The vegans might be onto something....

I was just reading over at Nikki's blog about her vegan leanings. The more you learn about the impact we have on the planet the more you realise that the vegans are onto something. One quote I read lately, which all those who are trying to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle should think about, (but can't seem to remember exactly where I read it!) was ...A Meateater on a Bicycle leaves a bigger carbon footprint than a Vegan in a Hummer. For the run down see easygreenatlanta.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_arch...

Our family have already chosen to be vegetarian, and it is difficult even for us to take it a step further. Well, not all of us...as my 5 year old announced a few weeks ago she has decided not to drink cows milk anymore. On questioning her reasons she told us that if all the people drink the cow's milk there won't be any left for the baby cows (I just about cried!). But the reality is that our current version of agriculture, in NZ anyway, creates more CO2 than our oil consumption! And aswell as that often pollutes our waterways and promotes the use of chemicals and hormones. Not to mention limiting the lifespan of the animals, and there are cruelty issues also. It is something to think about...

Realistically our family could survive on what we grow in our garden, if we plan well. That said we would have trouble with grains as space is an issue when your useable section is only about 890m2. Perhaps we could grow lots of buckwheat and corn? Or throw in a patch of wheat in our front yard if push came to shove. Like Nikki we can't have a cow or a goat, so dairy is out, but we have room for more chooks if we wanted to continue eating eggs. As they say, for evey problem there is a solution :)

Blimey!

I just went over to worstedwitch and saw this article! Seriously scary stuff!!!
http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/health-fitness/Our_oceans_are_turning_into_plastic_are_we_2_printer.shtml

...I speak for the trees

So it seems I am not the only person who has taken great offence to the tree felling. Last night a secret squirrel (and no it was not me) 'tagged' the wall behind which the trees used to stand. As I write this there is someone trying to wash it off, but it is going to be on the front page of the local paper regardless. So although the trees are now woodchips there is still a voice reminding us that we need to try and stop this from happening again.

The Lorax said nothing. Just gave me a glance...just gave me a very sad, sad backward glance...as he lifted himself by the seat of his pants.And I'll never forget the grim look on his facewhen he hoisted himself and took leave of this place,through a hole in the smog, without leaving a trace.And all that the Lorax left here in this messwas a small pile of rocks, with one word...UNLESS.Whatever that meant, well, I just couldn't guess

Trees vs progress

As I rode to drop Stella off at kindy this morning, through the foggy haze, I thought something was missing. The busy corner intersection just down from our house seemed different, but I couldn't quite work out why. It was on my return trip I realised that what was missing were the trees. On the corner is a large walled property which used to be the garden of the convent next door until they sold it off last year. The trees behind the wall were probably over a hundred years old and obviously in the way of whatever development is taking place! Our area has many old trees with protection orders on them, but because it is private property the developers can do as they please. And the worst thing is that the developers must have a sense of the upset it would cause as the trees were already felled and it was not even 9 am. I am guessing work must have started at the crack of dawn, before locals were aware it was actually happening. Progress wins this one.

Don't you just love baking soda....

The stuff rocks, I have no idea why more people don't use the stuff to clean their house!
http://www.curbly.com/Chrisjob/posts/1629-Clean-Nearly-All-Your-Home-with-Baking-Soda