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President's Report
Become a Solar Citizen!
For most Australians, especially Permaculturists, using power from the sun to generate energy just makes sense. Over 1 million homes already generate electricity through solar panels, and a further 660,000 have solar hot water systems. For some people it’s about saving money, for many it’s also about reducing our footprint on the planet.
Aussies have already invested $8 billion of their own money in solar, the price of solar continues to fall and become more affordable, and more and more systems are being installed. Over 15,500 people are employed by this green industry. There is a real Solar Revolution happening!
Not everyone is happy about this! Some big energy companies want to make connecting to solar harder, not easier – they want to keep hold of their power (pardon the pun!). Queensland Premier Campbell Newman is even trying to discriminate against solar, and blames solar owners for the recent electricity price hikes.
Solar Citizens is a new community project to bring together existing and future solar owners to ensure the rights of solar owners are protected and to help see Australia put a panel on every rooftop. Solar Citizens will work to ensure that solar homeowners are able to connect to the grid, are paid a fair price for the power they contribute to the grid, and are not subject to unreasonable charges or tariffs.
If you believe in a solar future for all Australians, why not check out the website and Facebook page and become a Solar Citizens today:
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PSN Monthly Meeting - Monday 15 July 2013 @ 7:00pm
David Holmgren Special Guest
Please join us for a very special night with the co-founder of Permaculture, David Holmgren. David is joining us at the Lindfield hall to talk about retrofitting permaculture into urban areas to increase resilience through food production, and local harvesting and use of energy, water and organics.
One of Australia’s greatest thought leaders, David is an environmental design consultant, author, teacher and public speaker with an international reputation as a leading sustainability thinker.
Over three decades David has shown by example that a sustainable lifestyle is a realistic, attractive and powerful alternative to dependant consumerism. He has developed several sustainably designed properties, consulted widely on urban and rural projects and has been recognised as an established author and educator at home and abroad.
His 2002 book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability, has become a leading resource in planning for the sustainable future in uncertain times. He followed it up with Future Scenarios in 2008 in which he examined what future society looks like in the outset of peak oil and climate change.
Rubbish Roundabout Reconstituted!
This month’s Lindfield meeting will see the return of the Rubbish Roundabout table. This is a space for members to bring in items they no longer need/ excess to their requirements that may be of use to others. It’s generally for the sorts of things not usually seen at garage sales etc but can be anything: eg I buy eggs from my organic F & V provider so I will bring in some empty egg cartons. Another member, who has chooks at home, might like to take them. (And bring them back next month, with eggs in, for sale!). Other examples are empty jars and bottles (used by those who are into preserving their harvest), stationery no longer of use to you, old books or magazines, garden pots (plastic or otherwise) – anything really, that your imagination can stretch to as a potential re-use item. And, of course, anything that might also be seen at a garage sale.
The main idea is to lessen the volume of Stuff going into people’s general waste or recycle bins. There is no charge but, if you think you’ve got a bargain, there is a donations box on the table. The table will be in the room at the back of the hall – just ask other members if you’re not sure where.
The one rule is: if you bring something in, and it hasn’t gone by the time you leave, you MUST take it home again. We are a volunteer organisation and it isn’t very fair to rely on another member to deal with whatever is left over.
Doors open at 6.30pm. Talk begins at 7.00pm. Supper 8.30pm
Lindfield Community Centre, 259 Pacific Hwy, Lindfield. Just a few minutes walk from Lindfield railway station.
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PSN Living Skills - 20 July Soap Making Workshop
An important aspect of permaculture is to become as self-reliant as possible and one of the ways to do this is to make some of your own cleaning products instead of relying on commercial products from the supermarket. Join Kathleen in her home at Westleigh for a short two hour workshop on how to make basic cold-pressed soap.
This workshop is open to PSN members only, and members can sign up for this event using the REGISTER button on the left of the screen and providing your login details (email address and password).
Numbers are strictly limited to 6 participants, so you will need to get in quick to save your place for this workshop.
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PSN Permabee - 21 July - Water Gardens!
What is a rain garden? It’s a kind of water harvesting, self-wicking, water filtration, garden structure. Obvious really.
This should be a really interesting day where we can get hands on installing a good example of biological technology that meets several needs in one neat package.
The water garden, being funded by a Caring for our Country Community Action Grant will be installed at North Sydney Demonstration School, and the workshop will be under the supervision of Equatica’s environmental engineer Alexa Macauley who specialises in water sensitive urban design.
As we will be working on a project in the school grounds OH&S around proper work clothes is important, so you need to bring a water bottle, sunblock, hat and wear closed toe shoes.
Claire Hanley, will provide materials, hand out info on water gardens, provide lunch and some equipment but it would be a good idea to bring along your pet shovel to socialize with all the other shovels.
If you're unable to register on line, you can contact the Garden Team Leader at garden@permaculturenorth.org.au
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Seed Savers - 27 July
Seed Savers meet on the 4th Saturday of every month from 9am-12 noon at the Bidjiwong Community Nursery in Baulkham Hills. (Rear of Ted Horwood Reserve carpark, off Renown Rd, opposite the sports club).
All PSN members are welcome to Seed Savers. You'll meet great people, learn a lot about cleaning seed, propagating, how to recognise and save seeds, heaps of growing tips and herbal remedies from Robyn and other knowledgeable people.
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Getting to know our Communications team - Introducing....
Shawn, Newletter editor,
When did you join PSN?
I joined early 2012, soon convincing my other half Lisa join as well :)
What inspired you to join?
I dont have a garden myself at the moment, so the idea of helping others with theirs via permabees, while learning myself for a future garden seemed a great idea. I have to say it has worked well.
What was your favourite living skills workshop?
To date, the most enjoyable living skills workshop has been the mushroom picking tour on the outskirts of Lithgow. Well worth the drive to find your own mushrooms, freshly cooked on site. Having said that, there are many more to come.
What do you do when you aren't at PSN?
When working, I train hospitality staff, though when not working im planning our future straw bale house with the mandatory permaculture garden!
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Welcome new PSN members
A big welcome to all new members
New Members’ (and old Members’) guide to the Website now online
It includes
- a glossary of terms and abbreviations
- how to find - the New Members’ Booklet, DIY Information Sheets
- how to ‘sign in’ to the website and members’ forum
- how to register for events
- regular meeting dates and events
- and important links
A big thanks to Adrian Kong and his wife Vicki, who are reasonably new members, for putting together this helpful (deceptively simple) guide.
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Don't forget to BYO reusable mug / cup to all meetings
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PSN Facebook
Our facebook page is rocking! It's an excellent place for finding out what's going on in and around our area in a broader context.
You can interact with like minded permies to share ideas, pose questions, post interesting articles and find out what courses and events are happening in our region and around the world.
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