and lit candles. Romantic! But stop for a minute and think about the candles you lit. Were they normal wax candles? For most of us - yes they were. But the manufacture and production of wax candles is heavily relient on oil for the production and manufacturing process plus there is also the transportation miles added on (and lets not get into the amount of water and the carbon emissions that simple wax or tea light candles use to make them but I digress).
Natural soy candles do not have the same environmental effects as their wax counterparts. I am lucky that there is a local shop, Burning Passion, in Yarra Glen that make and sell soy candles. There is also Conscious Candle Company but they are located in WA. The drawback with that being they are located on the other side of the continent however preferable to 'cheap' imports. With Peak Oil being in mind purchasing an item from one side of the continent or purchasing local becomes an important point to take into consideration.
So back to transportation. Last year I wrote off my car in an accident. I was faced with the decision of replacing my car or not. For a number of years I had been toying with idea of purchasing an electric push bike. I was idealistic and romantic in my vision of going car-less. But after the car accident I thought it was perfect timing to forgo a motor vehicle.
I have had my electric push bike since October 2009, so 6 months now. I use public transport for nearly all my trips (have great friends and family that give me a lift home). I love it! And while my romantic notions of riding a push bike have been blown out the window I think I would be reluctant to go back to a car.
For starters I have significantly reduced my carbon footprint by not driving. I am fitter and I am now off my diabetic medication (Yay!!! because I was looking at going onto cholesterol medication and insulin injections). Through the summer months it has been tough. Anywhere I ride or walk I end up sweaty and smelly. Not too good when you are going on a first date. Now winter is coming there will be more challenges to uncover. On nice warm days it is a pleasure to ride anywhere.
Don't get me wrong I love driving a car and they are incredibly convenient. My short journey to work takes 9 minutes by car door to door. Using public transport it takes about 40 minutes. So why do it?
I want to be prepared for peak oil. It may not happen this year or next year or even the year after. Heck, it may not happen for another 20 years. But when it does happen I want to be as prepared as I can be. It is not panicking about what will happen. I like being proactive rather than reactive. I want to be in a better position to meet the challenges of the future. My next challenge is making my own dog and cat food....stay tuned.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Getting around and peak oil
This week I have been thinking about transportation and how to get from A to B. In England this week there was a meeting “Policy Response to potential future oil supply
constraints”, which was run by the Energy Institute and Department of Energy and Climate Change. The question being asked in environmental circles is 'Is this the day that the British Government started to acknowlegde Peak Oil'. But what does this have to do with us in Australia so far away? Well lets start with 'Peak Oil'.
What is 'Peak Oil'? It is the point where production hits it's highest level and then starts to decline in production. Basically the Earth's supply of oil begins to petter out.
And why all the fuss? Because everything in our home is there because of oil. Oil was used in the manufacture and transportation of everything in your home. And lets not forget our own transportation - cars, taxis, buses, trains and trams, boats, planes, tractors, trucks etc...
Prices are expected to soar when peak oil is reached. It is expected that not only production but also transportation costs will rise dramatically. In the supermarket at the moment you can buy oranges from USA, canned tomatoes from Italy and pineapple from Queensland. However it is envisaged that with peak oil the cost of transportation of these items will make them too expensive to import or to transport. But it is not only food that will be affected.
Last night was Earth Hour. We were asked to turn our lights off in a global union of recognition of climate change. Some people turned their lights off and lit candles. Romantic! But stop for a minute and think about the candles you lit. Were they normal wax candles? For most of us - yes they were. But the manufacture and production of wax candles is heavily relient on oil for the production and manufacturing process plus there is also the transportation miles added on (and lets not get into the amount of water and the carbon emissions that simple wax or tea light candles use to make them but I digress).
Natural soy candles do not have the same environmental effects as their wax counterparts. I am lucky that there is a local shop, Burning Passion, in Yarra Glen that make and sell soy candles. There is also Conscious Candle Company but they are located in WA. The drawback with that being they are located on the other side of the continent however preferable to 'cheap' imports. With Peak Oil being in mind purchasing an item from one side of the continent or purchasing local becomes an important point to take into consideration.
So back to transportation. Last year I wrote off my car in an accident. I was faced with the decision of replacing my car or not. For a number of years I had been toying with idea of purchasing an electric push bike. I was idealistic and romantic in my vision of going car-less. But after the car accident I thought it was perfect timing to forgo a motor vehicle.
I have had my electric push bike since October 2009, so 6 months now. I use public transport for nearly all my trips (have great friends and family that give me a lift home). I love it! And while my romantic notions of riding a push bike have been blown out the window I think I would be reluctant to go back to a car.
For starters I have significantly reduces my carbon footprint by not driving.
Don't get me wrong I love driving a car and they are incredibly convenient. My short journey to work takes 9 minutes by car door to door. Using public transport it takes about 40 minutes. So why do it?
I want to be prepared for peak oil. It may not happen this year or next year or even the year after. Heck, it may not happen for another 20 years. But when it does happen I want to be as prepared as I can be. It is not panicking about what will happen. I like being proactive rather than reactive.
constraints”, which was run by the Energy Institute and Department of Energy and Climate Change. The question being asked in environmental circles is 'Is this the day that the British Government started to acknowlegde Peak Oil'. But what does this have to do with us in Australia so far away? Well lets start with 'Peak Oil'.
What is 'Peak Oil'? It is the point where production hits it's highest level and then starts to decline in production. Basically the Earth's supply of oil begins to petter out.
And why all the fuss? Because everything in our home is there because of oil. Oil was used in the manufacture and transportation of everything in your home. And lets not forget our own transportation - cars, taxis, buses, trains and trams, boats, planes, tractors, trucks etc...
Prices are expected to soar when peak oil is reached. It is expected that not only production but also transportation costs will rise dramatically. In the supermarket at the moment you can buy oranges from USA, canned tomatoes from Italy and pineapple from Queensland. However it is envisaged that with peak oil the cost of transportation of these items will make them too expensive to import or to transport. But it is not only food that will be affected.
Last night was Earth Hour. We were asked to turn our lights off in a global union of recognition of climate change. Some people turned their lights off and lit candles. Romantic! But stop for a minute and think about the candles you lit. Were they normal wax candles? For most of us - yes they were. But the manufacture and production of wax candles is heavily relient on oil for the production and manufacturing process plus there is also the transportation miles added on (and lets not get into the amount of water and the carbon emissions that simple wax or tea light candles use to make them but I digress).
Natural soy candles do not have the same environmental effects as their wax counterparts. I am lucky that there is a local shop, Burning Passion, in Yarra Glen that make and sell soy candles. There is also Conscious Candle Company but they are located in WA. The drawback with that being they are located on the other side of the continent however preferable to 'cheap' imports. With Peak Oil being in mind purchasing an item from one side of the continent or purchasing local becomes an important point to take into consideration.
So back to transportation. Last year I wrote off my car in an accident. I was faced with the decision of replacing my car or not. For a number of years I had been toying with idea of purchasing an electric push bike. I was idealistic and romantic in my vision of going car-less. But after the car accident I thought it was perfect timing to forgo a motor vehicle.
I have had my electric push bike since October 2009, so 6 months now. I use public transport for nearly all my trips (have great friends and family that give me a lift home). I love it! And while my romantic notions of riding a push bike have been blown out the window I think I would be reluctant to go back to a car.
For starters I have significantly reduces my carbon footprint by not driving.
Don't get me wrong I love driving a car and they are incredibly convenient. My short journey to work takes 9 minutes by car door to door. Using public transport it takes about 40 minutes. So why do it?
I want to be prepared for peak oil. It may not happen this year or next year or even the year after. Heck, it may not happen for another 20 years. But when it does happen I want to be as prepared as I can be. It is not panicking about what will happen. I like being proactive rather than reactive.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
This is a little yuck.....
This week I have been laid up with bronchitis. Lots of snot and coughing and everything else disgusting and icky that comes with having a cold. Being sick, though, got me thinking about how my health was impacting on the planet. To date I have gone through approximately 3 boxes of tissues. Normally I wouldn't use a tissue unless I was absolutely desperate (and I must admit that I have used my sleeve like a two year rather than use a tissue - yuck!! yeah I know).
When I first got sick I knew I would use my handkerchiefs. Be the mean green fitting machine that I believe I am there was no other option. Then the lava flow of boogers began and the handkerchiefs couldn't keep up. The thing is that there is always one handkerchief in my handbag or backpack or tucked away in some long forgotten coat pocket. I never leave home without them. However by day two I was nearly out of 'hankies' and felt I had no choice but to resort to tissues.
My dilema is, of course, the amount of energy used to create one box of tissues. Plus the trees that are killed to produce the actual product.
Then there were the ' home spun cures'. Echinacea, zinc, olive leaf extract, burning essential oils to clear the nasal passage, lemon drinks, orange juice (vitamin C). Then there are the 'manufacturered drugs'. All the energy used to manufacture, store, transport and sell these drugs to help ease the common cold. And if you look on the shelf of any supermarket or chemist there is an endless array of wonder cures for the common cold.
I feel like my head cold has just accelerated an already ailing health of the Earth.
So what do you do when you get ill? As with anything relating to being green - use your best judgement. Some times natural remedies just don't cut it. And some times cold and flu tablets and other manufactured wonder drugs are just a waste of money - placebos. But then the reverse can also be true so as I said use your judgement. It is a fine balancing act between the wonders of modern medicine and wisdom of 'grannies old fashioned remedies'.
The thing is though, every day we are faced with small decisions. Buy tissues? Yes or no? A simple enough task that we do when we go grocery shopping. We never stop to ask If I buy these tissues, one small box of tissues, how has that impacted the Earth and how will that impact the Earth? What I mean is how much water, energy, carbon emissions, green house gases and other pollutants have been released from making and transporting a box od tissues? Then what if you add further water, energy, carbon emissions etc to the disposal of the tissues it becomes a bit overwhelming. Used tissues can not be added to the compost. And I am pretty sure you can not add them to the Bokashi bin (I may be wrong and would appreciate any feedback).
So what is the point of my ramblings today? The smallest decisions we make can have big impacts on the planet and it's health. I can not offer suggestions or answers. I can offer you my thoughts and observations. I can tell you what I do however I think I just have more questions. Some times I feel overwhelmed by what impact my choice has on the planet.
The one thing I am sure of, and have always believed to be true, is that one person can make a difference. You can be the change you want to see happen.
I am just one little chick trying to live clean and green in Melbourne however I beleive that if I can touch one person to make one change and that person reaches out and touches someone else and so on and so on, then all of a sudden one person (me :) ) has created a chain reaction of green. Yay!!
When I first got sick I knew I would use my handkerchiefs. Be the mean green fitting machine that I believe I am there was no other option. Then the lava flow of boogers began and the handkerchiefs couldn't keep up. The thing is that there is always one handkerchief in my handbag or backpack or tucked away in some long forgotten coat pocket. I never leave home without them. However by day two I was nearly out of 'hankies' and felt I had no choice but to resort to tissues.
My dilema is, of course, the amount of energy used to create one box of tissues. Plus the trees that are killed to produce the actual product.
Then there were the ' home spun cures'. Echinacea, zinc, olive leaf extract, burning essential oils to clear the nasal passage, lemon drinks, orange juice (vitamin C). Then there are the 'manufacturered drugs'. All the energy used to manufacture, store, transport and sell these drugs to help ease the common cold. And if you look on the shelf of any supermarket or chemist there is an endless array of wonder cures for the common cold.
I feel like my head cold has just accelerated an already ailing health of the Earth.
So what do you do when you get ill? As with anything relating to being green - use your best judgement. Some times natural remedies just don't cut it. And some times cold and flu tablets and other manufactured wonder drugs are just a waste of money - placebos. But then the reverse can also be true so as I said use your judgement. It is a fine balancing act between the wonders of modern medicine and wisdom of 'grannies old fashioned remedies'.
The thing is though, every day we are faced with small decisions. Buy tissues? Yes or no? A simple enough task that we do when we go grocery shopping. We never stop to ask If I buy these tissues, one small box of tissues, how has that impacted the Earth and how will that impact the Earth? What I mean is how much water, energy, carbon emissions, green house gases and other pollutants have been released from making and transporting a box od tissues? Then what if you add further water, energy, carbon emissions etc to the disposal of the tissues it becomes a bit overwhelming. Used tissues can not be added to the compost. And I am pretty sure you can not add them to the Bokashi bin (I may be wrong and would appreciate any feedback).
So what is the point of my ramblings today? The smallest decisions we make can have big impacts on the planet and it's health. I can not offer suggestions or answers. I can offer you my thoughts and observations. I can tell you what I do however I think I just have more questions. Some times I feel overwhelmed by what impact my choice has on the planet.
The one thing I am sure of, and have always believed to be true, is that one person can make a difference. You can be the change you want to see happen.
I am just one little chick trying to live clean and green in Melbourne however I beleive that if I can touch one person to make one change and that person reaches out and touches someone else and so on and so on, then all of a sudden one person (me :) ) has created a chain reaction of green. Yay!!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Green Post
Inspired by a woman I deeply admire I thought I would start this green blog (or snot blog lol). My friend's blog is about food and life. She shares her passion for food and all things yummy. And so inspired by her wit and love I decided to share my passion - reducing my carbon footprint.
This week I began recieving e-mails about Earth Hour. There was a link to calculating your carbon footrpint - www.earthhour.org.au You can also sign up to join Earth Hour! I calculated my carbon footprint and was astounded that it would take 1.5 planets to sustain me. I always thought I was 'green' and environmentally aware.
When I was just starting out in high school, some 28 years ago, there has a huge push to eliminate CFC's from spray cans. They were considered the root evil of the hole in the ozone layer. It was believed that just by stopping manufacturers from using CFC's we could save the deterioration of the hole in the ozone layer. It didn't work and we are now in a much worse situation.
But that push back in the early 80's did awaken the environmentalist in me. I made small changes but not enough. I did what was convenient. Not what was essential. I still have, and use, my first calico and string shopping bags. And on my book shelf are three books that are well worn and well used. They are still relevent today, nearly 30 years later, as they were when they were first published. They are:
Hard Times Kitchen Book
Hard Times Handbook
The Complete Book of Self Sufficiency (there is a new a version of this recently released last year)
Needless to say that my bookshelf has expanded somewhat over the years and also includes magazines such as G, Organic Gardener, Warm Earth, Grass Roots and Earth Garden.
The thing is that I do what I can and that is all I can do. I have inspired others over the years to start vegetable gardens, say no to plastic, recycle etc....
My parents gave me my first three books on reduce, recycle and re-using (the three listed above). Dad used to always grow tomatoes, lemons, strawberries and other selected fruit and vegetables. Before I was around he also had chooks in the backyard. Without knowing it, my dad was a greenie. My mum is taking on my message too about recycling.
Recently when her two seater swing broke she recycled all but a hand full of pieces. The frame was retained and used as the centrepiece for a garden bed. The frame has an array of hanging baskets on it. Some of the straight parts have been used as stakes for other plants. The chain that was the seat is now framed and being used for growing beans up it!
Mum and dad have the best lemon trees going. Mum gives shopping bags of lemons away to the neighbours. And they taste delicious too.
The way my parents and grandparents and previous generations lived had very low environmental foot prints. There is a lot to learn from them....
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