Aargh! how to reduce the carbon footprint of Christmas

Australian Ethical have put together some ideas on how to reduce our carbon footprint over Christmas, that time of year when we tend to spend more, buy more, travel more, eat more, drink more .....

https://www.australianethical.com.au/news/10-tips-more-environmentally-friendly-christmas

Planting notes for December

Dear gardening friends

Caught out again by December sneaking up on me but here are the notes for this month.  Enjoy planting and harvesting. We've eaten so many yummy broad beans these last few weeks!

best wishes

Margaret

DECEMBER	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Silverbeet - punnet, pot to ground, or direct seeding	x	x	x	x
Brussel Sprouts - punnet, pot to ground or direct seeding		x	x	x
Kale - punnet, pot to ground or direct seeding		x	x	x
Cabbage - punnet, pot to ground or direct seeding		x	x	x
Broccoli - for March		x	x
Swedes	x	x	x	x
Shallots/Spring Onions	x	x	x	x
Lettuce	x	x	x	x
Kohlrabi	x	x	x	x
French Bush Beans	x	x	x	x
Climbing Beans - Last chance as on the limit.	x
Cauliflower		x	x	x
Sweetcorn - last chance as on the limit.	x
Punnets
Lettuce	x	x	x	x
Broccoli - punnets or pots for winter		x	x
Cabbage - punnets or pots for winter		x	x
Cauliflower - punnets or pots for winter		x	x

Sustainable Living Festival 2013

Celebrating Sustainability

Festival Weekend

Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th November

10am - 4pm @ Prince's Wharf 1

Now in its 15th year, the Sustainable Living Festival 2013 (SLF 2013) has long been a highlight of the Tasmanian event calendar. Each year  the Festival has the Hobart waterfront buzzing with 10,000 people eager to connect and engage with sustainability and with those businesses and organisations who can help them make their dreams a reality.  This year, for the first time, the Festival will expand to offer a range of events statewide in early November, culminating in the festival weekend at Princes Wharf no.1 on the Hobart Waterfront on the 9th and 10th of November.

Full Festival Program Now Available!  

National Day of Climate Action - Sunday 17 November

Let's kick off this summer with some climate action! On 17th November join thousands of Australians in every capital city and hundreds of regional towns to make it clear that the majority of Australians want climate action. Summer has come early and bushfires are already burning. But in a few weeks we will come together to turn up the heat and launch a summer of climate action.  Join us on Sunday November 17th and let’s make this a huge mobilisation on climate in Tasmania. www.getup.org.au/climate HOBART: Parliament Gardens 12pm WHAT TO BRING: Wear hot summer colours (orange, red). Bring friends!

November Gardening Diary

Dear Gardening Friends See below the notes for a very busy November in the garden! Also, I have just bought 2 bags of beautiful alpaca manure (like sheep manure) from the brother of a neighbour (very Tasmanian). He is happy to supply others so if you would like $5 bags of rich manure call Mike on 6239 6223. Best wishes Margaret                                                                                                                                                                                        NOVEMBER                                WEEK	1	2	3	4
Beetroot - large direct sowing for winter	x
Carrot - large direct sowing cropping Feb to Oct.	x	x
Swedes - for winter				x
Shallots/Spring onions	x	x	x	x
Climbing Beans		x	x	x
French Bush Beans	x	x	x	x
Sweetcorn -	x	x	x	x
as ground is warmer, can dispense with pregermination
Silverbeet - for winter				x
Leeks - punnet to ground		x	x	x
Kohlrabi	x	x	x	x
Brussel Sprouts and Kale - direct seeding				x
Zucchini- pots to ground.	x	x	x
Basil - punnet to ground	x	x	x	x
Punnets or Individual Pots
Brussel Sprouts			x	x
Lettuce			x	x
Silverbeet - for winter			x	x
Brocolli			x	x
Cabbage				x

Spring de-cluttering!

Tasmanian Garage Sale Trail 

Across Tasmania on Saturday 26 October households, businesses and organisations are encouraged to take part in the Garage Sale Trail, so that all the Garage Sales in the community are on one day. For more information, visit www.garagesaletrail.com.au. 

You can also sell stuff

on Gumtree

and give stuff away on Freecycle

And if all else fails:

Free tip trip weekend

The following weekend (2-3 Nov), Hobart City Council offers their annual free entry weekend into the tip. This is for Hobart residents only and only domestic quantities of waste materials will be accepted, such as a standard ute or box trailer.  To gain free entry, simply show your driver’s licence to the Tollbooth operator to verify you are a resident of Hobart. 

Spring seedling sale at Eve's Garden

Spring is definitely here - despite the odd cold snap! 

A lovely reminder is that Liz  will welcome us to Eve's Garden in early October so that we can snap up her wondrous array of seedling tomatoes and other summer vegetables.   

See you there,  on Sunday 6 October 10.30 - 11.30am, at 14 Petty St. 

Tomatoes in profusion - Cosmonaut Volkov, Black Russian,
Leicester Jones, Tommy Toe, Rouge de Marmande, Gardener's Delight
(cherry) and Golden Nugget (cherry). Lettuce, silver beet, broccoli,
beetroot, mint and annual and perennial flowers. How can you resist!
Do bring your friends.
If the weather is bad it will be cancelled.

Bridge to City Tree Planting – 22 September 2013

                    

Join us for the first planting event at the "Bridge to City" Derwent foreshore site. Come celebrate this significant milestone by planting a few trees and then enjoying a friendly morning tea, as we kick off the first official working bee at this beautiful site. With breath-taking coastal views, the sound of lapping water and the occasional appearance of dolphins and other sea life, this site really is quite a special and satisfying site to be involved in restoring.

When:                  Sunday 22 September 10-12.30pm

Meet:                   At the Regatta Ground / Cenotaph car park near the beginning of the intercity cycleway

What to bring:  Sturdy, covered shoes, long-sleeved shirt, trousers, hat, water bottle

Further info:      Contact the Hobart City Council Bushcare Coordinator on 6238 2886 or bushcare@hobartcity.com.au

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Proudly supported by:   the Friends of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, the Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania, Hobart City Council and the Australian Government (through the Caring for Country program)

To Divest or Not to Divest?

350.org Hobart warmly invites you to a public divestment forum on Wednesday 18 September, exploring the issues around our investments in fossil fuels via our super funds and banks.

To Divest or Not to Divest? What can fossil fuel divestment offer our climate, communities and economy? 

Is our super safe? How should we invest?

Everyone’s talking about it. From Obama and Desmond Tutu to the IEA and Lord Stern. Already local governments, religious institutions, universities and major foundations have committed to divest from fossil fuels. 

But is divestment really the climate game changer it’s being made out to be? How do we go about doing it?

Come hear from our panel of experts asking these questions, including: 

• Stuart Barry, Tas Ethical Financial Advisor
• Paul Gilding, Internationally acclaimed sustainability consultant
• Dr Frank Nicklason, Royal Hobart Hospital
• Naomi Edwards, Chair of Tasplan

 When: 18:00 – 19:30, Wednesday 18^th September

Where: Lecture Theatre 2, Medical Sciences Precinct, University of Tasmania, cnr Liverpool and Campbell St.

See tasdivest.org for more information.

New permaculture learning opportunity for Hobart

A message we've received from Good Life Permaculture.  : 

We are a small city farm in the making (in Hobart) that provides game-changing courses in permaculture. We educate and empower people to live productive, sustainable and meaningful lives in the city and on the land.

We are running a Permaculture Design Course this Summer, see the flyer attached for all the details and our website. We would greatly appreciate it if you could please include the following course information in your newsletter or put a copy of the attached flyer on your local notice board. 

"Permaculture Design Course: Nov 29 - Dec 13, Penguin, NW Tas

Join lead teacher Hannah Moloney along with Cam Wilson, Nick Towle and special guests, Steve Solomon and Bruce French for two weeks of deep permaculture design thinking, learning and doing. Whether you live deep in the city or out bush this course will teach you how to design sustainable systems for yourself and others. Bookings & Enquiries: 0418 307 294 /www.goodlifepermaculture.com.au" 

To stay in touch with what we're up to SIGN UP HERE to our (awesome) newsletter. We'll send out a mini newsletters every 1 - 2 months consisting of great resources and events coming up.

To see what other courses and events we've got coming up visit our website today.

Shallots of Love!

Hannah Moloney
0418 307 294

Share and Swap Fest at the Source

As part of Australia's first ever Fair Food Week, Source will be hosting a Share and Swap Fest! Bring along your swappables for exchange, such as seeds, seedlings, jams, chutneys, vegetables, beers, ferments, cakes, biscuits. There will also be a program of short skillshare workshops such as sourdough bread baking, making saurkraut, homemade yoghurt, composting and permaculture. This will be followed by woodfired pizzas and informal music making around the pizza oven, so bring an instrument, your voice, or just your ears.

Saturday 24th of August 1 - 5pm.
12 French St, Sandy Bay

Contact Jenny Calder for more details:  Calder.jenny@gmail.com

Knocklofty a haven for rare plants

Prasophyllum perangustum

We count ourselves lucky in West Hobart to enjoy easy access to Knocklofty Reserve, where we can quickly escape the city and disappear into the bush along a number of well maintained tracks.  Did you know that the healthy, thriving native bushland you see in Knocklofty Reserve today is not an accident?  It has resulted from many years of tireless dedication from a small group of Bushcare volunteers: The Friends of Knocklofty Bushcare Group [FoKL].  

Botanical surveys commissioned by the Hobart City Council and Friends of Knocklofty have now identified that Knocklofty Reserve contains over 300 species of native plants growing in ten dry and wet sclerophyll forest communities. Nine rare and threatened plant species have been identified, including the Knocklofty Leek Orchid [Prasophyllum perangustum], which is unique to the reserve.

Much dedicated work by members of the group has resulted in descriptions and photos of the Flora of Knocklofty.  For example:

Prasophyllum perangustum, common name "Knocklofty leek orchid", is a very rare species, seldom found and last seen on Knocklofty summit in 2002.  The 7 to 15, narrow green to light reddish green flowers with a white to pink labellum appear in late spring to early summer above the 18 to 25cm dark green leaf.  This species is believed to only appear after a fire, yet a light burn since 2002 produced no flowers.

You can check out the individual flowers or get a complete list of the flora on Knocklofty Reserve here.


Hobart City Council and Friends of Knocklofty are working together to protect the reserve.  Plantings of over 30,000 plants have been designed to restore native plants to areas disturbed by quarrying, grazing and woody weed growth, and to provide habitat for the various fauna species living in the reserve. Friends of Knocklofty are always keen to have more helpers - find them on the web here.

Concerned about dogs in the bush?

The Hobart City Council's Dog Management Plan is open for review, closing 1 July. You may want to consider the impact dogs have on your patch of bush.

Here is where to find the current dog management plan:

http://www.hobartcity.com.au/Environment/Animal_Management

From the HCC website:

The City of Hobart encourages your feedback by close of business Monday 1 July 2013 which will be considered when drafting the new Dog Management Strategy 2014-2018. You can provide feedback by using the online form or alternatively, you are invited to submit feedback via:

Email - hcc@hobartcity.com.au - subject - Dog Management Strategy Review
Post - Addressed to the General Manager, Hobart City Council, GPO Box 503, Hobart 7001.  Envelope to be marked - Dog Management Strategy Review
Delivery - Hobart Council Centre, 16 Elizabeth Street, Hobart.  Envelope to be marked - Dog Management Strategy Review.

For further information please contact the Council's Acting Manager Customer Service, David Banks on 6238 2783 or email banksd@hobartcity.com.au

Soil tests in West Hobart???

Cleanup Toxic Tasmania has shared these results on our Facebook page:

These are the Tasmanian EPA soil test results from 5 sites around the urban residential property at 203 Elizabeth St. Hobart, Tasmania - compared against international EPA human health risk limits listed at: http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/interpreting_heavy_metals_soil_tests.pdf.

The Tasmanian EPA says their figures show no evidence of contamination beyond that which would be expected at any inner Hobart location.

Does anyone in West Hobart have any results we could compare these with?

Why light rail is the perfect fit: Public Information Session, Sunday 30 June

Light rail is experiencing a world-wide renaissance. Its ability to adapt to the landscape of contemporary cities, and to move substantial numbers of people quickly and reliably from A to B, makes it a key player in developing viable and sustainable cities in which to live, work and visit. Equally it is becoming the solution to many of 21^stCentury’s urban challenges, including traffic congestion, increasing transport costs and climate change. Unsurprisingly, cities both small and large are taking notice and investing in light rail. Now it’s Hobart’s turn.

The ending of freight activities along the Hobart rail corridor provides the opportunity to reintroduce modern passenger rail transit and reshape public transport services in Southern Tasmania. Utilisation of the existing corridor makes this the most affordable light rail project in Australia and it is consequently being put at the forefront of transport planning in Hobart. 

Project development over the past months has substantially moved Hobart light rail from vision to actuality, including the establishment of the Light Rail Task Force (consisting of Minister for Sustainable Transport Nick McKim, Minister for Community Development Cassy O’Connor, Hobart Lord Mayor Damon Thomas, Glenorchy Mayor Stuart Slade and Chair of the Tasmanian Planning Commission Greg Alomes).

Also helping to keep the momentum going have been the two Light Rail Roundtables organised this year by Bob Brown and Anna Reynolds. The consultancy work by Tim Crane and James McIntosh has injected fresh new thinking on the value of public transport infrastructure. It’s positive to see the discussion has moved from an if to a how: How far should we go? Where should the stations lie? These are all giant strides forward for securing funding and making this project a reality. 

This Sunday, Minister for Sustainable Transport Nick McKim and Greens Candidate for Denison Anna Reynolds will host a public meeting to discuss the project’s progress, what light rail means for Hobartians and why it’s the perfect fit for Hobart.

Come along to find out more, share your ideas, ask questions and register your interest for this exciting state-of-the-art project.

When: Sunday 30^th June, 3-4pm
Where: New Town High School,
6 Midwood St, Newtown

Get energised around Climate Action - June 22

Climate Action Hobart is presenting a one day workshop on June 22, 9.45 am - 4 pm in the Clarence Uniting Church.

'Every year brings fresh evidence of the increasing pace and severity of climate change. Yet we continue to witness the failings of policy, leadership and communities to confront this challenge with honesty and integrity. And so, the burden of our work has been made heavier with despair. Let's reclaim our hope! Come along and contribute your energy to planning a safe climate future for Tasmania ... and the world.'

Will Steffan will provide an energising keynote address:  “The Angry Summers of our Future”, and the focus of the day will be on strategies for action.    See the flyer here.

*****************************************************************************************************************

Keynote speaker Professor Will Steffan will also give a public talk in the evening of June 22 (7.15 pm for 7.30pm) in the UTAS Centenary Lecture Theatre. The subject of this free address is:  The Critical Decade 2013 - Climate change science, risks and responses".  RSVP to utas.events@utas.edu.au.

See the flyer here.

*******************************************************************************************************************

These look like great opportunities to catch up on the latest and positive thinking on the climate change campaign.  Hope you can come.

*****************************************************************

Biography

Will Steffen has a long history in international global change research, serving from 1998 to 2004 as Executive Director of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), based in Stockholm, Sweden, and before that as Executive Officer of IGBP's Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems project.

Prior to taking up the ANU Climate Change Institute Directorship in 2008, Steffen was the inaugural director of the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society. From 2004 to 2011 he served as science adviser to the Australian Government Department of Climate Change. He is currently a Climate Commissioner with the Australian Government Climate Commission; Chair of the Antarctic Science Advisory Committee, Co-Director of the Canberra Urban and Regional Futures (CURF) initiative and Member of the ACT Climate Change Council.

Steffen's interests span a broad range within the fields of sustainability and Earth System science, with an emphasis on the science of climate change, approaches to climate change adaptation in land systems, incorporation of human processes in Earth System modelling and analysis; and the history and future of the relationship between humans and the rest of nature.

Biography provided by the ANU Climate Change Institute Website

http://cci.anu.edu.au/researchers/view/will_steffen/

Draught Busters project update

The Draught Busters in West Hobart project has been a great success.  Over 25 homes have now been "draught busted"! with quality draught proofing materials, and a number of residents are still working on their windows and doors.    We have had four workshops so far, and there is still a chance we will hold one more, depending on levels of interest.  Participants have learnt a lot about ways and means of reducing cold air coming into their houses.  We have learnt about new materials and have developed new skills.  More than that, it has been great to meet fellow residents and make new friendships.

We've had some success in painting the window strip to match the door and window architraves:

Last call:  Anyone interested in taking part should contact Margaret Steadman at steadmanma@gmail.com.

Connect with 'Winter Thinking'

Interested in the link between housing and poverty? carbon accounting? local power? The Green Institure is hosting some more online "web seminars" with Chris Twomey (housing), Judith Ajani (carbon) and Margaret Blakers (local power).  These are a great way to connect with others across Australia who are interested in the same issues you are.  Come to one or come to all and be thoroughly well-informed without leaving home.

All you need is a computer with speakers and microphone plus $6 for each seminar. They are on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week at 8 pm eastern time. Click here for more information and to register.

It's Time - to have your say on Feed In Tariffs for solar PV

Save Solar Tasmania’s  Briefing Paper on the Feed-in Tariff consultation is now available at: http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/tas_docs The Briefing Paper has been written to assist people wishing to make submissions to the consultation process  being run by the Electricity Reform Project in Treasury. Submissions are due by Tuesday 11 June and should be sent to: Electricity.Reform@treasury.tas.gov.au Presentations from last week's Fate of the Feed-in Tariff forum run by Sustainable Living Tasmania are now available  at http://slt.org.au/feedintariff and you can view video of the event on YouTube. ================================== Jack Gilding Convenor, Save Solar Tasmania m: (0407) 486-651 e: tasmania@solarcitizens.org.au w: http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/tas/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaveSolarTas Sign our petition at: http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/savesolartasmania http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/tas_docs

June's gardening notes

Dear Gardening friends

This month's planting notes are below.

We had a wonderful afternoon at Tony's great vegetable garden last month - lots of gardening talk, seed sharing and lovely afternoon tea in the autumn sunshine.

If you would like to host a winter visit to your garden from the GAF  gardeners please let us know.

JUNE	Week1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Broad Beans (2nd planting)				x
Sugar Snap peas (2nd planting) pregerminate then sow				x
Snowpea (2nd planting)				x
direct sow and protect from birds until 100mm high
English Spinach (no Punnets - direct seeding only)			x	x

Best wishes

Margaret and Ann

Your winter bush adventures are here!

Don’t miss the Hobart City Council's Bushadventures team's presentations on…

·            Winter on Mt Wellington with ecologist Fred Duncan

·            Migratory and Resident Shorebirds

·            Tasmanian Devils – Speak of the Devil: What’s Happening Right Now?

·            The Ecology of Wild Tasmanian Fungi

·            Botanical Drawing

·            Antarctica: Then and Now

The Winter Program full of all the details is attached!

Visit www.hobartcity.com.au/bushadventures to view this season’s calendar of events!

"Do the Math" with Bill McKibben

Climate Action Hobart is hosting a live broadcast of Bill McKibben's "Do the Math" Canberra event on June 5 at The Centenary Lecture Theatre, UTAS, 7.15 for 7.30 pm.

A truly inspiring speaker and activist, in 2009 Bill co-founded the grassroots climate campaign 350.org, which has coordinated 15,000 rallies in 189 countries.

His Australian tour is the first international leg of Bill McKibben’s hugely successful 'Do the Math' tour through the USA following publication of his article, Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math, in Rolling Stone magazine. The article went viral and inspired renewed vigour in communities fighting global warming across the USA and the world.

On his Australian tour, Bill McKibben will be presenting his clear-eyed view of the global warming maths in the Australian context and what we can do to subtract from the terrifying total.

Here him live from Canberra on June 5.

"Bill McKibben is the most effective environmental activist of our age. Anyone interested in making a difference to our world can learn from him."

Tim Flannery

8 to 80 Cities comes to Hobart

8 to 80 Cities:  Walk & Bike..Parks & Streets..For All!

This is a movement for change, dedicated to transforming cities into places where people can safely and easily walk, bike, access public transit and visit vibrant parks, streets and other public places.

WHEN was at the 8 to 8O Cities photoshoot organised on Saturday by Bicycle Tasmania.  Over 150 bike riders formed into a giant figure of eight to demonstrate their demand for safe cycleways on Tasmania's roads.  There were people from younger than 8 to older than 8O.  It was great fun, with lots of old friends catching up and new friends and acquaintances being made in the warm winter sunshine.

8-80 Cities is based on a simple philosophy:

If you create a city that’s good for an 8 year old and good for an 80 year old, you will create a successful city for everyone. We want every city and town in Tasmania to be an 8-80 City.

• 8-80 Cities are communities built for people. They reflect social equality in the public realm and promote sustainable happiness.
• They nurture our need to be physically active by providing safe, accessible and enjoyable places for everyone to walk, bike and be active as part of our daily routine.
• They recognise that people are social creatures, so they prioritise human interaction by fostering vibrant streets and great public places where people can rest, relax and play.
• 8-80 Cities encourage sustainable and healthy lifestyles for everyone regardless of age, gender, ability, ethnicity or economic background.

http://www.8-80cities.org/  is where you can find out more about the 8 to 8O Cities movement. 

Fate of the Solar Feed-in Tariff - Forum Thurs 30 May

Fate of the Solar Feed-in Tariff

·         What are the impacts of changing the solar feed-in tariff?

·         What would be a fair tariff?

·         What can you do?

Speakers:

·         Craig Memery, Alternative Technology Association

·         Jack Gilding, Save Solar Tasmania

·         Ben Stevens, Baslec, Tasmanian solar installer

6:00pm - 7:30pm, Thursday 30th May 2013, Entry $5

Lecture Theatre 105, Medical Services Precinct

Corner of Liverpool & Campbell streets, Hobart

Join us afterwards for light refreshments and informal discussion

More details:

Sustainable Living Tasmania

(03) 6234 5566, todd@slt.org.au

http://slt.org.au/feedintariff

Bridge to City Tree Planting & BBQ

Come join local volunteers from the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Bushcare, SCAT and others for a fun family tree planting event on the Derwent Foreshore. Be a part of helping to restore this beautiful area by planting a tree; learn about the Aboriginal people who were the custodians of this land with a walk and talk with Elder, Lance le Sage; get  a taste for the local bush tucker, free BBQ and more.

Where:                   meet at the Regatta Ground (upper) car park

When:                    10-1pm, Sunday 2 June

What to bring:     Hat, water bottle, sturdy, covered shoes, long-sleeved shirt and trousers

RSVPs are essential. Access to the site is limited and children must be carefully supervised by their parent or guardian due to the proximity to the train-line.

Anna Greig

Bushcare Coordinator

Hobart City Council, Bushland & Reserves

Phone (03)6238 2884

Mobile 0409 780 458