Posts Tagged ‘permaculture’
Sugar Palms for Biofuel and Ongoing Community Benefit
Posted in Movements, Research by Kate Archdeacon on January 18th, 2012
(L) Masarang’s ‘Village Hub’: a modular processing plant for sugar palm fuel.
Climate Spectator have posted a great article from china dialogue about the work of Willie Smits on the potential of sugar palms for the biofuel industry. The growing environment of the sugar palm means that its cultivation can provide regular local work and that production can stay in the control of small co-operatives. The sugar palm is a highly regarded plant in Indonesia and other areas of South-East Asia, with multiple benefits during its growing cycle and after harvest:
“We met in Hong Kong, where Smits had been talking to potential investors. He opened up his laptop to run one of many PowerPoint presentations that chart a 30-year voyage of discovery. When he married his Indonesian wife in 1980, Smits was surprised to learn that the expected dowry in North Sulawesi was six sugar palms. “I wondered why,” he told chinadialogue, “and I discovered that just six sugar palms could support a young family.”
After years of research, Smits today is a sugar palm evangelist, eager to list the tree’s virtues. “It doesn’t need pesticides or fertiliser, and once it starts producing, it has to be tapped twice a day, which gives employment to local people,” he explained, “so it creates 20 times more permanent jobs per hectare than oil palm. It is highly efficient in converting sunlight to energy and, because it cannot thrive in monoculture, it preserves biodiversity. It has very deep roots, so it never dries out, and it improves the soil by bringing nutrients up. It stores carbon very deep, and it only needs half the water of similar trees because of its waxy leaves. And, it produces 60 useful products, including a wood that is harder than oak.”
As if that were not enough, he continued, it survives fire and volcanic eruption, flood and salt water, can prevent landslides by stabilising slopes, and improves conditions for agriculture downstream. Perhaps most importantly for the global climate: one tree can produce enough ethanol each day to keep a car running year round.”
Read the full article by Isabel Hilton to find out more and check out Willie Smits’ website.
—
Intro to Organic Gardening: Free workshop
Posted in Events by kheffer on October 11th, 2011
| 15 October , 2011 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
We’ll help you take those very first steps to grow your own food covering the basics of soil, water wise gardening, natural pest control, organic fertilising and no-dig gardening.
When: Saturday 15 October, 10-12pm
Where: Strathmore Heights Community Centre,1 Boeing Rd, Strathmore Heights
Workshops are free. To book, please email contactus@mysmartgarden.org.au or call 9932 1142
Now that the weather’s warmed up, we’ve got some great FREE spring gardening workshops to really get you going!
More sustainable gardening workshops here.
The My Smart Garden program helps residents use their back yards, balconies or courtyards to live more sustainably by growing their own food, shading their home, recycling wastes and using water wisely. As well as access to workshops, Moonee Valley and Hobsons Bay residents who sign up to the My Smart Garden program receive smart gardening information, discounts from local garden suppliers and can win great prizes every month. You could win a rain garden worth $500 in October and a Fowler’s preserving kit worth $250 in November.
If you live outside these council areas, you’re still welcome to attend workshops and sign up for the program, but ineligible for prizes.
—
Permaculture Playgroups and Mud Monsters: Green Lunchbox Series
Posted in Events by samgreen on October 3rd, 2011
| 12 October , 2011 | ||
| 12:30 pm | to | 1:30 pm |
Photo by donkeycart via flickr CC
It’s spring time and we’re eager to spend time in the garden with our families! Permaculture and play come together to bring both children and their families to the garden. While adults get their hands dirty and share gardening and permaculture skills and ideas, children learn about how things grow, where food comes from and healthy food choices.
Come along and listen to our presenters showcase sustainability, education and play activities for children and their families. This session is likely to be of interest to teachers, educators, community workers and families.
Date: Wednesday 12 October 2011, 12.30-1.30pm
Location: Reception Room, Maribyrnong Council Offices, cnr Hyde & Napier Sts Footscray
Presented by: Braybrook Sprouts, Mud Monsters & Permaculture Out West
To register for the session visit ww.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/lunchbox or for more information call council’s Sustainability Officer on 9688 0357
—
2011 Bioregional Permaculture Conference in Melbourne: Registration Closes Today
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on September 23rd, 2011
| 30 September , 2011 | ||
| 12:00 am | to | 11:00 pm |
| 1 October , 2011 | ||
| 2 October , 2011 | ||
Workshops, speakers, site tours, party, film screening, a marketplace of ideas
The conference and its associated events will bring people together to share stories and discuss where we’re going as a movement. Presentations will be given by a wide range of local activists from local group leaders to gardeners, educators, writers, designers, foresters and more. Site visits will be happening to local gardens and community sites and a market place will take place. Evenings will be social time – Friday will be a large party with food, music and dancing, Saturday evening will be a screening of the new film Anima Mundi and a talk with the director. Both evening events will be suitable functions for bringing partners and friends. A marketplace area is available for ideas and produce – for stalls, posters and displays so please make use of this opportunity to tell your story and to let others know what you and your community are doing.
Friday 30th September – Sunday 2nd October
Venue: South Melbourne Commons, corner Bank & Montague Sts, South Melbourne.
Visit the Permaculture Melbourne site for more information – registration closes September 23.
“Anima Mundi”: Film screening
Posted in Events by TransitionTownPortPhillip on August 19th, 2011
| 12 September , 2011 | ||
| 8:00 pm | to | 10:00 pm |
Will you survive the transition of human industrial civilization happening now due to peak oil and climate change? Can you see the forest for the trees, the earth for the dream, the universe for the seed?
Join us Monday 12 September @ 7.30pm for 8pm screening of “ANIMA MUNDI”, a new & innovative Aussie documentary about Permaculture, Peak Oil, Climate Change & the Soul of the World. with guest speakers, Filmmaker Peter Charles Downey & Integrative Medicine expert, Dr Mark O’Meadhra
SLOWdown restaurant cafe bar, 56 Acland Street, St Kilda (opp McDonalds)
Tickets $10 online or $11 on the door (subject to availability). Includes locally sourced produce nibblies & glass of wine. Sustainable pre-screening menu available beforehand.
Proudly presented in partnership with SLOWdown eco-friendly cafe bar & Transition Town Port Phillip, supported by Port Phillip Urban Fresh Food Network & Veg Out Community Gardens.
—
Ego Lemos at The Boite: Saturday Night
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on June 3rd, 2011
| 4 June , 2011 | ||
| 8:00 pm | to | 10:30 pm |
Source: The Boîte
Image: Wendy Tanner via flickr CC
Ego Lemos is in Melbourne to receive his Master of Arts (Community Development) from Victoria University. He has just concluded the second PermaScout camp in history bringing young people from every corner of Timor Leste for a week of Permaculture workshops, networking and music making, a remarkable event which is attracting the attention of the President. Ego is an internationally recognised Permaculture practitioner and teacher. As Timor Leste’s most famous singer-songwriter he is about to perform at a festival in Germany organised by his recording company, Skinnyfish. Ego first came to Australia with his band Cinco do Oriente in 2001 at the invitation of the Boite and Australian Volunteers International to perform at a major concert at Hamer Hall. While he is here we will discuss a possible return visit by Cinco do Oriente! Do come and meet him at Mark Street on Saturday night at the Boîte.
8pm, Saturday, June 4th
1 Mark St, Nth Fitzroy
Ego Lemos is well known for his performing and songwriting, particularly for the title track for the movie Balibo. Special Guest, Quashani Bahd, reggae, and blues singer, with Gil Santos (Dili All Stars) This is a fundraiser.
—
The Climate Project have published an interview with Ego Lemos which explains more about the Perma Scout project.
—
Cuba, the Accidental Revolution: Appetite for Insight Film Night
Posted in Events by paula on April 5th, 2011
| 11 April , 2011 | ||
| 7:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
‘Appetite for Insight’ foodie film nights* present our April screening: Cuba – the Accidental Revolution.
Oil and food supplies are intrinsically linked in our modern, global food system. What can happen to our food supply when oil is hard to come by? Find out how one nation confronted this dilemma head on. ‘Cuba, the Accidental Revolution’, screening on Monday 11 in St Kilda, examines how Cuba found itself unable to feed its population during a time of economic meltdown, but managed to turn matters around by growing food in the cities where it’s consumed.
“Anyone interested in ecologically sustainable development..will find this documentary thought provoking.”- Gregory Biniowsky, Canadian Development and Environment Consultant living in Cuba. This monthly film night event features guest speaker Pamela Morgan; a permaculturalist with first hand experience of Cuba and City of Maribyrnong Project Officer. Pamela will introduce the film and take Q&A session afterwards. Nibbles and beverage from the kitchens of eco-tucker host venue SlowDown!@Harley court are included in modest ticket price – $10 pre-booked on web (see link below) or $11 on the door (subject to availability).
‘Appetite for Insight’ foodie film nights* are presented by SlowDown!@Harley Court, in partnership with Transition Town Port Phillip and Port Phillip Urban Fresh Food Network.
7pm for 7.30pm (sharp) screening, Monday 11 April. SlowDown!@Harley Court, 56 Acland Street, St Kilda (opp McDonalds)
Web tickets: http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=9336
—
Advanced Permaculture Principles and Planning Tools
Posted in Events, Movements by Holmgren Design Services on August 19th, 2010
This four-day residential course is designed to deepen understanding of permaculture principles, and improve conceptual skills and planning tools for permaculture practitioners, designers, activists and teachers. A Permaculture Design Certificate and prior reading of Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability are highly desirable for participants to successfully gain from the course, and contribute to it. 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. David Holmgren presents permaculture ideas through practical projects and personal example, providing a refreshing and unorthodox approach to the environmental issues of our time.
Saturday 18th to Tuesday 21st September 2010
Hepburn Primary School, Main Road, HEPBURN VIC 3461
Cost $530, includes meals and camping on-site.
For more info email info@holmgren.com.au or phone 03 5348 3636. www.holmgren.com.au
—
Relocalisation: Film Screening
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on June 18th, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Relocalisation: How Peak Oil can lead to Permaculture
David Holmgren explains permaculture as a design system to relocalise our economies and communities in the face of the twin threats of Peak Oil and Climate Change. In part I, David outlines the history of permaculture as a design concept and a global environmental movement in the context of the emerging energy descent brought on by the peaking and decline of global oil supply and the whole spectrum of environmental, economic and social crises. Relocalisation of our economies and communities is highlighted as the central organising strategy for creative grass roots adaptive response to the energy descent future, both to build resilience and capacity in the face of unprecedented threats, and grasp the creative opportunities from energy descent. In part II, David uses his photos of examples of the diversity of permaculture design solutions from his own property Melliodora as well as the wider world of permaculture to show the scope and depth of permaculture design in the home, garden, farm, forest, community and ecomomy.
Manningham Carbon Rationing Action Group (CRAG) Discussion Group: Discussion led by Indy Lingham
Thu 24 June 6.45pm- 9 pm
Council Chambers
699 Doncaster Rd
Doncaster
Free Event; All welcome; Bookings Essential: 9840 4400 or eepadmin@manningham.vic.gov.au
—
Dancing The Food Cycle
Posted in Events by Ferne Edwards on March 2nd, 2009
You can help make ArtPlays food garden grow with permaculture gardener and dancer, Ilan Abrahams from Sense of Place Projects. These sessions offer an opportunity to see your handiwork grow and become a fixture at ArtPlay. Ilan will teach you food gardening skills and play movement games and activities responding to experiences in the garden.
Where: ArtPlay, The Centre For Children’s Art, in Birrarung Marr behind Federation Square.
When: 1pm to 3pm, Sundays 15, 22, 29 March
Who: Ages 5 to 8 years on Sunday 15 and 22 March (all children must be accompanied by an adult); 8 to 12 years on Sunday 29 March
Read the rest of this entry »