Permaculture Out West

Archive for May, 2010

Holistic Agriculture pioneers Peter Andrews, David Holmgren and Gwyn Jones will appear together for the first time at a Bushfire Recovery information sharing session for Farmers and Food Producers in Kinglake this Saturday.

The three men are excited about how their innovations can work together to build a farming-led recovery in the region devastated by the Kilmore East fire.

“We have approaches that taken together could significantly improve food production across the whole catchment. We’re really looking forward to talking with and learning from local farmers,” said Gwyn Jones, a leading agronomist and organic farmer.

Gwyn’s work with ‘Blueberry Hill’ owners Nina Lunde and Rowan Francis since Black Saturday has seen their property recover 18 months ahead of schedule. Gwyn’s focus is on the relationship between soil chemistry and microbial health. His books ‘Science of Soils’ and ‘AgriNutrition’ outline his proven approach.

Peter Andrews is a farmer who has a remarkable gift for reading landscapes. His Natural Sequence Farming is based on slowing water flows and environmental rehabilitation. He has written two bestselling books ‘Back from the Brink’ and ‘Beyond the Brink.’ His work has been featured twice on ABC’s Australian Story.

David Holmgren is a design pioneer who co-founded Permaculture. His demonstration property ‘Melliodora’ at Hepburn is world renowned and has been featured on Landline. His books ‘Permaculture … Beyond Sustainability’ and ‘Future Scenarios – Climate Change and Peak Oil’ detail his innovations.

The information sharing session begins at 10:00am on Saturday and will be held at the Kinglake Temporary Village – Dining Hall.

This free event is a community organisation partnership. Everyone is welcome. Inquiries to KANDO Co-President Daryl Taylor on 0430 63 77 48. To book a place email taylor.daryl@yahoo.com.au

More details are here - Holistic Farming & Food Production Systems – Sat 15 May 2010

POW ordinary meeting
28th April 2010
6:00 p.m. – 8 p.m.

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

6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Socialise
6:30 p.m. – 6:35 p.m. Introduction,
• Apologies – Nyree, Delia, Deb, Mel
• Present – Ann, Angela, Kat, Scott, De Chantal, Phillip,
6:35 p.m. – 6.45p.m. PcM related update
– next meeting? Who will go? Meeting & PIE submission roster?
Action from last meeting – Met to email PcM re dates of upcoming meetings and for PIE submissions?
• PcM didn’t give sufficient notice. We will try to attend, but really need more notice. Would like a number of dates in advance, so we can set up a roster.
• PIE submissions – closing date for submissions is in the previous edition
• Anything that is written for other purposes, should be sent to nyree to see if it could also go to PIE
• We will put together a quarterly roster for submissions. The person submittion is responsible for establishing relevant deadline.
• ACTION: Email PcM re need for meeting dates in advance. Write up meeting and submission roster (Kat to discuss with Mel)
6:45-7:50 Convenor update. Role of convenor was to be discussed at exec meeting and role reallocated?
• At exec meeting, Convenor role was split between deb, mel and scott – deb check email, mel is doing admin and organizations side and membership. Scott PR, HR, complaints, questions. If there’s an admin question, contact Mel. If there’s a permaculture question, ask Scott.
• ACTION: kat clarify with mel who is doing membership
6:50 p.m. – 7:05p.m. Exec meeting summary and adoption of anything needing adoption
• Exec meeting was on 21st
• Basically, it was decided to cut key events by half – meeting, blitz and workshop every second month instead of monthly. Dates are in minutes from Exect meeting.
• Mailing list – see minutes from meeting. Kat also raised that it might be best if one person was responsible for uploading info on website, so that the digest always followed same structure and format. De Chantal is happy to do this
• De asked for more photos on website
• Generally agreed we need more info about POW and what we do as discussed at exec meeting
• Perhaps a website task force to discuss with deb when she has more time
• Conscious that we don’t want to load up Deb with too much work. Ann is keen to learn more about web design and would be happy to assist.
• Blitzes – see minutes of exec. We are booked out for rest of year.

7:00 p.m. – 7.05p.m. Maidstone update – social event
• success – saved site, but not for our market garden. Sarah Carter was very impressed by POW. Maidstone community was really happy and wants to have a social event with POW.
• Social event can be at Maidstone. We can bring alcohol, but not provide it.
• ACTION: Kat send Scott tentative dates to make a booking.

7:05 p.m. – 7:10p.m. Permaplaygroup update
• Both are firing on all cylinders. Both models appear to be working.
• Hobsons Bay? – De has contacted them, but not heard back.
• ACTION:; De to follow up with H Bay
• There is now something on POW website about playgroups
• De is in process of getting permission to put photos up and Delia is writing a package to put up on site.
• Process to seed a group is to contact De then come along to each group to see how it works. Then de can give them what they need to do set up themselves.
• Would be good to put an ad on the permablitz site and give something to PIE – De to follow this up.
7:10 p.m. – 7:15p.m. Blitzes update
* angela wanted to know when we will find out about LMW blitz – will be on website
7:15 p.m. – 7.20p.m. Workshops update
• Actions from last month – Mel to contact joel meadows to see if he will do course on permaculture architecture – too busy.
• Mexican cooking workshop? Not discussed
• We have workshops for rest of year listed in exec meetings.
• Angela suggested doing her workshop for her blitz prior to the blitz. Will discuss when organizing the blitz
• Kat chase sourdough person. Scott happy to show how to make a batch of beer, but is using a kit.
• Architecture one would be good for next year.
• When we get enough bottles, we’ll do an informal session at Kat and Joel’s. Joel email Scott to discuss.
7:20 p.m.-7:25 p.m. Project proposal application update – Candice
• what’s next
• project officer?
• Candice not present. Deferred until later
7:25 p.m. – 7:30p.m. Membership Drive & Freebies offered
• Action from previous meeting: list or what we offer and how to track new members – Kat to follow up with Mel
• Have all new members received their freebies so far? – Kat check with mel
7:30 p.m. – 7:35p.m. Werribee Mansion Heritage Orchard update– Richard/Scott
• Scott met with Werribbee mantion yesterday
• Chris pattern and harry van morse from werribee eco centre have done a great job sorting out paper work
• Had a meeting with parks Victoria. They will fence of area with rabbit proof fence.
• Governance issues are being sorted out
• Will order 300 root stock when Richard gets back, which parks Victoria will pay for.
• Still working out water – probably 20,000 litre tanks and reclaimed water from sewage system diluted with rain water
• No shed on site.
• June or july official opening. Grafting workshop july 17th. All trees off site will be registered on a database. Idea is to preserve varieties by getting them out there cheaply.
• Tentative date for public meeting to announce it. – 27th may at pavilion at mansion.
• Entrance to mansion gardens is now free.
7:35-8:00 Other
• Social gathering? – Candice at lentil as anything. Confirm email date. Beer session – joel to email scott re date. Maidstone – kat to email scott re dates., solstice at LMW with de’s quartet. Saturday 19th June. Fire sculpture by angela. Combine with working bee? Kat to talk to srebrenka.
• Olives? – missed the boat.
• LMW committee – Kat and Nyree have been nominated for LMW committee. Have requested and been given permission to be POW reps.
• Update on inner north permaculture group? Ideas on how we link in other than just as a branch of PcM? – at this stage just keep in touch. Mel is in touch with Kate already and De has volunteered to be official liaison. Invite to social events etc. Should have official contact person with responsibility to distribute info.
• ACTION: check with Mel current situation and arrange for De to be contact
8:00 p.m. Close meeting

5 sessions starting 8^th May, 1:30pm – 3:00pm

Learn how to make alterations and undertake creative budget dressmaking and clothing construction without the use of a sewing machine. Discover methods to update, alter and individualise vintage and op-shop clothes that express your uniqueness. Unlock your design flair and that dusty old wardrobe with high fashion and unique outfits!

Cost $87 con $81

LOCATION: Yarraville Community Centre

CONTACT NAME: Sue Paligorova  PHONE: 039687 1560

EMAIL: yarracc@ycc.net.au

Another in Maribyrnong City council monthly lunchtime series which examine green issues.

This forum discusses the broader issues of sustainable fashion including fair trade, sustainable textiles and design principles, while picking up some tangible tips to reduce your fashion footprint.

Sue Thomas is a renowned sustainable fashion academic from RMIT University (The Fashion Department, Architecture and Design). She is currently completing her PhD in Sustainable Fashion Ethics and Buddhism while she teaches the RMIT fashion students. Sue’s witty commentary can often be heard on the radio as she is one of Australia’s sustainable fashion experts. She is a very entertaining presenter who is filled to the brim with ideas about sustainable fashion design and ethics. http://www.rmit.edu.au/

Book your place at this free seminar at our website below.

Time: 4th May, 12:30pm to 1:30om

LOCATION: Functions Room, Maribyrnong City Council Offices, cnr Hyde and Napier Sts Footscray

CONTACT NAME: Grace Girardi  PHONE: 9688 0357

EMAIL: grace.girardi@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

WEB: http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Form/Forms.asp?Form_id=105

With Demian Natekhan

Wednesday 5th May 2010 6.00PM—9.00PM

$66/$55 CERES Member/Concession

Is a wind turbine a viable energy option for your home, farm or business?In this workshop you will gain an understanding of what is required to run a small scale wind power system.

Source: Tierramerica in Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS), 19 April 2010

Uncontrolled expansion of cattle farming in Paraguay has led to rampant deforestation and introduction of “exotic” varieties says environmentalist Guillermo Gayo. To put a halt to this practice in the southern department of Paraguarà , the foundation he heads has implemented what is known as “permaculture.”

A decade ago, the Takuara Renda Foundation (“the bamboo place” in the Guaranà language) settled near the town of Sapucái, on a hilltop that forms part of a remnant of the Atlantic Forest, which extends through parts of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, with just seven percent of its original coverage remaining. The NGO chose an area that had been severely degraded by forest fires and logging.

The Foundation promotes permaculture, which is the design and maintenance of small productive ecosystems, including the harmonic integration of people and their homes, in order to meet their needs in a sustainable way.

This approach utilizes materials like tacuara cane, a type of bamboo, and plant fibres for bioconstruction. “We can’t have a house that is our habitat and is aggressive to the environment,” environmentalist Takuara Renda director Gayo told Tierramérica.

Renda is not trying to establish bamboo as a crop in the area, but rather is using it to help the degraded forest to recover. “If you cut a branch off the bamboo, another grows in its place. That is how we are replacing the wood,” he said.

At the Roke hill project, one will find various species of tacuara cane, which are used in different ways. The Foundation’s land holding is just six hectares, but its efforts are felt far beyond.

On 25 surrounding hectares, a process has begun to expand the forest with larger tree and bush species, and an emphasis on preventing fires and halting extensive cattle operations.

The 2008 Agricultural Census found that Paraguarà department, with some 500 000 hectares of forage for cattle, was home to four percent of the 12 million head of cattle in all Paraguay.

Also found in the area are exotic grasses like the Brachiaria (Poaceae family) originally from Africa, which pushes out native species like the mbocayá palm (Acrocomia aculeata) as it extends across the terrain.

According to Gayo, the community adopted sustainable farming techniques to grow food, based on their experiences with the foundation, whose own garden includes a variety of food plants, some commonly consumed in the region, and others previously unknown here.

“I was surprised by the house made from tacuara cane and its furniture,” said Myriam Ramà rez, a young student from a nearby community who visited the foundation with classmates. Ramirez also participated in workshops about bioconstruction, where she learned about building structures out of bamboo,.

For full story, please see: www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51095

You’ll notice that when you access the POW website, it looks different and the Welcome page displays. POW members felt it better to tell visitors what POW is about when they first access the site.

To access the Posts (renamed News), either click the link at the end of the Welcome text, or click the News page link at the top of the page.