Going green in July - some gardening ideas

• Compost or use a worm farm instead of throwing organic waste into the rubbish bins.
• Offer to rake your neighbours leaves, and add these to your garden beds or compost - excellent mulch.
• Collect fallen bark and tree fern fronds and use these as mulch to protect
  moisture in the soil.
• Clean out your gutters and add the soil, leaf and branch litter to the compost pile.
• Create home-made potting and seedling mix by mixing sand and heat-treated garden soil with a little compost.
• Create newspaper, toilet roll, egg carton, or cardboard seedling pots - reduces transplant shock. Cut the bottom of the 'pots' open for root growth.
• Create soil blocks for growing seeds.
• Recycle normal containers for growing seedlings.
• Instead of placing thick prunings or logs from cut-down trees out for rubbish collection, use them to edge garden beds, or as a pot stand.
• Ese newspaper and unwaxed cardboard as weed matting.
• Sew, tack or tie together small bags out of fabric that lets some light and air through, but not moisture or birds. Perhaps pantyhose? Use these little bags to collect seeds to start next season's veggie garden.
• Reuse broken broom handles (or other cleaning equipment), as garden stakes.
• Look for free garden supplies on freecycle. Many freecycle groups have a 'chat' group that encourages plant or seed swaps.
• Grow comfrey, lucerne or smart clover as a green manure crop, to reduce or eliminate adding fertiliser and large amounts of compost to the soil.
• Use lawn trimmings on the garden, or in the compost, rather than giving to the local council in a green rubbish collection.
• Collect cuttings from plants around the neighbourhood (best to ask for permission first). Take a lot of cuttings and the strong plants will survive. Could ask schools or libraries for permission to take cuttings.
• Set up a produce/plant/seed swap with friends / family. Each gardener has his specialties and weak points - swap the produce/plants/seeds that you are good at growing, for ones that you struggle with.
• If you don't have garden space, offer to maintain a friend's or family member's garden, perhaps swap for tutoring, house cleaning, sewing, cooking, or other services?
• Spend time actively maintaining your garden - free exercise. Rope in exercise buddies for extra help and company.
• Reclaim your lawn - turn it into a garden (unless you need it for your family or pets).
• Grow flowering shrubs of various types to encourage small to medium sized birds - they eat garden pests.
• Use left over or flat beer to drown happy snails (in a special snail drowning container with a lid)
• Make a bug spray using garlic and chilli in water. Add a few drops of pyrethrum oil or soap.
• Preserve surplus produce so it is not wasted - make it your specialty!
  
  • freeze it
  • dry it (in an oven or a dehydrator)
  • cook it! (many cooked dishes freeze well)
  • make home made fruit jams and cordials
  • eat it!
• Buy local ripe produce in bulk (or at reduced prices), and preserve it.
• Buy good quality gardening tools - they may cost more initially, but they (normally) last much longer.

Each month I am posting a 'Going green' tip for a year long electronic swap.

Going Green in June - Chronic illness

nifwlseirff on flickr

One of the main problems with chronic pain or illness is the lack of energy. It saps you of motivation, enthusiasm, and more often than not, easier, less green options are more appealing. It takes energy to make changes, to maintain a garden, to cook from scratch, to sew and clean, to walk to places, etc. Usually, money is prioritised to medicines and treatments, leaving less to spend on local organic foods (that are typically quite expensive).

As a chronic pain sufferer, dealing with multiple, complicated illnesses¹, my green journey is slower and more gradual. Many times I have been a little less eco-conscious in one area, to enable me to work on another area. For example, Melbourne has very low water levels, but I will take an extra long hot shower to reduce pain levels enough so I can apply mulch to the garden. The Spoon Theory is an excellent description of the challenges that the chronically ill face every day.

Going greener while chronically ill is a complex balancing act. Work and studies can also greatly tip this balance, especially when there are massive deadlines that require a lot of overtime and energy to meet. Usually, energy is prioritised into work, family, friends, self, hobbies and then any other projects. Physical work (like gardening), is often one of the first casualties. Sometimes, medications can also decimate energy levels and the immune system².

I find it useful to focus on some of the smaller changes when the pain flares, and deal with the bigger projects when the energy is there. Unfortunately, this means the bigger projects keep getting put off as I'm one of those who prioritise work first - which currently takes all my energy and more - going into rather a bad spoon deficit at the moment.

• Use a compost bin - the tub in the kitchen doesn't get emptied each day (lots of steps - steep block), and sometimes when it's full, a small amount of organic scraps do go into the normal rubbish.
• Collect rinse/shower water to use on potted plants - I take out the jug/bucket when I am capable of lifting it. When it's full, some water does go down the drain.
• Use eco-friendly cleaners - sometimes I am not able to make my own, so I spend (quite a bit) extra to buy eco-friendly products from the supermarket (Ecover, Seventh Generation, Earth Choice are my typical brands). A bonus is that these products are usually low irritant, something that is important for many chronic illness patients.
• Repair/re-purpose clothes - I have a growing pile of clothes that are awaiting repair, or re-purposing as quilts, rugs or rags. As my hands are one of the worst hit by my health conditions, sewing and crafting are often put off, typing for work is higher priority. But, I don't throw out clothing made of fabrics that I can re-use elsewhere.
• Wear (good quality) clothing out - I purposefully choose not to follow the fashions, and instead buy good quality clothing. It's winter now, and I have previously invested in good quality merino layers, a hat and some scarves, and a good, warm coat - excellent for cold weather to maintain little warmth - necessary to manage one of my illnesses. It means I don't need to have the heater on as high. Merino wears extremely well, which means I need to do fewer loads in the washing machine.
• Cook in small-but-bulk-quantities - but only on days when I have enough energy, and it usually takes me a few days to recover. But I have a freezer stocked with dinners and lunches that I can reheat as necessary. Therefore, I rely less on take away, and produce less waste (dishes are frozen in reusable glass or plastic containers).

I believe that every little bit counts - a bit is more than nothing at all! Small changes add up over time!

1 - Some of my chronic and severe medical conditions: adenomyosis, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, costochondritis, Raynaud's syndrome, Moreton's neuromas, migraines, sciatica, bruxism, kidney disease, chronic sinusitis, and more.

2 - I am currently on a nasty anti-cancer medication to hopefully shrink the large (but benign) adenomyoma growth, which has a host of awful side effects, further denting my greening plans. Most of my illnesses are nerve or inflammation related, but due to the kidney disease, it is not safe for me to have anti-inflammatory medication.

Each month I am posting a 'Going green' tip for a year long electronic swap.

Going Green in May - Useful resources

nifwlseirff on flickr

Personally, I find my energy increasing as the colder weather sets in. Autumn is typically the time for me to take stock, plan, declutter, clean and refocus on my goals. Unfortunately, this year has thrown a few additional hurdles my way, and my energy is rather low.

When sorting through a huge list of bookmarks, I pulled out this small collection of links that you may find useful!

Gardening and sustainability

• Australia specific, but containing many fact sheets, Gardening Australia is a useful site, with an active community forum.
• Backyard poultry aims to keep alive the art (and enjoyment) of your own chooks to provide fresh eggs and help around the garden.
• Linda Cockburn's blog details their family's journey in sustainability, previously based in Queensland, but now building a sustainable home in Tasmania: Living the good life
• Self-sufficientish recognises that it is unlikely anyone is ever 100% self-sufficient. The forum on the site is very active.
• Along with gardening information, recipes and book talk, author Jackie French keeps everyone updated on the local wombat population. Planting-times are Australia specific, but can be adapted to other climates.

Simplifying and anti-consumerism

• Updated 2-3 times a month, Finding Simplicity writes about retreating from consumerism.
• Zen Habits is a great resource for simplifying and greening your life, covering productivity, motivation, health and more.
• Think Simple Now has thoughtful articles about simplicity, productivity, breaking habits and chasing your dreams. Not quite a green blog, but may be useful in helping you implement your eco-changes.
• Also writing about gardening and cooking, Choosing Voluntary Simplicity has a bundle of useful posts.

Information, activism and multi-author blogs

• The United Nations Environment Programme collaborates with governments, communities and companies to publish information packs on a wide range of environmental topics.
• Covering design, blunders, activism and much more, Tree Hugger is a high volume, multi-authored blog.
• Eco-Chick is another multi-author blog with a feminine touch.
• Although this blog has more of an activism slant, Green-blog also covers green design, and current events.
• EcoGeek covers innovations and products aimed at saving the planet's resources.
• The Sierra Club and World Wildlife Fund both have resources to help you be greener.
• Learning for sustainability has a variety of resources that could be used when proposing changes at work, or for designing school curriculum about sustainability.
• Frugality and sustainability typically go hand in hand, Wise Bread has a huge amount of information on frugality.

Each month I am posting a 'Going green' tip for a year long electronic swap.

Going green in April - Go electronic

nifwlseirff on flickr

Several years ago, offices were proclaiming that they would become paperless, but very few paperless offices really exist, let alone homes. Also, I know electronic devices use electricity (which would be much better if it came from renewable resources, but this is also currently rare). But, you can often save money, save space, save resources and time by going electronic where possible.

If you need to keep a photocopy of a form for your records, scan it instead (most scanners can create a multi-page PDF document, and most modern multi-function photocopiers can email the PDF file to you.) Try not to print documents to paper, use the tracking tools in word processing software (or even just different colours) to mark documents for editing. Store documents online with a version number (even using a date in the filename), rather than keeping a physical printout of each version, keep multiple electronic versions. There are PDF readers available that allow you to annotate PDF documents, such as Skim (Mac) or Xournal (Linux), useful for those who prefer to scribble notes all over their documents. Graphics tablets are becoming more common and less expensive, and there are even pens that allow you to record what you write in ink!

Use an online street directory like the most popular Google Maps. Many modern phones have map functionality, and some even have GPS capabilities. Use online phone and business directories (Yellowpages) and cancel delivery of the printed ones. Although it is a good idea to note down important numbers on paper just in case you lose electricity and/or phone coverage.

Most mobile phones have a calendar function, and can store notes. The newer phones have even more bells and whistles, replacing paper based diaries and notebooks. Usually, phones come with software that can synchronise this information with other programs on your computer.

Read e-books instead of purchasing the latest paperback, that you are unlikely to re-read. You can purchase these from many online websites. High school and university textbooks are much more searchable in electronic format - you aren't limited to the book's table of contents and index. Depending on the electronic book's format, you may be able to make annotations like in PDF files as described above. There are e-book readers for many mobile phones, and fantastic advances are being made in 'digital' paper devices like the Kindle by Amazon.com (unfortunately not available in Australia yet).

Email can contain much more information than physical letters. Photos, pictures, documents, animations, audio files, video files, etc. can decorate or be attached to emails. Online email providers typically give you a lot of space to store and archive your email. You can use these to keep an up to date backup of email that you also download to your computer.

Looking past the obvious paper based alternatives, movies can now be rented, bought and stored electronically from some websites. Some require devices like a TiVo, AppleTV, or subscriptions like Foxtel in Australia, or software like iTunes. TV shows, movies, audiobooks, podcasts, phone applications, and more can be bought through iTunes. There are so many different music websites selling music, audiobooks and e-books that you can download, either as MP3s or in proprietary formats. There are also many free alternatives. For example, Project Gutenberg for e-books and audiobooks, Librivox for audiobooks, Podsafe audio (royalty free music that you can use when making your own podcasts), and a world of free, informative, self-help and music podcasts. I've even found free sheet music available online in PDF format.

Electronic alternatives may save you some money, they will definitely save resources, and they usually require less storage space! You still have to clean the dust from your computer, but you'll have fewer shelves of books, maps, boxes of records, CDs, and DVDs to clean. It is important to take regular backups of your electronic data, and store the backups somewhere safe, especially in case of fire or other disaster!

Each month I am posting a 'Going green' tip for a year long electronic swap.

100 ways to live green

1. Use low flow shower heads.
2. Collect water from the shower, kitchen, bathroom and laundry to use on the garden (not on vegetables).
3. Grow your own food, even if it is just herbs on a windowsill.
4. Choose products with less packaging.
5. Buy organic food.
6. Join a food co-op (if one exists in your area).
7. Buy food from local growers.
8. Reuse paper that is printed on one side.
9. Reuse news paper, shredded in compost or as wrapping paper.
10. Mulch your garden to save water and keep plants happier.
11. Make your own compost - great fertiliser for the garden.
12. Recycle everything that your council allows.
13. Instead of photocopying documents you want to keep a copy of, scan them and store them electronically.
14. Keep in touch with friends and family using email and Skype, reduce the number of letters and packages that you post.
15. Cook more healthy, whole food, less take-away and junk food - this reduces packaging that must be recycled or stored in landfill and is healthier for you.
16. Use aerators on normal taps.
17. Use a digital camera - saves on printing photos and storing them.
18. Exercise at home - you'll save both on gym costs and transport.
19. Use outings that incorporate exercise to entertain the kids - take them cycling instead of to the movies.
20. Rent and borrow books and movies - use the library, AppleTV, and video rental shops instead of adding to your collection
21. Share magazines, newspapers, books, DVD and games with friends - reduce boredom, and reduce the amount that people buy.
22. Get past wanting to collect things - it will save you money, you don't have to store everything, and it makes cleaning easier
23. Shop at secondhand shops for clothes, books, homewares - many of these are run by charity, so you are also giving back to the community.
24. Reduce the amount you use the car, batch your errands into one trip to save on fuel and time.
25. Ride or walk to work.
26. Use public transport to get to work, go to friend's houses and shop.
27. Arrange to work by telecommuting - working at home one or two days a week saves on commuting costs, saves time and saves wear and tear on clothes. You are usually more productive too!
28. Time shift your work, avoid the packed peak hour. This works on both public transport and to reduce congestion on the roads if you must drive.
29. Give gift cards or electronic vouchers for online stores - saves on unwanted presents and useless trinkets.
30. Re-gift or donate unwanted items, including electronic gadgets.
31. Give gifts of homemade food or services.
32. Or give sustainable or green gifts - fruit trees, herb seedlings, green cleaning products, LED light bulbs, etc.
33. Use and reuse fabric as wrapping paper. How to wrap parcels in fabric
34. Cut and colour your friend's and family's hair - you can even cut and colour your own hair. You save the transport costs, and have better control over your own hair colour.
35. Cook in bulk - batch cooking may require a good block of time, but you'll have easy to heat home made meals sitting in the freezer. Using an already warm oven saves on the extra heating time if you cooked dishes separately.
36. Keep your freezer full - it freezes food more efficiently when it is full.
37. Use up left overs - you'll have to shop less often and generate less waste.
38. Instead of eating at restaurants, have friends over for a home cooked meal, games or movies, and a great chat.
39. Make your own coffee and take it to work in a reusable stainless steel thermos mug.
40. Keep the thermostat on your heater a little cooler in winter and wear more layered clothing.
41. Buy good quality clothes, shoes and bags - they don't need to be replaced as often.
42. Make draft stoppers for your doors by stuffing a cylinder of fabric with worn out socks, and unrepairable clothes.
43. Use fabric, knitted or crocheted dish cloths instead of disposable ones.
44. Repair your clothes, shoes, belts and bags.
45. Use worn out clothes to make rags, or use them in crafts like patchwork quilts, bags or rag rugs.
46. Use home made cleaning products - safer for the environment, your health and your savings.
47. Include the less used parts of vegetables and foods in your cooking - beetroot leaves added to a salad, celery leaves to stock, save chicken bones to make your own stock.
48. Buy 'green' products when they are available, but only when you need to buy those items.
49. Don't buy things that you don't need!
50. Use recycled paper and toilet paper.
51. Use a smaller car - you'll save on fuel and it's easier to park.
52. Reduce the amount that you consume - stop collecting needless things, use up the items you have already!
53. Use the internet to find recipes, and swap favourite recipes with friends and family, instead of buying cookbooks.
54. Read e-books (electronic books) - there are many available for free from Project Gutenberg, and you save paper, printing and distribution costs.
55. Subscribe to podcasts and buy music electronically instead of buying physical CDs. Many podcasts provide free music!
56. Find support, self-help and personal development podcasts - it may save you buying or borrowing a few books, and you can listen to them while you commute on public transport.
57. Use the services available in your local area, and go to them by walking or cycling, instead of travelling by car.
58. Install solar hot water.
59. Install solar panels.
60. Make sure your insulation is sufficient, add more if not.  Don't forget to insulate the floor, roof and walls.
61. Ensure the seals around your windows and doors are working well, especially in winter.
62. Keep the thermostat of the air-conditioner a little higher in summer.
63. Reduce or eliminate various body and facial products, and makeup that you use. Most makeup and body products contain unhealthy ingredients, and come with a lot of packaging that ends up in landfill.
64. Take home-made lunches and left overs for work - avoid the take away lunches, they usually use a lot of packaging. You'll eat healthier, and use up those left overs, reducing the amount of waste you produce.
65. Drink water instead of soft drink - you'll save your teeth, waist, savings and reduce waste.
66. Use freecycle to find second-hand items - it's both cheap and reduces the amount that goes to landfill.
67. Dispose of batteries, paints, oil and other chemicals responsibly - many local councils offer recycling and disposal to prevent these things from polluting the land around rubbish tips.
68. Donate old computers and parts to companies that give those computers to needy community groups.
69. Take the time to relax at home, meditate, exercise and look after the garden - you'll save on therapy and health costs, as well as reduce the amount of travel needed for you to be out and about.
70. If repainting, use non-toxic 'green' paints.
71. Use second hand timber for building, if possible, especially in the garden.
72. Use sustainable building materials (wood products from sustainable managed plantations, etc.)
73. Reuse office supplies like folders, manilla folders, plastic pockets, etc. Recover old folders instead of buying new ones if children want a change.
74. Use newspapers and non-waxed cardboard boxes to act as a weed mat under mulch.
75. Use scraps, things you have around the home, and be creative in your crafting.
76. Install a water tank, collect rain water to use on your garden.
77. Spend time playing and talking with your children, rather than buying their approval with gifts of toys and games.
78. Switch to green electricity - from wind or solar farms rather than coal fired plants.
79. Use a 'green' bank account - donate part of your savings to green companies, research and product development.
80. Stop smoking - it's a source of pollution, causes poor health (not just in you!), and creates a lot of waste.
81. Reuse containers for cutting or seedling pots, just poke holes in the bottom of plastic containers or egg cartons.
82. Use gravel instead of concrete for paths, or use flat rocks - reduces water run-off, allowing water to reach the soil.
83. Plant your garden thickly with local indigenous plants - provide a healthy habitat for local wildlife.
84. Take cuttings of plants, to grow more plants - saves you buying more pots from the nursery! Save seeds from vegetables and fruits. Share cuttings and seeds around your neighbourhood, family and friends.
85. Prune your shrubs, bushes and trees - it will make them healthier and provide a more bushy habitat for wildlife.
86. Use a human-powered push mower - saves on fuel or electricity and provides you with exercise.
87. Use free software that you can download, such as Open Office which can read Microsoft documents, and many other formats.  Saves on packaging and supports community based software development.
88. By in bulk, and reuse your own containers if possible, to save on packaging.
89. Reuse your own glasses frames when you need new prescription glasses or sunglasses.  Buy good quality frames that last.
90. Turn appliances and electronic equipment off at the wall where possible - many appliances on stand by still use a significant amount of power.
91. Remove power (charging) packs from power points - these always use power, irregardless of whether they are charging a device or not.
92. Use LED light bulbs, or flourescent globes.  But only purchase these to replace incandescent globes that have blown.
93. Try to go as long as possible without buying food or drinks at take-away places, make it a game.
94. Reuse boxes, paper, etc. as toys for your pets, rather than buying expensive toys made from plastic and nylon.
95. Pass on unwanted things to other people who will appreciate them, try not to throw things into landfill (trinkets, books, dvds, clothes, toys, appliances, etc.)
96. Print double sided, or even better two pages per page and double sided.
97. Or go one better, and try to avoid printing where possible!
98. Turn off the lights at work when windows provide enough light, and when everyone leaves for the evening. If you have to work late, consider using a desk lamp if you work in a shared office environment.
99. Ensure computers and monitors are turned off at night.
100. Use open source or online software, saves on packaging waste, is usually free, and does not need to be transported to shops. Try Google documents or OpenOffice to replace Microsoft Office software.  Google documents is especially neat because it allows multiple people to share documents and edit them at the same time).
101. Especially for swappers -reuse postage satchels, by cutting them open carefully, putting a blank page or sticker over the address area, and then resealing with tape.

Photos: nifwlseirff on flickr

This list was compiled for the 100 ways to live green swap on swap-bot.com.

Comment moderation

I resisted for a long time, but I have had to turn on comment moderation for all posts. Recently I have had several spam comments from 'eco' companies and other sales people trying to sell stuff in their comments, even though I use the captcha words to discourage such people.

Going green in March - Consume less

nifwlseirff on flickr

The recent horrific bushfires in Victoria have illustrated to me, again, that I do not need all the "stuff" I have. I don't need to consume anywhere near as much as I do. The important things to me are my partner, cats and my computer (data).

On Monday 23 February, all the fire sirens in the area started blaring, helicopters and planes circled overhead, because there was a new bushfire about 2km away in the local bird reserve. I was at home with my cats, and no car. Luckily my partner was able to drive home from the city, in time for the wind change, which sent the fire towards us and blanketed us in smoke. I had previously grabbed some clothes, cat food, my camera and my computer. We packed the cats into the boxes, packed the car, and left without waiting for the door knock from the police, (we were in the evacuation zone announced on the local fire website). I was surprise to find that I wasn't overly worried about the stuff I had left behind, obviously I wasn't that attached! If that was the case, why did I buy it in the first place?

Of course, we could replace most of the audio visual and music equipment, games and kitchen appliances, as we do have good insurance. But I'm not sure I would 'collect' anything again. I would miss my cross-stitches and other handmade crafts, which at the moment mostly haven't been framed.

The response to the Victorian bushfire appeal has been astounding, so many people have given surplus stuff to survivors who have lost everything. Most of the extra stuff most likely won't be missed by previous owners.

Books can be borrowed from the library, found using Bookcrossing, swapped via Bookmooch, and many of the classics are available as e-books and audiobooks. Renting videos via our AppleTV, or buying them in iTunes is convenient - I don't have to worry about returning anything on time, finding space on our shelves or dusting it regularly! I don't really need such a large collection of stationery, so will focus on using it, writing to friends more often, and using it instead of birthday cards. All my music is already digital, I don't have any urge to buy CDs. Computer games can be bought second hand, and then resold. I don't need so many clothes, and I don't have many shoes (I hate impractical shoes and bags). You can participate in electronic swaps, swapping ideas, experiences and photos, using less postage and buying fewer presents. For birthdays or other celebratory events, you can reduce the number of physical presents and instead give your time, go on outings, find or cook yummy food, and provide other experiences.

nifwlseirff on flickr

Buying less means you are generating less waste from the packaging. You can apply this to food as well. Using predominantly whole foods, and buying staples in bulk results in much less waste than using prepackaged portions, wrapped in several layers of plastic and cardboard. Of course, fresh foods contribute to your compost pile. The story of stuff is an interesting and enlightening video about how current consumption is affecting the world (people, countries and the environment).

Consuming less means you need less space to store your stuff, moving house is easier, it's easier to clean, you produce less rubbish, you won't lose as much in a disaster, and you will likely save some money! I find it's easier to breathe and feel less weighed down by stuff. I will be passing on some of my current stuff to other people who will appreciate it more, perhaps I may even make a little money by selling the stuff that I don't want that has some value. I will endeavour to bring even fewer new purchases into my house, and look forward to having less to move next time.

Each month I am posting a 'Going green' tip for a year long electronic swap.

Going green in February - Composting

nifwlseirff on flickr

Composting is an excellent way to reduce the amount of rubbish that is sent to landfill, reduce the amount of methane that is produced as the waste rots in landfill instead of composting, and create something useful that can be used in your garden to enrich the soil saving you money normally spent on fertiliser and mulch. There are many types of composting systems and worm farms, some of which can be used even if you don't have much of a garden.

Compost is made by combining green plant material - grass clippings, vegetable and fruit waste, tea leaves and coffee grounds, and brown plant material - that is dry and dead such as leaves, straw, shredded newspaper, shredded cardboard and twigs. Meat and oil should not be added to a compost pile as it usually attracts vermin, goes rancid, and some of the bacteria may be harmful if residual amounts on vegetables are consumed. Compost piles need warmth and air for the microbes to break down the waste. However, it's best not to let it get too hot, as this will kill useful worms and may pose a fire risk! Manure and sawdust can be added to compost as more 'brown' compost matter, but it should be balanced by green material. Layer green and brown materials evenly, mixing and turning regularly to aerate the mixture.

Compost can be made in a pile (cheapest), or in bin. An open compost file may attract vermin, so most gardeners prefer some kind of bin. Piles need to be turned regularly to allow the air to circulate, and to mix the material together. Some moisture is required by the microbes to flourish. If compost is very dry, add a little water. If it is too wet, the material in the compost will compress too much, and stop air flow - add some straw or dry leaves.

Compost piles or bins should be sited relatively close to the kitchen for convenience, and out of full sun so the compost doesn't bake. An open compost pile should be covered by a tarpaulin, this helps to retain heat and prevent excess moisture from rain. Plastic compost bins, available from nurseries and hardware stores are convenient, and help to retain heat. The compost still needs to be turned regularly for aeration and to mix the contents evenly. Depending on how much waste is generated, some like to have two or three compost piles or bins - one bin they add to, one is full and composting, and one is ready to be used.

Some of the plastic bins are flat-packed, making them easier to transport when moving houses. Others are quite large. Tumble composters require daily rotation to aerate the compost. A New Zealand company has created a flat-pack vertical three-bin system. I have just started using this one (pictured), because I move relatively often and only have a small car. Many people opt to make their own bin.

A bokashi bin is a small, airtight container, great for people in apartments with small courtyards. Each time a layer of shredded food material is added, a special fermented grain mix should be sprinkled over the top. A liquid compost is produced, and can be diluted with water as a compost tea. When the container is full and fermented, bury the waste in the ground or in a large pot where it will finish breaking down into the soil. Personally, I was not able to get the bokashi bin to work, but many people swear by it.

A worm farm is another option for those with a small courtyard. These can be either purchased or made using stackable plastic tubs with holes in their bases. Worm casings are wonderful fertilisers, and worm 'juice' is fantastic as another compost tea. Add kitchen scraps layer by layer, and cover the worms with damp carpet, hessian or newspaper. As the worms travel through each layer, they leave their casings behind. Citrus is poisonous to worms, and they need to be kept out of the sun so they don't bake.

Each month I am posting a 'Going green' tip for a year long electronic swap.