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.

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

Please see some information below about the “Eat Green Design” event.

Take a peek at the program at…. www.eatgreendesign.com

Details of lunch, dinner and afternoon sessions (including chocolate making on Sunday afternoon!) all up there, along with info on each of the speakers/panels. Something for everyone - from foodies to fashionistas, designers and design lovers.

As for the menu - it sounds mouthwateringly gooooood! Will depend on what is available that week as it’ll all be locally sourced produce with an emphasis on live, bio-dynamic and organic foods but a wee taster of what may be on the menu, courtesy of the chef….
“I am thinking a mountain pepper encrusted “really raw” cashew cheese; cauliflour, as a soup with balsamic red onion and wilted lettuce; a beetroot, carrot and artichoke carpaccio; maybe a red heirloom tomato terrine… bio-dynamic chicken rolled, stuffed and slow cooked; sustainably sourced bio-dynamic silver perch fillets stuffed with a scallop and crab mousse. We will also be showcasing a different biodynamic wine producer each day, and serving some amazing non-alcoholic beverages utilising some wild natives like lime, lemon myrtle, celery and mint.

Bicycle Victoria will be hosting a workshop with Dr Douglas McKenzie-Mohr on Friday 18 July. Bicycle Victoria’s behaviour change programs – Ride2School and Ride to Work – use the work of Dr McKenzie-Mohr to inform how we develop, assess and report our programs. If your organisation manages, designs or funds programs to encourage individuals or businesses to engage in behaviours beneficial to a sustainable future (such as energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, watershed protection, transportation, etc.) this one-day introductory workshop will have relevance for your organisation.

Date & Time: Friday 18th July, 2008 from 9.00am – 4.30pm
Venue: To be Confirmed (Melbourne CBD)
Cost: $220
More Info: Meeghan Auhl ph: (03) 8636 8836 or mobile: 0402 634 762

Sustainable House Day is a mainstay event on the national sustainable calendar. Previously known as Solar House Day, the event underwent a name change in 2006 to more accurately reflect the broad range of sustainable features in the participating houses particularly in relation to the focus on the sustainable use of water. The annual event is held on the second weekend of September and is entering its 7th year of operation. The aim of Sustainable House Day is to showcase sustainable design and to encourage the adoption of sustainable design features in existing homes and new homes. The focus is to show how simple, easy and cost effective sustainable living can be.