Michael Mobbs
Cucumber farming in the street

Story by two US interns, Michael Miniotas and Will Brandt, who are growing cucumbers in a Sydney street.

Cucumber farming in the street
Michael Mobbs
Make a more natural nature strip

Here’s a simple, low cost , low tech design which keeps rain water where it falls to make a self-watering nature strip.

Let’s put nature into the ‘nature’ strips of our cities. It’s easy.

Make a more natural nature strip
Michael Mobbs
23 years off grid for water in the centre of ...

What does the data tell us about living off-grid for water in the heart of Sydney?

Analysis of water quantity by an American intern in Sydney, Jillian Meehan.

23 years off grid for water in the centre of Sydney - what the data says
Michael Mobbs
Aircon for on and off-grid houses

Here’s how to have aircon and be on or offgrid for electricity. Cool!

Aircon for on and off-grid houses

Raingarden

How to cool streets, cities in 2026 with raingardens

How to cool streets, cities in 2026 with raingardens

Raingardens keep rain where it falls to grow plants and trees. So raingardens cool cities.

Well done they are cheap, quick, low tech, no steel or concrete or timber and built in one day by one or two people. Here’s the how, how not to, why and some suggestions about getting them done quickly with a simple robust, simple audit - test them with a water truck - it’s easy.