Get Inspired
Locally grown food from households, community gardens and sustainable farmers supplied an amazing spread of food for the lunch at TEDx Sydney. Food was scoured through the growitlocal.com.au community site enabling an tapestry of crowd farmed food to tantalise the taste buds of the hungry masses at this amazing event. Check out the video below featuring Chippendale local Jess Miller
This week at CentralMag, a very inspiring story, and it is happening right here, in Redfern!
For online version go here.
The City of Sydney has plans to build a pedestrian and cycle way green corridor linking Darlington to Ultimo via Chippendale.
The idea is that pedestrians and bike riders will be able to this link to bypass main roads for a safer and faster ride.
Some of the key elements of the proposal are:
-More street lighting;
-Kerb extentions;
-Planting of more plants and trees;
-More and clearer signage to increase bike rider safety;
-In some parts separate bike lanes in others shared pedestrian and bike paths;
-a 40km/h speed limit;
-more pedestrian crossings;
-13 parking spots will be removed, but 10 will be added, so only 3 car spaces will be lost.
The city projects & property department is seeking feedback on the plans before it goes to Council for consideration.
To learn more about Sydney Cycleways click here.
To dowload the plans click here.
For more on the plan click here.
City staff will be at the Pine Street Creative Arts Centre, 64 Pine Street Chippendale, on Tuesday 30/April from 9am-10am and from 4pm-5pm if you have any questions otherwise submit your comments til the 5/may to Adam Lender at alander@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or via post to:
Attn: Adam Lander
City of Sydney GPO Box 1591
Sydney NSW 2001
Article from The Sydney Standard on 28/03/13:
"Surrounded by books with the faint sounds of jazz in the background, Costa Georgiadis and Michael Mobbs discussed sustainability at Berkelouw books in Paddington.
The interview was a fascinating look into the area of house and food sustainably and how people can do it themselves.
‘I just want to make it clear that I can hardly drive in a nail; my form of sustainably requires no experience, just the heart. All I’ve done is do in the city what farmers do every day in the country. You can walk out of this room and have this in your office or home tomorrow’ Michael Mobbs pronounced..."
Read the full article here.
We are very sad to anounce that all bins at the Pine St Creative arts centre are now gone. The Aerobins were a huge success when it came to people using it, people come from everywhere to use them and they were all well and truly overused; but they were also a huge failure because not many of us were taking care of it, so they became infested with cockroaches...
We are looking into a diffent bin, that will hopefully work better, but this time around we will need everyone's help, if you want to use it you must also take ownership of it. So to get an ideia of how many and how big bins we should be getting we are asking you all to email us onsustainablechip@gmail.com and let us know of your interest in keeping composting your waste. we are also looking into getting composting workshops for our community, so we understand what really happens inside the bins and how to help take care of them!
Happy Composting!
David McWillams gave a great talk tonight at #sydcitytalk run by the 'City Of Sydney'. The presentation covered topic of 'food security' this is a sort clip from his presentation, it's well worth 11 minutes of your day. Here a just a few take-outs to wet your appetite, so to speak...
- It would take 5 planet earths to support a world if we all consumed resources @ current USA standard of living levels.
- At UK standard of living consumption levels we can only support 2 billion people on the planet
- We are heading towards a global population of 10 Billion in the coming years.
Special thanks to Chris Harris and to Alex Greenwich for making it down to Chippendale to be a part of our community discussion Panel at the Pine St Creative arts centre on Tuesday 16/October. Shayne Mallard sent his appologies for not being able to come, but we got his statement anyways!
Here are the stataments made:
Liberal Candidate for Sydney, 2012 State By-Election
“ I want to convey my strong support of all participants, especially local residents, who are developing the Sustainable Communities Plan for Chippendale. I am strongly aware of the Sustainable Communities Plan and was very pleased to support the engagement of Michael Mobbs, a local resident and leading authority, in its development, while I was a City of Sydney Councillor.
As a long-term inner city resident and with a background in urban horticulture and now the food industry, I am a strong advocate of urban sustainability – or striking the best possible balance in our communities of environmental, social and economic outcomes.
A critical component of striking this balance – and particularly ensuring we are building cohesive communities and sustainable environments – is the involvement of the community at the planning stages. Communities have amazing knowledge and resources that governments need to do a better job of acknowledging and with working with. That’s why I am particularly excited about the Sustainable Communities Plan for Chippendale’s inclusive, community-based process. It can only lead to better results as Chippendale goes forward, especially as it’s population now rapidly grows.
Another important component is a holistic approach that looks at the totality of community life. Here again, I note the Sustainable Communities Plan’s scope is very comprehensive and highly integrated, covering how we live, work and play, and how to make those activities more sustainable and with a minimised footprint. It’s the best way to go when dealing with the complex issues – and opportunities – before our inner city communities.
…
I very much look forward to working with you in future, especially as the Sustainable Communities Plan goes to its next phase of development.”
Independent Candidate for Sydney, 2012 State By-Election
“I strongly support initiatives that improve environment sustainability, and congratulate the team behind the Chippendale Sustainable Communities Plan for the energy and experience they have put into this plan.
It is great to see community proposing action for environmentally sustainable solutions.
This plan is a great example of the saying “it takes a village” and is full of excellent ideas.
The idea of linking the arts to environmental sustainability shows that the Chippendale community is willing to look beyond the obvious. But then, proposing a Sustainable Art project for Chippendale is something we should expect from a suburb that already has a thriving art scene with galleries, artists studios and the Pine Street Creative Arts Centre. If I am elected I am willing to work with the Chippendale community to make this project a reality.
I also support the general principle of planting native species where ever we can.
I am also excited by the proposals for stormwater harvesting, but they will need the involvement of Sydney Water to be implemented. If I am elected I commit to bringing together Sydney Water and the Chippendale community to pursue these proposals.
We must remember the plan is on public exhibition until Friday week – 28 October, and Council will be considering the comments that the community have made on the plan early in the new year.
The whole point of putting the plan on public exhibition was to get your feedback, and the feedback of everyone else in the community, so I don’t want to preempt that..
We also need to understand which actions in the plan are already being carried out by Council, which actions are the responsibility of Council and which ones are the State Government’s responsibility.
I make a commitment tonight that where the State Government has a responsibility, I will advocate for those actions that have community support”
There’s a treasure trove of natural cleaning gems as close as your pantry. Here’s our top tips for an au natural clean.
The City of Sydney came up with another pretty cool initiative, The Good Hood, it's map in which you can pin a photo of some good that you have been doing, and here in Chippendale we are doing lots and lots of good, so lets fill the map and show the whole of Sydney how it's done!
"The Good Hood is about celebrating all the Good things we're doing to make Sydney a better place. Simply snap a photo of your Good – think recycling, reusing, making, growing and living more sustainably – and upload it to our map of Sydney for your chance to win one of three super prizes (of course, the prizes are all pretty Good too!)
There are loads of Good things happening every day in Sydney, in our homes, schools, on the way to work, at mates' places and in our city villages. We want to hear about all the Good stuff you're doing so feel free to pin as many photos of as many Good things as you can."
Click here to go to the webpage and read more!
Exciting! join us at this very cool event created by the ever awesome Youth Food Movement!
Today we received a massive truckload of mulch to protect our gardens from the heat that is about to come; and it was free!!
MulchNet has kindly donated the mix of beautiful mulch this afternoon, the lovely Wally dropped it off to us, and it is all now at the Pine St Creative Arts Centre, who also very kindly let us store it by our garden shed(thank you Phillip for giving Wally a hand! much appretiated!)
Now, we should all help to move it quickly to our verge gardens before it all blows away or the kids on school holidays find it!
If you have a balcony or backyard garden please also help yourself to some!
Happy Mulching everyone!
In today’s post, environmental writer Madison Jones tackles the basics of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, and why exactly there is such a debate over the growth and promotion of this new type of food and fuel source. Although a biology or bioengineering degree can prepare scientists to work with GMOs, it cannot tell them whether they should or not. Amidst the arguments in favor of and against GMOs are the effects GMOs have on consumers, a topic recently addressed by a Sustainable Chippendale post about how food choice and quality can affect student behavior and productivity.
The Changing Biology of Our Food
For the last three decades, controversy has surrounded the development, propagation and promotion of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Advocates claim that GMOs solve global food shortages, while opponents argue against the notion of ‘improving’ upon naturally occurring processes. And in the middle of this contentious debate lies the ever-important concern about potential health risks – a topic that GMO publications have thus far avoided.
A genetically modified organism is created when engineering techniques are used to build upon the genetic material of an organism using DNA molecules from other sources. The result is a set of recombinant gene molecules, which are then transferred back to the original organism. According to Dr. Theresa Phillips of SciTable, the notion of producing superior organisms can be traced back to the early 20th century. However, earlier efforts utilized organic processes; some farmers used traditional cross-pollination techniques, while others practiced selective breeding by choosing organisms that displayed superior traits. In recent decades, however,” Dr. Phillips notes, “advances in the field of genetic engineering have allowed for precise control over the genetic changes introduced into an organism. Today, we can incorporate new genes from one species into a completely unrelated species through genetic engineering, optimizing agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable pharmaceutical substances.”
A wide array of GMOs exists today. Some GMO crops – such as rapeseed, flax, cotton, soybean, corn and sugarcane – are resistant to pesticides or herbicides. Others are modified to contain higher amounts of certain vitamins and nutrients, one example being rice, in which Vitamin A levels can be increased using human proteins. Fruits and vegetables can also be genetically engineered; these include tomatoes designed to resist rotting, papayas that stave off viruses, peas that cause allergic reactions in mice and sweet corn that secretes insecticide. Genetically modified meat and dairy products are produced when animals are given modified feed. And some GMOs indirectly provide food; one example is the modified canola plant, which not only produces oil but also provides nectar to honey bees, which in turn produce GM honey. Notably, the GMO industry has proven highly lucrative in recent years. In the United States alone, 154 million acres have been reserved for GMO production. As a result, more than 80% of processed food in the United States contains some form of GMO.
However, industrial prosperity and nationwide prevalence have not convinced anti-GMO groups that these foods are safe for human consumption. In 2008, the Institute for Responsible Technology noted several health concerns linked to GMO intake. These include:
Though the GMO industry has notoriously shied away from publishing data that assuages these concerns, the FDA has yet to characterize modified foods as unsafe. Until this occurs, any ‘health risks’ are considered somewhat unsubstantiated.
* Image sourced from http://sustainablepulse.com/
Green Villages top ten tips on being a sustainable traveller:
1. Do your homework
Yes, we know the words homework and holiday don’t sound right together, but find out about your destination before you go. You may not want to whale watch in a country that regularly flouts moratoriums on whale hunting, or take a wildlife safari in a country with little commitment to conservation.
2. Your own backyard
Australia and New Zealand are renowned for their natural beauty and provide high quality eco tour experiences – and you’ll be using far less fossil fuels in getting there.
3. Respect native flora and fauna
Take pictures not petals, and don’t feed animals. Animals that are fed by eager tourists become less able to forage for themselves.
4. Shop local and support local
Buying local crafts, food and clothing at markets and small stores can be fun – and you’ll be supporting local trades, which helps the local economy.
5. Go local in your accommodation
Smaller local hotels usually have a lower environmental impact and employ local people. They also give you a more unique experience.
6. Think about your rubbish
Many places don’t have safe landfills or recycling facilities so pack as few disposables as possible. Remove wrappings from battery packs and take dead batteries home. Drinking bottled water can prevent illness, if it’s possible to refill bottles at a clean source, do.
7. Walk
Walking is the best way to experience a place and to interact with the people. It’s also a great way to keep fit, particularly if you’re over-indulging in local food. Local transport can also be a great way to see a country at close-hand – and keep your carbon footprint smaller.
8. Volunteer
Taking a holiday doesn’t have to mean lazing on a beach. Doing something useful can be an invigorating experience, and you can make a valuable contribution. Many countries offer volunteer programs for travellers, giving you a truly unique insight into the place you’re visiting, and helping you to forge lasting connections with people from around the world.
9. Carbon offset
Find out about carbon offsets for flights and adventure experiences, with many companies now offering opportunities to purchase green credits.
10. Tread lightly
No matter where you’re staying, don’t take long showers, remember to turn lights off, and try not to leave food on your plate at the end of a meal – it’s as wasteful as leaving a tap running!
List of community gardens on the City of Sydney council, found at the Green Villages website, complete with maps, directions, info and redirection to websites. We are there, standing proud! Check it out!
Click here to see the complete list of gardens around us!
Have a read of this clever tips collected from the Green Villages website on how to start your balcony veggie garden:
"Heard all the buzz about balcony gardens? Hankering to literally get your hands dirty and start subtly mentioning how good your homegrown herbs are? Living in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t cultivate your own small patch of earth. Not only will you score a beautiful balcony garden, you’ll enjoy the benefits of gardening to feed the body and nourish the soul. Here are our top tips to get you on your way.
1. Step outside
Before you start, spend some time outside. Realistically assess your ‘plot’ – is it sunny all day, shady and cool, windy, in the direct face of the southerlies? This will help you choose the best plants to plant.
2. Create a wind-break
High-rise balconies – even if they’re only one or two floors above ground – are often affected by wind. And if there’s a sea view, expect those breezes to be salty. If possible, erect a windbreak using a trellis with a tough climber. Plant in heavy pots that won’t blow over, and provide regular water to counteract the drying effect of the breezes.
3. Sun or shade?
Balcony gardens usually get light from only one direction – work out the aspect and plant accordingly. The ideal is north or north-east facing. If you’re lucky enough to face this way, most plants will grow. East and south-facing balconies need shade tolerant plants. If you’ve got a west-facing balcony, go for tough heat and sun-tolerant plants like rosemary, carrots and pumpkins.
4. Maximise your space
You mightn’t have an extensive acreage, but there’s no reason why you can’t maximise the vertical space on a balcony. Use hanging baskets and pots (could be time to unleash that secret love of macramé), as well as benches – with the sun-loving plants on top and the shady ones underneath.
5. Get composting
If you’ve got room, a small worm farm on your balcony not only diverts your organic waste from landfill, it also produces wonderful food for your plants. There are also small benchtop composting bins available for lovely little spaces.
6. Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Herbs don’t require much space and if you’re keen on starting an edible garden, they’re often the best way to begin. Simon & Garfunkel knew what they were talking about.
7. Time for fruit and vegies
Vegies such as garlic, tomatoes and carrots can grow in pots, and you can try snow peas and beans on a trellis. There are also dwarf varieties of citrus, and smaller fruit trees such as cumquats that not only look beautiful, but are perfect for a mean marmalade.
8. Balcony buddies
Companion planting can really help in keeping pests at bay. Marigolds have an offensive smell for most bugs, nasturtiums protect strawberries, and organic spray repellents such as garlic oil can keep away the nasties.
9. A little love
All gardens need a little regular love. It’s a matter of keeping an eye on those pests and acting before there’s an infestation, using organic plant food and of course, regular watering. One of the advantages of balcony gardening is that there’s often a lot less you need to do than you would in a bigger patch – just a few minutes a day can result in a whole lotta goodness."
To read full article and to keep up to date with free green workshops around you CLICK HERE.
Bill Mckibben, one of the world's most respected enviromentalists and co-founder of 350.org has written an amazing article for the Rolling Stone magazine, it is a long one, but well worth a read as it really paints a very clear picture about what we are doing to our planet.
By Bill Mckibben
July 19, 2012
If the pictures of those towering wildfires in Colorado haven't convinced you, or the size of your AC bill this summer, here are some hard numbers about climate change: June broke or tied 3,215 high-temperature records across the United States. That followed the warmest May on record for the Northern Hemisphere – the 327th consecutive month in which the temperature of the entire globe exceeded the 20th-century average, the odds of which occurring by simple chance were 3.7 x 10-99, a number considerably larger than the number of stars in the universe.
Meteorologists reported that this spring was the warmest ever recorded for our nation – in fact, it crushed the old record by so much that it represented the "largest temperature departure from average of any season on record." The same week, Saudi authorities reported that it had rained in Mecca despite a temperature of 109 degrees, the hottest downpour in the planet's history.
Not that our leaders seemed to notice." READ THE FULL ARTICLE.
Friday, May 3, 2013 at 11:24PM