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Weather-seal doors and windows to prevent heat loss in winter Insulate ceiling/floor (if raised) to retain winter warmth and repel summer heat Shade west-facing windows with blinds or plantings Change to energy-efficient lighting Install energy-efficient devices, such as a ceiling fan to circulate air and exhaust fan with damper to prevent winter-warmth loss Install solar-boosted hot water service or (if the budget allows) a solar photovoltaic system Replace openings with double glazing or, more economically, hang heavy drapes to keep heat in Install water-saving devices or at least fix leaky taps Install a rainwater tank Plant a low-water or drought-tolerant garden   (Source: Domain, The Age - 1 August 2014)

I have always wanted to plant sunflower. Today, I did a bit of research on the net and plant a few pots. Hope I will have sunflower in 4 months. What is sunflower? The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae and native to the Americas, with a large flowering head. The stem can grow as high as 3 metres, and the flower head can reach 30 cm in diameter with the "large" seeds. How to grow?

With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community. Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century. Scratch is a project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is provided free of charge. Watch this TED to learn more about it.

Lighting The average household spends upto 9% of their annual energy bills on lighting. See below for some tips on energy efficient lighting. Make the most out of natural light Use energy efficient lights: CFLs use 80% less energy and last around 10 times longer. Each CFL can save up to $20 per year and standard halogen globes use 30% less energy and last twice as long. Each globe can save up to $7 per year Select the right light for the space Turn off lights: 26% of people leave lights on all evening in unoccupied rooms Standby power and lifestyle appliances Standby power and lifestyle appliances make up to 10% of household energy use, or over $100 per year on energy bills. See below for some tips on reducing your energy use.

The  Feijoa,  also known as  Pineapple Guava  or  Guavasteen , is an  evergreen   small  tree .  It can grow in Melbourne.  I know it because I got three of them in my yard. The  fruit  matures in  autumn  and is green, and about the size and shape of an  egg . It has a sweet, aromatic flavour. The flesh is juicy and  have a distinctive smell. The fruit is usually eaten by cutting it in half, then scooping out the  pulp  with a spoon. Extracted from  wikipedia .

Neerim Experience a different way of life in one of the most picturesque towns in the Gippsland region. On the doorstep to the Baw Baw National Park, this tourist town is the perfect stopover for holiday makers on their way to the ski fields or for travellers in search of galleries and boutique B&Bs amidst breathtaking scenery. 3 private gardens will be opened to public on the weekend of 26th and 27th April, 2014.  It is time to take our family to enjoy a country scenery with gardens. Janalli , an exceptionally well-designed garden landscaped and planted on a grand scale. A 60-metre rose arbour leads to terraces of massed roses and perennials, and a parkland of exotic species borders landscaped lakes. Glorious autumn foliage. Large formal Japanese garden; Australian plant area; potager, citrus grove, small vineyard and nut walk. Entry to the garden is $8 per adult, children are free.  Janalli will be open between 10am - 4:30 pm. Dogs are allowed on leash (Janalli gar...

You can help our native bees to thrive by building them a Bee Hotel. What are Solitary Bees ? As well as Bumblebees and Honeybees (that live socially) there are various species of wild bees in the world that are called 'solitary bees' because they make individual nest cells for their larvae. Some species nest in small tunnels or holes in the ground or in sandy banks, piles of sand, or crumbling mortar. Others use the hollow stems of dead plants such as brambles, or tunnels previously bored into dead wood by beetles. What is a Bee Hotel? A Bee Hotel is an artificial bee nest that attracts solitary native bees.  It is often difficult to encourage solitary bees in urban areas because there are so few suitable nesting places for them.  Many people chose to give nature a helping head by building their own bee hotels.

Sweet potatoes come from the same family as Morning Glory and the genus Ipomoea.  There are a number of different varieties, including orange, purple and white. The orange one is called Beauregard and is probably the most popular. NUTRITION Sweet potatoes are low in fat and are virtually cholesterol and sodium free. They are an excellent source of vitamin A, protein and fibre and also contain good amounts of vitamin C, E and B6, folic acid, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and beta carotene. In fact, they could be called a super food. PLANTING You can use a sweet potato from the green grocers, but to be sure of certified disease free roots you need to buy from a reputable supplier.  Goodman’s Seeds sell Beauregard Sweet Potato tubers at Bunning’s for about $8. The Diggers Club also sells purple and white varieties at various times.  Garden Express in Monbulk will also post the tubers out. 

For each item you plan to purchase, please answer the following questions with a simple yes or no first: Origin Is the product Australian made or owned? Or, are all or some of the ingredients? Is it the product local, seasonal and organic? Packaging Is the packing wasteful or excessive? Is the package reusable? Is it recyclable in my kerbside bin? How will I dispose of the package? Can I buy the same with less packaging? Servings

“The way we shop influences how much food we use or don’t use in our homes. Shopping without a menu plan and list means you are more likely to buy more than you need – food that will end up in the bin.” - Love Food Hate Waste (NSW) So then, what is “Smart Shopping”? Smart shopping is a combination of behaviours and actions that leads you towards creating a waste-free kitchen in your home. This combination includes: Weekly menu planning Using a shopping list Avoiding not-so-Special Offers