An expert in solar energy has told me some interesting facts about the price of power. Consumers typically pay 30c per kwh. Of that about 5 is the wholesale cost of the power (the price retailers pay for the power). 15 cents is line charges (the cost to get the power from the generator to […]
Ruth from Taumarunui asks, “We live in a small town where it is hard to buy quite a few things including essential oils. How can I get some – the cheapest way possible please?” And Shelley from Kerikeri has as similar question, “I like the idea of using eucalyptus oil around the house but where […]
Noreen asks, “Has anybody any tips on how I can prevent pukeko from destroying my vege garden? I have tried netting but they just trample over it or pull the veg out between the holes in the netting. I would appreciate any suggestions.”
Lin, an oily rag reader from Leamington Spa in the UK, has a cooking question. “It’s summer here, in the UK, and despite trying very hard to stagger my vegetable crops, I always end up with a surplus of mature broad beans. Does anyone have any ideas of what to do with broad beans once […]
Callum from Torbay, North Shore, Auckland has a question. “I have a cat problem – they are using my mulch around the garden as a toilet, which is very unpleasant if one steps on it. What’s the best way to keep them away from Mulch and section please?
Making kale chips has become quite popular and is easy especially with the flatter varieties. I tried the same process with silver beet and it works well. Heat the oven to 150C. I spray a flat tray with rice oil, then after cutting out the white stem I rub both sides of the silver beet […]
An ‘Awesome’ brand of calcium lime and rust removal is available in a green bottle (US 32 fl oz – 946 mls to us) selling for between $3-5 at some $2 shops, The Warehouse or Bin Inn. Just as good as more expensive brands. Worked well for me – I got rid of the white […]
To deter cats from your garden dab eucalyptus oil around the area. Cats detest smells like eucalyptus oil. I believe they don’t like the smell of vinegar either but I haven’t tried that out – only the eucalyptus oil. Reapply every few days.
Gain extra storage space under a bed base that is too low by placing 5cm blocks of wood under the legs. This enabled me to fit 3 plastic under-the-bed storage boxes beneath a single bed. Boxes measure 800mm by 400mm by 170mm deep and there is 20mm clearance gap with that under my bed. The […]
In the rural reaches of the Basque Country (Spain), silver beet (chard) is known as chuletas de la huerta, which translates as ‘chops from the vegetable garden’. Here’s a recipe from a book by Teresa Barrenechea (in Spiain they grow silver beet for the stems). You will need 10 silver beet stems with the leaves […]