community | Allsun

By MEREDITH KIRTON

Joyce Wilkie and Michael Plane, both “retired” academics have turned a bush block into a productive farm and are happy to share their keen insights.  If you’re up for the drive, the outing is worth the trouble.

The Allsun Farm between Gundaroo and Canberra is having specialist talks and tours all weekend on the 29^th-30 October 2011.  Entry fee is $10 and there will be everything from tools to chooks, tractors and books, and of course, tasty produce that biodynamic and organically grown.  For details check out the Australian Open Garden Schemes 2011/2012 Catalogue or website.

Photography by SUE STUBBS | Blog designed by RED PEPPER GRAPHICS

community | floriade

By MEREDITH KIRTON

First three photos by IdPhoto.com.au. Following photos by Meredith Kirton:

(Above) The Australian War Memorial will be at floriade with the Victory garden to share the history of wartime kitchens and gardens and the scheme that encouraged so many Australians to grow their own during the war, this helping not only their diets but also the war effort.

(Above) Citrus sculptures from Griffith

Floriade’s theme this year is Feast of the Senses and there are a few gardens worth visiting.  The Victory Garden, which is the scene for talks by various garden notorieties such as Graham Ross and Jackie French, plays homage to the 75^th Anniversary of WWII and the efforts made by ordinary Australian’s to feed themselves and thus help the war effort.  Talks by War Memorial Staff will also enlighten audiences.  See www.floraide.com.au for daily schedules.

Of course, our very own Meredith Kirton will also be at the Lindeman’s Open Garden with Dominique Rizzo, talking about growing your own kitchen garden produce and turning fresh vegetables and herbs into simple, delicious meals.  It would be great if some of you bloggers could make yourself known if you’re there… Meredith will have a special giveaway for those of you who brave it!

Photography by MEREDITH KIRTON | Blog designed by RED PEPPER GRAPHICS

community | Norton Plaza

By MEREDITH KIRTON

The rooftop of one one Sydney’s busiest shops, Norton Plaza in Leichhardt, has developed a kitchen garden on top of it’s retail centre and opened it up to the community.

This area, known for it’s Italian heritage, will be perfect for growing a wide range of Mediterranean herbs and potted trees such as olives.  The inside of the centre has even planted mini winter gardens throughout the plaza to demonstrate potted edibles and advertise the scheme.
At present they are looking for a garden guardian to help coordinate the scheme.

For more details go to http://www.nortonplaza.com.au/content.aspx?urlkey=CommunityKitchenGarden

Photography by MEREDITH KIRTON |Blog designed by RED PEPPER GRAPHICS

community | Tree Day

By MEREDITH KIRTON

National Tree Day will be held on Sunday 31st July 2011, with Schools Tree Day taking place on the Friday 29th July 2011. Last year over 312 000 people at 3 500 sites dug deep to improve their natural surroundings. Tree Day shows children how easy and fun it is to help our environment.
In March 2011, Planet Ark commissioned an independent study,* sponsored by Toyota Australia, to investigate childhood interaction with nature and how this interaction is changing.
The research shows that there has been a dramatic shift in childhood activity from outdoor play to indoor activity in the space of one generation.

73% of respondents played outdoors more often than indoors when they were young, compared to only 13% of their children and 72% of respondents played outside every day as kids compared to only 35% of their children. Even more scary was that 1 in 10 children today play outside once a week or less.

64% of respondents said they climbed trees as kids but less than 20% of their children participate in this activity.  If you’d like to plant a fruit tree in your yard that’s also suitable for climbing, consider a pecan, mango or avocado for larger gardens, or macadamia, persimmon and olives for smaller backyards.  Happy days!

The report, Climbing Trees: Getting AussieKids Back Outside is available at http://treeday.planetark.org/about/health-benefits.cfm

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community | Balmain High

By MEREDITH KIRTON

Recently Mark Morrison, owner of online plant supplier, Morrison’s Garden Centre, which sells plants and products and delivers to the Sydney Metropolitan Area, has been working not in cyber space but in reality, doing great work with disabled children from Sydney’s Inner West.

Like many people, Mark has become interested in home grown produce and now sells and installs corrugated tank veggie gardens. (pic attached of example).  He was also instrumental in developing a veggie garden at Balmain High and provide ongoing support there for the staff of the Support Unit for disabled children.  A few images of the delight these kids are feeling from their interaction with their crops are attached.

Mark Morrison is a member of the  Australian Institute of Horticulture and is a Certified Nursery Practitioner.

His contact details are:

Morrison’s Garden Centre
Phone: 0409 201 063
Email: info@morrisonsgardencentre.com.au
Web: www.morrisonsgardencentre.com.au

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community | Newington

By MEREDITH KIRTON

Recently Gavin Smith, environmentalist and honorary life member of The Wilderness Society came to speak at Newington College’s Wyvern House as they implemented a composting Friday scheme where green waste is collected from the boys each recess and lunch and goes into their compost bins, worm farms and black soldier fly larvae pods instead of the bins.

Gavin’s enthusiasm for the environment, and in particular composting, was infectious, and the boys, ranging  in ages from Kindy to year 6, lapped up his demonstrations. “I volunteer in a number of ways. I speak to high school students about volunteering, wild life preservation, conservation and biodiversity” explains Gavin, “Last year I helped train trainers to develop community gardening projects around Sydney with Michael Mobbs, author of” The Sustainable House”. This is an ongoing group which meets monthly at Carriageworks, Redfern”.

If your community group or school wants to  have a similar demonstration, enquiries should be made to Gavin Smith, Phone:  95682331. Mobile: 0438 686 696. Email: gavinsmithwilderness@gmail.com Being a part time school teacher, he has all the necessary clearances.

The fly has been around since the 1940s. My contact is David Watson with whom, I recall, you have already made contact: david@circle3.com One of the best You Tube presentations may be found at Black Soldier Fly Larvae Revisited by “the compost fellow”. Dr Oliver is the author. 2005 is the earliest reference I can find. Larger versions of the pods are available in the US and Vietnam is building home made ones for local waste conversions. There are many You Tube references and footage of their ability to consume huge quantities of putrescent waste. There is a humourous article worth a read – “So you want to be an urban chicken farmer? Read this first.”

Photography by MEREDITH KIRTON  | Blog designed by RED PEPPER GRAPHICS

community | open garden

By MEREDITH KIRTON

Mandy Stubbs, discovered her passion for permaculture 3 years ago.  Her garden prior to this conversion was supposed to have been a fairly easy care affair (and for 9 years this suited them well (except when the drought hit the following year and much of it died!) …that is until the reality of global warming and climate change struck, and books like those of David Suzuki changed her perspective on everything. Husband Paul is slower to yield, however, and at the moment is prone to thinking, in the mind of Mandy at least, that she’s always “going on about the planet and being an Eco Warrior …driving him around the bend!”

Mandy firmly believes “not to be put off by what others think.  If you believe it you can’t help yourself, but act”.  Now a coordinator of the Permaculture Sydney North Lane Cove Group (www.permaculturenorth.org.au) , Mandy does lots for the cause, including helping at Permapatch (www.Permapatch.org.au) , a community garden in the grounds of Chatswood’s Uniting Church on Mowbray Road, which has about 50 members, and designing many of the Permaculture’s garden displays for various shows, including one which she got to take out the coveted “Garden Display Award” for in the 2008 Gardening Australia Expo Sydney.  “I got to kiss Peter Cundal”, remembers Mandy, “and show people that they can grow edibles in small spaces in Sydney, in everything from pots and vertical plantings”.

Mandy certainly lives what she believes, with her garden reaping many vegetables and recycling all its green waste with worms, compost and chickens. “I adore my chooks”, says Mandy, “you give them scraps and they give you manure and eggs!”  Mandy’s own mother taught her much as a child growing up in England.  “I grew up with all those fabulous fruits, chicken, rabbits, veggies.  Everything was home grown and home made, even many of our clothes”.   Economic necessity was the reason back then, and might be the persuasion needed for Mandy’s own son. Nick, 22, is certainly beginning to see the garden in a new light too.  “He’s starting to come around”, says Mandy, “especially seeing he needs the money, so often asks if he can help!”

Always there is work to be done in the garden, but Mandy’s favourite time is going out at 6pm into the garden with a glass of wine and finding something to pick for dinner.  “I love looking at all the things – cuttings, seeds and so on, that I’ve been given by friends”.  Mandy believes in giving back, and plans for 2011 include a “greening the verges” project in her suburb where grass is replaced by food bearing and nature attracting plants, and she can stick in a sign that reads “please pick the food”!

Mandy Stubbs’ garden is open as part of the Australian Open Garden Scheme 26 and 27 March, 2011
The address is 5 Second Ave, Lane Cove.  There will be fee talks at 11am and 2pm daily on permaculture and composting.

There are around 150 different species of edible plants to encourage diversity. Verge planting with fig, guava, apple, herbs and veg.  Also pure breed chickens, bee hive, composting, worm farms, rain tanks, water recycling, solar. Tea, coffee, homemade cake. Homegrown/homemade items for sale. Diverse range of organic herb and vegetable seedlings for sale.   Experts will be on hand all day to answer gardening and sustainability questions. Sponsoring Permaculture North Lane Cove, towards helping the community live sustainably in all different kinds of ways. $6 Open Garden Scheme entry fee.  www.permaculturenorth.org.au

Photography by SUE STUBBS  | Blog designed by RED PEPPER GRAPHICS