Authorities are reminding people that turtles are protected by law following the removal of a large green turtle that had washed ashore on Corindi Beach, north of Coffs Harbour, earlier this month (03/08).

The simple life is now available in blog format.

A local focus for International Lighthouse Day August 16/17

GOLD Coast couple Caree Alexander and David Blackshaw relocated to Port Macquarie last year in a bid to find a “safer, healthier place to live and work.”
“We sell safer, healthier products so the location resonates with our business theme,” Alexander told OurPatch.

I love the diversity of the weather in the Central West.  You know what they say… 4 seasons in one day (makes it hard to dress in the morning)!  This is particularly true in Blayney where it can change radically from a sort of frosty Ukraine winter’s morning to an icy Alpine winter’s day to a sort of bracing Himalayan-style, gale-force blizzard winter’s afternoon… and then suddenly change dramatically, do a complete turn around and switch to an absolutely delightful and surprisingly cold (but fresh) sub-zero Antarctic evening complete with icebergs in the duck pond (I knew my son shouldn’t have named his model boat “Titanic”).

While we’re on this topic, which of you misguided fools out there thinks that Blayney is the coldest place on the face of the Earth?  We hear this a lot and it certainly doesn’t do a lot for our local pride.  I mean, it’s not actually cold…IT’S THE WIND CHILL!!!

And besides, everyone knows that Oberon is the coldest place in Australia!

Local farmers will meet with academics, the Landcare movement and carbon trading experts to discuss ways they can “farm for carbon”

Although they were already aware of its existence, my children grimaced as they watched the 60 minutes story on the “sea of plastic” – the massive collection of rubbish in the North Pacific between Hawaii and Japan. The world’s rubbish – mostly plastic – floats around in a constantly growing mass, formed by The Gyre, a giant whirlpool at the confluence of four major ocean currents…..

What’s the rain been like in your patch?

Bokashi and Efficient Microorganisms

Effective Microorganisms or EM are a special mix of good, constructive and regenerative organisms such as lactic acid (lactobacillus), yeast and photosynthetic bacteria.  EM is another of those accidental discoveries, this one by Professor Higa of Okinawa, Japan.  Professor Higa created this blend of microorganisms, which work together, in competition with bad or degenerative microorganisms to control odours, improve soil fertility and plant growth and stimulate healthy fermentation.  EM technology is being used in agriculture, aquaculture and industry as well as in the home.

Bokashi, which means pot pourri, is a blend of EM and organic mulch, such as rice bran and malt combings.  Bokashi can be used to reduce organic sludge and grease buildup, eliminate odours and ferment food waste.  Most people know it as the fermenting grain used in kitchen Bokashi Bins.  All food scraps can be placed in these bins and, with the help of Bokashi grain are fermented or pickled.  The liquid produced in the Bokashi system makes a potent natural fertiliser.  The fermented food scraps are rapidly composted when dug into the garden.  Worms just love bokashi’d food scraps and will even eat onion skins and citrus if it’s been fermented first.  It’s important to know that not all Bokashi is the same.  Some brands have been broken down with larger amounts of organic mulch to bulk out the packaging, making it appear cheaper.  However, as larger amounts of this diluted grain are required to control odours and ferment food, it isn’t actually any cheaper, and can be relatively ineffective.  Make sure your Bokashi grain is a fairly dense mix, the colour of brown sugar and quite sweet to smell.  Only buy Bokashi produced by manufacturers licensed to Professor Higa’s company, EM Technology, to be certain you are getting the best quality.

You can now get cleaning products based on EM technology.  Not only do these cleaners cut through grease, but they leave behind probiotics or good bacteria, which continue to clean up the harmful bacteria found in kitchens, toilets, showers and even…..keyboards, long after you’ve stopped cleaning. Most natural cleaning products claim they won’t harm you or the environment, whereas the EM Cleaners actually improve and rebalance our environment, especially our waterways.  This is a big step up in the evolution of safe, nontoxic cleaning products. 

Even more exciting are bokashi-impregnated ceramics, also known as EM-X.   These ceramics are used to help maintain clean water  and control odours, by reducing mould and sulphur-producing bacteria in tanks, troughs and toilets.  Small ceramic rings can be placed in drinking water stands and kettles to revitalise drinking water.  Other applications for EM-X include cosmetics and toothpastes. 

Hello! I’ve just returned from three weeks in beautiful Apollo Bay, and now I’m wondering: why is it that so many of us feel so compelled to rush off overseas before we’ve given Australia a decent chance?