Page 56 - Designing Ways 257

ON THE
TERRACE

life also interact in the ecosystem, and His house is built on the foundation
that is precisely what he wants – he has of a circular economy. It is aimed at
even built an insect hotel. “It is a habitat I eliminating waste and the continuous
created for the insects. Yes, it is inevitable use of resources. It focusses on reusing
that they would eat some plants, but then and recycling in a closed circular system
again, they also eat the harmful creatures to keep pollution and carbon dioxide
that feast on our vegetables. So we have emissions to a minimum. Most homes do
created a balanced ecosystem.” not work according to this concept, Andy
He feels it is his responsibility to live says.
sustainably on the planet and that is why “Water is taken from a dam and used
he has established his business, Leaf and to flush a toilet, in other words we dirty
Stone. “I continuously wondered what I the water and then we discharge it into
could do to live differently. A sustainable the sea. The same with energy and waste
lifestyle was the answer and most material – we take plants and food from
important. the soil, eat them and then throw the
“It solves many of the fundamental leftovers in the bin, from where it goes
problems that the world faces. We are to a dump. And this can only continue
in a situation where people are abusing for so long. An eco-house tries to close
Mother Earth’s natural resources. all those loops. Most of our waste goes
‘’Agriculture is the main problem, to a biodigester that generates the gas
followed by pollution and deforestation. for cooking. The rest is converted into
Permaculture tries to solve all this in compost that goes into the garden.
order for our wildlife to thrive. Nature Nothing leaves our yard – it goes back
wastes nothing – you can farm in a way into the soil and feeds the plants. The
from his days in George. At his house they that promotes biodiversity. As with same happens to the water.”
collect grey water, use compost and build holistic grazing – you can farm in a way For now Andy wants to expand his
fertile soil to promote biodiversity. And, that is beneficial to the soil and traps business and get a few workshops going
adds Andy, nothing is wasted. All leftover more carbon dioxide in the soil, which is to show others how to live sustainably,
food goes into the composter. His house a natural way to remove carbon dioxide as he and his family do. “We must build
was built from biodegradable material and from the atmosphere. There is thus a more fertile soil, put more plants into the
the family car runs on biofuel – recycled bigger impact on the soil and on the soil and stop so many things going to the
vegetable oil he collects from restaurants. water. Less energy is used and in the end dump. To live sustainably is a journey –
The grey water is diverted to what he calls it is cheaper.” you do not have to have it down pat. You
a ‘banana circle’. “Bananas love water – a Andy believes that as a gardener you can do it step by step and in the long run
banana tree uses about 25 litres of water are a custodian of part of the earth. And it is much more beneficial to us as well as
per day and once it has produced its it is important to remember that the soil to the next generation. That is why young
bunch of bananas, it is finished. We then is not waste material. It houses a diverse people should already learn now how to
chop down the tree and it goes back to group of organisms that play a key role in live sustainably.” dw
the middle of the banana circle to feed decomposing material and recycling the
the rest of the trees.” The insect and plant micro and macro nutrients that plants use. www.leafandstone.co.za photo mike hall

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56 Issue 257 • dw