
My Wendouree Home; a sustainable living work in progress! Timeline
Increasing sustainable living at my Ballarat home.
2011
Existing pre-purchase
Garden
· Citrus Grove
· Fig
· Arrowroot/canna lilies
· Herb patch
House
· North-East orientation, excellent insulation, existing awnings on many exterior windows
· Passive solar sunroom
2012
All Seasons Permaculture Design Course (Ballarat Permaculture Guild)
Garden
. Developed site plan for permaculture system
· Compost bin construction (recycled industrial pellets)
· Chicken yard
· Chickens and mobile chicken tractors (City Chicks http://citychicks.com.au/index.php)
· Planted apples, pears, cherries, quince, meddler and olives, in backyard
· pomegranate, feijoas, hazlenuts and mountain peppers front yard, for edible mixed hedge
House
· Installed solar hot water split system with instantaneous gas booster
· Installed pv power panels and inverter, with view to expanding system at later date
· Kitchen and bathroom renovation. Recycled existing blackwood cabinetry and bath. (Ace Kitchens and Cabinetry http://acekc.com.au/ )
· Replaced gas heater in sunroom with a more efficient model
2013
Garden
· Planted ballerina apples and crab apples in front garden for structure as well as edible properties
· Established permanent potato patch
· Attempted vegetable patch dog proofing in backyard. Still experimenting!
· Installed irrigation system in backyard
· Widened beds
2014
Garden so far…
· Replaced experimental mountain peppers in front garden with two more pomegranates
· Ongoing maintenance
House
· Installation of double glazing (Robson Glass http://www.robsonglass.com.au/services.php)
· Ceiling fan installed in sunroom
Future plans
Garden
· Wicking vegetable beds
· Additional fruit and berry plantings
· Refurbishment of shed and garage including greenhouse on north side (recycled materials, including windows)
· Water tanks on south side of garage as insulation as well as water storage for garden irrigation
· Additional plantings of bird and bee attracting plants, edibles and some favourite perennial plants, including roses
· Native habitat refuge planting of verge
· Chook jungle of chicken food and medicinal plants, may also add quail to backyard food producing birds
House
· More efficient heating (currently investigating options)
· Pelmets to avoid heat loss above curtains in winter
· Restoration of front veranda and decorative 1960s cast iron
· West facing veranda and retractable blind at back of house, including recycled sink and bench top for washing vegies & animal equipment; truly an outdoor kitchen and barbecue area!
· Awning on north facing kitchen window
· Heritage listing. 1960s house (so many are being demolished that good examples are becoming rare!
See more homes open for BREAZE Sustainable Living Day in Ballarat on Sunday 14TH September.