About
EatTheSuburbs.org is a blog devoted to urban and suburban adapatations to peak oil and climate change, looking towards the positives and opportunities we have available. Central are the concepts of relocalisation and permaculture. A good introduction to the type of scope is in the Energy Descent Action Plan Primer. This site is also sort of an unofficial sister site to www.Permablitz.net, a network devoted to saving the world one backyard at a time.
The blog is maintained by Adam Grubb who was a founder of EnergyBulletin.net and lives in Melbourne (Australia). The name Eat The Suburbs was suggested by Asha B – and it captures one of the central themes of dealing with ‘energy descent’: edible landscapes.
– Adam (at) EatTheSuburbs.org
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paul said,
July 27, 2006 @ 2:18 pm
hi there,
I ‘m also setting up as a major hub, resource and project facilitator for many things, including community markets ( an eat the suburbs type thing ), organics, etc. This is my main site – http://www.awarenessheals.com – I’m about to develop the organics / markets side of things shortly. I also have forums set up for the same national access and informationing idea. See the “forums” button on the navigation menu. Perhaps we should co-ordinate somehow? My plan is to set up urban grown organic fruit, veg & grocery networks across australia , starting here in melbourne, anticipating the peak oil effect that’s happening.
….let me know what you think, paul
PS your blog/site is pretty good btw
paul said,
July 27, 2006 @ 2:22 pm
hi again,
I forgot to add that http://www.awarenessheals.com also has many links and info reources for dealing with the peak oil challenge. It’s still a work in progress at this stage too, btw….
Rachel said,
August 3, 2006 @ 9:44 am
This is FANTASTIC! well done. My friens Anne directed me to you guys. I just wish I had the time to start a Sydney equivalent. Actually I just wish I lived in Melbourne!
warri oviedo said,
August 15, 2006 @ 1:11 pm
It seems that hard work and dedication will manifest our collective desire and liking the vibe of these dreams. I was just talking with a truck driver from a company called Superior Oil Master Recycling who are a division of the recently merged Smorgons and they collect used veggie oil from around town and reprocess it into bio-diesel. They have plans to set up plants all over the country!
I’m excited about these initiatives and seek to be more thoroughly involved with them as they grow! Good on you Asha & friends! May the rain fall steadily on your fields.
Kerry said,
September 22, 2006 @ 1:43 pm
Great site Adam. Looking forward to seeing how it develops and the great works that will no doubt be generated and/or supported as a result (those we’ll hear about and the probably many more that we won’t – that will just happen…).
Luke Bunyip said,
November 29, 2007 @ 9:24 am
Hi Adam,
Lots of goodies here. Will have to rummage, and see what gems you have found or developed. BTW, have you read James A Duke’s “Handbook of Edible Weeds” ISBN 0-8493-4225-2 ? I thoroughly recommend it.
Cheers
Luke Bunyip
Tom Toogood said,
March 15, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
We in Permaculture Hunter Region (Newcastle @ Lake Macquarie & Hunter valley, NSW) are developing another urban permaculture or edible suburbs project (been thru one recently, also had our eco-village DA approved by Newcastle Council, the land has been purchased…would love to network with you guys/gals for mutual learning…maybe someone from Eat the Suburbs might consider visiting here to helpo shake folk from apathy to peak oil realities and solutions, we may be able to raise travel costs, accommodation is not problem…cheers, Tom Toogood, Chairman, Permaculture Hunter Region
Isabell Shipard said,
August 31, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
To share with
Adam Grubb, and other folk at eat the suburbs about the latest book I have written, which will soon be off the Press. If you would like to receive more details of ‘How can I be prepared with Self-sufficiency and Survival Foods?’
just email me, and I will reply on it with book cover, informations, etc.
Good gardening!
Isabell Shipard
adam said,
October 23, 2008 @ 2:11 pm
Hi Isabell
I just saw your comment now and approved it — so much comment spam, I miss things…
We’ve got a copy of your new book in my house already and I’ve been hearing good things as my flatmate reads it. She was looking for your herb book last night too so I found it :)
Keep up the great work!
Adam
trevor bamford said,
May 9, 2009 @ 12:17 am
Great Blog,
Look forward to networking
permacommunity in tasmania
Erwin Tischler said,
June 9, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
Hi David,
I came across your site by accident while researching for a book – WOW what a pleasant surprise. I’m a retired engineer who spent the last 15-years specialising in Energy/Environmental consulting for Government instrumentalities and for private businesses.
I’m presently producing a 75-page eBook named “Environmental Sustainability for your Home”. Rather than present variuos domestic environmental issues in isolation, the book attempts to present a total, holistic approach covering all manner of subjects in the one envelope.
I would like to use your excellent graph named “Average household profile – Greenhouse gas pollution” and in doing so I will give due reference to your website. Please give me your email address and I’ll send you a complimentary copy of the book (which is almost finished).
Some of the subjects contained therein are:
About the book “Environmental Sustainability for your Home” and the Author 2
The Science Fair 2
Why bother being environmentally friendly 3
My experience with environmental matters 4
To ORDER a copy of this book: 4
Other International eBooks available from the Author: 4
Introduction 5
Book Summary 5
Terminology 5
Measurements 5
Disclaimer 5
Greenhouse gas pollution and costs for households 6
Index of main sections in this book 7
SECTION 1 – Energy & Petrol (fuel) reduction 11
Energy Savings & Standards 11
Environmental Savings 11
Maintenance Savings 11
Simple Rate of Return on Investment 12
Hyperlinks 12
Electricity Meter Accuracy Test 13
Electrical Leakage 14
Cross-wiring with other properties 15
Energy Efficiency Calculator (electricity + natural gas) 16
Environmental Elements 18
The Greenhouse Effect 18
Non-Renewable energy 18
Renewable energy 20
Electric Cars 21
Hybrid Cars 21
Environmental Energy Controls 22
Appliances Generally 23
Switch OFF your ghost power (or standby power) 23
Appliance energy efficiency 23
Office-type Equipment 24
Computers 24
Printers 24
Hot Water Taps and Showers etc. 25
Thermal Insulation 26
Thermal insulation for ceilings & walls 26
Thermal insulation paint for metal roofs 27
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Systems (HVAC) 28
All–electric system using electricity for cooling and heating: 28
System using electricity for cooling but other energy sources for heating: 29
Air Conditioning – Air Temperature Settings 30
Air conditioning air filters (all AC Systems) 31
Room air conditioners & Split-unit air conditioners 31
Sun Louvers 32
Thermal insulation on windows 33
Thermal insulation behind windows 34
Hot Air Extraction 35
Containment of Air Conditioned & Heated Air 37
Heating of large areas – Blower heaters –Vs – Radiant heaters 37
Personal, desk-space heaters 37
Bringing heated air down in winter 38
Heated Pool / Spa – Loss of heating energy 38
Evaporative Cooling 39
Water Heaters 39
Hot Water Service – Extra Thermal Insulation 40
Refrigeration 40
Refrigerators & freezers 40
Sources of FREE Energy 41
Solar-heated water 41
Solar-generated electricity 42
Wind-generated electricity 42
General Energy Saving Recommendations 43
Gas Room Heaters, Boilers & Furnaces 43
Boiling Water Systems 43
Hot Water Systems 43
Laundry 44
Washing Clothes & Washing Dishes 44
Drying – Clothes 44
Hanging clothes to REDUCE your electricity bills: 45
Kitchen 46
Food Heating & Cooking 46
Lighting 47
Fluorescent lighting 47
Natural light 47
Lighting – Higher efficiency, dichroic lamps (bulbs) 48
Lighting – Replace existing incandescent lamps (bulbs) 49
Small Flood Lighting – Replace existing incandescent lamps (bulbs) 49
SECTION 2 – Water Use Reduction 50
Rain Water Retention 50
Grey Water Retention 50
Water Retention from Shower basins 51
Water Retention from Air Conditioning Condensation 51
SECTION 3 – Organic Composting 52
What is Composting? 52
The history of organic farming using compost 52
What happens to our food scraps in rubbish tips? 52
What are the main benefits of compost? 53
How much household waste is compostable? 53
How much energy is in organic wastes that we throw away? 53
What materials are compostable? 54
The kitchen food scraps collector 55
Animal manure 55
SECTION 4 – Worm Farms 56
What use is a worm farm? 56
Feed your 56
Moistening worm farms: 56
Two stage worm farms: 56
SECTION 5 – Compost Bins 58
What types of compost bins are best? 58
Starting the Composting Process 59
Using a powered mulcher/shredder 61
Watering your compost heap 61
When do you stop adding food scraps? 61
Will your compost smell? 61
How long does composting take? 61
When is your compost finally mature? 62
Uses for your compost 62
SECTION 6 – Organic Gardening 63
Planting your veges: 64
Growing instructions: 65
Accidental plant shading: 65
Watering: 65
Ph control: 66
Plant rotation: 67
Plant recycling: 67
What to do with pulled weeds?: 67
The use of herbs as aromatic pest deterrents: 67
Garden pests: 67
Can the mere presence of plants have a calming effect? 68
Greenhouse savings due to your vege garden 68
Feral pests: 68
SECTION 7 – Bird Aviaries 69
Aspect: 69
What types of birds? 69
Perches: 69
Floor covering: 69
Food & Water: 69
Rodent protection: 70
Health: 70
Feral pests: 70
SECTION 8 – Fish Ponds 71
The cascading-water pond 71
The still-water pond 71
Introduce some amphibious animals 72
Mosquito control 72
Feral pests: 72
SECTION 9 – Wild Bird feeders 73
Wild birds will complete your property’s ecological cycle. 73
Wild birds in Sydney 73
Economical wild bird feed 73
Overfeeding 73
Handling noisy or destructive birds 74
Re-cycling the food overflow 74
SECTION 10 – Recycling non-organic matter 75
SECTION 11 – Achieving Carbon-Neutrality 76
Unavoidable emissions 76
Purchase carbon offsets 76
SECTION 12 – Your Feed-Back on this eBook 77
Tim Denshire-Key said,
October 13, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
G’day Adam, how’s it going?
My name is Tim Denshire-Key, I’m currently studying Industrial Design at RMIT. For my major project this semester, I am designing a sustainable living workshop series, aimed at university students, who are transitioning from living at home to living independently/ in Melbourne for the first time.
The basic idea is to run an 8 week workshop series, starting with the most pressing issues of food, transport and furnishings. This will carry through to provoke the participants to become involved and connected within their local communities.
This process is aimed to assist in the transition into independent living, with a focus on strategies of how to minimise your impact in the process.
For my prototyping phase, I will be developing and testing a food workshop. So for the food workshop, there will be speakers on topics ranging from community gardens, to organics, to fair trade, to dumpster diving, to wild foraging etc. Each speaker will give a brief explanation (5 minutes max) of what their take on sustainable food is, and how it’s accessible within Melbourne. Then the picnic will kick off properly. Once this happens people will be able to seek out the speaker(s) that resonated most for them, and find out more.
This test run will happen on Friday, 23 October.
Would you be interested in being involved? I’d be asking you to speak briefly about wild food foraging and then enjoy the picnic. The whole event is expected to go for around 2 hours.
Hope to hear from you soon, Tim