Archive for the ‘Visions’ Category
Visions refer to ideas for a sustainable future in Melbourne. Visions links in strongly with the overall Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL) project, which designs visions to change our current direction towards a more sustainable future. Posts here on Sustainable Melbourne relate to visions produced by people and organisations based in Melbourne, while more information can be found about the VEIL visions on the VEIL website. If you are involved with a local environmental visioning project you are welcome to post information about your work on Sustainable Melbourne. To do so visit the “How to use this site” page and follow the prompts.
Resource - Role 2 outcomes from the workshop at the Sustainable Cities Round Table on food, 28 May
Posted in Events, Models, Research, Sustainable Cities Round Tables, Visions by Ferne Edwards on June 16th, 2008
At the recent Sustainable Cities Round Table on Sustainable Food Systems, VicUrban led a discussion / role play on how developers could contribute to productive gardening in estates. The audience consisted of 78 knowledgeable sustainable food enthusiasts who provided some very interesting feedback. Please find the raw data of the second of three role’s below.
Gardening Communities: What can a developer do to facilitate a productive gardens culture?
Role #2 - You have been living in the development for 2 years. What would you see emerging over that time that could involve the active support of the developer?
Facilitate materials, storage, seedbank
Community workshops
Help set up sale of produce
Community gardens expert
More sophisticated methods of resource sharing
Community gardener – expert
More sophisticated community tool shed
Community events, workshops, festivals
Assisting to maintain #1 unitil it is self-sustaining.
Maintaining the meeting space – or is that the council’s responsibility?
Produce
Possible “jim’s gardening” contracted to run gardens if individuals don’t want to do this themselves
Waste-water treatment & recycling at community level
Productive trees planted in public space, schools
Open Gardens festivals
Childcare centres, etc
Funding enterprise body to maintain edible streetscaping
Help to improve the efficiency of the operation by coordinating the many individual actors for marketing and resource management, Waste management, composting and distributions
Planning and maintenance of public space includes community gardens
Mechanism for surplus produce to be used eg. Go to one umbrella
Community events around food
Financial contribution?
Seedbank / nursery
Distribute centre for excess food
Distribution systems for excess food
IT email network to allow sharing of plants – questions about plant, requests for new plants or information about it
(more…)
Resource - Role 1 outcomes from the workshop at the Sustainable Cities Round Table on food, 28 May
Posted in Events, Sustainable Cities Round Tables, Visions by Ferne Edwards on June 16th, 2008
At the recent Sustainable Cities Round Table on Sustainable Food Systems, VicUrban led a discussion / role play on how developers could contribute to productive gardening in estates. The audience consisted of 78 knowledgeable sustainable food enthusiasts who provided some very interesting feedback. Please find the raw data of the first of three role’s below.
Gardening Communities :What can a developer do to facilitate a productive gardens culture?
Role #1 - You are a person who has just moved into the development. What would you want to find there to support your involvement in productive gardening?
- Space for community gardens and composting of market gardens, etc.
- High quality soil
- Information on food growing
- Shared tools
- Room for private gardens
- Intergrating business to support gardening such as nurseries
- Space orientation to sunlight, good placement of buildings to avoide unusable space
- Rainwater tanks on every building
- New home: garden patch fully established with recycled water & instructions on website that provides info on future plantings & posts & where to go to get seeds + sell surplus produce
- Also tools & soils & how to grow
- Access to people who have garden info expereince & samples of fresh food to taste & estimate of cost of water and carbon sink (?)
- Community meeting space, community website for new residents to visit to see where to go for support, where to begin, like minded people, etc.
- Community shed with tools etc for people to borrow
- Involve local schools – children to teach/ involve parents
- Sidewalks
- Grey & blackwater systems built into houses
- Collection systems for rooftop water
- Space for a community garden & accommodation for animals
- Space for individual gardens
- Shared shed with tools for residents
- Fruit trees planted around the development
- Access land & water (regular water) & sun
- Point of contact for information – demonstration garden
- Acces to utillities?
- Area for animals
- Experimental garden area plotting
- Community compost
- Community space/ center
- Water harvesting
- Food/ seeding/ people swap program
- Soil improvement/ produce gardening workshops
- Commmunal orchid
- Chooks and ducks
- Developer puts in raised vege patch in
- Less shade-causing structures – food production needs sun
- Trellis set up for deciduous shade
- Less fencing so we share more
- Natural wetland
- Windmills and solar – passive solar
- 2 systems for water – drinkable & other uses
Event - Public lecture Richard Neville : Emerging Future, 24 June
Posted in Events, Research, Visions by Ferne Edwards on June 16th, 2008
Also listed recently on Australian Policy Online was this talk by Richard Neville below which may be of interest to Sustainable Melbourne readers.
Public lecture Richard Neville : Emerging Future
Tuesday 24 June, Melbourne VIC
All the flag waving in the world won’t stop the food riots, or the sea rising or the icecaps melting. Happily, the wine still flows, carbon trading shows promise and we can watch disaster movies on laptops. The food gets finer, even as the fish disappear. We face peak oil, peak water, even peak civilization; but let’s not mention the resource wars. Now is the time to stretch our mind skills, such as adjusting to paradox, adapting to change and engaging the future. Do we face a long boom, a long emergency or a slow, startling and irresistible decline into a Third World lifestyle. Pass the lentils, light the dung. Hot rocks in the outback could replace the need for coal; skyscrapers might grow food, water tables may be refreshed with artificial rain or the tears of the GodsŠ and through it all, you’ll need to learn to live in three time zones. Confused? Welcome to the future - it’s where you’ll spend the rest of your life.
Time: 1.00pm to 2.00 pm
Venue: BA 201 Lecture Theatre Swinburne University (Hawthorn campus)
Topic: Urban and regional planning
More Information > Swinburne University
Research - Australia 2020 Summit: Final Report
Posted in Events, Models, Policies, Visions by Ferne Edwards on June 16th, 2008
“Australia 2020 Summit: Final Report” was recently posted on Australian Policy Online . Please find a brief abstract and a link to the full article below.
Australia 2020 Summit: Final Report
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Posted: 02-06-2008
This report is intended to provide a record of the Australia 2020 Summit and recommendations on each of the discussion areas for consideration by the Australian government. It is based on ideas put forward by participants during the summit discussion sessions, outcomes from preliminary summit events and ideas generated from public submissions received prior to the summit.
The report includes an introductory section and ten chapters which can be viewed and/or downloaded separately
Visions - Prof Chris Ryan as Jim’s son from Jim’s Mowing at the Sustainable Cities Round Table, 28 May
Posted in Events, Models, Research, Sustainable Cities Round Tables, Visions by Ferne Edwards on June 13th, 2008
Professor Chris Ryan, director of the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL) gave a futuristic presentation at the recent Sustainable Cities Round Table on Sustainable Food Systems, 28 May. Titled, “From Jim’s mowing to Jim’s sowing” and based on the VEIL Hub visions to consider what a sustainable Melbourne could look like in the year 2032 (to learn more about this visit http://www.ecoinnovationlab.com/activity/?p=6), Chris took on the role of Jim’s grandson who in 2032 would have extended the business to include sustainable features! This presentation certainly impressed the audience. View for yourself below!
Resource - Michael Chew presents on Peddling Fruit Pickers, Sustainable Cities Round Table, 28 May
Posted in Events, Models, Research, Sustainable Cities Round Tables, Visions by Ferne Edwards on June 13th, 2008
Michael Chew from Environment Victoria spoke about the “Peddling Fruit Pickers” project at the recent Sustainable Cities Round Table on Sustainable Food Systems, 28 May.
The Peddling Fruit Pickers project aims to collect unharvested fruit and vegetables from local residents and distribute them to people in need. This would occur through volunteers cycling or walking around to participating residents houses to collect the produce, which would be taken to local community centres to redistribute.
The first step of the project research involves developing a simple food map of exactly which houses in the community have excess produce and are willing to donate it. This ‘food-map’ would then contribute to the feasibility study to see if there would be enough interest to actually run the project.
To find out more about the project check out Michael’s presentation below. Alternatively, if you would like any more information about the project please contact Michael: 9341 8107 / 0432 025 911 / Michael.Chew @envict.org.au.
Resource - Kirsten Larsen speaks at the Sustainable Cities Round Table on our food situation in Victoria
Posted in Events, Models, Policies, Research, Sustainable Cities Round Tables, Visions by Ferne Edwards on June 12th, 2008
Kirsten Larsen is the Eco-Innovation Policy Research Manager at the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL). Her recent work includes the very well researched and structured report: “Secure and Sustainable Food Systems for Victoria“. Click here to see one of the many press releases about this report. Alternatively visit http://www.ecoinnovationlab.com/pages/library.php to download the entire report.
Kirsten’s presentation titled, “Sustainable and Secure Food Systems - The Next Steps” can be viewed below.
Events - Alfred Deakin Lectures 08, 4-15 June
Posted in Events, Research, Visions by Ferne Edwards on June 12th, 2008
If you haven’t checked them out yet please do have a look before they finish because they sound really really good!
Alfred Deakin Lectures 08 - 4 - 15 June
www.deakinlectures.net
Where: Various locations throughout Victoria
Further info: The lecture series begins by looking at innovation & the reception of new ideas. The lectures then embark on a voyage from the human mind to outer space. From brain to body, human cities, nation building international relations, planet earth. Ending with a ‘continulogue’ giving the last word to young voices that will reflect on the lectures they have heard.
Event - Advanced Permaculture Principles and Planning Tools With David Holmgren, 10-13th July
Posted in Events, Models, Movements, Research, Visions by Ferne Edwards on June 12th, 2008
4 day course Hepburn Springs
A four day course Advanced Permaculture Principles and Planning Tools targeted at PDC holders looking to deepen their understanding of permaculture and improve their conceptual skills and tool kit for design and action. To be run in a rural venue, within a small village or town where permaculture and associated activism already has a strong presence, (in this case Hepburn Springs).
Cost
Includes meals but not accommodation
Accommodation options include basic home accommodation, youth hostel or local guest houses.
Venue
TBC but in heart of Hepburn Springs village within walking distance of Mineral Springs Reserve, Melliodora permaculture demonstration site, and accommodation options.
Background information and guidelines
The four day course has a long lineage based on material David has been teaching on PDC’s for many years and more recently in Advanced 2, 3 and 4 day courses run in Europe and North America (2005) and NZ and Latin America (2007). After nearly 20 of these courses overseas, the first Australian one was at Apollo Bay in October 2007 organised by Fern Rainbow. The course is designed to deepen understanding of permaculture practitioners, designers, activists and teachers.
Some of the leading permaculture teachers and activists overseas have been organisers and participants in these courses leading to a revitalisation and deepening of existing permaculture activism. Rob Hopkins, the activist behind the Transition Towns process in the UK is a prominent example. Several experienced permaculture teachers who have been personally inspired by the book, Permaculture:Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability, have found this course gives them the confidence to integrate the material into their own teaching of permaculture. While a PDC and prior reading of Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability are highly desirable for participants to successfully gain from and contribute to the course, in individual cases exceptions could be made where either the participant has
1. a PDC and has read the essence of permaculture (downloadable from www.holmgren.com.au Writings page) or
2. a solid professional and personal background in sustainability and has attended the Future Scenarios workshop or
3. a solid professional and personal background in sustainability and has read Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.
The core of these courses is the presentation and workshopping in groups of the format of design principles from Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. Additional presentations and group work focus on Reading Landscape, Landscape Mapping, Energy Descent Scenarios and Community Mapping.
For more information visit http://www.holmgren.com.au/.
Resource - Introduction to the Sustainable Cities Round Table on Sustainable Food Systems, 28 May
Posted in Events, Models, Movements, Policies, Research, Sustainable Cities Round Tables, Visions by Ferne Edwards on June 11th, 2008
Thanks again to all the marvelous people who attended and participated in the recent Sustainable Cities Round Table on the topic of “sustainable food systems” held on the 28 May! It was a jam-packed, interesting and very enjoyable evening with a variety of fascinating speakers with the additional features of musician Dave Newington and the students’ exhibition from the “Meals in Metropolis” class at RMIT University. Thanks also to our filmmaker Ryan Spanger from Dream Engine Digital Film Production for his brilliant capturing of the events AND to the sustainable wine provided by Elgo Estate. And of course, a very big thank you to our sponsors, VicUrban, who also presented at the event. All the video clips of the presentations can now be viewed for FREE online at http://www.sustainablemelbourne.com/category/sustainable-cities-round-table/. Find below the introduction to the recent Sustainable Cities Round Table by Prof Chris Ryan and myself, Ferne Edwards.