A-Z Simple Living: U = Upcycle

Upcycling is the reuse of discarded objects or material in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original. Rather than bore you with heaps of theory today, I thought I would just share some images of cute and clever upcycling ideas I found on Pinterest:

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So, there are no limits to upcycling, just as there are no limits to one's imagination. I certainly have a few (well, more than a few) wine bottles that could be put to good use... and I love the idea for the pot rack. I have actually seen one using a bike wheel before, and I just happen to have one of those...now I just need a handyman :)

Have you upcycled anything of note? I would love to hear of any ideas. I mainly re-use items but haven't got really creative yet, unless you count the use of old metal bedheads (my boys tend to break beds) as trellis for my beans.

A-Z Simple Living: R = Reduce, Re-use and Recycle

Living Greener is a great website which extolls the virtues of the Reduce, Re-use and Recycle campaign. It is an initiative to help reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfill. I have not always been the best recycler but I am now consciously making an effort to reduce the amount of waste we have, and to properly re-use or recycle what I can. Recyclying not just about putting your plastics in the re-cycle bin...this process should start before you even buy something. Here is a summary of the three initiatives and what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint:

Reduce

Many of the problems created by waste can be addressed by reducing the amount of waste we produce in the first place. Reducing waste includes rethinking what you buy and refusing things you don't need.

There are many ways to reduce the amount of waste you produce:

• Reduce your use of single-use and disposable products where possible and choose alternatives which can be used again. For example, instead of buying bottled water on the run, take a bottle with you from home.

• Opt for products with minimal packaging where possible.
• Buy in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging you collect. This can also save you money.
• Choose concentrated products or refillable containers.
• Refuse plastic bags when you don't need them. Keep re-usable bags handy so you remember to take them to the shops. You can also use boxes or your own shopping trolley bag on wheels.
• When you're buying fruit and vegetables, pop them straight into your trolley rather than plastic bags.
• Save on plastic wraps and freezer bags in kitchen by using re-usable containers as much as possible.
• If you don't read advertising mail, put a sign on your letterbox.
• Plan your meals to use items before they go out of date. Compost your food scraps or use them in a worm farm.

• When building or renovating, build only what you need and think carefully about your design. Good design can make existing space more usable or comfortable. Choose durable materials and finishes as they should last longer.

Re-Use

It's amazing how many things can have a second or even third life. If you can't re-use something, there may be someone else who can.

• Give unwanted clothes, household items, furniture or appliances to family or friends, or donate them to charities.

• Washed takeaway containers make good stackable containers for frozen food.

• Wash glass jars and use them again to store food or things like buttons and nails. You can also give glass jars to friends or groups who make jams.

• Use small plastic bags to wrap wet and smelly rubbish or to pick up after your pet.

• See whether your trash could be treasure for someone else. For example, if your food scraps are going in the bin, there might be a gardener or someone with chickens who wants your organic waste.

• If you're building or renovating, consider using recycled materials such as windows or floorboards—you can save money and add character at the same time.
• I have a recycling station where I put all of my containers and jars etc until I find a use for them.

Recycle

• Use your recycle bins or contact your local council to find out what alternatives they offer, especially for larger or e-waste items.
• Look for products that use recycled materials or are recyclable. This way you'll know that you're helping to keep useful materials and metals out of landfill.
• Recycle unwanted plastic bags at your supermarket, or give them to charity stores who may use them, or you go even further and re-cycle all of your soft plastic waste in these redcycle bins located at various supermarkets.

So how do you recycle at home? Do you think about what you are buying and how it will impact on landfill? What sort of things do you re-use?

Simple Living Sunday 7

I hope you have had a wonderful and productive weekend. I had the entire weekend at home which suited me just fine. Next weekend is full of Christmas parties so it was lovely to potter around and get things done. Two weeks of work to go and I can be a stay at home mum for two weeks....cannot wait for that.

This weekend's colourful harvest. The last of the bok choi, heaps of cherry tomatoes, a couple of cucumbers, some young celery, kale, spring onion, a golden zucchini and spinach.

The leafy vegetables inspired me to make my first green smoothie. I forgot to photograph the cucumber in the above shot, at the front is some aloe vera and just in front of the apples is a knob of ginger.

I picked a little bit of Brahmi to go with this mix as well - for extra brain food. I peeled the lemon and cut the apples into chunks and put it all through my juicer. I then added a little water and this is the result.

To my surprise it was actually really yummy. I would probably only use half a lemon next time, but Paul and I both agreed that it did perk us up and get us going.

Yesterday I harvested the basil seeds that I left drying last weekend. It was a fiddly job but very productive.

These are the biggest tomatoes I have grown and I did not even plant them. They just sprung up on a corner of the house so I have tied them up to the pipe.

This is the bok choi that I cut off instead of pulling up and it produced another two bok choi. Good tip that one.

It has been so hot here that the last few lettuce have bolted, and I have cut them off to dry for more seeds.

These are the Grosse Lisse tomatoes which I planted in my new garden bed. They have doubled in size and seem to enjoy the part shade. I added more mulch today and hope these will continue to thrive in the heat.

despite the lack of male flowers I finally have another large golden squash growing. These were beautiful in the chutney I made a few weeks ago. I have pollinated the rest with male flowers from the other squash so it will be interesting what they turn out like.

The patty pan squash are the only ones I have not successfully grown yet. I have been diligent with the pollinating so here is hoping!

More golden zucchini.

Three little rockmelon all in a row. I fertilised the patch today as the large one does not seem to be getting any bigger.

The broccoli now has another 'flower' sprouting on the same plant. The larger one is in front behind my shadow.

This is the start of my honey mustard for the Xmas hampers. The mustard seeds are soaking in white wine vinegar with a cinnamon stick.

Not very appetising, but this is what the inside of my bokashi bucket looks like after one week. It is 2/3 full and despite having prawn shells, meat and bread scraps there is no unpleasant odour. Every night I add our foodscraps, spray with the microbe solution and squash with the trowel.

I drained a little of the liquid today. I did not realise I had the tap facing the wrong way and lost a bit of it down the sink this week. Which is actually a good thing because apparently it is really good for clearing drains. This teaspoon of liquid I added to five litres of water and fertilised the rockmelons.

I made an easy watering can out of a plastic bottle for my seedlings. I just squeeze the bottle and...

Presto :)

I managed a quick trip to the markets this morning and had a great time at this herb stall.

These plant stands are really cute. With six large tubs, including the herbs, they only cost $60. I think my mother in law will be getting one of these for Christmas (maybe me too).

Of course I had to get more herbs. $2.50 each - bargain! Rosemary, Parsley, Herb Robert, Comfrey and Pizza Thyme.

And I couldn't resist these bags of beans and squash $2 a bag. The squash are crossed with zucchini so I wonder if I will end up with any like these?

Finally we got together and put up the Christmas Tree. I had to buy a new one as I suspect we lost ours in the January floods...I could not find it anywhere. We considered chopping a tree down but it didn't seem right...so here she sits proudly on the ping pong table...so the dogs can't eat the balls or chew the wrappings. We need loads more pressies though.

Oh, and I almost forgot...I made my first Christmas cake and it tastes amazing!!! Thanks Cheryl. Will post the full details including the recipe tomorrow.

Simple Living Sunday 4

I hope you have had a wonderful weekend! Mine has been busy and extremely satisfying, as usual. You just can't beat time spent in the garden and kitchen, especially on Sunday night when you get to reflect on what you have achieved. The weather here has been crazy. Bushfire watch last week and major hail and storms this weekend. It's lovely to see some decent rainfall here.

My weekend pickings are finally showing a little more variety and colour. We still have heaps of spinach, kale, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. The snow peas are coming to an end and the fellow at the back was a surprise find!

It turns out that my Zucchini's are actually Lebanese Squash. It was planted from a seed collection with six types of Zucchini and Squash. There were four big squash approx 15-20cm long which grew so quickly - one week! I have picked one and will harvest the rest during the week.

I have never eaten kale before and everyone raves about kale chips. I baked the kale in the oven with some olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. They were delicious! I would use a little less oil next time.

This is a section of the garden we have been working on for ages. The boys have put in a few hours to pay off an X-Box game they were after:

We finally got it to planting stage! Dug up, composted, top-soiled and planted. What an awesome Saturday afternoon. I took this photo before mulching to show the mounds and rows of tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers. This garden gets afternoon shade so will be ideal for our hot summer.

I just had to take another photo from the other angle :) The stepping stones are what we use as garden edging. Apparently they were once a concrete supermarket floor, and the previous owners of our farm started a garden wall up at the fish farm which we are dismantling. They will do the job just nicely...just in time for recycle week.

I found a nice sunny spot for my Comfrey

My Golden Zucchini finally started growing so the manual pollination is working. This guy is about 10cm long and due to pick this week.

Another plant with an identity crisis. These were not button squash so I am glad I didn't pick them small. It is actually a yellow scallop squash and is just starting to get a bright yellow colour. They apparently are ready to pick at 15cm diameter. These two are close to that.

This is a Patty Pan Squash. It's the only female on this plant so far. Hoping for more!

Some nice limes that will be perfect by Christmas day. 

A pumpkin plant on the lawn that is starting to take off.

I am so excited!!! I found another four rockmelons. One of the solicitors at work covers his with netting as he has rodents or birds eating them. Sounds like a good idea.

More strawberries. They are only small but very sweet. 

Couldn't resist this one to add to my exotic collection. A peanut plant! They grow under the soil and will be an experiment to say the least...but interesting.

Some success upstairs on the balcony garden. A beautiful chilli.

And some sunflower seedlings.

The toilet roll seedling garden has been progressing now that I have changed to seed raising mix and am using clear meat trays and bottle tops as greenhouses. More recycling!

So, there is my wonderful week at Tandur Farm. Have you had any successes in your garden? Do you know anything about growing peanuts?