Seeds – Heirloom & Organic

In New Zealand you can purchase from an impressive collection that Koanga Institute offers on their website. Kings Seeds also offer a range of organic and also heirloom seeds. Another two smaller NZ based seed suppliers are Asian Seeds and Eco Seeds.

1. Toilet Paper Roll

If you have empty toilet paper rolls, you can easily transform them into seed raising containers.
Simply cut one end of the roll into approx. 1.5cm long strips. Then fold the strips into the center of the roll and push them inwards.
Be aware that some may unroll and need to be re-positioned. It’s best to have a group tucked together in a tray or dish.
Depending on the growing media, they might dry out quickly. This punnet is suitable to plant straight into the soil where it will break down.

2. DIY Paper Punnet

These bio-degradable DIY paper pots are easily made and a great opportunity to keep you busy during lockdown.
1. Cut and double fold a strip of paper.
2. Wrap it around a small jar, with about 1/4 jutting over the base of the jar.
3. Fold the paper around the bottom of the jar.
4. Carefully pull the paper tube off the jar.
5. Then fold over approx. 1cm of the upper part to stabilize the shape.
Some people prefer to avoid newspaper because of the ink.
In some conditions the paper can become mouldy. I didn’t have problems with it when using it in a hot house.
This paper punnet is also suitable to plant straight into the soil where it will break down.

3. Re-use Old Flower Pots

You might already have a few plastic punnets or pots from purchasing plants or seedlings before. You can also ask at the local flower shop or garden center if they have pots to give away (in my area it’s quite common).
These can be re-used many times.

4. Fair-Trade Coconut Coir Fibre Tabs

A big thank you to Jenny from fuchsteufelsgruen for the beautiful photos of her coconut coir tabs
Coconut coir is made from coconut husk. It usually comes in blocks or tabs which need to be hydrated prior to planting seeds. It is usually cheaper than seed raising mix but also doesn’t contain the nutrients. It also dries out a bit quicker.
The tabs are mostly suitable for one seedling each. They can dry out quickly, especially when exposed to direct sun.
Make sure to purchase fair-trade coconut fiber. Also, they usually are wrapped in plastic.

5. DIY Pallet Box

You can build your own seed raising box from pallet wood. Free pallets are available from many businesses. They are usually made from untreated wood.
In terms of size, you can adapt it to your own needs. They also work very well for growing your own micro-greens.

6. Peat-free Coconut Coir or Cardboard Punnets

These cute little punnets are made from bio-degradable coconut coir (made from coconut husk) or cardboard. They will break down if planted directly in the soil. But you can also reuse them for several seasons.
They might be wrapped in plastic packaging.

Do you have more Ideas?

I hope this article was helpful for you. If you have any additional ideas and suggestions, please let me know in the comments
You can also check out my Instagram account where I share pictures and stories from my gardening adventures

Growing Media & Seeds

For now I would like to focus on seed raising media. This is where our veggie growing experience starts after all. There are so many seeds available for sale. I prefer to use organic and heirloom seeds. In New Zealand you can purchase from an impressive collection that Koanga Institute offers on their website. Kings Seeds also offer a range of organic and heirloom seeds. Another two smaller NZ based seed suppliers are Asian Seeds and Eco Seeds.
Seeds are magical little things. They contain enough nutrients to feed the seedling until the first two ‘true’ leaves appear. After that the seedling prefers to find some nutrients in the growing media in which it has been planted into. Jetzt könntest du natürlich einfach in den nächsten Blumenladen oder Baumarkt gehen und eine Tüte vorgefertigter Blumenerde kaufen. Diese Mischung ist gut abgestimmt und beeinhaltet alle nötigen Komponenten und Nährstoffe.
Now you could go to the shop and buy a plastic bag with a pre-made seed raising mix. It has all sorts of components that guarantee optimum nutrient supply and soil consistency.

If you are a vegan, sustainably minded person, you might want to know that there are a few aspects to be aware of when purchasing ready made seed raising mixes:

• • It can contain animal products, slaughterhouse waste, such as ground up horns and hoofs, blood, bone and animal hairs or feathers.
  • It may contain fertilizer that uses animal sources.
  • Or it may can contain chemical fertilizer which has caused a big carbon foot print in production
  • It might contain peat, which is known to be a product which creates deforestation and destruction of carbon storage.
  • Quite often it comes in a plastic bag.

But there are alternatives that are vegan friendly and more sustainable. Here is a list of ideas. I invite you to share any information or ideas, so I can add it to the list.

Ideas for Growing Media

1. Growing Media from Local Composters

Most places have industrial composting facilities that turn green waste into growing media. This is where I go when I need bigger amounts. You can get it by the trailer load or bring your own containers. It is usually quite affordable. Make sure to get in touch with them and inquire about it first.
Make sure to double-check that they only use composted plants without animal products or peat.

2. Growing Media Waste from Nurseries

This is a rather unusual approach but worth checking out. In my town there are several nurseries that grow landscaping plants or vegetables. They all have a pile of waste – either seedlings that have been dumped because they didn’t grow well enough or didn’t sell. Or potting mix that is left from re-potting plants.
Quite often this stuff just sits there because it isn’t very useful for them.
Be aware that this potting mix most likely contains peat or animal derived fertilizers.
Also, depending on the nursery, they might spray their plants with fungicides, pesticides and other nasties. So you mat choose to avoid soil coming from such an environment.

3. Home-made Compost

One of my favourite solutions is home-made compost. You know what’s in there and it’s as local as it you can get. I could (and possibly will) write another article about this. Because to make good compost you need to pay extra attention to what it is made of.
Be aware that compost is quite rich and heavy. It might help to add some wood chips or small gravel to loosen it up. This way there is better drainage and more aeration for the little roots of the seedlings.

4. Top Soil

You can also use top soil from your own garden or buy it at landscaping supplies. The quality of top soil can vary from place to place.
Be aware that when buying top soil it can possiblly be contaminated. For example here in New Zealand, top soil gets taken away from building sites and then sold. But some houses are built on previous orchard land. If it was used for conventionally grown kiwi or citrus fruit, there may be high amounts of toxic residues from funghicides, pesticides and other nasties.
You can also sterilize top soil in the microwave or the oven to kill off germs and weed seeds.

5. Ready Made Mix Seed Raising Mix

Please be aware that they usually come in a plastic bag, which is less sustainable than the other options.
For New Zealand readers I can confirm the following products to be free from peat and animal products (to be updated as I go):
Daltons Organic – both Potting Mix and Seed raising Mix (as confirmed by email on 07/04/20)

6. Fair-Trade Coconut Coir Fibre Tabs

A big thank you to Jenny from fuchsteufelsgruen for the beautiful photos of her coconut coir tabs and cute lil pea seedlings
Coconut coir is made from coconut husk. It usually comes in blocks or tabs which need to be hydrated prior to planting seeds. It is usually cheaper than seed raising mix but also doesn’t contain the nutrients. It also dries out a bit quicker.
The tabs are mostly suitable for one seedling each. They can dry out quickly, especially when exposed to direct sun.
Make sure to purchase fair-trade coconut fiber. Also, they are usually wrapped in plastic.

Good Luck & Happy Gardening

I hope this post has given you a good start on the topic. There is plenty information to be found on the internet. Or connect with your organic gardening friends and neighbors. One never knows, what fountain of wisdom they are (as it happened to me when I asked my favourite human )
If you have any additional information, please share it in the comments. Thank you

“And afterwards I wondered how many of these people that were protesting for a better future, actually take part in destroying our world by the choice of food on their plate.”

I chose this topic because New Zealand is still dominated by the meat and dairy industry. But it’s not a secret anymore that this industry is destroying our planet.
Besides the unethical aspects and the unhealthy side effects of consuming meat, dairy and other animal products, there are more concerning facts:

• The amazon fires are caused by the global demand for cheap meat and dairy.
  Raising livestock for meat, eggs and milk generates 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the second highest source of emissions and greater than all transportation combined. It also uses about 70% of agricultural land, and is one of the leading causes of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water pollution. [1]
• Year after year New Zealand’s meat and dairy farmers import palm kernel. In recent years the annual import numbers were at a staggering 2.2 million tonnes, which makes up about a third of the world’s total! [2]
• Palm kernel is directly linked to the deforestation of rain forest in South East Asia. New Zealand meat & dairy farmers contribute to this deforestation. [3]
• Almost 50% of New Zealands Emissions are caused by animal farming [4]
• Climate change is real. [5] It’s time for us to take responsibility and demand change. We can still do this. But we have to wake up now and act on a global level. For our home, for our future.

If you have a look at these numbers, it simply can’t be denied that what we eat has an impact on climate changing carbon emissions. Therefore we seriously have to raise this very important question again and again:

“Can you call yourself an environmentalist while consuming animal products?”

The effects of consuming animal products on our global carbon emissions are undeniable. At the same time we are heading towards the point of no return. Once we have reached a global temperature warming of more than 1.5 °C there is most likely no turning back. The drastic consequences will be out of human control. [6]
Does this make you pick up your ears? Do you wonder what you can do to prevent the Earth from becoming a dead planet? We still have time to cut down on our carbon emissions to try and stop further temperature rises. But we have to act now!
We are all in this together. And we have to think of future generations to come who will be left with the mess that we are creating now. Again, I can’t emphasize enough how drastic the effect of climate change will be. Lets’ get together and make a change!
Here are a few ideas how you can cut down your carbon emissions:

1. Eat less meat, dairy and eggs – or go vegan (even better, not only for our planet, but also for the animals and your health)

2. Drive less by car and avoid plane traveling.

3. Plant more trees – New Zealand based people can have a look here

4. Grow your own food, get together with fellow gardening friends

5. Buy local and seasonal produce as much as you can

6. Buy less stuff and avoid plastic – refuse reuse and recycle is the motto

7. Engage in politics – big business and corporations also have to be made responsable since they contribute majorly

8. Last but not least: Spread the word, make a change!

Do you have any other ideas and suggestions? I’m keen to hear from you in the comments. Let’s support each other and make the world a better place
Lots of love
Jana

[1] The Guardian – Animal agriculture is choking the ​Earth and making us sick. We must act now
[2] IndexMundi – New Zealand Palm Kernel Meal Imports by Year
[3] Union of Concerned Scientist – Palm Oil
[4] New Zealand’s Environmental Reporting Series – Environmental Indicators Te taiao Aotearoa – New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions
[5] NASA – Global Climate Change
[6] Job One for Humanity – the 11 key global warming tipping points defined

When I noticed how much of my waste goes there too, I decided to improve. This was the starting point for my nut-milk love (and other sustainability efforts of which I will write in a different post).

Update November 2019: Over the years I have come to realise that recycling is not the answer to plastic waste either. Because only a small fraction of plastics actually get recycled (the number are somewhere between 10 and 40%) This is just not good enough, considering the billions of tons of plastics that us humans create each and every year. Refusing plastic is the best option after all. If we all give our best and reduce our plastic consumption, we can make HUGE impact! Let’s do it!

And should I actually mention that the main reason for me to make my own nut-milk is an ethical reason? Because I don’t want any animal mamas to have their children taken away and killed. And I don’t want these animal mamas being used and abused year after year until they will have their life brutally ended, once they don’t produce enough milk for us humans. It’s simply not necessary.

So there are 5 good reasons to make your own nut-milk:

1. You Reduce Waste

As I already said above, making your own nut-milk reduces packaging waste, especially if you focus on buying in bulk. Your local organic shop might be happy to accept your own containers (it works well for me). Imagine how many Tetrapaks you avoid in a month or year by making your own nut-milk!

2. You Choose The Ingredients

When you make your own nut-milk, you can also choose what goes into it! No weird ingredients that can’t be pronounced or whose function is unclear. And it still tastes good! Simplicity at it’s best! And it also works with seeds or even rice. There are almost no limits for your imagination.

3. You Can Save Money

When using seasonal, local nuts in your home-made nut-milk, you can save money and support local farmers.

4. You Can Make Yummy Stuff With The Leftover

Yes, that’s right! You can use the leftover pulp to make yummy treats and snacks. For example chocolate muffins or chocolate cookies or apple cinnamon cake. More recipes to follow soon!

5. You Get Satisfaction

Last but not least, it is very satisfying and gives one a sense of achievement to create your own delicious, sustainable and healthy nut-milk. Do you miss anything here? Are there other reasons that you would like to see added? Please let me know in the comments below.

How To Do It

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5 Good Reasons To Make Your Own Nut-Milk (+How To Do It)

To make your own nut-milk you need a reasonably good blender. A high-speed blender will be the best choice. And a nut milk bag. These can be bought at the organic shop or health shop. Alternatively you can use a clean dish-washing towel in a sieve.

Course Nut-Milk

Diet Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan

Keyword Almond, dairy-free, Hazelnut, Nut-Milk

Servings 1 liter

Equipment

• Place nut-milk bag
• high-speed blender

Ingredients

• 1 cup of nuts, almonds, hazelnuts etc. soaked in filtered water for at least 8 hours, the drained
• 3 cups of water
• pinch salt
• some sweetener of your choice if desired
• 1 additional cup of water

Instructions

• Blend the nuts with approx. half the amount of water until they are ground very fine.
• Add the remaining water and keep blending for a little longer.
• Place nut-milk bag (or sieve with clean dish-washing towel) over a bowl and pour the blended mixture into it.
• Then take the nut-milk bag and gently knead it until most of the fluid is pressed out. Then press it a little more tightly but not too hard (in my experience your nut-milk bag might not last that long if you put too much pressure onto it).
  
• Pour the finished nut-milk into a glass jar. Add the additional cup of water into the nut-milk bag and let it soak a little. Then repeat step 4.
• Pour into the jar, cover with lid and store in fridge. Shake well before using.

Notes

Enjoy!

Please let me know what you think about this recipe, I’d love to hear from you! And if you remake this recipe, please share the picture with me on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook.