Permaculture Out West

Archive for September, 2009

Back on the 22nd August, Monica had a permablitz at her place. A small number of people turned up to help with the first phase of the design – planting and espaliering apples and pears trees on a limewashed fence.
Go to here to see some photos.

Things to plant in September

Artichokes – globe & Jerusalem, beans, baby beets, beetroot, cabbage, capsicum/chilli, carrots, celery, Chinese greens, cucumber, eggplant, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, spring onions, parsnip, peas climbing & dwarf, potatoes, pumpkin, radish, rhubarb crowns, rockmelon, silver beet, spinach, squash, strawberry runners, sweet corn, sweet potato, – shoots, tomato, watermelon, zucchini

Basil, chamomile, cress, chives, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, lemon balm, marjoram, nasturtium, oregano, parsley

There are a number of composting methods. They can be classified as either hot or cold. All have in common the ratio required for successful composting: 1/3 nitrogen, 2/3 carbon
Hot composting is where you build a pile that purposely generates heat, and is fast. The fastest I’ve seen is a 21 day composting system that I learn’t about from Geoff Lawton.
Cold composting is a pile where it may take 12 – 18 months to give you the finished product.
There are disadvantages to both methods.
A variation of cold composting is the no dig garden.

The next POW meeting is on Wednesday 30th September 2009. It’ll be held at 7 Bellairs Avenue Seddon. Starts at 6pm. Please bring along a plate and food if you can.

View Larger Map

ATA Melbourne Branch Meeting: Batteries presentation and committee elections
When: Wednesday September 16
Time: 5.45pm. Please arrive at 5:45pm as the security doors are locked at 6pm. However, if you can’t avoid being late, we can get someone to come down to let you in if you phone on 0433 187 702.
Where: The offices of URS, Level 6, No 1 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank (for a map go to www.ata.org.au/branches/melbourne)

Michael Jacombs will convene the meeting.
The presentation on Batteries will be preceded by the Melbourne Branch General Meeting (a very short exercise) where we will elect the committee for the coming twelve months.
The speakers for the evening will be:
* Robert Brown, a scientist with a passion for batteries. Robert will cover the history of batteries and the various battery options available and under development, with a particular slant on their application in electric cars.
* Mick Harris from The Environment Shop (www.environmentshop.com.au)
Mick has been involved with ATA for many years and through the Environment Shop he has had a good deal of contact with the use of batteries in off grid and remote power supply systems. Mick will cover the maintenance aspects of batteries and some pitfalls for the unwary.
* Chris Phyland is the Principal Electronics Engineer for the CSIRO Clayton Engineering Facility. Chris has a long association with the CSIRO battery research programs and is presently working on designing energy storage systems for renewable energy applications.
Chris will cover several mini topics:
- The CSIRO UltraBattery
- Research into using the UltraBattery in an energy storage system for the electricity grid to smooth power fluctuations from wind farms
- The Vehicle to Grid (V2G) study underway in the CSIRO to investigate the use of HEV battery packs for energy storage in a domestic home.
This will be followed by our usual interactive discussion over coffee.
Please note: We will record this meeting by putting the speakers’ PowerPoint presentations on the Melbourne branch webpages as well as including notes taken at the meeting (again thanks to Paul Fritze).
For the minutes of the last meeting and the agenda of this meeting please see the Melbourne Branch Web Pages at www.ata.org.au/branches/melbourne

1. GREEN NEWS
Thirteen recycling facts that will get you thinking

Recycled condoms? Cardboard coffins? Upcycled teeth? From the helpful to the downright bizarre, here are thirteen recycling facts to get you thinking about your waste.
Read more

2. WHATS ON: EVENTS
5th Australia-New Zealand Climate Change & Business Conference

The 2009 conference will closely examine three themes: Policy developments in the lead-up to Copenhagen; prospering in the low carbon economy; financing the transition to reduced emissions including insights into the carbon markets. Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities remain available.
Read more

——————————————————————————–

Also coming up:
Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2009 – Eco Live Fashion Expose – 2 September
ELFE in partnership with 5th Avenue Events and Alumbra is an official Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2009 event. It will display an eclectic selection of the very best in eco-luxe brands, with designer market stalls, catwalk parades and live entertainment.
Read more and reserve your tickets

Visit our Events page to find out more including locations.

3. PRODUCT FEATURE
Hook & Go – the best thing since reusable shopping bags

Now you can make short trips to the store without the car – saving you time and helping our planet. The Hook and Go is designed to be a part of the shared farmers’ market community with easy-to-use and compact mechanism that can hook up to eight shopping bags over its loading arm for easy maneuverability. Lighten your environmental load.
Read more

4. BUSINESS
Renewable Energy Target passed – 20 percent by 2020

The Renewable Energy Target has passed through the Senate this week after its recent split from the Government’s failed bid to pass the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. The industry applauded the bipartisan support for the target which will become the “foundation of clean energy policy in Australia for the next decade,” says Matthew Warren, Chief Executive of the Clean Energy Council.
What this means for industry

5. COMMUNITY
What is the best and worst produce when it comes to pesticides?

For those who can’t afford or can’t source organic produce all the time, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in the US has produced a handy shopper’s guide to pesticides naming its “Dirty Dozen” that usually have the most pesticide levels and should be sourced organic. Meanwhile the “clean 15″ have the lowest levels of pesticides even in traditional farming.
Find out who made the cut

6. TECHNOLOGY
Paper Jam? Make toilet paper

Blog sites are all abuzz with the newest wacky gadget from Japan. This gizmo can turn office waste paper into toilet paper right between the printer and water cooler!
Read more

7. MEDIA
COMING SOON: Green Pages Business Directory

With brilliant articles from leading voices in corporate sustainability the 2009/10 Business Directory provides a comprehensive guide to sustainable businesses, products and services. Don’t miss out on the Key Business Resource for 2009/10!
BUY NOW AND SAVE!
Reserve your copy today.

8. LIFE & STYLE
Beer’s water footprint not so bad (we’ll drink to that!)

A new study shows that the water footprint of your favourite brew isn’t so big after all! (We’ll drink to that!) In comparison with other beverages, beer’s water footprint is relatively small; an independent report has estimated that coffee, wine and apple juice all have water footprints more than three times that of beer.
Read more

9. HOUSE
Saving money and energy: an update on rebates

In recent months the Federal Government has made some changes to the incentives it offers to householders who make environmentally friendly improvements to their homes. Here is the latest information on what you can claim back when you invest in energy- and water-saving measures.In recent months the Federal Government has made some changes to the incentives it offers to householders who make environmentally friendly improvements to their homes. Here is the latest information on what you can claim back when you invest in energy- and water-saving measures.
Read the rebate update brought to you by the ACF

10. GIVEAWAY
Enter today to win a ‘Green Home Starter Pack’….

At Mainstream Green we have a wide range of environmentally preferable products to support your green lifestyle.

Enter now to win this “Green Home Starter Pack” including:

• Organic, fair trade tea & coffee, snacks & chocolate
• Bamboo bath mitt & handmade soap
• Natural cleaning products sample packs
• Recycled paper sample pack including paper, envelopes & pens
• The “Guide to Ethical Supermarket Shopping”

Plus, everyone who enters will be eligible for our VIP discount promotions leading up to Christmas!

Visit us online at www.mainstreamgreen.com.au to view our whole range of products.

To enter, simply tell us in 25 words or less what’s one of the benefits of bamboo fibre? Hint visit www.mainstreamgreen.com.au to find the answer
Click here to enter