So it has been a week!  A busy, busy week with all in our family going all over the place!!

And plenty been happening on our home building too J.  There’s been door frames hung, render applied, painting and more painting and more painting, and picking up of supplies to be ready for next week! 

So I have lots to write about – including another sharing of my philosophical musings – which is what I am going to start with today – why not?

So, you know I am pretty much into choosing building products based on their environmental credentials – and you know I don’t think we could actually ever choose anything remotely close to 100% environmentally perfect, even with an eco-style of building – mostly because unless it is pretty much straight from nature, used without harming nature in fact, then it automatically has some black crosses – and so, if you want to build with an eco bent in our society then you just have to make compromises (I wrote about it here too).

Anyway, the latest ReNew magazine (Issue 127) had a very good article on just these thoughts too – check it out if you can – and it got me thinking a-new (again) on how close our chosen products have come compared to my environmental ideals.  Especially our tiles and bathroom and kitchen fittings, as they are what we have picked up this week.

Another article in ReNew compares insulation products and it brought a new perspective to my choice of wool insulation – with reminders that I am surprised I didn’t think of!!!  It reminds us to consider the animal welfare of sheep farming, the environmental impact of grazing animals compared to plant crops (or especially compared to natural bush) and the problem of chemical residues in the lanolin (wool fat).  Oh, well our decision was made on our best knowledge at the time and I am still happy with the product – and I didn’t find any product that specifically said it was organic, RSPCA certified wool insulation so I am not sure if the ideal wool product exists – so a compromise…

When Andy and I were discussing the environmental impact of straw a few weeks ago, we considered if cordwood construction was perhaps more “friendly” – and I thought it probably would be in a heavily wooded area – after all, it sounds near on perfect to take a natural, native, renewal building product direct from where it is growing, move it a few feet, cut it to size and build.  Sure the modern construction method introduces other elements that also have an impact to consider…so the compromise conundrum continues.  But, check out cordwood construction I reckon – there are some great photos on google.  (It was never going to be my choice of building style – aesthetics still has to play its part for me, and it just isn’t quite me).

Well, that is enough philosophy for now – I’ll bet there’s more to come though one day, so be prepared ;-)!

Now for a photo:

This was my last week Saturday job while the renderers were busy – painting waterproofing paint on the cut-down, old water tanks that will be our vege gardens. 
 
I wanted to look at the camera and smile for the photo – but my son who was taking it said “It wouldn’t look like you were working Mum if you turn around and smile”.  So, the photo session turned into this - a non-working photo J.