Clove oil and mould

Many people with seemingly unsolveable allergies are excited by the growing consensus that mould causes some allergy and asthma problems - and clove oil is the magic ingredient to help end the sneezing and wheezing.

The Victorian Department of Health states:

• Mould associated with damp buildings can trigger nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, wheeze, respiratory infections and worsen asthma and allergic conditions.
• People with weakened immune systems; allergies; severe asthma; chronic, obstructive, or allergic lung diseases are more susceptible to these symptoms and other serious health effects.  Source.

However, to get rid of mould is not as overwhelming as you may think.  Remember, mould can only grow where there is sufficient moisture and it is spread by mould spores.

An excellent ABC article explains: Mould is a fungi, along with mushrooms and yeast, and is everywhere around us; in the air we breathe and in the dust around our homes.  When mould reproduces it creates spores that are carried in the air. As an allergen, inhaling mould spores affects the body in the same way as inhaling dust mites or grass pollen.  ABC Source

Action plan to get rid of mould

1. Remove sources of damp and moisture, ventilate wet areas, mop up water asap.
2. Clean off any visible mould - unfortunately, nothing beats elbow grease to actually scrub it away. You also need to clean it off several times with fresh water, being careful not to re-contaminate the area with the mould spores.
3. Spray with clove oil and water mixture (see recipe below). Clove oil actually kills the mould, rather than a bleach that just masks the mould.
4. Place a clove oil room sanitiser - either a DIY one such as soaking a piece of chalk in clove oil, or a ready made mould aroma gel in the mould-prone area.  The clove oil will continue to kill mould spores circulating in the room.

The great news is that you do not need harsh chemicals such as bleach to get rid of mould.  For those suffering from allergies and asthma, this is a double relief because bleach and ammonia ecascerbate those conditions. 

How to clean mould with clove oil

• First clean the surface with a mixture of 4 litres of hot water, 1 tablespoon bicarb of soda and half a cup of vinegar.
• Mix a quarter teaspoon of clove oil (no more) per litre of water, put it in a spray bottle, lightly mist on. Leave for 20 minutes and wipe off.  Spray again and leave.  It will take 24-48 hours for the mould spores to dry and drop off.

For more mould recipes see our earlier blog post Get rid of mould with clove oil.

Continue Reading..

Led replacement for halogen

NASA Earth at Night

Would you like to replace your energy-guzzling halogen downlights with efficient LEDs but are confused about where to start? 

Many people think it would be too difficult or costly - but actually it's much easier than you think.  Read on...

Home lighting is one of the most significant opportunities to save energy and slow climate change. Currently, lighting accounts for approximately 20% of global electricity consumption. To reduce this figure and lower the world’s environmental impact, an Australian company Brightgreen has developed innovative, energy efficient, high-quality lighting solutions.

Brightgreen DR700 is an innovation in LED lighting which can easily replace any standard 12V 50watt halogen downlight globe and provide 1:1 light - but only use 10.5 watts instead of 50 watts (meaning lower electricity costs).

Brightgreen has pursued three objectives:

• Bright, high quality LEDs that overcome the common limitations of LED lights - Brightgreen LEDs are just like halogens (only better!)
• Products made to last - Today’s commercial giants thrive on creating products that have short life cycles and become obsolete within a few years after purchase.  In contrast, Brightgreen’s products are designed to survive for more than 70,000 hours and last 15 times longer than other forms of lighting, such as halogen.
• Always sustainable - Unlike halogens and fluorescents, Brightgreen’s products are free from UV light, mercury, lead, hexavalent chromium and all other heavy metals considered toxic to the environment. All components of Brightgreen’s products are fully disposable and recyclable, again reducing our environmental impact on the earth by not leaving anything behind.

LED replacement for halogen

Simply remove your halogen bulb and replace it with the Brightgreen DR700. It is that easy to install the DR700!   **Please check first that you have an MR16 fitting (which has two sharp pins and is most common for 12V recessed downlights).

You can make difference to global warming and your budget by trying one at home today?  See how the led replacement for halogen works and then consider replacing more.  

A Brightgreen LED light bulb may cost $49 to start, but it will pay for itself through power bill savings in about two years in a home.

For more information, please visit Biome LED light bulbs and Todae's extensive range of LED lights

Advantages of choosing a Brightgreen DR700 LED bulb:

• total light output of 720 lumens, the same as the average 50 watt halogen bulb
• compatible with most dimmers (see below)
• compatible with most transformers
• 3 year manufacturer guarantee
• on average, pays for itself in two years residential use and one year in commercial use
• designed for the Australian market.

Continue Reading..

Green Olympics London - a gold medal performance?

Source: http://www.iso.org/iso/news.htm?refid=Ref1690

From the world's first "recycled stadium", a food strategy that requires balance, affordability and sustainability, to water-harvesting, cycle parks, a sustainable timber Velo track, plus, the target of sending none of the 8,000 tonnes of consumer waste generated to landfill, there's an impressive line up on the starter blocks.

Since the last Olympics Games, environmental standards - and possibilities - have changed markedly.  Expectations of how companies and countries need to minimise impact our planet in all they do are high.  London's commitment to a sustainable Games was reportedly a central part of winning the right to host the event.

Global warming is the critical issue of our time and the Games has been built and operated with a strict carbon footprint limitation.  Reducing the tonnes of carbon dioxide and gases sent into the atmosphere is not just about vehicles and electricity.  "Embedded carbon" in the materials used to construct venues, such as concrete and steel, is the major contributor and that is why many temporary structures have been built wherever possible from materials, such as billboard fabric, and recycled materials, such as the reclaimed gas pipes making up the roof of the Olympic stadium.

There's much to learn for other construction companies and event organisers - and not just the big ones.  For the individual person there are many mind-expanding ideas on what you can do in your every day life and when undertaking your own event or contruction.

Here are some of the facts gathered from media reports (sources at the end):

Low Carbon Games
Estimated carbon footprint published 2009. For the operation of the games this is expected to be 315,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and other gases – a 20 per cent reduction on the initial estimate.  New permanent venues have been built only where there was a strong legacy case. Temporary structures built whereever possible, such as the water polo venue and wings of the aquatics centre.  “Embedded carbon” in the structure of the stadium reduced by using recycled materials, such as old gas pipes which provide the truss – the ring around the top of the stadium.
Renewable Energy Games
Original target was 20 per cent of all energy supplied, largely provided by a large two-megawatt wind turbine on the Olympic site. Health and safety considerations ruled out the turbine. Renwable energy now expected to be 11 per cent of the total, provided by biomass boilers in the dedicated energy centre and a small amount of solar panels on the roof of the press centre car park.
Public Transport Games
All ticket holders given a Games Travelcard to use on public transport on the day of their event.  Walking and cycling to venues encouraged by Active Travel Programme – with 7,000 secure cycle spaces.  However, that system has some problems because they are half an hour walk away!
Good Food Games
London 2012 thought to be first major event in the world to have a food strategy, stressing choice and balance, affordability, sustainable sourcing across 800 food and drink outlets. All meat and dairy and fresh produce from the UK is Red Tractor farm assured.  All fish is certified as sustainably sourced. Much overseas produce is Fair Trade.
Zero Waste Games
London 2012 expected to generate about 8,000 tonnes of consumer waste overall. The target is send none of this to landfill. All food packaging, including that used by McDonald’s, must be recyclable or compostable (all provided by a single supplier) and colour-coded to match colour codes on different bins for different waste streams.  I very much like that idea of the colour coding!  All waste handled by a single specialist contractor running a dedicated line for Olympic waste.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/07/pictures/120725-london-green-olympic-games-bid/

Cycling's sustainable surface
The VeloPark was constructed using mainly timber and has a lightweight roof that reduces its embodied carbon emissions by limiting the use of steel. It also has rainwater harvesting capabilitys that will help cut water consumption by 75 per cent. But best of all the timber, including that used for the track, all came from certified sustainable sources.
VIPs and their greener Beemers
BMW's brightly coloured Olympic fleet includes 200 electric vehicles and 400 bicycles. Half the fleet will be BMW 320d Efficient Dynamic saloons, while another 700 will be BMW 520d Efficient Dynamics. The automaker has achieved its target of ensuring the London Olympics Games' fleet does not exceed average emissions of 120 grams of CO2 per kilometre, while also pioneering the use of zero emission technologies.
The world's first recyclable stadium
The 80,000 seat stadium was constructed with less than half the steel used in comparably sized stadia, making it the lightest Olympic Stadium to date. It includes more than a third recycled content and is expected to require 60 per cent less water than comparable stadia. The ring beam that supports the roof is also made of reclaimed gas pipes.

Sources: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/how-green-will-the-london-olympics-really-be-7982182.html, http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/feature/2194942/top-10-green-olympic-facts, http://lydall.standard.co.uk/2012/07/olympic-bike-parks-will-have-security-guards-to-deter-thieves.html, http://energy.gov/articles/2012-london-olympics-go-green-its-energy-efficient-sustainable-and-recyclable-design

Continue Reading..

Best Queensland organic gourmet finds

We had a sensational time at the Biome stall as part of Regional Flavours at South Bank, Brisbane this past weekend.   What a lively and positive gathering of Queensland food and wine producers and their devotees.  Cooking demonstrations with a garden to table theme were very popular, while the creative installations of productive gardens added to the inspiring atmosphere, like these herb wheelbarrow plantings.

It was exciting to see such crowds of people keen to connect with the growers and producers of food.  This year's theme was to showcase the many food traditions present in Queensland – from migrant recipes using local ingredients to native indigenous foods gone gourmet.

For those who couldn't make it, we've listed our pick the best organic and boutique producers below.

Take the green shopping pledge and we'll reward you with 25% off

Biome was there to help spread the message about reducing your impact on the planet when you shop - from taking reusable Keep Cup coffee cups and water bottles, to replacing plastic bags with reusable fruit and vegie bags and composting your scaps at home.  Our green shopping pledge has some easy actions to help.  Pledge to do them and we'll reward you in our stores ...  Download the pledge here before 30 September 2012 

OUR FAVOURITE FINDS
 

Hinterland Feijoas, who grow certified organic feijoas on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland.  Owners Peter Heineger and Sally Hookey use organic biological farming methods and no chemical inputs. Growing feijoas commercially in Australia is a relatively new industry so they had to start from scratch in many areas.  To value add to their crop, they work with local chefs to manufacture a variety jams, ice cream and amazing Feijoa Balsamic Glaze.   

Look out for Kat's Waffle House who attend markets on the Sunshine Coast and special events with their delicious gluten-free waffles made with organic gluten-free flour, organic eggs, no preservatives, etc, etc.  Biome's stall was right near Kat's so we had to smell the beautiful aroma of fresh baked waffles all weekend!  Thankfully, we got to satisfy our cravings a few times also.

Extra special

OzHarvest Brisbane  collecting excess food to feed those in need  http://brisbane.ozharvest.org 

Organic
Barambah Organics  dairy
Eden Hope Organic Dairy Farms dairy - Gympie
Hampton Blue  organic berries and jams - Hampton www.hamptonblue.com.au
Kin Kin Tea  herbal teas and Organic Fruit - Kin Kin  kinkintea.com.au

Hinterland Feijoas  organic feijoa www.hinterlandfeijoas.com.au
 

Handcrafted, traditional, sustainable production

Chalala Micro-Bakery  muesli, gluten-free biscuits - Mossvale www.chalala.com.au
Towri Sheep Cheeses sheep cheeses - Allenview www.towrisheepcheeses.com.au
Coolana Olives  olives - Lowood  www.coolanaolives.com.au  
Kingaroy Cheese artisan cheeses - Brighton www.kingaroycheese.com.au
Brisbane Ginger Beer  ginger beer - Brisbane
Fungi Mushroom Growing Kits  Geebung www.fungi.net.au  
Broken Nose Vanilla  Babinda www.brokennosevanilla.com.au

Gluten free
 Jo Jo’s Gluten Free Brisbane www.jojosglutenfree.com.au
Gluten Free Grain Free Company  www.glutenfreegrainfree.com.au
Zehnder Gluten Free  Maleny www.zehnder.com.au
Kat’s Wafflehouse   Homemade gluten free waffles - Mooloolaba

Bush foods
Coolamon Foods Bush Food spices, sauces, relishes by Dale Chapman, an accomplished Indigenous
Australian Bush Tucker Chef. www.coolamonfoodcreations.com.au
Galeru Native Rainforest Fruit Cakes, Yoghurt, Juices www.galeru.com.au
Rainforest Bounty chutneys and sauces rainforestbounty.com.au

For more local food inspiration, see our earlier post "hitch up to the local food wagon".

Continue Reading..

Bob Dylan honour & Blowin' in the Wind book

President Barack Obama awards Bob Dylan the Medal of Freedom. Image from the Huffington Post.

We're honoured to offer a small part of Bob Dylan's story at Biome (see more about the book below), so we were pleased to hear that he received the Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor.

According to the Huffington Post, Dylan released his first album in 1962, and his music had a considerable influence on the civil rights movement. The president said he found Dylan's music transcendant, claiming it led to his "world opening up, because Dylan captured something about this country that was so vital."

And from Wikipedia, "Blowin' in the Wind" is a song written by Bob Dylan and released on his album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan in 1963. Although it has been described as a protest song, it poses a series of rhetorical questions about peace, war and freedom. The refrain "The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind" has been described as "impenetrably ambiguous: either the answer is so obvious it is right in your face, or the answer is as intangible as the wind".

Picture book and CD available at Biome Eco Stores

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind.

Bob Dylan's lyrics for "Blowin' in The Wind" are just as relevant today as they were almost 50 years ago.  

The song is often hailed as an anthem of the 1960s civil rights movement, but in tackling universal questions about freedom, justice, war and peace, it has become much more than just a protest song.

Now readers of all generations can appreciate Dylan's moving message in this Blowin' in the Wind picture book adaptation illustrated with powerful, poetic paintings by Caldecott honoree Jon J Muth.

This beautiful edition includes a CD of Dylan's original 1963 recording, plus a special note by renowned music columnist Greil Marcus, putting the song in historical context.

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind...

Continue Reading..

Keeping free range free!

Thank you to the Australian Greens for the content in this post.

Buyer beware ... Consumers are being exploited with eggs labelled “free-range” that are not truly free-range, while the the Egg Corporation is proposing to increase free-range stocking from 1,500 to 20,000 birds per hectare!  This is a massive 1233 per cent increase in bird densities on the range. At this stocking rate, free-range hens will be denied their most basic welfare needs.

Due to a complaint from the Humane Society International, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has opened up the proposed standard for comments.  Submissions are required by 20 June 2012 and can be lodged by email to adjudication@accc.gov.au.


Meanwhile, the Greens NSW have launched the ‘Truth in Labelling (Free-Range Eggs) Bill 2011′ to prevent producers from misleading consumers about how laying hens are treated

In Queensland it has been law since 2002 that free-range egg farms can keep a maximum of 1,500 birds per hectare, but there currently exists no legal definition of free-range egg production systems in NSW.  

Standards vary drastically between how many birds are allowed to be kept in the shed and on the range and whether practices like beak trimming are permitted. When consumers buy “free-range” they often don’t know which standard are buying into.

In this video, Lauren Fitzpatrick reports for The Milk Moustache.

The widely accepted industry voluntary "Model Code of Practice" states that free-range birds must be kept at 1,500 birds per hectare. Because it is a voluntary code it can not be enforced. Some farms are cramming up to 40,000 birds per hectare and claiming to be “free-range.”

The Egg Corporation released a statement in early April this year that 29 per cent of free-range eggs produced in NSW come from farms which stock their hens at densities even greater than 20,000 birds per hectare. In Queensland it has been law since 2002 that free-range egg farms can keep a maximum of 1,500 birds per hectare. The demand for free-range eggs has exploded in recent years.  In the year 2010/11 free-range eggs made up 29 per cent of the national market in volume and 41 per cent of the value.  Free-range is big business—last year it made nearly $200 million in retail sales. Take action

The Greens NSW need your support to end the egg rorts and help make the Truth in Labelling Bill law.

• Only buy eggs that are stamped from accreditation bodies the Free Range Farmers Association Inc. and the Free Range Egg and Poultry Association of Australia Inc. 

• The only way to ensure your free-range eggs come from truly free-range farms is through legislation. The Greens NSW need your support to help make the Greens Truth in Labelling Bill law. Click here to download the petition and get the signatures of your friends, family and colleagues and send it to John Kaye MLC NSW Parliament House Macquarie St Sydney 2000. 

• The NSW Government needs to hear from all ethical consumers that they want their rights to buy genuine free-range eggs protected. Click here to find your local NSW member. The Greens have put together a step-by-step guide complete with questions to ask your local state representative. 

• Whether it be at the farmers market, shopping centre or around the dinner table start a conversation about the exploitation of the free-range label and why legislation is needed to protect it.

Continue Reading..

Magazine for the green mind thrives

With its beautiful photography of sustainable, serene homes, gentle nature-inspired colour scheme, and thick matte-finish paper, Australian green magazine looks and feels as great as it reads.

Each issue of green showcases the most interesting and creative sustainable designs from product designers, architects and landscapers around Australia and internationally.  The content is as much for the home reader as it is for the commercial industry.  Intelligent articles and plenty of practical know-how for your home and garden aim to help design, build, fit-out and live and work in structures that respect our planet's limited resources.  The enticing gardening pages have a stong focus on producing food and self-sufficiency and there are always examples of clever re-using and upcycling.

Established in 2007 by Melbourne-based Tamsin O'Neill and husband Tom Bodycomb, green is an independent magazine (meaning it is privately owned and is not part of the big media publishing companies).  And it appears to have not only met a gap in the magazine market, but like a well-tended garden it has flourished, keeping its readers interested and increasing production from a quarterly to a bi-monthy issue.

In the latest issue of green magazine (issue 25, May-June 2012) you can visit the home of edible garden dynamo, Karen Sutherland or learn about the opening up of a Brisbane worker's cottage (main image) and the best sustainable bathrooms.


Following on their successful niche theme, the publishers have also launched a second magazine for bike lovers, treadlie, which is devoted to bike culture, fashion and design.

Both green and treadlie magazine are available in the Biome stores and in our online store.  See all our eco magazines here.

Continue Reading..

Hungry? Hitch up with the local food wagon

Image from www.foodconnect.com.au

People are asking questions.  People want to know not only where their food comes from, but who grew their food - not just a name, but details ... What motivates the grower?  How do they look after their soil?  What does the farmer do with their spare time?  Do they have kids?  What's their favourite food? 

There is a groundswell of interest in the producer-consumer connection, and Australian organisation, Food Connect has been tending this relatively fallow soil for many years, confident that the concept will come to fruition - afterall, it may have a crucial role in saving the world from hunger.  Based on the principles of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), Food Connect delivers weekly boxes bursting with seasonal produce from local farmers living within a short radius of Food Connect Brisbane and Food Connect Sydney.

Food Connect explains: CSA is an innovation in the growing and distributing of food that aims for farmers and consumers to share the risk involved in food production. CSA seeks to address the environmental and social problems associated with industrial agriculture through a shared commitment to local and regional food systems that provide fair financial returns to small family farms. Consumers are effectively investing in the future security of their food supply.  Food Connect works hard at communicating the story and strengthening the bond between the growers and the consumers.  Each week they update the blog with details of what you can expect in your box, along with links to the stories of the farmers who grew the produce. Incredible detail.

You can read more about Food Connect founder Robert Pekin here on the Locavored blog.

People want to feel a connection.  As Sarah Robins writes in her article I don't buy food from strangers (that's a clever bumper sticker by the way) 35,000 people shop at a Victorian farmers’ market each weekend, lured by provenance, variety, freshness and quality, a minimal carbon footprint and the opportunity to engage directly with growers and support the local economy.

As we were working on this post, ABC's Landline program on Sunday, 1 April, aired a fascinating story on food security, The Hunger Games (watch the video or read the transcript).  In the next 40 years the world has to produce as much food as we have produced in the last 500 years.  Julian Cribb, author of The Coming Famine says: We're running out of water, we're running out of oil, we're running out of agricultural science and technology. We're running out of fish, we're running out of stable climates. So all of those things playing together are creating a greater insecurity in the world's food supply at a time when demand is poised to double.  The story looks at how we can increase agricultural output, as well as how people can grow more food in the cities and how much food we waste in Australia (we throw away about $5 billion worth).

Our loss of "connectivity" with food is part of the problem according to Michael D'Occhio of University of Queensland. In the Landline story, he says: ...we have no respect for food in Australia, we don't appreciate the value of food like our grandparents did after the Second World War... We've lost connectivity with what's required to produce food, what's required to make food available on a consistent basis and indeed the effort that our farmers put into providing us with the quality of food that we produce.

Want to know more about who grew your food? Check out these resources

QLD
Brisbane - Food Connect; Northey Street City Farm.
Organic Brisbane blog
VIC
In Melbourne - CERES Fair Food an inner city farm that hosts farmers’ markets and sells weekly fruit and vegetable boxes to locals.
Purchase this fabulous new book The Field Guide to Victorian Produce, or indulge in the sumptuous articles on the associated blog http://www.locavored.com/
NSW
Sydney - Food Connect
All over
Sustainable Table  - an environmental not-for-profit organisation that uses food as an entrée to explore sustainability issues.  Purchase the book and explore more resources.


Live elsewhere in Australia?  See this page on the Food Connect website with a list of CSAs in other places.

Continue Reading..