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

Streetgarden

Solutions for Council to Stop Polluting Sydney Harbour

Solutions for Council to Stop Polluting Sydney Harbour

Intern with Sustainable House, Alex Smith, describes solutions to stormwater pollution.

1.        Automatic irrigation spray onto surface of Council Garden bed, 9 September 2026

2.        Water runs down the sloping garden bed which has bare soil, no mulch

3.        Surface of garden bed soil is higher than garden bed and water overflows to footpath below

4.        Water and mobilized soil flow down footpath that slopes to road and gutter, eventually to pollute Sydney Harbour with brake linings, sediment, poison sprayed by Council on ‘weed’, nitrogen and phosphorus from Council fertilizers

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.

Inspirational Sydney City Council Gardening Policy

Inspirational Sydney City Council Gardening Policy

“All of this has been possible because of Sydney City Council’s gardening policy, which allows residents to garden on the footpath without going through a long approval process. It’s a practical policy that gives people, like us, the freedom to improve their streets and use small public spaces for growing sustainable food and plants.“

Public gardening on a playground in Germany

Public gardening on a playground in Germany

From Germany, Kristina writes about public gardening there.

Living for years in Sydney and gardening alongside Michael I was inspired by the Chippendale street verge gardens. Anyone can enjoy the beauty of flowering nasturtiums, pick a few fresh herbs and chat to neighbours about the newest plants growing. And if you like to garden along, you get some exercise out in fresh air, connecting to nature. So why couldn’t we do this in Germany?