Carbon Neutral Expo - October 1st

Join us to celebrate the City of Fremantle becoming the State’s first local government to be carbon neutral. Find out more about sustainable living and what being carbon neutral means and you can learn about what others are doing in the community to support our shared environment.
Experience information stalls that include: native plant nursery Apace, community behavioural change program Living Smart, NaturalPower, Scitech, find out what South Fremantle Senior High School is doing to make a difference, learn about the benefits of solar panels and wave power, and discover how SMRC manages the community’s waste and more . . .
Don’t miss informative and entertaining speakers who will talk on a number of carbon neutral-related topics from 12-2pm, plus there will be door prizes

Dates: Thursday 1 October 2009
Venue: Victoria Hall
Times: 10am - 3pm
Cost: Free entry
Contact: Alex Hyndman, Sustainability Officer , 9432 9735

Useful Links

http://www.communitygarden.org.au

www.happyearth.com.au

www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au

www.MulchNet.com

www.permaculturewest.org.au

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/surprising-compost-items.html

www.sustainableinsight.com.au

Garden Meanderings

I've just come in from the garden. Isn't it WONDERFUL after good rain? The sun on the back, the things which have grown and everything looking plumped up and clean.

Now is the time to prepare for summer. You can start planting seeds now. Two weeks ago I planted basil, habanero chilli, capsicum, and four kinds of tomato. We're short of sunny spots, so I've been moving the seedling trays to maximise their exposure. I just read in "Forgotten Fruits- the story behind Britain's traditional fruit and vegetables", that gardeners for the Roman Emperor Tiberius, grew his cucumbers on carts which they wheeled about to follow the sun and even bring them in on cold nights!

We have neither gardeners nor carts, but do have some large pots which get moved to follow the sun. The strip plot along our southern boundary is full shade over winter, so we layered it with a sprinkle of blood and bone, a 5cm layer of horse manure and left it fallow since June. As summer approaches, this zone will get hours of full sun so it will host the new seedlings. Our raised beds are still pretty full of the chard, golden spinach, red kale, cos, mizuna and rocket - we'll see how they last in the hotter months.

This weekend we'll get another trailer of horse manure and use our small chipper to turn prunings into mulch for the compost bin. I've accumulated bags of blood and bone and rock dust so that they will be on hand when I ready the southern plot for planting.

Our broad beans are producing reasonably well despite being battered by the strong winds. So far, the beans have gone directly from plant to mouth. Delicious.

Stuff to give away

• redbrick pavers, approximately 20 square meters
• light brown pavers, approximately 30 square meters

Spring Planting Guide

These wonderful rains are bound to give an extra boost to your vegie patch, our winter vegies are still going strong, enjoyed some wonderful home grown beetroot roasted last night - yum!

 Here's the bounty of produce you can get sowing and planting now as the season warms. 

Artichokes

Asparagus

Basil

Beetroot

Broccoli

Cabbage

Capsicum

Carrots

Chilli

Celery

Climbing Beans

Cucumber

Eggplant

Fennel

Leeks

Lettuce

Onions

Parsnips

Peas (Snow & Sugar)

Potato

Pumpkin

Radish

Rockmelon

Silverbeet

Spinach

Spring Onion

Sweet Corn

Sweet Potato

Tomato

Watermelon

Zucchini

What's on in Perth - September 09

Sustainable September 

There's lots of things planned for this month. Check out www.sustainableseptember.net.au to find what's on.
Sat 12 Sep, Permaculture WA

12 noon Perth City Farm Contact Elizabeth admin@earthsanctuary.com.au
Sat 12 Sep, Organic Growers Association Roleystone

Preparing Your Family Property for Bush Fires, noon to 5pm, Bedfordale. Paper donation for Bedfordale Volunteer Bushfire Brigade. RSVP Lisa at porter4@aapt.net.au
Sun 13 Sep, Sustainable House Open Day

Look at www.sustainablehouseday.com to find the venue closest to you.
15 - 17 Sep, Water in Mining Conference

Sheraton Hotel, Perth
18 - 20 Sep, WA Community Gardens Forum 2009

If you're interested in joining or starting up a community garden, here's your chance to find out who to contact or what to do. There will be an Opening Sundowner at Perth City Farm on Friday 18th from 5.15 to 7.30pm. There will be light refreshments, Rob Hopkins (Transition Culture UK) via video link and garden supplier stalls. On the 19th there is a Skill Sharing workshop at Piney Lakes Environment Centre and a bus tour of various community gardens on the 20th starting from FERN (Fremantle). RSVP by Sep 11 to info@wacgn.asn.au or phone 1300 501 357
Sat 26 Sep, Organic Growers Association Freo field trip

This will start at 8.45 at Sue Hartley's wonderful permaculture garden, followed by a ten minute walk to Mount Claremont Primary's farmer's market for a tour and chance to buy your morning tea or fresh produce. To find out more or register attendance go to www.ogawa.org.au and scroll down the newsletter to find out more.