Compostable Packaging

 

A bit late with the blog this week so a quick one with a link to a source of compostable packaging.  Found this in the "Good" shopping handbook. 

www.friendlypak.co.nz

Biodegradable?

Unrelated to the friendlypak link, but I have included this little section because they use the word biodegradable:

Remember that biodegradable does not always mean safe for the environment so check if its biodegradable and not compostable, what that actually means.  Case and point is the biodegradable plastic bag that you see at many stores these days.  These break down in sunlight to small fragments of plastic which get into the waterways and into the food chains.  If they end up in landfill they don't break down because there is no sunlight.  Both options are not so good! 

The picture below shows a "biodegradable plastic bag", made from oil based plastics breaking down after being left in the sun.  You can see the little pieces of plastic that will blow their way into the waterways..............

This weeks challenges: 

1. To use compostable plates/cutlery if you are having a BBQ or party at your home or workplace and don't have enough plates and to buy food from food sellers that use compostable packaging.
2. To challenge food sellers, that don't use compostable food packaging, to use it too, point them in the direction of this link or others.
3. To make sure you ensure that the packaging is then placed in the compost or green waste bin, not into landfill.  Remember compostable items that go to landfill will cause release of methane which is a powerful greenhouse gas. 

Backyard gardens

I know we've talked about growing some of your own food before but I thought it was worth another post becasue its a growing area of interest for many people and its is certainly something that is evolving my garden.  Since I have been studying the Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Practice I learnt a lot more about the word permaculture and have heard and read more about food forests and I have really started to develop an interest in this.  Its all about better utilisation of land to feed ourselves and our communities.  For those interested in food forests you might be interested in this link, to a project by Andy Cambeis who is involved in the development of the Lake Hawea food forest. 

Did you know that the Otago Polytechnic campus in Dunedin is becoming more and more edible each year? Follow this link to find out more

One of the gardens at Otago Polytechnics Dunedin Campus

This link provides a short interesting audio on backyard food production and how much you can produce in a small area.   

Over the past 7 years I have been slowly changing the content of my garden.  We live on an 880m2 section but that includes the house footprint, driveway and a lawn for the kids to play on.  In the remaining space I now have 11 fruiting trees on my property.  Only one so far is mature and I keep it at a height of 2 metres.  It was following the success of that one which I planted 4 years ago  as well as looking at my neighbours fruit trees that encouraged me to plant more. 

My mature apple tree is in the centre of this small garden.  Also in here are 2 lenon tress, a feijoa, another apple tree which is going to be trained along the fence, 4 courgette plants, 10 bean plants and about 10 tomato plants as well as some lettuce seedlings. 

Under the fruiting trees around the garden I have planted some smaller trees.   Around those in the gaps (with no straight lines or specific order) I plant annual vegetables.  I would in no way describe my garden as a permaculture garden but that is now what I understand that I am working towards. Small nut trees are next on my plan.  I just need to learn more about them first. 

I have also discovered potatoes grow well in very shaded areas, around the roots of bigger trees so this year I have kept us in potatoes for 3 months growing them in places where nothing has normally grown.  I was also more vigilant about taking off the outer leaves from lettuces so they would keep producing longer (we've eaten and given away a lot of lettuce this summer) and made sure I planted the next seedlings about 6-8 weeks later, so as the first lettuces came to the end of their eating life, I could leave them to seed and the next would be ready.  I haven't paid for one lettuce since spring either. 

I have also started digging up under utilised areas of lawn around the back of the house after observing for a few years that even though in the winter its pretty cold and bleak, in summer its hot, dry and sheltered so summer annuals are very happy.  In the areas that stay shaded - lots of natives have been going in.  Its a bit of trial and error and learning. 

The value of waiting and observing to decide how to plant a permaculture garden is mentioned often in permaculture resources.  It has certainly been my experience too, that I have either trialled things or observed an area for a while before deciding how to plant it.  The areas I observed longer have generally been more successful with the first things planted. 

I don't use chemicals on the garden and this year I faced a problem on several of the fruit trees with fungus and leaf curl.  I was advised to spray with seaweed concentrate - which I did a bit skeptically to be honest.  Now I wish I had photographed the before and after - I did less than the bottle advised (through forgetfulness) yet they now look awesome.  Money well spent!

The now healthy nectarine tree thanks to the seaweed spray.  The fungus was so bad on this before that the people at the garden centre all washed their hands after touching the leaves I took in to show them. 

I have also learnt to do more just chop and drop - in the past I had removed much of the pruned plants to the compost, but now much if it I just left where it is, especiallya t this time of the year where some areas I don't plan to replant again until spring. This is excellent for weed suppression and provides rotting organic material for garden beetles and bacteria. Later I add compost or bokashi, horse manure, pea straw and grass clippings to keep the organic matter up.  Its not perfect but a work in progress. 

How much time does all this take?  The honest truth is not that much!  Over the whole year I reckon I spend little more than 1 hour a week in the garden.  And the produce tastes so much better that what you can buy at the local supermarket so the time is very well spent. 

If you know more about this than I do - please share! If you have never grown your own food, give it a go.  Start small - a pot on the patio or window sill even and go from there.  If you can't at your place, you might like to get involved with a local community garden.  Refer to this link for a growing list of community gardens in New Zealand. Or for those of you that have a bit more knowledge in this area - maybe you'd like to challenge and lead your workplace into developing edible gardens!  This will provide food, improve the environment and be a learning tool for work colleagues and clients a like. 

Have a great week
Francesca

Cats - should they be banned?

Cats have certainly been a hot topic in the last week or so in the media following Gareth Morgan's out there, "designed to stir heated discussion" statement, and cat lovers are certainly up in arms!  However what a statement that is so far to one  end of the spectrum does is begins a dialogue that was going to happen at some stage anyway.

In some states in Australia and Canada for example, cats are not allowed outside at all, in others only during the day, but they must be inside at night.  It was only a matter of time before this happens here.  After all all out native wildlife would be targets of a hunting cat.

In my opinion the statement made by Gareth Morgan was designed to get the dialogue going and then when the midway solution of cats inside only or inside at night is the outcome it will seem like a compromise. 

So on a sustainability front why am I blogging about this?

1. Cats are our companions.  While for some people it's their dog, for other's the cat has the same meaning.  They are important for our own wellbeing - part of being sustainable. 
2. Cats kill native (and exotic) wildlife - no arguing there.  Even if its not your cat, cats with hunting drive (most cats) and access catch geckos, skinks and native birds as well as non native species.
3. Cats reduce the rodent population - rodents are an introduced pest and cats do keep them in check.  If there were no cats outside hunting at night there would need to be significantly more trapping, poisoning and so forth to keep the population in check especially in urban areas
4. While most cat owners are responsible, there are those that aren't - not desexing, dumping kittens in wildlife areas, leaving a property and not bothering to take their cat.  Those of you in Dunedin will know about the problem in the student area of town with cats. 
5. If we keep our cats inside all the time we have to redesign how we live with them.  For many people that already do this this is a familiar concept but for others it is not.  Cats needs vertical space so they can sit up high and view the world.  They need lots of things to scratch on.  Those with mainly outdoor cats won't notice how much cats scratch but take a close look at trees around your garden if you have a cat.  You will find cat scratch marking - designed as a visual marker of territory.   It is very noticable on cabbage trees.    Another big area overseas exspecially is designing a cat habitat that is enclosed but outside with branches, warm sunny spots and so on.  This idea might appear to some people but others especially on very small sections may not have room for this. Check out this link for more on these cat habitats

What I think is important is cat lovers don't get on the defensive about this.  It is important to have a dialogue and to look at all sides of the story.  It certainly isn't totally clear cut and for  those people that are reacting in a huge way to Gareth Morgan's comments - in my opinion, they will never ban cats, so don't feel that you need to fight that argument. Look at the other options that are more realisitic and be involved in the discussion around those that is likely to arise.

Maybe cat owners should be licensed and all cats microchipped so any cat found that is unmicrochipped is considered unowned.  Maybe certain areas of the country should not be allowed cats that go outside - National Parks for example (I think this might already be the case) and perhaps areas like the Marlborough Sounds, where although it is not a National Park its an area of significance and also of regenerating native bush, but if you live in urban Auckland then they would be allowed free range.  This in itself is fraught with difficulties because there are always grey areas.  Parts of urban Auckland back onto small tracks of native bush for example.  And there are many other things to consider. 

This post is not about answers, its about putting some perspective on the topic and engaging some sensible thought and discussion. 

There are tonnes of websites and images devoted to indoor and/or enclosed cats and lots of products worldwide available to allow cats outside without them hunting the wildlife.  There are of course additional things an owner of a cat that can't exercise its hunting drive with live animals must do, and that means more play with your cat. 

I look forward to comments and feedback. 

Reflections on 2012

As most of our students for 2012 are finished now (or very nearly there), I thought for this week I would take some time to reflect on the year in terms of this blog and the topic of sustainability.

I am quite sure many of wondered what you had got yourself in for when we first introduced this topic to you at the beginning of the year.  I hope in some way we have helped all of you take a step forward in understanding why this topic is so important to each and every one of us.  

Here are some key points from this years blogs:

1.  There is only one planet earth 
2. Sustainability is not about being a greenie - its about respecting the environment, meeting peoples needs and within that ensuring that business is successful.  However without a healthy environment, there is no place for people to reside and therefore nowhere for businesses to thrive.  
3. We all need to play a part in product stewardship.  We need to consider carefully our purchases in terms of food or any product really in terms of asking questions about whether we really need it, what it contains, where it was made, what the companies policies on environment and looking after its people are like and are there better alternatives.  This applies to personal and business purchases.  And when any product enters out hands we then need to take responsibility for disposing of it in the most appropriate fashion.  
4. Choose natural fibres and avoid plastics as best you can (in this plastic orientated world especially biodegradable plastics and recycle whatever does come your way)!

These are just some of the topics covered this year.  

For any one who didn't get a chance to listen to my presentation on ideas around a sustainable veterinary practice of the future, you can listen to that here and for anyone who doesn't think its a reality, here is an example of a clinic who is out there doing it - sure they aren't perfect (I don't anyone is) but they have made some huge steps in a fantastic direction.  I discovered this clinic after I did my presentation so I was stoked to see that someone was out there doing it!

One of the biggest things I have learnt this year for myself around this topic is that local community involvement is so very important and also rewarding.  I have only taken small steps this year, but intend to develop this path in the next few years.  What impact have these blogs had on you?

I hope that I have managed to open your minds and eyes to this topic and the importance of it.  I look forward to hearing about your endeavours out in the big wide world and hope that some of this learning will be carried through into your new careers or lives after Otago Polytechnic!

For those students finishing with us - we wish you the best of luck as you forge ahead with your career.  We hope you stay in touch with us and let us know what you are doing - don;t forget to hook up to our Facebook page to stay connected to what is happening and this blog.    

For those who will return next year to achieve the next step in their goal - have a well deserved summer break and we'll see you bright eyed and bushy tailed in February!

Kind Regards
Francesca

The Ocean

Have you ever listened to TEDtalks - amazing inspirational and educational talks given by engaging speakers.

This is an 18 minute talk by Sylvia Earle on the worlds oceans. Its a serious talk but it contains good uses of humour to raise awareness of this serious topic.  It does highlight some great things are being done, but makes its clear that we need to do more.

The oceans are an integral part of planet earth and without healthy oceans we won't have a healthy planet.  If we haven't managed to flick the switch yet this year on this topic, perhaps this talk might flick it.

Have a great sustainable weekend.

Francesca

A real example of a green veterinary clinic

Just to prove that it is possible to do something - check out this veterinary clinic.  They have done some great work and have shared it on their website, including some presentations from the practice principal.  Have a look - you might find some inspiration for your practice here!

http://www.aspenmeadowvet.com/green_tour.html

What I found really exciting about this is what they have done fits very well with the work I have been putting together and presenting here around the sustainable veteirnary practice. 

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I have been in touch with Aspen Meadow Vets regarding polar fleece useage as they indicated this is the bedding they use in their information.   This is something that has certainly come up in discussions we have had around what is the best bedding as of course polar fleece is made from recycled PET bottles - which is great in terms of getting another use about of them, however the source product - PET bottles are not sustainable of course so in an ideal world we would want to create a cyclic system.   

Response regarding fleece:

"I am so excited to hear you guys are working on greening veterinary medicine too.  Our washing machines and driers have lint catches and so all of the fleece that comes off is caught up in that and is put into the trash.  So it could make it into waterways via landfill.  But honestly, the amount of fleece that comes off is very little.  I would think there are different types of fleece and level of quality. Ours is a 2in thick version that has large wool-like curls.  And so maybe that makes a difference. With our high efficiency washer and driers, the washing machines are front loader and spin at 1600rpm.  So when the fleece comes out, it is almost dry already.  Then the driers have a sensor that knows when the load is dry.  So it dries in 5minutes.  The key is to make sure that only fleece is washed with fleece.  If you get a piece of cotton, it will dry in 30minutes, when the cotton is dry.  So when its all fleece, its just 5minutes to dry.  Really efficient way to go."

So some great feedback here which all makes sense and is working within the environment we currently have and I think offers some good solutions.  Easy to implement solutions.  Once your clinic has the high efficency machines/dryers and is using polar fleece, then the next step might be to look for truely cyclic alternatives like modern wool fabric which has similar properties to polar fleece.  There is no doubt this is a process and we will never be 100% perfect in one step.  So don't wait, take some steps that are realistic in your practice and reflect and modify over time as new knowledge and ready availability of products changes.
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I also asked if they had  a solution on cat and dog faeces disposal yet, as this is an area I am looking into.

Response regarding Faeces:

"We do not have an answer for the faeces.  Some people with more guts than me have composted it and grew a garden in back of the clinic."

Good to know I haven't missed anything I guess in my  thoughts regarding this but now to find a solution.  Faeces going to landfill is a major problem as it release greenhouse gases during breakdown and  faeces left on the footpath/along dog paths end up in waterways which increase contamination. But becasue of potential contamiantion is shouldn;t go in our greenwaste. 

You will find a possible solution here which I am looking into: http://www.disbin.co.nz/.  Thanks to the generosity of Helen, from Disbin, currently 2 staff offsite and the team onsite are using this system or a variation on it (they have swapped the cardboard bin for a plastic one).  The plan is to put together a research project looking at solutions for dog and cat faeces disposal which includes looking at bacterial, parasitic and protozoal contamination following the bokashi treatment among a number of other things.  If you have any ideas let me know.

I'd also love to hear what you do with your dog and cat faeces.
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Have a great week
Francesca

Ethical dilemma

Here is an animal ethics dilemma for you

There are three common ways eggs are produced for human consumption

Image Source: http://www.brightside.org.au/bloogoocms/asp/print_template.asp?articleID=430 

Battery

3 hens to a cramped cage, fed a measured diet.  As we know they develop all sorts of displacement activities but these can be maintained as specific pathogen free (eg free from salmonella). The pressure is on to ban this form of farming completely.



Source: http://thesolution.org.nz/2012/03/20/why-colony-cages-rather-than-barn-laid-eggs/

Barn eggs

These chickens are reared in a large barn - have nesting boxes, can move from one end to the other, and look happy and healthy in the one I have been in.  It is possible to have these as "specific pathogen free - eg free from salmonella which is an issue for eggs, but the birds are still inside and when you look at it from a birds eye view it looks cramped.

Image source: http://www.animal-voice.org/if-you-buy-buy-free-range/

Free Range

Great marketing, looks really great having them outside at least some of the time, the chickens look happy, they can forage and get there nutrition from a range of sources. This is certainly normal chicken environment and behaviour.  However they can't be maintained as specific pathogen free (eg salmonella contamination of eggs is more likely), they are more at risk of parasites and predation (depending on how they are free ranged) and the weather can impact on them if they are not provided with enough shelter.  Their production levels may be lower too as they utilise more energy foraging than producing.   


For meat chickens they are reared in barns (often on floors within a single barn), similar to barn egg production or free range. Similar issues apply and you can add campylobacter into the mix too which is a common meat contaminant.

Of course this isn't the full story -

If free range chickens are rotated around a farm and foillowed by sheep for example they are adding natural fertiliser and cleaning up parasites in front of sheep, which are cleaning up the chicken parasites for example. This is being done naturally without the use of transport (oil) to more the fertiliser made by chicken poo to where it is needed.

However it is fact that chickens reared indoors in cramped conditions are more efficient at converting feed to meat/egg production and therefore intensively reared chicken have a lower carbon footprint than free range, but at the cost of poorer animal welfare according to one reference I read.

This may vary when you look at using the chickens to fertilise land ahead of other stock and the source of the chicken meal fed to the chickens.

Barn eggs/chickens also have an advantage of being very efficient in terms of land use, and within barns it should be possible to harness any of the gases released and used for energy sources too and all waste can be collected and used for fertiliser.

The ethical contiuum

For all our student readers who have studied ethics, you will know that we all sit somewhere different on the ethical continuum, but that it important not to form you ethical opinion until you have got infomration about all sides.

Is animal welfare your primary concern, is it carbon footprint, or is it a combination?

The aim of this post is just to point out that what seems best or worst is not always that simple and we make the best decision we can make with the information we have.

Why not learn more about the brand of eggs you buy (and any of the food for that matter). Take a pasture to plate approach to eating. 

Read more about the farm and what they do and their philosophies - if its good they are bound to be on the web.  If its not they probably won't be. This might help you to make your decision.  If you can't find them - call them on the contact number provider on the box of eggs!

Maybe we should just all have our own backyard hens?

Look forward to your comments

Have a great weekend!

Francesca