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

Sewage

30 years off grid in the city

30 years off grid in the city

In 1996, three decades ago this year, I disconnected my city house from town water, town sewer, town stormwater and installed solar panels.

Perhaps the first in a city. But being ‘first’ had nothing to do with it, except that made it harder to get approvals, get my sketches turned into drawings (designers, architects, engineers wanted nothing to do with it). I did it for two reasons; one, in a child-like way because everyone said, “You can’t do that”, so I appreciate the spur to action they gave me. And, because I was tired of my inner voice saying you’re polluting the ocean, harbour and air and knew that only by taking action could I free myself from that lack of integrity in myself.