What is The Community Harvest Project?

The Community Harvest Project is an initiative of the Hills Organic Box Scheme and the Yarra Valley Permaculture Group. It has been developed in response to growing pressures in the community, such as rising food, fuel and other living costs, social disconnection, climate change and peak oil.

The Project will work with individuals and groups to identify and map existing local food resources, increase the supply of local, sustainably produced food and connect people with the resources they need to begin growing their own sustainably produced food, support others in growing food, starting local food related enterprises and much more. In this way we intend to work with the community to build community and ensure access to healthy, affordable food, for everyone.

Information evenings begin in July in the Shire of Yarra Ranges. Further information evenings are in the process of being finalised.

For more information about The Community Harvest Project email communityharvest @bigpond.com.

The videos and podcasts from the first Eco-Innovation Seminar held in April 08 at the Victorian Eco Innovation Lab (VEIL) are now available at www.ecoinnovationlab.com/activity/?p=130. There are videos for Mick Pearce, Design Inc; CH2 Designer, and Sheridan Blunt, ”Melbourne City as Catchment” Project, and videos and podcasts for Jeremy Reynolds, Department of Planning and Community Development, and Peter Harper, Centre for Alternative Technology, UK. To view the footage visit www.ecoinnovationlab.com/activity/?p=130.

Do you have an idea or vision for a Sustainable Australia? Are you interested to take it further but don’t know how? Then the Sustainability Youth Forum is for you!

On Saturday 6 September, the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) provides you with an opportunity to join with other inspired and enthusiastic students and young professionals to debate and develop a pathway for creating a sustainable future. The forum will feature Dr Paul Sinclair from the Australian Conservation Foundation as keynote speaker and a number of high-profile facilitators, sparking the discussion around four priority areas - water, climate change, waste and social sustainability.

The forum will result in four position papers that capture your perspective on these priority areas. These position papers will be published in the EIANZ publication - the Environmental Practitioner, while also enabling you to promote the outcomes to the media and table them with government, getting your ideas heard.

So, if you’re aged between 15 and 30, are either studying, working or interested in the sustainability field, you are eligible to apply. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to network with other future leaders in envisioning your sustainable future for Australia!

Details:
Date: 8.45am to 5pm (lunch and morning and afternoon tea provided), Saturday 6 September
Where: Level 7, RMIT Storey Hall, Swanston St, Melbourne
Cost: $20 (discounted to $15 for EIANZ members)

How to apply?
E-mail sustainabilityyouthforum @gmail.com to obtain an application form.

Applications close: Wed 20 Aug. Places are limited, so hurry don’t miss out!

Got questions? Need to know more?
Contact Gordon or Stacey via sustainabilityyouthforum @gmail.com or 0403 591 045

Proudly supported by:
RMIT University

TRIVIA NIGHT - Hosted by the Students & Young Professionals Committee
Test your general and environmental knowledge to see which team will take home the trophy!

6.15 for 6.30pm start, Thursday 24th July 2008
The Coopers Inn, Corner Little Lonsdale and Exhibitions Sts, Melbourne 3000

Cost: Members $25, Non members $30, Full time students $20
Price includes: competition, prizes, substantial fingerfood, and drinks specials
RSVP to: Melissa Grant at vic-events@eianz.org by Friday July 18 Phone: 9654 7473 Fax: 9650 1242

the-annual-eianz-vic-trivia-night-1.pdf

SustainableMelbourne.com and the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab in association with the University of Melbourne’s Entrepreneurs Week would like to invite you to:

The Sustainable Cities Round Table on Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Tuesday 12 August night, 6 – 8pm
Copeland Theatre, Economics & Commerce Building, University of Melbourne

RSVP now to save your seat at rsvp @sustainablemelbourne.com

The challenge of climate change presents many opportunities for new sustainable ventures. Entrepreneurs working in this space are able to creatively develop innovative solutions that have environmental, social and economic benefits, yet like all entrepreneurial ventures it is not with out risks. At this Sustainable Cities Round Table we will showcase examples of proactive entrepreneurs who have taken this step and bravely gone where no mainstream business or entrepreneur has gone before!

The evening will feature a series of short presentations, musical interludes, networking opportunities and more… Speakers booked so far include Nick Savaidis, Etiko Fair Trade, Mitch O’Sullivan, Waterwall Solutions, and Alexi Lynch, Australia Manager of Cities for Climate Protection, ICLEI and co-founder of the Environmental Jobs Network.

The Sustainable Cities Round Tables are a regular series of events that showcase local environmental initiatives and encourage networking for people working in urban sustainability issues across the government, academic, industry and community sectors. To view footage of previous events visit www.sustainablemelbourne.com/category/sustainable-cities-round-table/.

Please forward this invitation to others who may be interested in attending.

This GAMUT: Australasian Centre for the Governance and Management of Urban Transport forum will discuss major governance issues raised by the Eddington Report, the Garnaut Climate Change Review, and Infrastructure Australia. The target audience is MPs, state and local officers, community groups, academics, researchers, business representatives, consultants, non-government organizations, and interested members of the community.

Speakers:

• Prof. Brian Howe O.A.
• Jim Betts, Secretary of Dept. of Transport
• Prof. Marcus Wigan, GAMUT
• Cr. Janet Rice, City of Maribyrnong
• Kenneth Davidson, The Age
• Prof. Graeme Hodge, Monash University
• Dr. Max Lay A.M., Director of ConnectEast, Professorial Fellow Melbourne University.

Date & Time: Friday 1st August, 2008 from 1.00pm – 6.00pm
Venue: Architecture Building Room 103 (eZone) University of Melbourne, Parkville
Cost: Free (Refreshments will be provided)
RSVP Essential: lmurphy @unimelb.edu.au by Friday July 25th.

Please see the message below from the Melbourne Social Forum, www.melbournesocialforum.org.

The Melbourne Social Forum is one of Melbourne’s most diverse and dynamic gatherings of people for social change. The MSF creates open public spaces to discuss, share and act on ideas for sustainable social and ecological justice. Annual MSF events bring together hundreds of community organisers, activists, artists and writers for environmental & social change.

Melbourne Social Forum organisers are planning a forum for April 2009, and are seeking volunteers, organisers and student interns to fill a variety of roles in the following areas:

• Event management
• Media and publicity
• Art and design
• Project management
• Promotion and outreach
• Administration
• Networking
• Web development
• Food and drink co-ordination
• Opening night speakers co-ordination
• Workshop co-ordination

Make a difference! Gain valuable work experience while participating in a global movement of citizens building a sustainable and just world. To find solutions for the issues our society and our planet face today, we need to come together! Building bridges between progressive thinkers and organisations, MSF participants create new community links, strengthen relationships, develop ideas and share visions. Help us build a forum that will make progress on problems big and small! To find out how you can get involved,visit : www.melbournesocialforum.org

This forum will provide an opportunity for individuals, community, business, agricultural sectors, government and academics to share learnings from the evaluation of the 9 local government authorities* involved in the Food for All program. Food for All aims to improve access to foods for healthy eating and food security.** The Hon. Joe Helper MP, Minister for Agriculture and Small Business will open the Forum.

SEMINAR DETAILS
Date: Friday 1 August 2008
Time: 9.00AM – 4.00PM
Venue: Sunshine Convention Centre Victoria University, Sunshine Campus, 460 Ballarat Road, Sunshine

Getting There: The Sunshine Convention Centre is at the Victoria University Sunshine Campus, on the corner of Ballarat Road and Westmoreland Road. Albion Station is a 10-minute walk along Ballarat Road (Western Road) from the Sunshine Convention Centre; buses also pass the venue.

Melways Ref: 26 J10

Parking: All day parking for $2 is available at the back of the Convention Centre (ensure that you park in the white lined areas or risk a fine).

Registration: Registration is free. Places are limited: registrations must be received by 23 July 2008.

Successful applicants will be notified within 1 week of registration.

Wheelchair Access

This forum will feature:

• A presentation by the evaluator of the Food for All program,Dr Meg Montague.
• Six workshops by project officers and/or their partners in which they will share strategies and insights from their activities to improve access to nutritious food and food security.
• Recently funded projects in non-health sectors that strengthen and complement the work of Food for All program, including the Planning Institute of Australia (Vic), Deakin University and the Victorian Local Governance Association.
• Two panels facilitated by Dr Norman Swan, multi-award winning producer and presenter of ABC Radio National’s Health Report:
  • What is Food Security and Why Should We Care?
    Dr Cate Burns (VicHealth Research Fellow) will present a background to food insecurity in Victoria, while perspectives will come from Prof. Boyd Swinburn (WHO Collaborating Centre on Obesity Prevention and Related Research and Training), Mr Ian James (Economic Consultant to the Vegetable Industry), Mr Marcus Godinho (FareShare, formerly known as One Umbrella) and Ms Kirsten Larsen (Victorian Eco Innovation Lab).
  • Reflection and Response to Opportunities and Challenges
    Highlighted by Dr Meg Montague’s Food for All evaluation findings. Panel members will include representatives from several government departments. A publication of case studies illustrating strategies implemented by individual projects will be launched and available for participants on the day.

Learning from the Field Forum - Flyer Registration Form [.doc]

For more than 30 years the Victorians Schools¹ Garden Awards have encouraged school communities to utilise their gardens and grounds effectively, and have supported the full development of every student. Indeed, the Awards provide a great opportunity for students to explore fresh ideas in the face of water scarcity and climate change.

All Victorian schools are invited to enter the Awards program by completing the attached entry form. Schools and regions affected by drought are especially encouraged to participate, thereby expanding traditional notions of what gardening can embrace or lead to.

Judges will visit entrant schools during Term 3, and regional winners and state finalists will be announced during Term 4. In late October, popular gardening personality Jane Edmanson (and her team of judges) will again take to the skies to visit state finalists, and presentation of the Awards will take place in December.

For those schools who received an Award in 2007, don¹t forget to redeem your prize at a nursery listed on the back of your voucher.

Actions Required

• All Victorian schools are invited to enter the Awards by completing the entry form
• 2007 Award recipients who haven¹t redeemed their prizes are reminded to contact a nursery listed on the back of their prize voucher.

Critical Dates: Entries close on Friday 25 July, 2008.

Additional Information: General information regarding the Victorian Schools¹ Garden Awards is available on the Department¹s website:

URL: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/events/garden/default.htm

For further entry information: Contact Debbie Daks, VSGA Program Coordinator, on 0417 507 574, or visit the Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria website