Since we don’t live by politics alone (I sincerely hope), what did people get up to this weekend? Join in, share some tales, regulars and lurkers all!
Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas
Larvatus Prodeo was an Australian group blog which discussed politics, sociology, culture, life, religion and science from a left of centre perspective. more»
First, bought about 20 remaindered books for $1.50 each
Spent the arvo looking into septic systems (not literally ) on the net.
Any one got any suggestions ?
This is the sort of thing .http://www.ecosafe.com.au/ecosafe-process-how.htm
I want to re-use the , ahh, effluent as efficiently as possible.
(sorry if your having dinner)
Sounds like a bargain, billie (unless, of course, it was remaindered copies of Howard’s and Costello’s memoirs, in which case you were ripped off).
David,
At that price, they are probably cheaper than toilet paper!
Spent the whole weekend at the Sustainable Living Festival in Melbun, pedalling a rickshaw around. Am tired and oversocialised. Festival was fun, lots of interesting stuff and seemed a bit more organised than in past years. Amusement from the protesters outside the Mitsubishi car tent, but not for the obvious “give us back our subsidies” reason, but because of their tuna extermination efforts. Possibly connected, but they closed up and went home about lunchtime today. One less car!
Will sleep now.
moz@5
I’ll be in Melbourne next weekend.
What sort of weather can i expect? Better than June 09 i hope.
Don’t forget, I’m a FNQer.
Loving the Tropfest ‘cast tonight.
We’re flooded in.
No seriously.
I know the amount of rain we get here is tiny compared to the recent Qld/Vic stuff but we had 37mm 2 days ago which created bloody great puddles on the approach track and the city car behind me couldn’t get through and then yesterday we had another 30mm plus and my neighbour couldn’t get out.
Should be OK in a day or 2 but this is the second time in the last coupla months and the third time in 20 years.
Its almost like going out on a sympathy strike with the rest of East Oz.
Bloody climate change.
hannah’s dad
Haha
Sorry mate.But we had 60mm this morning , and i still played 18 holes.
The drainage must be crap in your neck of the woods.
it has rained every sunday since late october, except 2.
Craigh, as you may discovered already it is not quite straight forward with alternatives to the ‘old fashioned’septic system as there are quite a few different systems, options and versions.
So it really depends, what your situation is, such as your setting, but mainly on the site and soil analysis and the conditions therein.
Re reusing, what have you got in mind to produce? Keep in mind because of the high nutrient content you can create your self a high maintenance nightmare. Further, as subsurface dispersal is obligatory (Qld) unless you sterilise the treated discharge, you have to consider a network of approx 200m underground irrigation lines and such produce as salad would be legally out of question. So, for practical reasons, are bananas, as you have to use a spade to de-sucker the clumps. Also crop or trees with vigorous root growth may disturb irrigation. Lastly, generally most recycled grey or black water have a notable elevated sodium content which limits what you can grow with it.
Re ecosafe. Concrete tank has advantage and disadvantages, so does the sand base primary system. Might end up a costly installation if you can not use a local installer and maintenance inspection. Reliance on pump to discharge vs gravity feeding etc. I can’t find any specs on the irrigation which is major aspect in performance and maintenance. It all boils down to doing your homework. And even then, two years after having installed a Biolytix system I have received an email notice that they have gone into voluntary liquidation.
Having seriously experimented with recycling grey water and sewerage and integration into producing gardens, makes me think, with a suitable site and legally possible, a traditional septic system in a cleverly integrated garden design, may not just be cheaper with less hassle and maintenance, but as productive as any fancy treatment system.
Shish, sand based secondary< system.
Thanks Ootz
Installation costs would be not much. Maybe 3 or 4 cartons
Council regulations is. i’ll investigate that. Maybe an expectable system that can be modified Shhh.
As for “type of ground” Don’t know yet, still in the cost/benefit analysis stage.
Type of produce? Vege and fruit trees.For our consumption mainly.
Thanks again
Good to hear Yasi didn’t harm you and yours.
ops
Or even an “except able ” system
Or inspect able.
Craigy, the temperature expected in Melbourne next weekend is 15 to 29. You will need to wear a jacket until midday when the cloud disperses and the temperature starts to climb. The max temperature will occur about 4 pm.
Today the maximum temperature will be 20 so jeans, joggers, t-shirt and windproof polar fleece is adequate
Back in Brisbane.
Hot.
Housework.
Took a train trip to Nambour on Saturday and stayed there overnight. Wandered around Caboolture for an hour or so waiting for the connecting train to come through. The name “Caboolture” is believed to derive from a Latin word meaning “abode of bogans”.
Spent most of the weekend writing first and second drafts of chapter 7 of my book on the last months of the siege of Boston, 1775-1776. About 2/3 of the way through, I think. With editing and revisions hopefully I can keep it under 10,000 words, preferably 9,000, but its actually a huge subject. Originally I’d planned to write about the siege of Boston in one chapter, but have had to break it into two. Hope there’s not much more of that in future chapters. Am being quite ruthless in the revisions and editing to stop this book getting away on me in terms of length.
Happily, have been able to trace quite a bit of what Ross, Grose, Collins, Johnston, Shea and James Proctor got up to during the siege. (see blog for bits of it.)
Also been doing a little bit of research on the chapter on the early stages of the Revolution in Virginia. Am gouing gangpbusters buying books on that later this week. Plus some books on naval history,Loyalists, and a Hessian journal which I need to read before beginning the chapter on the British in Halifax in the first half of 1776. It will be a relief to finally get out of Massachusetts and into the rest of the war.
Am currently reading Paul Carter’s The Road to Botany Bay: An Exploration of Landscape and History. If you’re into early colonial Australian history I strongly recommend it.
At night, Saturday watched DVD of The Centurion about the Lost Legion of the Ninth in Roman Britain. Was good entertainment. Sunday, watched Miss Marple.
I’ve begun re-reading Moby Dick.
Almost finished re-reading Candide.
billie@14.
Hey thanks, we’ll bring the thermals.
15 deg !!!