Permaculture Out West

Harmony Feast at Maidstone Community Centre 21st March

On March 21st, there is a big community Harmony Feast at Maidstone Community Centre to celebrate Harmony Day and Multicultural Week. Heaps of free food and entertainment. Permaculture Out West will be running a drinks stall and providing info on who we are and what we do. The drinks are: Iced soy chai, Morroccan Mint, Local Lemonade and Lemon verbena / lemon balm tea, with many of the ingredients being sourced from the garden on the site.

Scott will be doing the prep on the Saturday, so people are needed to run the stall (pouring chilled drinks) from 12 PM until 3PM, plus a bit of set-up and pack-up either side of that. Scott will be running the woodfired oven as well as overseeing the food safety issues. Could people please email Scott their availability during this time and can be scheduled in. Ideally we should have 2-3 people at a time on for about an hour each over the three hour program, giving plenty of time to enjoy the other activities on the day.

POW Meeting 24th February 2010 - Minutes

POW ordinary meeting

24th February 2010

6:00 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Location: Maidstone Community Centre, 21 Yardley St, Maidstone.

Introduction, Apologies and Welcome: Present – Debbie Campbell, De Chantal Hillis, Scott Hitchins, Nyree Chung, Natalie Thomas, Angela (new), Katerina Gaita, Phillip Hitchcock Apologies – Richard Hawkey, Delia Symons, Melanie Henkel
PcM related update (report back from PcM meeting – Richard’s email) Richard not present and email not accessible. ACTION: Kat forward email to people present for comment and post relevant matters on website. Someone needs to go to next PcM meeting, but need to know when it is. ACTION: Kat email PcM for details of nxt meeting
Strategic meeting – summary (Nyree and Kat) Nyree gave summary of strategic meeting: Nyreee, DeChantal, Melanie, Debbie & Kat met with Jose (De’s husband), who facilitated a process to try and define POW and POW’s role, specifically how our social context (the West) defines who we are and what we do. At this stage the process is incomplete, but we plan to meet again. In the meantime, Nyree and Kat will write up a summary of the meeting so far Kat mentioned that one thing that came up was how to get people involved in active roles, so that we can achieve more. Kat wants to make up a notice board that we can have at all workshops, permaplaygroups etc, explaining who we are, what our vision is and how people can get involved. Roles we are looking for at the moment: fund raiser, events person Angela asked how mailing list worked. Kat explained posting system. Deb mentioned that the website is not designed as a mailing system. This is something to revisit at next exec meeting. ACTION: Nyree and Kat write formal summary of strategic meeting. ACTION: Kat make up noticeboard Natalie mentioned that she came to see if anybody from POW could come to Gaudion reserve to give some expert advice on a community garden. Suggested that we sell our services to advise bodies on gardens and playgroups etc. Scott and Debbie agreed to visit site to give quick sketch plan to take to council. If goes ahead, Natalie is welcome to come back to us for a blitz. Date set: Sunday 7th after preserving workshop.
Brimbank Festival POW is not having a stall. We are not in a position to do so at the moment. Apologies to Candice. We really appreciate her support of POW and hope to support her another time
Action Items from Exec Meeting: MC newsletter article (nyree) – written, published and they’d like more. Nyree is also to write something for next PIE, but doesn’t know when it is due ACTION: kat contact PcM re updates – when next PIE submission Mailing list(Kat) – see above
Project proposal application update – Candice Candice not present. Project proposal deferred to next meeting. Allocate time to really discuss process. ACTION: put on website that we need a project officer
Membership Drive & Freebies offered Deferred to next meeting as Mel not present
Getting more people active in projects and roles See above
Maidstone update Council will decide at next meeting on Tuesday 16^th March. One of our supporters spoke to the mayor at Yarraville station, who said Sarah Carter is in favour of our proposal. Main concern of other councilors is that they will have to invest money in fixing up building. Kat plans to write to councilors pointing out that we do not need building at this stage. It just needs to be made safe ($10,000 by their own estimate). She will also remind them that at this stage we are simply asking for them to give us time to write a proper business plan and look at ways of raising money from sponsors ACTION: Kat write to councilors ACTION: everybody come to meeting on 16^th and email councilors voicing support for project.
Pipemakers Park update Kat met with Srebrenka Kunek, creative director of LMW, who informed her that at this stage, the horticulture subcommittee is not going ahead. However, they would still like some connection with POW Kat mentioned possibility off blitz in return for rent of space LMW is also in negotiations to revitalize railway stations in West, starting with Yarraville. This would involve cafes and stores on stations and growing food near tracks, which would be available for public to take. Left over produce could be preserved/dried etc and sold in shops on stations. At this stage, it is in planning and there is nothing to decide or do, but worth keeping abreast of.
Blitzes 2 people have emailed who want blitzes – angela is one. Angela will be april Other person will be offered may. Pipemakers blitz june in return for a night’s rent there and then we can see how it goes. ACTION: Kat to talk to Srebrenka Angela Chiew wants a winter blitz.
Permaplaygroup update De wants to know if we are okay with her doing her master’s research on our group. All agreed. 2 play groups happening. One is very structured (run by delia and nick at braybrook). Other is not structured at maidstone – run by de Chantal. De and Scott organizing to film playgroup Has proven good way of getting community space looked after. Adam Grubb is willing to help advertise in other suburbs.
Workshops Workshops – going well. Budding one was unfortunate that trees weren’t big enough, but people enjoyed themselves. ACTION: follow up with mel that preserving workshop We need to organize a working bee at maidstone to cover rent here. A Sunday would be good. Kat asked whether the work that the permaplaygroup does would be enough? Follow this up at next meeting
Other forum on here on Wednesday diary date: 21st march 12-3 harmony day and feast. Need volunteers to serve iced teas. Kat raised changing meeting time to 6:30. Scott suggested starting at 6 with half hour social event. (After meeting via email, it was decided that meetings would start at 6pm, but the first hour would be a talk on a topic of interest. Admin items would then get done in the last 40 mins, with a strict time limit of 5 mins for each update) Scott is setting up Maribyrnong community centre and looking for people to be part of it. Setting up nursery there.
Close meeting Next meeting: Wed March 31^st. 6pm. Maidstone Community Centre

Calling all volunteers

We are having a monster garage sale to raise much needed funds for our group (see events section on our website) and we need some volunteers to help us pull it off. If you can help us with any of the following roles please email Nyree at nyreec@me.com

Does anyone have items to donate? Please email nyreec@me.com to arrange collection or drop off.

Sorters and Pricers: People to sort and price goods before the sale. Sorting and pricing days will be Tuesday 9th, Thursday 11th, Wednesday 17th, Thursday 18th and Friday 19th March during and after business hours.

Loaders: people to help load the goods at our sorting house onto a trailer and then unload them at the garage sale location: Friday 19th March, after business hours

Sign makers: Make large cardboard signs and place them on Williamstown Rd / Geelong Rd/ Victoria St on the morning of the sale.

WEST FOOTSCRAY FIESTA BLITZ

Sunday, 14 March 2010, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Hits : 318
West Footscray Fiesta Blitz, Sunday March 14th
28 Fontein St, West Footscray
9am

Come and enjoy a bit of authentic Mexican cuisine (courtesy of Elia, my Mexican mama) while we set up a rotating chicken pen and planting system, establish some irrigation, and try to develop a compost pile roost for my eight hens.

Children more than welcome – we have a very family friendly home.

Please RSVP by emailing De at: animataquartet@yahoo.com.au

Location : 28 Fontein St, West Footscray
Contact : animataquartet@yahoo.com.au

Apple tasting Festival at Pettys Orchard 28th March

The Heritage Fruit Society is holding an Apple tasting festival at Pettys Orchard on the 28th March. Over 100 apple varieties to taste, kids activities and competitions, orchard tours, apple folklore and, of course, food! Organic vegetarian fare, rare breeds BBQ, organic drinks, refreshing apple cider.

There’ll be talks from:

David Holmgren (co-originator of the Permaculture concept) on Heritage, Local food systems and what it means in a global world
Vasili Kanidiadis (Vasili’s Garden) on apple tree care
Susan MacKinnon (executive producer of “Honey Bee Blues” on SBS) on the demise of the honey bee and what this means for food production
Peter Allen (Heritage Fruits Society) on trellis systems

Cost: Adults $10, children $2, Family $20

Location: Easily accessed by the Yarra cycle trail. Corner of Monckton & Homestead Roads, Templestowe.

Melways grid ref: 22 A12

Click here for the Heritage Fruits Society website

Click here for map.

Sustainable Gardening Australia newsletter

New Look SGA Website

Please help us to get the new site working as quickly as possible.

We are currently replacing our website with a new, flasho blog site… something that will allow you all to interact with SGA (and with each other) far more than you ever have. There are going to be teething problems as with any new system, and we would appreciate it if you could let us know about any dud links or missing pages by emailing cuttings@sgaonline.org.au . Thanks, and enjoy the new site!

Bigtime Backyard Biodiversity – Part II

As we continue to party like it’s 2009 in celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity, SGA want to get your backyard croaking…with the sound of native frogs of course! Australia has some fantastic froggy fauna, so why not share your habitat with some happening amphibians? See http://www.sgaonline.org.au/?p=650

Stripping in the Suburbs – Nature Strip Plantings

Turn your footpath into a food forest, your parking space into a productive patch or your wheelie bin wasteland into a native plant wonderland. Cool councils are giving this the green light….find out more about funking up your footpath! http://www.sgaonline.org.au/?p=1152

Everybody Needs Good Neighbours – Companion Planting

Once the realm of the hardcore, hippy, home gardener, companion planting is now an incredibly popular practice – from beginner gardeners right up to large-scale agriculture. But, despite its popularity (it’s huge in Europe), companion planting is often misunderstood, misused and misrepresented as the “cure-all solution” to problems in the patch. So, what’s it all about, how and why does it work, and where can I buy the SGA Companion Planting Chart? http://www.sgaonline.org.au/?p=583

March in your Patch

Wherever you live in Australia, March is a great time to head outside and into the patch. Now that the thrill of the Winter Olympics has died down, and the edge is off the summer heat (for most of us), there is no excuse not to get cracking in the patch this month. http://www.sgaonline.org.au/?p=338

Coriander – A Runaway Success

For anyone who loves Asian, or Asian-inspired cooking, coriander is an absolute must have in your Yummy Yard! This fast growing annual, with a head a bit like Italian parsley, is an awesome backyard buddy. Its welcome in my kitchen anytime (unlike my dog, who isn’t!).http://www.sgaonline.org.au/?p=50

Citrus Leafminer

As our citrus are growing, and their fruit is showing, many gardeners will notice unsightly squiggly silvery trails on their once-fantastic foliage. As Summer fades to Autumn, the Citrus Leafminer gets down to business, leaving a silver trail of destruction in it’s wake.http://www.sgaonline.org.au/?p=1304

The SGA Crew Head to the Zoo – Werribee Workshops Autumn 2010

Have you ever wished you were hanging out with Cape Barron Geese and Zebra’s while learning about sustainable gardening from SGA’s talented trainers? Well, your wish is our command! Sustainable Gardening Australia is presenting a series of workshops at Werribee Open Range Zoo (VIC) during Autumn 2010, and you’re invited! These workshops have a Werribee Plains focus and are designed to encourage participants to become more sustainable within their own backyards and local community. Each workshop will focus on a different topic such as Garden Plants for the Werribee Plains; Creating Habitat Gardens and Gardening in Low Rainfall Areas.

Workshops are $10 each, which includes zoo entry and walking tours that will be conducted in the Zoo’s sustainable gardens – how good is that! Local friends groups will also be on hand to assist participants in learning about the uniqueness of the Werribee Plains area. Please refer to the flyer below for details of each workshop. Places are filling fast, so don’t delay, book your spot today!

Click here to book a workshop.

Click here for more information, session times and dates etc.

What are you doing this National Tree Day?

From caring for our coasts and beaches to building a home for native animals, to growing a garden in the grounds of a school, there are endless opportunities and experiences that volunteers can enjoy this National Tree Day. Celebrating its 15th year in 2010, Planet Ark is calling on keen gardeners to coordinate tree-planting sites or provide ongoing care to the many thousands of existing native trees and shrubs which have been planted as part of National Tree Day.

By taking part, you’ll have the opportunity to share your expertise and teach future generations how life is better with trees. This year’s National Tree Day, sponsored by Toyota will take place around the country on Sunday 1 August. Planet Ark is asking active gardeners who are looking for a way to make a positive environmental difference, to register as Site Coordinators. Get your local school, sporting or church group together and ask your local council if they can provide you with some land to care for and seedlings to plant.

Site Coordinators are required to organise and supervise their registered tree-planting site. Planet Ark provides support to all registered Site Coordinators through its National Tree Day Hotline and website, where downloadable resources and a step-by-step guide, as well as tools to help you promote your tree planting, are readily available. For an information kit visit http://treeday.planetark.org or call the National Tree Day Hotline on 1300 88 5000.

Shop til you drop… in the comfort of your own home!

Sustainable Gardening Australia is proud to announce that we have boldly leapt into the 21st century with the launch of our very own ONLINE SHOP! There are a range of products available, including our enormously popular Yummy Yards book and our fantastic SGA Companion Planting Chart, with more SGA items being added weekly. Our secure online payment system (thanks NAB) and prompt shipping service (thanks Helen) mean that the SGA Online Shop is the place to be for all your sustainable gardening purchases. Check it out today… http://sgaonline.cart.net.au/

Become an SGA Champion of Change… make a difference today!

People are becoming increasingly concerned about climate change and the state of our planet. But what to do to make a difference? By gardening sustainably we can all make a positive contribution to the health of our planet. Signing up as an SGA Champion of Change can have an immediate and lasting impact on our environmental footprint. With your help we can influence government to adopt more sustainable practices in your community. Read all about it and register online at www.sgaonline.org.au/?page_id=819

Talk it up!

Got a gardening question you need answered? Want to connect with other gardeners in your neck of the woods? Want to have a yarn about the bigger issues, share some photos, and make some new friends? Well, SGA has just the thing! Check out our online discussion forum, with hundreds of members just itching to have a chat and discuss your (gardening) problems. So go on, what are you waiting for… get chatting at www.sgaonline.org.au/phpbb/

CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE GARDEN CENTRES

For a full list of SGA Certified Garden Centres visit www.sgaonline.org.au/?page_id=81

SGA is a Carbon Neutral Organisation

Transport is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Australia (Australian Greenhouse Office). Research has shown that trees, over time, absorb carbon dioxide emissions. SGA staff record their fuel consumption each year and plant the equivalent number of indigenous plants to offset those emissions. To find out how many trees you need to plant check out the Carbon Neutral Program Calculator at www.carbonneutral.com.au. More info at www.sgaonline.org.au/?p=831

Visit SGA on the web at www.sgaonline.org.au

Beekeeping Workshop 28th March

A workshop run by the Honey Co. man. It’s a 1 day workshop from 10.00 to 15.00 with a break for lunch where we can enjoy the lovely food on site at the temple (all included of course).

It covers the basics on bee behaviour, colony structure, how to work a hive, how to manage a hive, what honey is made of, what pollen is for plus dozens of other interesting and amazing facts – swarming impulse etc.

Also giving a talk as part of that course is Chris Strudwick from the EPA, an entomologist and bee keeper who adds a fascinating technical and scientific aspect on the 3 main castes of bees used in Australian bee-keeping. We’ll also aim to actually work the hives (weather permitting) so attendees get hands on experience.

To enrol, just enter your name and email address below.

Cost: TBA but around $90 for the day

Location: Quang Minh Temple 18 Burke St Braybrook VIC 3019

Click here for map.

The World’s Biggest Eva Vegie Swap 13th March City Square

Got too many lemons? Over run with parsley but no sweet basil in sight? If only you could swap all those olives for tomatoes! Well now you can!

As part of this year’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, CERES Urban Orchard, Yarra Neighbourhood Orchard and Cultivating Communtiy are hosting what we’ve called “The World’s Biggest Eva Vegie Swap” with the hope that vegie gardeners from across this wide, brown city will bring along an abundance of gorgeous backyard produce and show Melbourne town what vegie swapping is all about!

This phenomena has been sweeping Victoria, Australia and the world as folks realise the galaxy of potential that’s in our backyards and how easy and fun it is to get together and swap food – So bring along your vegies, herbs, seeds, seedlings, cuttings, preserves, recipes etc and see how it’s done – you might even get one going in your community!

When and where? Saturday 13th March City Square, corner Collins & Swanston Street 10am – 2pm

We need Brimbank’s Super Growers!

SuperG Form Flyer

Do you grow amazing vegetables in your garden – big, colourful and delicious? Why not enter the Super Growers competition at Brimbank Festival? It’s easy! Just fill in the Entry Form below and bring it along with your ‘super’ vegetables on the day from 10amab2.30pm.
Judging concludes at 3.30pm and prizes will be presented byspecial guest Vasili Kanidiadis (pictured) from SBS’s Vasili’s Garden at 3.45pm at the Star Stage.

Contact Candice Feuerring
Community Planning & Engagement Officer
Community Planning & Development

Brimbank City Council
Sunshine Office – Alexandra Ave Sunshine Vic 3020

T +61 3 9249 4899

Preserving the Harvest workshop March 7th

Fruit Skills for a low energy future include preserving the bounty of summer for winter time feasts. Apricot tree laden with fruit? Plums on the tree down the lane? Come along and find out how to preserve the abundance of summer fruits.

The workshop costs $20 per person for POW members and $25 for non POW members, including take home notes and a jar of yummy fruit BYO a freshly laundered apron

Location & Date: 7th March 2010 at 10am Maidstone Community Centre Gibb Street Maidstone

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