Robert.. working from home seems to me one of the biggest savers, specially for those in IT.

Travel is of course one of the biggest hinderences to maximizing our usefulness and productivity.

I was caught on Lysterfield road last friday, on my way to a weekend camp. I was stunned that this 'back way' road was bumper to bumper from Wellington road almost back to Ferntree Gully.. Turned out it was a temporary 40km zone where OXFAM walkers were crossing Wellington road, slowed the whole system down to a snails pace. But many people waste an HOUR each way in travel on the Monash "free"way daily just to get to the big smoke for work.

BIGGER blocks of land.
EXTENDED FAMILY use of said land, allowing high density living. (semi detached mini-homes with more central infrastructure. (resulting in a higher population density but a lower building density)
WATER CONSERVATION through a dam and water tanks on the property, and its use in vegy production for home and sale.
SOLAR energy based high efficiency lighting systems. No electric ovens or cooktops. (all gas)
PERMITTING the raising and slaughter of meat animals on property, which can then be distributed to extended family and bartered with nearby neighbours for vegies or other services.

In short..modernized village life.

All good advice I forgot two fruit trees in my yard pear and peach but each was picked for the longer life of the fruit.
It is a village a very small one so I surrounded my block with bottle brush more shade no air conditioning.
Spuds and pumkin are home grown for me and many others.
Hate the doom and gloom but one day that food may be needed by more.
Mc Mansions? my dislike matches yours how can any one live like that?
My home is 1978 fibro too big moved from Sydney and renovated for profit it cost little but even its size could be helpful in my big family one day.
Once a cow paddock my views are birds that love the bottle brush life can be better without the cost to our environment.

If you live near efficient public transport (and don't have kids) sell your car. I have never owned a car, believe it or not (I had a couple of scooters when I was younger) and don't miss it at all. A couple of times a year, we hire a nice new fuel-efficient something and go for a holiday.

Eat whole foods. Decide what you're going to buy based on how much packaging it's got. My local shop sometimes gives me a discount because I always take my own bags.

Remember Autumn is a good time to plant onion family crops — garlic, leeks, spring onions. Spring onions are great is pots.

Vanilla

Thanks for the reminder must get my garlic in.

Everyone has made terrific contributions. I am so tired of the gloom and doom scenarios from every part of the political spectrum. Those who claim sustainability will ruin the economy and those who claim we will become extinct. There is a middle road and it is a very positive one.

I don't believe we need larger blocks of land - there are already issues with land prices and availability, just for once Boaz, don't take my disagreement with you as a personal slight. We do need more effective use of land. We have small families, we certainly don't need huge homes which would have to be one of the most wasteful trends in the past twenty years.

It is possible to grow a great deal in a small space, using rotation and organic methods. There are dwarf varieties of fruit trees and espalier offers options in courtyard gardens.

The possibilities are only limited by our imaginations and those who want "business-as-usual".

Listening to the radio the other day (not sure if it was RRR or ABC) there are community developments for solar grid energy to supply a number of homes, rather than just individual installations - these also qualify for government rebate. Will try to follow this up some more.

Some good websites:
http://www.organicfooddirectory.com.au/comm_food.php
For info on where to buy, restaurants, valid reasons for supporting organic food

And current research going on at CSIRO
http://www.csiro.au/org/SolarResearch.html
This is treasure trove of technical information.

Cheers everyone.

Fractelle..I don't take it in any way other than ordinary expression of view :)

My view was intended to propose more efficient use of land and while I say 'larger blocks' with extended families.. I'm also allowing for home grown vegies and even some small 'flocks and herds' i.e. a sheep or goat or 3 all of which can be meat. Add in few chickens..and yes..even a fish pond.. stock it with trout and yellow belly.. make it long and narrow so you can cover it to keep the shags and herrons out..and bingo.. we have paradise.

Well...thats how I'm approaching it at least, in my minds eye.

We plan to have a row of fruit trees, and a dam at one end, (with fish)(slightly sloping block) a chook shed and vegy garden. Water for the garden and fruit trees is from the dam. We also plan to have Solar for lighting. But you all have to buy my Gym Timers and Solar Pumping Maximizers so I can finance it :)