Permaculture Out West

Archive for October, 2009

Janet Rice wants you to know about the following

Rally this Thursday

Victoria should start exporting brown coal to the developing world.

If this statement drives you to despair,
then we need you!

Our Energy Minister, Peter Batchelor, wants to allow some ‘entrepreneurs’ to get their grubby mitts on some of Victoria’s dirty coal, so they can sell it to India and make big bucks. Never mind that it increases global emissions at a time they need to be cut.

A number of climate action and environment groups think this is just plain crazy. So crazy in fact, that we’re organising a lunchtime protest this Thursday to let the Premier know he needs to nip this one in the bud.

We need you to come along on Thursday to help us tell the Premier that exporting brown coal is…well, stupid, actually.

START: 12.30pm, Thursday 22nd October

WHERE: Steps of Parliament House, Spring St

FINISH: 1.10pm – plenty of time for lunch and getting back to work!

RSVP: Let us know you’re coming by sending a quick email to exportingcoalisdumb@yahoo.com.au

Composting is the most well known use for old coffee grounds. You can add your grounds, filters and even used tea bags right onto your compost pile. As they decompose, they will add nitrogen to your compost. You can also add your old grounds directly into the soil around your plants, or in your flowerpots. The old coffee grounds will increase the acidity of the soil so you’ll want to be careful about the amount that you use.
Regards Madeleine

Council is after contributions in a review of the action plan developed for the Seddon Urban Design Framework.

A community consultation meeting will be held on Monday 26th October, at the Macedonian Church Hall 83 Victoria St Seddon. The session will go from 6:00 pm to 7:30pm.

Contact Matt Slavin City Design and Place Making

RSVP Jodi Whitehurst email: jodi.whitehurst@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au Ph: 9688 0340

A copy of the UDF can be found at www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au. Go to Planning and City Design>Projects in My Suburb>Seddon

In this months’s Carbon Neutral e-news

>> Prioritisation – difference between success and failure for carbon managers

>> Low carbon economy an immense opportunity

>> Planting season news

>> Carbon Neutral purchases land

>> Professional development seminar – native tree decline

>> Verified Emissions Reduction Units

>> Deforestation linked to drought and climate change – YOU CAN HELP!

>> CSIRO Home Energy Saving Handbook

>> Visit us at the Carbon Markets Expo!

>> Seminar success

>> Australia tops ‘climate criminals’ list – now world’s biggest polluter

>> Follow Carbon Neutral on Facebook

>> Is your way of life worse for the environment?

>> Carbon Neutral e-cards

>> Easy ways to support Carbon Neutral

>> Climate Action Network

>> Sensis environmental program

>> Green Loans

>> Things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

http://www.mysite.com.au/newsletters/communicator.asp?SID=813&EID=671738&NID=6532

The final report on Land Use & Community Food Security in Victoria will be launched in the VLGA Meeting Room, 60 Leicester St Carlton on the 14th October 2009. Launch starts at 8.15am and finishes at 11.30am.

LandUse_Invite

To all Food Swappers;

Firstly; thank you to all of you for making the Yarra food swap happen. It is through the community that great things start from the ground up and all who participate in food gardening and the Yarra food swap are making a huge difference to the area and the environment. It’s getting bigger & better.

Secondly; a big thank you and a huge well done to all who rallied for the acceptance of community food gardens either through emails, calls, and or going to the council meeting. A great result to now have agreement from the council to proceed with more community gardens. We now have an amazing opportunity to revolutionalise the streets of Melbourne.

I am sure that you all know how much food is imported into Australia and how far much of our food travels before it reaches our plates. Currently our food is most often produced a long way from our homes and through its cultivation produces heaps of waste, heaps of co2, and uses heaps of water. Currently many kids believe that food comes from supermarkets or packets, not from trees and plants, and costs a lot of money. We can change this!

If we continue relying on others to produce our food so far away; the environment will continue to be degraded, we will not have food security and community resilience will also suffer greatly. We can change this NOW!

With food produced in the streets and public places there will be an abundance of food and food production knowledge for all. Imagine small orchards in parks, unused patches of land and in our streets that would foster community closeness, resilience and health through that basic human need that we all love; FOOD

Be a part of the “Tree for All” project;
The aim of the project is to get 50 or more food trees in to the streets and public places around Yarra in the next two months. This would be the start of a model for the whole area and for other councils. In conjunction with the council the community would; chose suitable trees and locations, cultivate beautiful trees and harvest and share an abundance of food. I also believe that we could link this project to existing trees on private land that are currently under utilised so that we stop food going to waste.

In the climates where fruit trees grow, the orchards give the land an almost magical identity: think of the orange groves of Southern California, the cherry trees of Japan, the olive trees of Greece. IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD CREATE IN MELBOURNE.

Would you like more garden? Would you like the best fruit, for free? Would you like to do something for the environment and your local community?

Be a part of the “Tree for All” project;
Together we will plant food trees in the local area utilizing the streets, parks, public land and unused land. These trees will be the property of the community. You will have the opportunity to choose, cultivate and harvest fruit and nuts in your immediate area for the best, most nutritious, freshest and most sustainable food around. I foresee locals becoming stewards or guardians of local food trees and would; chose suitable trees and locations, cultivate beautiful trees and harvest and share an abundance of food.

OUTCOMES;
All people in the area having access to the best food at our doorsteps, promoting health and vitality for all.
Yarra moving quickly towards a sustainable future and helping to become Co2 neutral, making a huge difference for the environment.
Make our streets more beautiful, attractive, productive and safe.
Reduce our dependence on imported food and reduce food miles for the entire area.
An easy and useful way of reducing the “heat bank” effect that overheats our cities and suburbs.
A way to capture carbon, clean the air, capture and use water for the common good.
Bringing people together and increase community resilience, as an example to all other councils and cities.
WHAT YOU CAN DO;
Come to a meeting to discuss the project further and methods to move forward [at the next food swap October 3rd]
Become a part of the project by becoming a guardian ready to look after food trees.
Promote the project to other like minded people and lobby the council for support.
Nominate a species or type of tree you would like to look after in your area.
Find a spot where a food tree could grow; empty street tree areas, parks, unused council land.
Donate time, money, trees, soil, compost, large garden stakes.
Thank you for you time and particularly your support for community gardens.

Please email me to confirm your support for the project as I am gathering people from the area that will be stewards or guardians for these trees to ensure that the bounty is shared by all.

Below are some links to similar projects around the world.

Anthony Nelson
0425 712 989
anthony_nelson@bigpond.com

LONDON ENGLAND http://www.fruitcity.co.uk/
MONTREAL CANADA http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/01/14/planting-fruit-trees-on-city-streets/
KILKENNY IRELAND http://futureproofkilkenny.org/?p=374
CALIFORNIA USA http://localecology.org/localecologist/2008/01/tree-walk-eating-fruits-of-city-trees.html
NELSON NEW ZEALAND http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/features/home-and-garden/768723/Good-eating-from-the-streets
MOROCCO Orange trees in the streets http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orangetrees.jpg

Support the Global Day of Climate Action: add your image to ATA’s online photo gallery!
The Call for a Safe Climate – 350.org!
350.org is an international campaign dedicated to creating an equitable global climate treaty that lowers carbon dioxide below 350 parts per million. 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide measured in parts per million (ppm) in our atmosphere. 350 ppm is the number humanity needs to get back below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. We are now past 390 ppm.
350.org and thousands of individuals and organisations around the world are coordinating an international day of action on 24 October 2009 to unite people and our political leaders behind the 350 goal before the next critical United Nations Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen.
ATA’s Online Photo Gallery – 350 photos of real people living sustainable lives! 
ATA is hosting an online 350 event to bring members and supporters, across Australia and NZ, together on 24 October 2009. We invite ATA members and supporters, and their friends and families, to share their images of sustainable living to inspire others to join us in taking action on climate change. ATA is gathering 350 photos of real people living sustainable lives which will be uploaded to an online image gallery on the Global Day of Action.
Get Involved – send us your photos today!
All you need to take part in ATA’s 350 event is a camera and yourself! Take a photo of yourself and your favourite sustainable living activity or technology. This could be anything from you on the roof with your solar panel system to growing your own veggies, or riding/walking to work. Invite your friends and family to join you by documenting their favourite aspect of sustainable living. Remember to use the highest settings on the camera to take the photo. Email your high resolution jpgs, with your first name/s and location of the photo, to 350photos@ata.org.au
For more info go to www.ata.org.au
You have received this email because you are an ATA member or subscriber to ReNew or Sanctuary magazine.
The Alternative Technology Association (ATA) is a not for profit association that promotes sustainable living and what we can do in our own homes. We rely on the financial support of our members to carry out our work. If you would like to become a member of the ATA please click here.
If you don’t want to receive bulletins like this from time to time, please let us know. Ph (03) 9639 1500 or email maddie@ata.org.au

ATA – Alternative Technology Association
A not-for-profit organisation promoting renewable energy, sustainable building and water conservation since 1980.
ABN: 57 533 056 318
Level 1, 39 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Reception: (03) 9639 1500
Fax: (03) 9639 5814
ata@ata.org.au
www.ata.org.au

Will afternoon tea at the AGM be GM-free?

New source of genetic pollution found
01 October 2009

This morning, Greenpeace set up a mobile Biohazard Research Centre at a GE canola field near Geelong, southern Victoria. What did we find? Commercial beehives contaminated with genetically engineered (GE) canola pollen.

Honey samples were collected from hives just metres away from a GE canola field and were found to contain Monsanto’s Roundup Ready canola pollen. This means people buying honey from this hive will be eating GE food without knowing it, and before it’s been properly assessed as safe to eat. The GE canola farmer is not obliged to inform his neighbours about what he is growing, so the beekeeper has been kept as much in the dark as everyone else.

This follows the recent discovery of GE canola growing along roadside verges near Berrigan, New South Wales and Horsham, Victoria. » Read more

South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia still have crop bans in place.
Why is Greenpeace doing this?
From the research centre, Greenpeace will monitor wind speed and pollen flow onsite to determine how far pollen from the GE canola crop is likely to spread.

Greenpeace is taking action to draw attention to GE canola being approcved for release in Australia under the Howard Government, without proper studies into the impacts on human health or the environment. Roundup Ready canola has been shown to have adverse effects on livers in Monsanto’s own rat-feeding studies. It’s also been banned in Europe.(1)

As federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon needs to step in and ensure indpendent proof that GE crops and foods are safe “beyond reasonable doubt”. This is what the ALP promised at the 2007 federal election.

We also need biodiversity studies to examine the impact these new crops and farming techniques have on surrounding plants, insects and animals.
Farmers, chefs and community visit the centre
Local farmers and community members joined Greenpeace at the research station to protest the spread of GE canola. Organic farmer Evan hardy says, “I’m concerned that the introduction of GE crops will remove choice for all farmers. GE contamination will lead to the increasing domination of agriculture by large chemical companies and an increased reliance on toxic herbicides.”

Melbourne restauranteur, Duré Dara, has come to the centre to express her concerns. “We need our governments to be more responsible and to think about genetically engineered food in a much more considered way. Food protection is an issue that affects tourism, our global image and the health of our citizens.”

Ms Dara co-manages the Nudel Bar and Residential restaurants, and is one of close to 200 leading chefs and restauranteurs who have signed the GM-free Chefs’ Charter.
Take action
Use this online form to ask Nicola Roxon to ensure that:
GE crops are only approved if they are proven to be safe ‘beyond reasonable doubt’; and
All GE foods are clearly labelled.
Reference
(1) Eating in the Dark: How Australia’s food regulator is failing us on genetically engineered food, p 22.
Other News
30 Sep 2009:
On patrol for wild GE canola

24 Sep 2009:
Which oils are at risk and which are GE-free?

18 Sep 2009:
Do you want GE in your beer?
Upcoming events
22 Oct 2009:
Hungry for Change: Shaping food policies that are fair and sustainable

14 Oct 2009:
Out of the Frying Pan: Free Public Forum

From http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/09/2709253.htm

Australians are estimated to waste more than $5 billion worth of food and drink every year – and that figure is predicted to rise.

From uneaten takeaway to fresh vegetables that never quite make it to a meal, the waste bill for Australia’s largest city is hitting new highs.

Sydney wastes about $1 billion worth of food per year, and about 60 per cent, or more than $600 million worth, is fresh food, according to Professor Phillip O’Neill from the University of Western Sydney.

“We throw out about $130 million of uneaten takeaways,” he said. “The things that we actually cook, that’s after the fresh food is brought into the house, the value of what we throw out in leftovers is about $180 million.

“The reality is we are throwing out more than we are prepared to pay the farmers in the Sydney basin who grow it.”

Professor O’Neill says he believes the waste is a product of good intentions to buy fresh food and cook it at home.

“I think by the end of the week our good intentions have been eroded by our busy lives, about the ease of a takeaway or an eat-out,” he said.

The Australia Institute conducted a similar study analysing Australia’s wasteful ways. Dr Richard Dennis says the latest research is consistent with that of 2005.

“We found across Australia that people wasted around $5 billion a year in food,” Dr Dennis said.

“All states exhibited a high degree of waste, relatively consistent, but we certainly found that the ACT was the biggest waster in the country per capita.

“That’s because average incomes in the ACT are really quite high, so perhaps not surprisingly the more we earn, the more we waste.”

Dr Dennis says he is not optimistic there have been behavioural changes in recent times that may cause people to be less wasteful.

“We hear a lot more about environmental sustainability these days. Governments talk about reduce, reuse and recycle,” he said.

“There’s a lot of reasons to expect that the numbers would have changed, but I guess I’m not terribly optimistic that they will have.”

POW meeting no. 5 held 30 September 2009, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Attendees: Shaun, Angela, Scott, Kat, Janelle, Deb, Mel, De Chantel, Delia, Fiona

Apologies: Nyree, Neesh, Leah, Monica, Richard

Location: 7 Bellairs Avenue Seddon

Introduction and Welcome

Janelle joined us for the first time. Welcome!

Maidstone Tennis Club site

Maidstone Tennis Club site Nina from Maidstone sent through an email alerting POW to the Maidstone Tennis Club Site. Site is up for sale. Inspection done by Mel, Scott, Kat, Nyree and Deb. Great potential as a market garden, something along the lines of Ceres. Meeting planned with Pam Morgan (Maribyrnong City Council) on Monday 5/10/09 at 9am to discuss what the next steps are. Fiona put forward the idea of suggesting to the council to delay any sell decision for 3 years.

Hobsons Bay Eco Expo

Hobsons Bay Local Sustainability Street – Eco Expo Local Sustainability Street coordinating a Hobsons bay Eco Expo on 21/11/09. Invited to attend as an exhibitor or presenter. Need volunteers for the stalls. General discussion that there’ll be more of these expo invites (already have Water expo 15/11/09 and Braybrook 29/11/09), so we need to get together a stall kit, roster list.

Big Backyard Festival welcome other sustainability groups. Just contact them , no charge for the stall

Action: Information pamphlets on POW, membership forms

Action: Subcommittee to work on display i.e. What is permaculture, what is a permablitz, website details, posters – Kat, De Chantel and Angela are to be the subcommittee

Action: Angela to send through permablitz photos to Scott so they can be printed off

Action: Add Online Community Directory entry to Maribyrnong City Council website

Action: Mel to send roster around via email asking for volunteers

Sustainable Living Festival

Invite for POW to the Sustainable Living Festival 6-21 February 2010. General discussion that maybe this is more for regional, state or national focus groups.

Action: contact PcM to see what they’re doing and pass POW information on to them

Maribyrnong City Council Free Fundraising Workshop

Free Fundraising Workshop When: 22 October 2009, 5.30 opening with tea, coffee, biscuits 5.45 session commencing to 7.15pm Where: Functions Room at Maribyrnong City Council, Hyde Street Footscray

Action: Mel to send email to everyone about this workshop

Action: Add fundraising projects for discussion at the next meeting

Water & Energy expo

Maribyrnong Council invite for POW to attend Water & Energy Expo in November

Action: Roster

Action: subcommittee to come up with ideas for Flyer, Poster, Pics of Blitzes

Action: more printed Membership forms

Other Business

Action: Kat (Treasurer) to find out what is the tax deductibility status for donations to POW

Action: Mel to scan Permablitz article in local newspaper and send to Deb

De Chantel – Set up a Permaculture Playgroup. Best to find a nonfunctioning playgroup and take it over

Janelle – easy to join Playgroup Australia for $25

Scott – look into the Braybrook Community Centre playgroup

Action: Mel to send an email to De Chantel re finding out about the Braybrook Community playgroup

Discussion re group workshop activities. Ideas where Noodle making Yoghurt making Vine leaf preserving (Kat is going to do one)

Braybrook Community centre has a community kitchen and can be used for the workshops provided at least one person present has food training skills.

Scott can help with Sunday access to Maidstone Community Centre.

N.B. With group activities at private residences, just need to let Mel know with a few weeks notice so that PcM can notify the public liability insurer.

Action: Skillshare – Kat to send an email a skillshare

How can we raise public awareness of POW?

Kat – we should have regular movie nights

De Chantel – put up posters in Seddon

Janelle – tshirt stenciling with POW logo. Black and white screen printing is easiest

Action: Bring your designs for a POW logo to the next meeting

Old Trugo site – Shaun needs to get a business plan into council by end of October

Action: Kat to email business template to Shaun

Budding workshop – date set for 13/03/10.

Action: Scott to write up letter of support for Werribee Environmental Community Park, send through to Mel who will send it onto Werribee.

Website

Action: Set up for POW reminders, and subscribing online

For the future – POW weekly updates, quarterly movies

De Chantel – Kinglake Community Fast for 40 days, starting 1/11/09 to co-incide with Copenhagen talks

Shaun – Need pledges for Western Permaculture Centre to show that it’s a viable community project. Pledge things like time, supplies, tools, maintenance etc.

Action: Shaun to send out form to Mel who will send it out to the group.

Braybrook Community centre have a tool library. They’ll show you how to use the tool as well.

Kat has a Good Life Book club catalogue – have a look at the catalogue and tell Kat if you’d like to order a book.

Action: Think of an issue that POW can put some time into and raise money

Contact Scott if you’d know of someone with an African or Asian style garden and would like to be in the Open Gardens event.

Next Meeting

Date: 28/10/09, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Location: 28 Fontein Street, West Footscray