Monthly meetings held at the ‘Ku-ring-gai Centre for Seniors'
259 Pacific Highway Lindfield NSW 2070 on the third Monday
of the month (except Jan)  - all welcome
Facebook   Twitter
 
 

President's Report June 2014 - Cat Dorey

Welcome to our June newsletter. We are just weeks away from winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, but Jack Frost’s chilly touch has been pretty mild so far! As much as I love the warmth, I know that changing weather patterns are a reminder of the trouble coming our way if we don’t make some pretty big changes to how we live.

Our winter line up for PSN monthly meetings in Lindfield (see below for details,) is a great mix of topics that highlight the problems we've created for life on our planet and the kind of solutions that permies and others in the conservation movement are offering. 

In June we are showing the award-winning film More than Honey, which explores our relationship with the honey bee – one that has allowed the development of agriculture and helped humans to spread over the planet. 
However, the benefits of this relationship have become very one-sided, and the disappearing honeybee has now become another sad example of what industrialized farming is doing to nature.

In July, we have Reece Turner, Greenpeace’s Renewable Energy campaigner, coming to talk to us about how we power our homes, and the importance of fighting to keep and improve the Renewable Energy Targets for Australia if we are to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

In August, the ‘Pete the Permie’ will talk about the challenges of being a professional permaculturist. He will also bring a selection of fruit trees for sale and his vast knowledge on how to grow & care for them.

Of course we will also be out-and-about at local groups gatherings, workshops, and various member’s gardens for Permabees – especially those who are talking up the challenge of open their houses for Sustainable House Days in September! (See below)

 PSN Monthly Meeting - Monday 16 June

A celebration of Bees: Film Night featuring MORE THAN HONEY, plus more!

The June gathering of Permaculture Sydney North (PSN) is a special night celebrating bees. We will show the award winning film More Than Honey. All welcome!

About the film:

More than Honey is a multi-award winning film from Swiss director, Markus Imhoof. Honeybees pollinate a third of all the food we eat and yet worldwide, millions of honeybee colonies are dying each year. Seeking to find out why, the film takes us around the world to meet people living with, and off, honeybees and gives a spectacular visual insights into the beehive – a fascinating world of fighting queens and dancing workers, of highly sophisticated swarm intelligence, where the individual constantly serves the requirements of the community. Most of all it explores the relationship between humans and honeybees – it tells us a lot about ourselves, about nature and about our future. (Please note: the film is 91 minutes long).

More here: http://www.ciber.science.uwa.edu.au/blog/

And more about bees:

We will have a selection of bee-friendly native plants for sale. Why not bring your spare bee-friendly plants or cuttings to share with friends and new members? This is a good time to pick up some fact sheets on native bees, or check out our selection of bee-related books in our library.



 

 Ryde/ Hunters Hill Local Group Monthly Get Together - Saturday 14 June


Permabee - A Food Forest - Sunday June 22

Come help lay the foundations for a food forest in Roseville. For more details:  A food forest for the June permabee

Advanced Composting Workshop - Sunday June 22

An in depth compost workshop including how to make your own compost tea.   For more details: Advanced Composting Workshop

Aboriginal Heritage on the Northern Beaches - Wednesday 26 June

Special guest Karen Smith from Aboriginal Heritage Office speaks on Aboriginal Heritage and culture on the Northern Beaches.  For more details : Aboriginal Heritage on the Northern Beaches




PSN Joins Our Land, Our Water, Our Future Alliance

Following a meeting of our Management Committee with representatives of the alliance, and their presentation to us at last month’s Lindfield gathering,

PSN has become an official member of the alliance.We will stand with other members of the community to demand that our NSW government protects our water catchments, agricultural land, and important natural areas from the coal & gas industry. You can also join as an individual to receive campaign updates directly. 

Find out more on the campaign website:https://www.landwaterfuture.org.au/



News Flash

As the latest round of forest & farm protectors have been arrested and removed from trees & bulldozers up in the Leard State Forest, the action has been taken to the courtroom. On Friday 6th Community Council (MCCC) launched legal action in court to stop the clearing of Leard State Forest for the controversial Maules Creek Coal Mine, near Narrabri in north-west NSW.

The Council has commenced civil enforcement proceedings against  Whitehaven Coal in the NSW Land and Environment Court. It is represented by the environmental law experts EDO NSW. MCCC is seeking an injunction to stop the operational clearing of Leard State Forest on the grounds that Whitehaven is in breach of its development  consent by clearing the forest during winter when animals, including threatened species, are hibernating. A breach of a development consent contravenes the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Maules Creek Community Council spokesperson, farmer Phil Laird, said, “We have launched a legal case today because we believe the winter clearing that is occurring in the forest is a breach of NSW planning and environment laws.

"We believe the clearing is unlawful, and we are seeking to have the case heard quickly so that no more irreparable damage is done to this unique forest environment and the animals that live in it.

The Council has commenced civil enforcement proceedings against  Whitehaven Coal in the NSW Land and Environment Court. It is represented by the environmental law experts EDO NSW. MCCC is seeking an injunction to stop the operational clearing of Leard State Forest on the grounds that Whitehaven is in breach of its development  consent by clearing the forest during winter when animals, including threatened species, are hibernating. A breach of a development consent contravenes the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Maules Creek Community Council spokesperson, farmer Phil Laird, said, “We have launched a legal case today because we believe the winter clearing that is occurring in the forest is a breach of NSW planning and environment laws.

"We believe the clearing is unlawful, and we are seeking to have the case heard quickly so that no more irreparable damage is done to this unique forest environment and the animals that live in it.

"As a local community, we feel that we have been forced to take this action because the NSW Government has failed in its responsibility to uphold the law and protect the environment of NSW" he said.


More information click http://www.lockthegate.org.au/


 

Free Public Meeting - "Our Solar At Risk"

For those of you who have gone solar, or are considering it, “Our Solar at Risk” - a free public meeting to defend solar, in Sydney on 18th June. For the first time, a large numbers of Solar Citizens will be coming together in Sydney. You’ll hear from solar experts, who will bust solar myths and explain how we can act together against the rapidly growing threats to solar.

When: 6:30pm - 8:30pm (arrive from 6:00pm) on 18th June
Where: New Law 101 Lecture Theatre, New Law School Building, University of Sydney, Eastern Ave, Camperdown

Speakers announced so far:
Nigel Morris, Director, Solar Business Services
Lindsay Soutar, Director, Solar Citizens
Read details and RSVP here
solarcitizens.org.au/sydney

Tickets are free but limited!


Living Skills - June

The Queen's Birthday long weekend means that winter is well and truly upon us. Make use of these darker and cooler days by congregating with others and learning new skills that can help you to be more self-sufficient. In June and July you will have a choice of a field trip and two workshops.

Next Sunday you will have an opportunity to go to the Central Coast with Jake Cassar who will teach you what food can be foraged in the bush in winter. Judging by the success of a similar workshop in February, you need to book this one quickly before it fills up. To register, go to
 Living Skills: Winter Bush Tucker Tour with Jake Cassar - June 15th

Two upcoming winter workshops are very relevant to all gardeners and cooks amongst us:

 To learn how to keep your secateurs and knives sharp, join Rolf at a Tool Sharpening Workshop on Saturday, June 21st: Living Skills: Tool Sharpening Workshop, June 21st


* If preserving winter garden produce and healthy eating is your goal, look no further than the fermented foods workshop in July. It will cover fermenting winter vegetables and making cultured drinks. More information and registrations atLiving Skills: Fermented Foods: Winter Vegetables, Cultured Drinks July 19th, Waverton

In the Living Skills program this year there is a workshop or activity for everyone. If you are interested in learning or teaching a particular skill (for example, bamboo building, soap making, preserving, cheese making etc), please contact Margaret Mossakowska on livingskills@permaculturenorth.org.au


Sustainable House Day

Sustainable House Day is an initiative showcasing sustainable houses and/or gardens to the public. It is a great opportunity to visit properties and be inspired by the designs implemented in the quest for sustainability. What's more important, for permaculture practitioners SHD enables them to show permaculture designs to wider audiences by opening permaculture gardens.


If you are interested in opening your garden for 2014 Sustainable House Day (Sep 7 & 14), please go to http://sustainablehouseday.com/


                          

 
 
  Copyright © 2013 {Organization_Name}. All rights reserved.

Permaculture Sydney North
PO Box 1145 Chatswood NSW 2067
Tel:   1300 887 145

Contact email: editor@permaculturenorth.org.au

You are receiving this message because you are a member of {Organization_Name}
Unsubscribe  
 

Copyright © Permaculture Sydney North 1992-2020 - Site powered by Wild Apricot

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software