Posts Tagged ‘sustainable gardening’
My Smart Garden: Sustainable gardening workshops
Posted in Models by kheffer on October 17th, 2011
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. Now that the weather’s warmed up, we’ve got some great FREE spring gardening workshops to really get you going!
Read more about our upcoming spring workshops [here] and register for workshops by emailing contactus@mysmartgarden.org.au
As well as access to workshops, Moonee Valley and Hobsons Bay residents who sign up to the My Smart Garden program receive sustainable 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.
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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.
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Footprint Flicks: Sustainable Gardening Films
Posted in Movements, Research by Kate Archdeacon on July 19th, 2011
Last week, Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) launched their series of Sustainable Gardening short films, Footprint Flicks. Jane Edmanson of ABC’s Gardening Australia launched the films, drawing the connections between gardening for health as well as gardening for local action in response to climate change, and the role of technology in supporting people who want to get involved in gardening.
Helen Tuton from the SGA co-wrote the films with Suzi Taylor from Fingerprint Productions. Helen says that the films are designed to inspire younger people to garden in a way that benefits the planet, while being fun, informative and appealing. We were lucky enough to watch some of the films during the launch, and it’s fair to say that they have achieved what they set out to do – the audience roared with laughter, while taking notes on topics such as “DIY Compost: Lord of the Bins”, “Renters’ Guide to Sustainable Gardens”, and “How to be a Good Parent to Your Worms”.
The films will be available to buy on DVD very soon, but in the meantime visit the SGA site for a sneak preview of three of the films; Renter’s Guide to Sustainable Gardening, How to be a Good Parent to Your Worms and OMG I’m Going Grey.
www.sgaonline.org.au
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Harvesting Ideas for a Sustainable Future: World Cafe with SGA
Posted in Events, Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on February 21st, 2011
| 26 February , 2011 | ||
| 9:00 am | to | 1:00 pm |
Source: Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA)
Graphic by Avril Orloff, reprinted by permission from The World Café Community Foundation at www.theworldcafe.com.
Join Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) for an exceptional ‘world café’ style event so your voice can be heard. Help us to build on our momentum as a collective in creating a greener future through sustainable gardening. SGA is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation consisting of a small number of staff and many volunteers. Although we have relatively few resources, we are committed to producing strong environmental outcomes and have made significant achievements over the last 7 years.
Who should attend?
- Home gardeners
- Environmentalists
- Community groups
- Horticulturalists
- Landscape and nursery industry professionals
- Local government representatives
- Anybody who wants to make a positive difference to the communities and world we live in
The world café concept creates conversations about questions that matter by bringing together people with diverse backgrounds and values. Each person’s opinions and ideas are respected and heard. For more about the world café process, we recommend this website – www.theworldcafe.com.
Saturday 26th February, Melbourne University, Burnley Campus, 9.00am – 1.00pm
Visit the SGA website for more details or to register your attendance.
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DIY Sustainable Garden Design with SGA
Posted in Movements, Research by Kate Archdeacon on August 19th, 2010
Source: cuttings, the Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) newsletter
The Sustainable Garden Design Series aims to help gardeners design or redesign (build or rebuild) their gardens as sustainable landscapes. Each month we will take you through the steps necessary to ensure the best possible outcome for all your hard work!
Autumn is a good time to make changes to your garden in southern Australia – especially after the first rains, as the soil is still warm and the plants will have an opportunity to get established before the next dry season. So now is a good time to start thinking about it and to prepare a plan.
The Principles of Sustainable Landscape Design:
1. minimise the requirement for energy inputs.
2. minimise the requirements for high water inputs, above that which naturally occurs in the particular region.
3. maximise opportunities for biodiversity at all levels.
4. maximise vegetative biomass.
5. maximise the opportunity for the growth of produce and other useful materials.
6. minimise the risk of weed-escapees moving into native habitats.
7. minimise or eliminate the use of materials that disrupt, destroy, pollute or damage natural systems/communities where they are sourced.
8. minimise the risk of disruption, pollution or interference to other systems.
Part 1 – Getting Started
Part 2 – Your Needs, Wants and Budget
Part 3 – Drawing up the Design
Part 4 – Choosing Plants
Part 5 – The Soft Landscape
Part 6 – The Hard Landscape
Part 7 – Water Gardens
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Sustainable Gardening Workshop: CERES
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on February 12th, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Image: Darin Barry via flickr CC
The relationship between house and garden is a critical part of household sustainability. A good garden is a key to saving energy, water and reducing waste. This hands-on workshop, in the new EcoHouse garden looks at the basics of setting up a sustainable garden, including; permaculture, organic, water-wise gardening, composting, worm farming, chooks, shading and more…
Wed Feb 27, 1 – 4pm
CERES EcoHouse, 8 Lee Street, BRUNSWICK EAST
Presenter: Matt Danielli, CERES
All welcome, Free event.
Booking and Info: www.ceres.org.au or 9387 4472 david@ceres.org.au
Homegrown, The Art of Gardening Sustainably: Exhibition
Posted in Events by fga on January 19th, 2010
An exhibition to spread the word about sustainable gardening and raise funds for SGA (Sustainable Gardening Australia).
We have artists who are passionate about living sustainably and are keen to exhibit works in various media which respond to the idea of gardening sustainably, particularly growing our own food. Artworks range from vibrant colourful paintings of cabbages to ceramic cabbages, to photographs of carrots, to sculpture in clay or recycled metal, to intricate botanical illustrations to paintings of gardens. Deborah Halpern, well known Melbourne sculptor will be opening the exhibition, and Jane Edmanson, author, garden identity and presenter on TV & radio, will also be at the opening.
Opening: 6 to 8pm, Thursday 4th February 2010
Exhibition: Friday 5th Feb – Sunday 14th Feb 2010
Address: Bolin Bolin Gallery at Bulleen Art & Garden, 6 Manningham Rd W., Bulleen.
RSVP essential: Meredith@baag.com.au (9850-8165) by 1st Feb
More information.
This is a neighbourhood event of the Sustainable Living Festival.
Research project / blog on sustainable gardening in Melbourne
Posted in Research by Ferne Edwards on December 17th, 2008
A research project by Daniel Moss discussing sustainable, self-sufficiency gardening in Melbourne has found an increasing trend toward sustainable, self-sufficient gardening and highlights broader influences impacting on this, and uncovers a variety of community gardens and educational opportunities. The research involved consultation with many participants at the forefront of community and self sufficient garden solutions. It includes a holistic consideration of the topic and explores a diversity of options available. This project could also be of value to compare to other cities and highlights some innovative activities to develop local community food security through growing our own food, herbs and beneficial use plants.
Click here to view the full report.
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