Sadly as a product of an automotively-addicted childhood I really struggle to end my fascination with new cars (which just burn more cash and contribute to driving us to the brink of extinction even faster). I am extremely fortunate to be driving the magnificent Toyota Prius which currently is averaging a trifling 5 litres / 100 km -- If Toyota made a hybrid 7 seat people mover I'd trade in the family car (Honda Odyssey) in a moment.
But rather than a new 'motor' perhaps I can distract myself with something more essential - food and water
Here's something I didn't know --
Food supplies are shrinking alarmingly around the globe, plunging the world into its greatest crisis for more than 30 years. New figures show that this year's harvest will fail to produce enough to feed everyone on Earth, for the sixth time in the past seven years [1]. Humanity has so far managed thanks to stockpiles built up in better times - but these have now fallen below the danger level. [ Source: The Independent 4 September 2006]
It's not only food that's at risk there's also getting enough water - Australia is facing our worst drought ever. Meanwhile we still bathe in drinking water and for most of us we do nothing to harvest the rain that falls on our roof. (At least we have drinkable water unlike so much of the world).
Well I have been trying to do my bit having produced some homegrown vegetables - not enough to live on but a start. Real soon now I will have my spring/summer crop in and we will see how we go this time around. I will certainly not be the first in the street with tomatoes.
As for water harvesting I really have not thought hard enough yet - ideas from anyone willingly accepted. I have room for rainwater tanks and I can certainly treat some greywater with the right technology.
For some inspiration check out Gardening Australia presenter, Jerry Coleby-Williams website detailing his sustainable house in suburban Brisbane.
[1] If grain was diverted directly to humans rather than feeding chickens and cattle which are then eaten by humans, the story might be different. A cow is a very inefficient converter of grain requiring 16Kg of grain to produce 1Kg of beef -- oh and consuming lots of water in the process. I have nothing against cattle - I just don't think it makes sense to eat them.]
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