permaculture

[Pacific Edge Permaculture <pacedge@magna.com.au>]

Hello everyone...

SEED SAVERS CONFERENCE ON COURSE
Planning for the annual Seed Savers Network conference - this time entitled
Our Seeds, Our Food, Our Future - is on course in Sydney.

The conference, to take place on November 11 and 12 at UNSW in Randwick in
Sydney's eastern suburbs, will feature Dr Judyth McLeod-director of the
Horticultural Plants Biodiversity Program at Uni Western Sydney, Vanaja
Ramprasad-Indian activist, and Dr David Murray-plant pathologist, university
researcher and authority on genetically engineered food issues.

As well, there's a greats election of workshops and tours. Bookings are
essential and you can find details and a booking form at
www.magna.com.au/~pacedge

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NEW PERMACULTURE MAGAZINE LAUNCHED
Well, it seems that living in one of the country's few areas enjoying a
Mediterranean climate inspires initiative. The folk at PASA - Permaculture
Association South Australia - have launched a photocopied, quarterly
magazine.

According to SA permaculture teacher, Ian Lillington, the new magazine
"...is somewhat like the "Edge" of the early 1990's was. If anyone would
like a free copy of our first edition, please send an A4-size envelope and
$1 in stamps to Ian Lillington and Jo Middleton, Living Permaculture,
Willunga Garden Village, 19 Kookaburra Court Willunga SA 5172'.

For those who don't know, the Permaculture Edge was one of the first
permaculture magazines. It started life in the 1980s with the Nambour,
Queensland, permaculture group and later migrated to Western Australia. Its
final edition was in 1996. The Edge had a reputation for more technical and
longer stories of direct interest to practicing permaculturists.

In this age of rising publication costs and the convenience of web-based
newsletters, PASA's initiative is certtainly a brave one and I wish them the
best of fortune and prosperity.
...........................................

COMMUNITY GARDEN OPEN DAY - SYDNEY
The UNSW Permaculture Community Permaculture Garden is set to bloom with
activity on Saturday 4 November, when it celebrates its first Picnic Day.

Garden lovers of all ages and backgrounds will have plenty to inspire them
with gardening demonstrations, hands-on workshops, plant giveaways and
entertainment running throughout the day.

"Community gardens are one of Southern Sydney's best kept secrets. In a big
city like Sydney, they provide a green oasis where people can come down to
earth, learn new skills, escape from the hustle and bustle and even grow
their own food", says Adrienne Bailey, Project Manager at the Southern
Sydney Waste Board, the event sponsor.

Other attractions on the day will include tours of the permaculture garden
and adjoining ecoliving house, a renewable energy display, composting
demonstrations and a workshop on how to create your own wonderful
"ecogarden".

The Picnic Day coincides with the opening of the garden for the Australia's
Open Garden Scheme and kicks off "Community Gardens Month" in Southern
Sydney. Entry is $3 for adults and free for kids.

Events planned include:
11am Garden plant giveaway: first in best dressed! (South Sydney Council)

11am onwards-demonstrations: composting and wormfarming made easy (Southern
Sydney Waste Board) + Guided Tours: Discover Ecoliving House and the
Permaculture Garden (tours on the hour every hour)

11.30am-The Garden Pharmacy Workshop (Dr Sean Matthews); Propagating Native
Plants Workshop (Deborah Bushell)

1pm-Demonstration: Explore the principles of Ecogardening
(Peter Rutherford); from 1.30pm-Workshop: Organic Gardening Tips and Advice
(Fiona Campbell); 3pm- Demonstration: Learn how to create a vibrant
Ecogarden (Peter Rutherford)

All Day-Sustainable Energy Display - Solar Power (Pacific Solar)

All Day-Technology Display - Waste Water Treatment and Recycling
(Environmental Management Pty Ltd)

Other Attractions: Kids Face Painting+vegetarian BBQ+Live Folk Music: let
Margaret and John entertain you with their witty ecoditties!+Reverse
Garbage: One person's trash is another's treasure! Discover the amazing
things that can be created from garbage.+check out the display stalls from
the Royal Botanic Gardens and Street Jungle.

About our workshop coordinators:

Peter Rutherford: qualified horticulturalist with a special interest in
environmental education. Peter has implemented community education courses
for the EPA and Sydney Waste Boards, written books on composting and worm
farming, lectured in Social Ecology at UWS and appeared as a guest on 2BL's
gardening program, Green & Practical. In his workshop, Peter will explore
the Ecogardening principles of Adam and Eve: Aliveness, Diversity, Aeration,
Moisture, Energy, Vitality and Everlasting Ecosystems. He will show you how
to have healthier plants and less insect attacks without using synthetic
pesticides and fertilisers.

Fiona Campbell
(Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network Coordinator+Pacific
Edge Permacultere & Media): Fiona is involved in organic gardening and
permaculture education and currently teaches at the Eastern Suburbs
Community College. In her workshop, Fiona will build a 'no-dig' and 'double
dig' biointensive-type garden while explaining how to use compost, manures
and other waste organic matter to improve your garden soil. She will advise
on various organic garden tips, including the most effective way to plant
out vegetables, flowers and herbs.

Dr Sean Matthews: Sean is a wholistic medical practitioner and associate
lecturer at the University of NSW. Sean has also studied Ayurveda, the
traditional medicine of India, with its emphasis on medicinal foods and
herbs. In his workshop, Sean help you to discover the principles of this
ancient science by showing you how to prepare simple home remedies from
home-grown produce.

Deborah Bushell: Project Officer, Roofs for Revegetation Programme,
Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Trust; Roofs for Revegetation is an
exciting project which encourages Sydney companies to grow plants on their
roof top or in their business park. Each company then adopts a degraded site
within the Hawkesbury River catchment in which to plant their tubestock.
Participating companies include Sony, Fuji-Xerox and Compaq. In her
workshop: Deborah is our native plant expert. She will show you how to sow
the seed for native plants and pot up the seedlings. You will also receive
an info sheet on growing natives. If you have any questions about growing
natives for your backyard or getting involved in a local environment group,
Deborah is the one to ask!

The Community Gardens Picnic Day is sponsored by the Southern Sydney Waste
Board. Public Information Line:  call 1800 225 587.

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LISTSERV PROBABLE
Moves to establish a Permaculture Oceania listserv, allowing permaculture
people in Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and SE Asia to discuss
issues and notify events online, will continue when UNSW EcoLiving Centre
coordinator, Cameron Little, returns in a couple weeks from a break sailing
off the Queensland coast.

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CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
The Urban Agriculture Magazine has called for contributions to its third
edition, due out in February 2001. The publication is published in print and
online.

More information: ETC Netherlands Urban Agriculture Programme, P.O. Box 64
3830 AB  LEUSDEN The Netherlands.
Phone: +31 33 432 6039/00 Fax: +31 33 4940791 E-mail: ruaf@etcnl.nl
Website: http://www.etcint.org / www.ruaf.org

...........................................

PACIFIC EDGE
Permaculture & Media
Russ Grayson and Fiona Campbell

PO Box 446, Kogarah NSW 2217 AUSTRALIA
Phone/ fax   02-9588 6931   (IDD-61+2+9588 6931)
Email: pacedge@magna.com.au
WWW: http://www.magna.com.au/~pacedge/

PERMACULTURE/ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: permaculture education + Community
Gardens Network (NSW contact) + organic gardening training + overseas
development aid project services.
MEDIA: publication design + desktop publishing services + website design &
content production + journalism/ photojournalism.

Member, Board of Directors, Permaculture International Limited.

Seed Savers conference details and registration form (bookings essential):
http://www.magna.com.au/~pacedge/seeds/