Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Community Harvest project
Another promising looking link forwarded by Bryan Watterson which we've added to our list. The Community Harvest project is "Feeding Our Hearts, Communities and Environment, as We Feed Ourselves". Lots of stuff on their site.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Another local initiative
There's another group operating in Wonthaggi — the Energy Innovation Co-op - towards a carbon neutral future.
This notice is posted on their site…
This notice is posted on their site…
Time: November 28, 2009 from 4pm to 6pm
Location: Mitchell House Community Centre Street
Street: 6 Murray Street
City/Town: Wonthaggi
Phone: (03) 5951 3329
We are proposing to get together and discuss the initiatives of Transition Towns groups setting up in South Gippsland and Bass Coast.
We would love for you to come along and share stories of how your group (if involved in one) is evolving and any ideas, contacts or initiatives underway.
Please pass this on to anyone who you think may be interested, this could be a great opportunity find out what else is going on and to inspire and support each other.
Looking forward to seeing you there on the day!!
Cheers
Lisa Wangman
Urban Landcare Project Officer
Phillip Island Landcare Group
Mobile: 0409 366 914
Ph: (03) 5951 3329 Fax: (03) 5951 3312
P.O. Box 272 Cowes, 3922
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Local Food Map Website
Gordon Rouse has emailed us with his map of locally grown produce. It looks like a great idea. I'll quote from his email…
I wanted to let you know that my wife and I have launched our food map at http://www.localfoodmap.net.We've added the map to our Links section.
The idea of the online map is to have locally grown produce easy to find wherever you are. You can search by keywords on your location, and registered producers will come up as icons on a map.
I am hoping as many food-producers from small vege growers to farms will put their farmgate presence on this map so that we can all find what is growing in abundance in our local area.
The system also allows users to subscribe to farms, which means growers can send out emails to their subscribers to let them know if there is a fresh harvest, or a large animal is being butchered.
I believe that this website could be an invaluable tool in meeting the aims of the Transition Town organisation, in promoting direct farmgate sales and food networks. I hope you can consider registering yourself as both producers and alertees, and maybe even letting your local members know about this through your contacts.
At this stage, there are only a few outlets in Victoria, so if you wish to see a demonstration of this working, I suggest you use "Melbourne Victoria" as your locality.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Next meeting of Transition Corner Inlet
We're meeting again at 7:30 pm Thursday 19th at the Community Health Centre in Foster. This will be a working meeting where we will decide what actions we are going to take and how we'll prioritise them. We'll be using the Shire's Zing computer system which allows this sort of thing to happen quickly and which also lets the quiet types get a bit more input. Gold coin donation to help us with the costs please!
We'll be providing a supper, kindly funded by the Shire! It's important we get started on time because we'll have a fair bit to cover on the night so don't be late if you can help it. Also bring anyone you think might be interested/able to contribute.
What sort of stuff are we after? We're facing changes in our situation due to the decline in fossil fuels and the financial crisis whether we like it our not. We have to take steps to safeguard ourselves and our community, so it's both personal and our leadership roles we need to be thinking about. Here's the list we made last meeting, which will be the basis of our discussion but to which we'll add, subtract and prioritise at the meeting…we need to talk more about this stuff but we also need to start doing things!
Energy
Renewable
Decentralised
Bulk purchase
Community projects
Leadership example for other communities
Self-sufficiency
Showcase
Efficiency & design
Education/information
Encourage others to join
Spread awareness & understanding
Film Festival
Environmental issues
Basic energy knowledge for home or community
Using local libraries to stock relevant books/periodicals
Climate change & energy resource issues education
Local economy
Tourism eco/transition
Bartering/alternative currencies
Bulk buying & co-operatives
Small-scale local economy
Resilience
Practical crafts and handy skills
Multi use of facilities (halls, community gardens)
Food production
Producing basic food groups
Preserving/value adding
Survival food
Food security
Sustainable practices
Community gardens across all communities
Technology
Explore & trial ideas
Alternative fuels
Alternative modes
Getting networks in place
Safety for cycling
Hand tools use and manufacture
Practical recycling of resources
Animal use & management
Health
Growing medicinal herbs
Preventative health
Social
Values (modest scale/frugality/generosity)
Survival/confidence
Sharing with youth
Maintaining social connections at a distance
Older people & physical demands
Employment conditions/availability
Welcoming incomers
Toxic politics/polarisation of views/community division
Starting with simple steps before tackling bigger things
Using/maintaining community halls as social centres more effectively
Personal growth through social involvement
Helping communities help themselves/encouraging community self-reliance
Setting targets/measuring outcomes
Process driven from bottom up
Using the Net & other technology to connect to others
Using non-threatening messages to promote change
Dealing with anxiety, stress, grieving
Co-operation and sharing skills
Network expertise
Developing, maintaining and sharing contacts
We'll be providing a supper, kindly funded by the Shire! It's important we get started on time because we'll have a fair bit to cover on the night so don't be late if you can help it. Also bring anyone you think might be interested/able to contribute.
What sort of stuff are we after? We're facing changes in our situation due to the decline in fossil fuels and the financial crisis whether we like it our not. We have to take steps to safeguard ourselves and our community, so it's both personal and our leadership roles we need to be thinking about. Here's the list we made last meeting, which will be the basis of our discussion but to which we'll add, subtract and prioritise at the meeting…we need to talk more about this stuff but we also need to start doing things!
Energy
Renewable
Decentralised
Bulk purchase
Community projects
Leadership example for other communities
Self-sufficiency
Showcase
Efficiency & design
Education/information
Encourage others to join
Spread awareness & understanding
Film Festival
Environmental issues
Basic energy knowledge for home or community
Using local libraries to stock relevant books/periodicals
Climate change & energy resource issues education
Local economy
Tourism eco/transition
Bartering/alternative currencies
Bulk buying & co-operatives
Small-scale local economy
Resilience
Practical crafts and handy skills
Multi use of facilities (halls, community gardens)
Food production
Producing basic food groups
Preserving/value adding
Survival food
Food security
Sustainable practices
Community gardens across all communities
Technology
Explore & trial ideas
Alternative fuels
Alternative modes
Getting networks in place
Safety for cycling
Hand tools use and manufacture
Practical recycling of resources
Animal use & management
Health
Growing medicinal herbs
Preventative health
Social
Values (modest scale/frugality/generosity)
Survival/confidence
Sharing with youth
Maintaining social connections at a distance
Older people & physical demands
Employment conditions/availability
Welcoming incomers
Toxic politics/polarisation of views/community division
Starting with simple steps before tackling bigger things
Using/maintaining community halls as social centres more effectively
Personal growth through social involvement
Helping communities help themselves/encouraging community self-reliance
Setting targets/measuring outcomes
Process driven from bottom up
Using the Net & other technology to connect to others
Using non-threatening messages to promote change
Dealing with anxiety, stress, grieving
Co-operation and sharing skills
Network expertise
Developing, maintaining and sharing contacts
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Transition, sustainability, green economy and more on Bush Telegraph
ABC Radio online - if you can't hear it broadcast - Bush Telegraph program has some good stories to listen to about sustainability and related topics.
Regards Fiona
Regards Fiona
Momentum building with Corner Inlet Transition
OUR October activity at Foster attracted 17 people drawn from Welshpool through to Walkerville plus 3 South Gippsland Shire Council staff.
The film How Cuba Survived Peak Oil was very interesting and made me rather keen to have a holiday in Cuba when it’s a South Gippy winter & to go dancing to their music…:
Ahem! The film illustrated aspects of change to Cuban society when a number of factors relating to world politics contributed to a scarce oil supply.
Positives that arose from the situation were:
• The ability of people to find solutions to problems, often starting in small ways and taking small steps before building to bigger things.
• Although technology could be used to advantage, human relationships were the most valuable input in making successful adjustments to change.
• Simple technology could often be applied cheaply and effectively.
• Basic health, fitness and nutrition improved.
• Good design for new uses of old spaces could bring multiple benefits at a low cost.
• Greater decentralization of education, employment and health facilities and of planning, economic and political power occurred.
• People became actively connected with others in their community.
• A greatly increased use of organic and permaculture agricultural methods had positive benefits for the environment.
Negative outcomes – which tended to be glossed over in the film - included health casualties among those who were most vulnerable – such as babies, the aged and people with chronic health conditions.
There was clearly significant discomfort, social dislocation and economic turmoil.
Disbelief and lack of preparation caused the situation to become a national crisis that took several years before relative stability was again reached.
Going by the number of babies in the film, it also looked like the population consoled and entertained themselves with acts of procreation, coupled {!} with a lack of electricity for TV, lack of medicines including contraceptives, and a lack of condoms which are after all made of plastic …which needs oil to make it…which was scarce…plus all that music and dancing they’re into….you get my drift and if not well never mind.
After a discussion of issues raised by the film, the budding Corner Inlet Transition group then took turns to individually list relevant interests /skills and to briefly outline aspirations for transition in the area.
Five pages of butchers’ paper were filled while recording a précis of each person’s ideas.
The ideas covered a wide range of concepts with a number overlapping what someone else had said.
Blog team Lloyd & Fiona collated the ideas into related categories ready for the NEXT STEP…., I.E. attendees and others interested in a process of transition for Corner Inlet will be invited to attend a further meeting in November to brainstorm priorities and decide on achievable actions that people can take responsibility to follow up.
South Gippsland Hospital was thanked for allowing the fledgling group to meet at the Community Health Centre for a one-off free of charge occasion.
The Shire staff were helpful in commenting on ways in which they could help out & were pleased to meet & chat with those who attended. Mutual benefits likely all round by such cooperation.
After the meeting, many people commented that they felt empowered and optimistic about working together on transition issues.
Thanks to Rhonda M, several copies of the film have been burned onto CD.
If you’re after one, please contact Fiona Mottram [me] and ask for one.
Don’t know how to contact me? Come along to Foster’s Community Health Centre in Station Road Foster [at the front of the hospital grounds] next Thursday night Nov 19 at 7.30pm or earlier as we will be starting on time!!!!!!!!!!!
The film How Cuba Survived Peak Oil was very interesting and made me rather keen to have a holiday in Cuba when it’s a South Gippy winter & to go dancing to their music…:
Ahem! The film illustrated aspects of change to Cuban society when a number of factors relating to world politics contributed to a scarce oil supply.
Positives that arose from the situation were:
• The ability of people to find solutions to problems, often starting in small ways and taking small steps before building to bigger things.
• Although technology could be used to advantage, human relationships were the most valuable input in making successful adjustments to change.
• Simple technology could often be applied cheaply and effectively.
• Basic health, fitness and nutrition improved.
• Good design for new uses of old spaces could bring multiple benefits at a low cost.
• Greater decentralization of education, employment and health facilities and of planning, economic and political power occurred.
• People became actively connected with others in their community.
• A greatly increased use of organic and permaculture agricultural methods had positive benefits for the environment.
Negative outcomes – which tended to be glossed over in the film - included health casualties among those who were most vulnerable – such as babies, the aged and people with chronic health conditions.
There was clearly significant discomfort, social dislocation and economic turmoil.
Disbelief and lack of preparation caused the situation to become a national crisis that took several years before relative stability was again reached.
Going by the number of babies in the film, it also looked like the population consoled and entertained themselves with acts of procreation, coupled {!} with a lack of electricity for TV, lack of medicines including contraceptives, and a lack of condoms which are after all made of plastic …which needs oil to make it…which was scarce…plus all that music and dancing they’re into….you get my drift and if not well never mind.
After a discussion of issues raised by the film, the budding Corner Inlet Transition group then took turns to individually list relevant interests /skills and to briefly outline aspirations for transition in the area.
Five pages of butchers’ paper were filled while recording a précis of each person’s ideas.
The ideas covered a wide range of concepts with a number overlapping what someone else had said.
Blog team Lloyd & Fiona collated the ideas into related categories ready for the NEXT STEP…., I.E. attendees and others interested in a process of transition for Corner Inlet will be invited to attend a further meeting in November to brainstorm priorities and decide on achievable actions that people can take responsibility to follow up.
South Gippsland Hospital was thanked for allowing the fledgling group to meet at the Community Health Centre for a one-off free of charge occasion.
The Shire staff were helpful in commenting on ways in which they could help out & were pleased to meet & chat with those who attended. Mutual benefits likely all round by such cooperation.
After the meeting, many people commented that they felt empowered and optimistic about working together on transition issues.
Thanks to Rhonda M, several copies of the film have been burned onto CD.
If you’re after one, please contact Fiona Mottram [me] and ask for one.
Don’t know how to contact me? Come along to Foster’s Community Health Centre in Station Road Foster [at the front of the hospital grounds] next Thursday night Nov 19 at 7.30pm or earlier as we will be starting on time!!!!!!!!!!!
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