Date Sunday 12 February 2012
Time 10am until 2pm
Where Werribee Park Heritage Orchard

Come along to Werribee Park to see how to propagate your own stone fruit trees or add another variety to an existing tree to extend the fruiting season.

Purchase newly budded trees, or scion wood separately

The orchard is on facebook http://www.facebook.com/groups/wph.orchard/

Website http://www.werribeeparkheritageorchard.org.au/

Have a look at this article about budding techniques http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/propagation/budding/budding.html

Time, date and address to be arranged.

Register your interest email annstevens@optusnet.com.au

POW is also on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/groups/232421223455251/

I don’t really need to say anything… here is the link http://www.visitbacchusmarsh.com.au/strawberries-and-cherries.html

ohhh a free shuttle from the station

Keilor

Also Ladybird Organics Strawberries in Keilor is also open on Weekends (call first) http://www.ladybirdorganics.com.au/pick.html

No need to book – just turn up wearing old clothes. Bring gloves, hats and some lunch/ a water bottle. If you bring tools, write your name on them so that there are no mix-ups. All are very welcome, no expertise required!

View the full newsletter here http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=f87dfab2b9617aa2436246e0d&id=13bac98bf4&e=834ae50aa5

Orchard Location http://www.werribeeparkheritageorchard.org.au/orchard/maps.html

The orchard is on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/groups/wph.orchard/

Sustainable Gardens Open Day 2011, Newport and Altona

Sunday November 13th, Open 1pm to 4pm

Sustainable, productive, inspirational, achievable! These gardens are wonderful examples of gardening sustainably, producing fresh food in your own back, working with recycled materials, and maximising productivity through organic means. Kate’s garden and Mara’s garden will be open for viewing from 1-4pm on Sunday November 13th. Entry is by gold coin donation and all proceeds will go to Werribee Open Range Zoo.

More information and garden locations here http://www.sgaonline.org.au/?p=5210

http://www.cheeselinks.com.au/

Local Harvest will be a website resource for finding good food close to you, connecting with growers, and exploring alternatives for food production in an urban setting. It includes:

•A national directory for finding food co-ops, food swap meets, community gardens, farmers markets, box systems, pick-you-own farms, farm-gate products, organic retailers, seed saver networks, free-range meats, and more. You can find local food by simply placing in a postcode.

•promotion and exploration of do-it-yourself alternatives for food production and meeting essential needs, including resources for growing your own food, making your own produce, storing and preserving, and low energy living.

The project will be launched at Melbourne’s Sustainable Living Festival in February 2012.
Find out more about why this project is important at www.localharvest.org.au

We would like to give away some Hives, we have a fresh swarm (today) and several established hives.

A hive consists of a Hive box with 8 frames of wax in it, a queen bee, all her workers, etc. We live in Coburg and would be happy to deliver a hive to anyone that wants one, simply cover the cost of the box and frames we are supplying.
($100 for single box with 8 frames, $150 for a double box with 16 frames).

The swarm can be delivered in a swarm box, or transfered into a hive box for a beginner bee keeper.

It is preferable that the Hives are with a registered bee keeper (easy process, register with DPI, cost is $15)

http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/animals-and-livestock/bees-wasps,
and that the person getting the hive also gets a bee suit and basic equipment, (can help you with contacts for suppliers).
http://www.bobsbeekeeping.com.au/

Any enquires, please ring Phil on 0419 006 454.

Feel free to add similar offers in the comments section – Ann

As part of the existing Boroondara community interested in environmental and sustainability issues, we thought you may be interested in joining the 10,000 registered beekeepers in Australia and participating in a free workshop being held on the 22 September 2011 at the Camberwell Civic Centre (8 Inglesby Road, Camberwell) from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Beekeeping is a great way to provide your family and friends with tasty honey and useful products. It is also a great way to increase pollination and crop yield in your own and your neighbours garden! In this workshop, Boroondara resident expert Kerin O’Brien, will show you the basics of beekeeping, taking you through how to build your own hive, look after the colony and harvest the honey and beeswax. If you are interested in starting up this new past time, or just want to know more please register to attend.

Bookings are essential and can be made by calling 9278 4873 or visiting our website: www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/living-for-our-future and a poster is attached for your reference.

Light organic refreshments will be served on the night.

In September, our Green Lunchbox Session, ‘Your Spring Veggie Garden’, will be held Wednesday, 7th September from 12.30pm – 1.30pm in the Function Room at Maribyrnong Council offices.

In this session, we will learn which vegetables and herbs are suitable to plant in spring so that we can enjoy healthy and delicious food throughout the season. As well, we will hear about the benefits of growing our own vegetables including increased freshness, and the short distance they travel to your plate meaning less fuel being used to transport them.

No RSVP is required for this 1 hour session, and healthy snacks will be provided for your enjoyment. You will find more details about this session, as well as details about sessions throughout the year here: http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=6738&h=0