Community Garden Conference, October 7-8 2010, Canberra

Promoting sustainability, health and inclusion in the city

This 2-day conference to be held on October 7-8 2010 at the University of Canberra brings together representatives of different forms of community gardening practices in Australia to share knowledge, promote dialogue and assess best practice.

Keynote speakers include:

• Myles Bremner from the United Kingdom – Trustee of Sustain (UK) and Chief Executive of Garden Organic
• Keith Colls – President of Canberra Organic Growers Society
• Costa Georgiadis – from SBS television’s ‘Costa’s Garden Odyssey’
• Phil Harris – Professor in Sustainable Agriculture and Head of International Development at the University of Coventry, UK
• Andre Leu – Chair of Organic Federation of Australia and Deputy Chair of International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements
• Senator Christine Milne (Greens) TBC
• Neil Savery – Chief Planning Executive, ACT Planning and Land Authority and an Adjunct Professor in Urban Design with the University of Canberra

Where and when?

October 7-8, 2010, NATSEM Building (Building 24), University of Canberra

For full details or to register visit the website

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Free Introduction to Permaculture Course in Brisbane

Learn how to apply permaculture design principles to a home garden system for maximum soil fertility, green waste recycling, integrated pest management and efficient water use. Completely activity based this course includes:

• Ethics and principles
• Observation skills
• Site assessment
• Sector analysis
• Random assembly of the elements of design
• Input/output analysis
• Zoning for low maintenance and water efficiency
• Measuring and laying out a site
• Design planning

This course will be held at Northey Street City Farm over three weeks commencing Saturday 1 May 2010 from 1.30 to 4.30pm. Contact Claire for full details and to book your place on 0403 935 014.

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Course: design and application of solar technology

For Architects, Building Designers, Electricians and Planners

You will receive a comprehensive overview of how solar energy is harnessed in nature and be introduced to some of the latest solar technology innovations available around the planet. There will be an emphasis on energy conservation and best practices for a range of solar energy applications. Areas covered will include:

• Elementary workings of a photovoltaic (solar) panel
• On and off grid system design considerations
• System integration considerations
• Solar hot water systems
• Passive design concepts for home and business
• Solar thermal technologies

The principals learned are universal and may be applied to a variety of domestic and commercial applications. The practical installation process will coordinate theory with practice to enhance the learning experience.

Presenter Mark Shakeshaft is an accredited designer and installer of Photovoltaic (solar) Power Systems with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE).

Investment of $545 (earlybird $495 by 12 February) includes materials for workshop participation, twin share accommodation in a bushland retreat setting, morning and afternoon teas and organic vegetarian meals. Student rate and low income $395 (earlybird $345 by 12 February). For more information see www.gudhara.org.au or phone (02) 4884 4467.

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South East QLD: Bioregional food self reliance

It’s possible here and now to be 100% food self reliant at a bioregional & local level! Come and learn how…

TUTOR/FACILITATOR: Robina McCurdy (Earthcare Education Aotearoa)

DATES: FRI 2 (eve) – SUN 4 OCTOBER

TIMES: Fri eve 7 – 10pm (beginning with a meal), Sat 9am – 9pm, Sun 9am – 4pm

VENUE: Janet & Mick Millington’s property, EUMUNDI (directions given on registration)

COST: $280 – $180 (Income-related sliding scale)

Includes: Handouts, Tuition, simple accommodation, Friday eve meal, food basics (bring additional food to contribute to combined meals). A deposit of $50 is required by Wed 23 September.

REGISTRATION: Janet Millington: miltech@bigpond.com

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW: This workshop is an interactive, in-depth sharing and practicing of Robina’s tools and strategies in community building, nature connetion, sustainability analysis, conflict resolution and strategic planning – to achieve the goal of community and regional scale food resilience, in these challenging times of resource depletion, economic downturn and societal fragmentation. Robina will also share about successful models of localised food production she has been involved with, in Aotearoa/NZ and in other parts of the world.

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Adelaide school garden tour and workshop

Are you interested in setting up a food garden at school? Then come and hear from experienced school gardeners and visit their gardens.

Kate Hubmayer (Black Forest Primary School), Deidre Knight (Nazareth Catholic Community), Harry Harrison (Rare Fruit Society) and Karyn Duance (Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Association) share their experience to get you started with food gardening at your school.

• Tour the large and diverse garden at Black Forest Primary School.
• Visit the recently constructed veggie gardens at Nazareth College.
• Discuss garden options with experienced school gardeners siting your garden, materials to use, low budget alternatives.

Saturday 12th September. Start 1.30pm Black Forest Primary School (679 South Rd, Black Forest). Finish 4.15 at Nazareth College (176 Crittenden Rd, Findon).

This is a free event! Nibbles and certificates provided. Bus pickup 1pm and dropoff 4.30 pm at the EDC, Hindmarsh.

Register now, places limited!! Register with Matt Cattanach by phoning (08) 8234 7255 or email matt@kesab.asn.au.

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Earth building residential workshop

Designing with earth – Contemporary construction with natural materials
Sat 26th (10.00am) – Sun 27th September (4pm) 2009
Organised by Gudhara Holistic Sanctuary, Southern Highlands

Gudhara Holistic Sanctuary Inc. is a not for profit organization running weekend residential workshops and retreats on sustainability, arts and spirituality at various locations in the Southern Highlands south of Sydney.

This two day workshop for Architects and Building Professionals will introduce participants to earth building. You will develop an understanding and appreciation for the use of unfired earth as a building material and tool for design. This will incorporate a brief history of earth construction as well as current design principles and technologies. You will learn how to create healthy and energy efficient earth buildings with climate responsive design.

This workshop has a theoretical component as well as a hands-on section involving construction by participants of an earth based structure. The format will give a deeper understanding of the philosophies and techniques discussed in the teaching sessions. This practical experience will unlock the materials’ secrets, magic qualities and reveal its simple beauty.

Facilitator
Peter Hickson is a builder who specialises in earth building in the Shoalhaven area. Peter has completed over fifty earth projects in the 25 years he has been working in the construction industry. He has been conducting earth building workshops for 9 years, has written many articles and presented papers on earth building. Peter has recently been involved with the research and testing of earth structures with the Design, Architecture and Building Faculty at UTS. He has served for many years on the committee of the Earth Building Association of Australia and is currently President of EBAA.

Registration
Investment – $545 (earlybird $495 by 7 August). Includes materials, workshop notes, organic vegetarian meals and twin share accommodation in a bushland setting. For more information see www.gudhara.org.au or phone (02) 4884 4467.

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Learning in the garden seminar – Brisbane

A unique two-day professional development seminar for teachers, parents and educators.

Time: 14 and 15 September 2009
Location: Griffith University Eco Centre and Northey Street City Farm

* Participate in workshops and activities designed to help you develop your own ideas
* Meet others who share your interest for learning in the garden and share experiences
* Learn to design and manage sustainable systems associated with the garden
* Explore how to fund your project and develop partnerships with the wider community
* Learn how to build commitment and ownership within the school community
* Become a part of a strong network of supportive local educators

Cost: 2 days: $300 (waged), $200 (unwaged), 1 day: $150 (waged), $100 (unwaged). Includes lunch, morning and afternoon tea. Limited number of subsidised places available.

Registrations due Friday 4th September Places are limited

For details: email litg@growingcommunities.org.au or call 0413 660 826.

Learning in the Garden is presented by Growing Communities, a non-profit organisation working to assist schools and communities develop gardens for learning.

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School gardens seminar – Melbourne

A Professinal Development short course to be held in Melbourne, Victoria commences September 28th, 2009. A successful collaboration between the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and Cranbourne and Cultivating Community brings the best of Melbourne’s school garden expertise, educators and horticuluralists to share inspiring information and stories. It is a course designed for those wanting hands on practical activities and ideas that will sustain students and staff in fun, outdoor education and connection to nature. Check their website for full details.

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Catchment Connections workshops

Living Schools is working with the City of Ryde, Hornsby and Hunters Hill Councils to deliver series of three free workshops for local residents who are interested in learning how to better care for and protect their catchment.

We all live in a catchment and the decisions we make in our homes and gardens, such as the chemicals we use, how we design our gardens and the plants we choose, can make a big difference to the health of our creeks and bushland.

The first round of workshops will be held over the coming weeks. Bookings are essential and places are limited to residents of the partner Council areas. The workshops are as follows:

•    Understanding our impact – Sat 9th May, 1pm to 3.30pm
•    Low impact design for healthy ecosystems – Sat 30th May, 1pm to 3.30pm
•    Caring for our creeks by gardening sustainably – Sat 20th June, 1pm to 3.30pm

Each workshop builds on the previous one and participants are encouraged to attend all three, although this is not essential. A second round of workshops will be held in July and August.

Catchment Connections is assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust. For more information or to make a booking contact the City of Ryde on 9952 8222.

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Write it up – case study workshops for educators

Living Schools is currently working with the Australian Association for Environmental Education to deliver a series of workshops on developing case studies of education for sustainability projects around NSW. If you are an educator and are interested to attend a workshop in your area, please get in touch as soon as possible by emailing info@livingschools.com.au or you can download a copy of the Write it Up! guide at http://www.aaeensw.org.au/

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