Permaculture Out West

Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

There are many events at the Victorian State of Design Festival which have a sustainable design focus, topics ranging from city -> housing -> retail

 for example Castlemaine – Sustainable house design

With careful selction of peach varities it is possible to pick fruit in the western Melbourne suburbs from late November to early April. 

Richard Hawkey has provided a local calendar

HP A4 Fact Sheet_Banksia

Here is an invitation to attend the VicHealth Making a Difference – Food for All forum in Melbourne on the 25th June. The forum focuses on food security and will highlight the outcomes and key learnings of the five year Food for All program.

FFA Forum_Flyer_FINAL_11 05 2010_
Registration form for 25 June forum

Update. June 2010

Join us for … No Impact!

No Impact Man, screening at our next ‘Meal & Movie’ night, on Thursday 10th June, Yarraville.

No more automated transportation, no more electricity, no more non-local food, no more material consumption… no problem. Author Colin Beavan, a newly self-proclaimed environmentalist makes a vow to make as little environmental impact as possible for one year. And drags his espresso-guzzling, retail-worshipping wife Michelle and their two year-old daughter along for the ride.

>> dinner 6.30 – 7.30pm – byo ‘food and thoughts’ to share >> movie 8pm – 10.30pm.
>> RSVP nick@ethical.org.au or 0417 114 492

Upcoming nights – 8th July – screening The End of the Line, focus on fish and seafood choices
- 12th August – screening Michael Moore’s Capitalism – A Love Story
>>More about Meal & Movie nights

News …

Greenpeace Kit-Kat campaign is successful as Nestlé commits to stop using products that come from rainforest destruction. Nestlé new policy commits to identify and exclude companies from its supply chain that own or manage ‘high risk plantations or farms linked to deforestation’. This applys to supplier Sinar Mas, notorius for forest destruction, and also have implications for Cargill.

Over 1,5 million people have watched their ‘Have a break?’ Kit Kat ad spoof and over 300.000 people sent e-mails directly to Nestlé.
Find out more.

Researching behind a T …

One kilogram of cotton, a fabric used in 40% of textiles, needs 11,000 litres of water to grow produce and dye. The water footprint of 1 cotton T-shirt is about 2,700 litres. www.waterfootprint.org

Of all insecticides used globally each year, the estimated amount used on traditional cotton is 25%. Five of the top nine pesticides used on cotton in the U.S. (cyanide, dicofol, naled, propargite, and trifluralin) are known cancer-causing chemicals. www.ecochoices.com/1/cotton_statistics.html

Sweatshops, subsidies, pesticides, child labour… Are you interested to know more about the stories behind your clothes? We are!

We’ll be putting together our 2011 print guide shortly which will focus on clothing. We’re looking for people to help with research on the issues connected to clothing (see a snapshot here) , as well as the companies behind the big brands. If you’d like to be involved, contact Nick at nick@ethical.org.au

New trends in Transparency …

When you buy clothes from New Zealand’s Icebreaker, the world’s largest producer of merino wool outerwear, there’s a code on the label. Enter the “baa code” – on the company’s website and you can find out which farmers grew the wool that went into your sweater, jacket or long underwear. You’ll meet farmers, see what life is like on a sheep station in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, or watch videos that take you to factories in Shanghai, China, where the wool is cleaned, spun and made into sportswear and undergarments.

Some great resources …

Want to know what to plant when? Check out www.gardenate.com
(In June it’s Broad beans, Cabbage, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Mustard greens, Onion/Shallots, Peas).

Are you looking to shop locally and reduce your transport footprint?
Find your closest eco-friendly products on The Saved Planet enviro directory, which groups listing according to location www.thesavedplanet.com.au
Upcoming workshops …

Friday 4th June, 12pm & 1pm >>Maribrynong Green Lunch-box supermarket tour
Friday June 4, 5-8pm >> Tasy Choices – Sustainable food, St Kilda Town Hall
Saturday June 5, 9.30am -12noon >> Farmers market tour & workshop, Port Philip
Thursday 29 June, 6pm – 8.30pm >> Public workshop & Supermarket tour,Footscray
Saturday 21st August, 10am- 12.30pm >> Knox Library Supermarket tour, Knox City

Register online here . (download full text list here).

World Environment Day – 5th June

It amazes me that we can have one special day a year to acknowledge the environment.
“If human life is to survive on this planet, the old dualistic worldview, with people on one side and the environment on the other, must yield to a new vision that connects us with everything else and leads us to care for and take responsibility for it.” – Huston Smith

I encourage you to take time on the day to reflect on this connection and what it may mean to the way we choose to live. (See some events being run over the weekend: Melbourne Canberra Brisbane Sydney ).

Get the Guide! – pocket guide, iphone app, hemp bags – www.ethical.org.au/orders
See news and print guide updates at www.ethical.org.au/news
Find out what’s being Twittered at http://twitter.com/ethicalshopper
To view this newsletter online go to www.ethical.org.au/newsletters/jun2010.htm

It’s been a busy few months for all of us at POW, but we’ve finally got around to planning a thank you social event for all of you who helped us keep Maidstone Public Hall in community hands. We’ve also just been asked by council to have some input in to how they might best use the site in future, so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to hear from the locals. As things stand, Council has not decided what to do with the land. Our submission still stands, but if you have any other ideas for the site or if you’d just like to express what’s most important for you, then come along and have a chat. We’d love to see you.
When: Wed 26th May, 6pm
Where: Maidstone Community Centre, 21 Yardley St Maidstone
What: Dinner and drinks – please bring a plate and whatever you wish to drink

Please RSVP to info@pow.org.au

Invitation to Heritage orchard launch

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

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.

SEE FOR ALL DETAILS http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/22/2852292.htm?site=news

By Brigid Andersen

Updated Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:27am AEDT

Veg Out’s one-acre block now caters for up to 700 families, individuals and community groups. (www.vegout.asn.au)

RELATED STORY: Buy local, sink the export industry: researcher
RELATED STORY: Govt urged to nurture suburban food bowls
RELATED LINK: Follow Hunger Pains on Twitter
If you’re thinking of starting a community garden, gather a big group of people and get ready to work hard, both on and off the land.

That’s the advice of Rob Taylor, president of Veg Out community garden in Melbourne.

Conceived following the closure of St Kilda Bowls Club in 1998, Veg Out’s one-acre block now caters for up to 700 families, individuals and community groups.

It has become a model for community gardens all over Australia.

Mr Taylor says local governments are often opposed to community gardens and it can take a lot of work to get plans for such projects approved.

He says the first step to getting approval for a garden is to get a community group together.

“What they need to do is get a lot of people involved and they need to go and look at other community gardens, have a barbecue, have a beer, get a big group of people together, then start approaching local council and stuff like that,” he said.

“You can just disappear into a mindless morass of bureaucracy. Planning processes just go on for years and years and years.”

He says parklands, vacant blocks and land owned by businesses can all be used to grow fruit and vegetables.

But he warns that a lot of work goes into maintaining a community garden.

“You’ve got to use your garden, it can’t be some abstract concept or a fashion accessory. It’s a garden and you’ve got to grow stuff,” he said.

“Stuff grows for a few months, then it needs to be pulled out and replaced. The soil needs to be built up and garden edges need to be built up and you need to harvest water. It just goes on and on.”

He says understanding the seasonality of produce is key to ensuring a decent harvest.

“Obviously you need to time it so there’s no gap between seasons where you’ve got [no produce] coming out. I mean you won’t be getting any basil in winter, but if you can deal with that trauma you should be alright.”

He says people easily feed themselves from their gardens at Veg Out.

“You look at a city like Melbourne or Sydney – I don’t know if you’re going to grow enough food in community gardens to feed all the people, but what you do is you become like a beacon and we get people all the time. They go: ‘Oh that’s how you grow that. What about the soil? How do I build these raised beds?’,” he said.

“We put in solar power and water tanks and all this stuff and people are always coming down and asking questions or taking photos.”

Mr Taylor says many people are realising the benefits of growing food in the city.

“There’s all kinds of health benefits that aren’t necessarily just about food. There’s social benefits of people getting together and there’s certainly the food benefits,” he said.

Mr Taylor says Veg Out has also been a boon for local community groups, which have reaped about $150,000 from the garden’s fund-raising activities.

“We have all these other events, like Christmas carols, or Carrots by Candlelight we call it,” he said.

“We run a farmers market. We have 50 or 60 stalls, farmers from all over Victoria, once a month and we get thousands of people at that.

“So that gives us an income. And we support all these other groups in the community from schools to lifesaving clubs.”