wonthaggi community garden & the harvest centre newsletter...
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For more information on participating in the steering group, running or attending workshops, workshop topics and tours please contact Simone on 0488 366 300. Wonthaggi Community Garden & The Harvest Centre
Newsletter
7 Newsletter
Adapting to change
May 2011
Water Save
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Use a bucket in the shower
while waiting for hot water. It
could save you up to 9 litres per
minute.
Reduce your shower time and
you can save between 9-20
litres per minute
Install a 4-star + front loading
washing machine and you
could save more than 50 litres
a day.
The Harvest Centre News:
At The Harvest Centre, based behind Mitchell House in central Wonthaggi, we are building community through our love for gardening, sharing skills and our hunger for healthy, locally produced food.
Last month the Harvest Centre was a winner at the latest Garden Show held at the Workmens club. They entered Silverbeet, Garlic and other veggies taking home 1st and 2nd prize. Well done to all who contributed.
New to the Centre is the monthly Vege and Produce swap. Bring all your excess produce to the Harvest Centre and exchange. This will be held every second Saturday of the month. The next one is held on Saturday 11th June at 10.30am.
The Centre has open Hands on in the Garden every Wednesday from 10.30 am until 1 pm where people can benefit from sharing gardening ideas and skills and when it’s time to harvest you can enjoy in the produce.
Times and dates of our workshops are advertised in “The Grapevine”, the Mitchell House programme. For more info ring 5672 3731 or email [email protected]
Wednesday May 11th
DVD on Gardening and
discussion on Winter
gardening at Wonthaggi
Harvest Centre @ 10:30
Saturday May 14th
Produce swap at
Wonthaggi Harvest
Centre @ 10:30- 11:30
Coal Creek Farmers
Market at Coal Creek,
Korumburra
Wednesday May 18th
Transition Towns
Wonthaggi meeting
Saturday May 21st
Ancient Moon Gardening
at the Wonthaggi
Community Garden (blue
building) @ 2pm- 4pm
Inverloch Farmers
Market at The Glade,
Inverloch( 8am-1pm)
Saturday May 28th
Churchill Island Farmers
Market, Phillip Island
(8am-1pm)
Wednesday June 1st
Energy saver workshop
at Mitchell House @
12.30pm
SOUTH GIPPSLAND WATER
H40 Grants and tips
www.sgwater.com.au
SUSTAINABLE GARDEN
AUSTRALIA
www.freshforkids.com.au
CARINYA KITCHEN
91 Hade Avenue
Bass
www.carinyakitchen.webs.com
AWAKENING THE DREAMER
www.awakeningthedreamer.org
What’s on locally,
nationally &
globally:
Websites of interest
Wonthaggi Community Garden News: During the month of April the WCG hosted a family day and participated in the Gippsland
Sustainability Festival as part of the ‘Adapting to Change’ project.
The family day was a success with around 35 people participating. Many small children got
their hands dirty and learned about germinating seeds and propagating. There was a
wonderful colouring completion with a picture of Easter Bunny holding a basket of
vegetables and a very exciting Easter egg hunt. The children and their carers had a lovely
time and it was wonderful to see the garden full of children who all had a natural curiosity
and confidence when it came to getting their hands dirty and exploring plants.
Casual Thursdays are progressing at a very slow pace so our working group has decided to
promote more through advertising. Please share and encourage people who are looking for a
healthy activity and wanting to engage with others to come along on Thursdays @ 10am for a
coffee (0r tea) and chat.
Rick Coleman, from Southern Cross Permaculture paid a visit to the garden at the last
monthly meeting (May 3rd) and was able to offer great advice on developing the garden with
our vision in mind. It was very inspirational and gave the committee a list of actions to
pursue around design, composting and access.
For more information on participating in the steering group, running or attending
workshops, workshop topics and tours please contact Simone on 0488 366 300.
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Plant of the month
ONION (Allium cepa)
Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 30°C.
Space plants: 5 - 10 cm apart
Harvest in 25-34 weeks. Allow onions to dry before storing.
Compatible with: Lemon Balm, Borage, Carrots, Beets, Silverbeet, Lettuce, Amaranth
Avoid growing with: Peas, Beans
They start off looking like blades of grass.Onion bulbs should sit on the surface of the soil. Do not cover. They will take six to eight months to mature. Onions are ready when the tops start to dry and fall over. Pull them and leave to dry for a few days. Store in a cool, dry airy place. Use a net bag or make a string by weaving the tops together.
page ONE
New Look
Newsletter!
You may have noticed
something different this
newsletter. We have merged!
Wonthaggi Community Garden
and The Harvest Centre have
joined forces to produce an
informative monthly
newsletter with an up to date
what’s on list and news from
around our area.
The ‘Adapting to change’project is funded by the Climate Communities grants program, a Victorian
Government initiative.
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Composting
tips
Set your compost bin up in a
sunny or part-sunny, well
drained location. Make sure the
compost bin is convenient so
you will be encouraged to use
and maintain it.
.
When getting started, a bucket
of animal manure or blood and
bone will help jump start the
microbes responsible for
converting food and garden
waste into compost.
Jessica Harrison and Simone Jamieson representing local community gardens at Gippsland
Sustainability Festival at Coal Creek (also on the stand was Lorraine Carroll, not in photo)
May 2011
Coming Up next month:
Local Contacts:
Gippsland Sustainability Festival This was the 2nd annual Gippsland Sustainability Festival
which hosted workshops where experts provided information
and practical demonstrations of soil, water and energy
management techniques. The environmental housing
initiatives and designs inspired visitors with lots of ways to
make their homes more sustainable. Also on display were the
hybrid car and the CERES Energy Trailer which demonstrated
solar, thermal and wind energy.
Sponsored by South Gippsland Shire Council, the festival was
a great opportunity to show case local Community Gardens.
Wonthaggi Community Garden & The Harvest Centre
Newsletter
7 Newsletter
Adapting to change
page TWO Saturday 5th June 2011
Changing The Dream Symposium in Wonthaggi (www.changingthedream.org.au)
For enquiries & bookings call: Carolyn Rowson on 5657 4221 or [email protected]
World Environment Day Celebration at the Wonthaggi Community Garden
Saturday 11th June 2011
Cardinia Sustainability Festival
Wednesday 15th June 2011
Garlic Celebration at The Harvest Centre
Saturday 18th June
Cowes Sustainability Festival
Wonthaggi Community Garden- Meet Thursdays 10-12
239 White Road, Wonthaggi VIC 3995
Contact: Simone Jamieson- [email protected] or 0488 366 300
The Harvest Centre- Meet Wednesdays 10.30- 1.00
Behind Mitchell House (next to rail trail)
Contact: Mitchell House- [email protected] or call 5672 3731
Cowes Community Garden- Meet Sundays 11-12
Behind Cowes General Store
Contact: Adrian James 0429 001 214
Sustainability Victoria
Bass Coast Shire Sustainability Officer- Liza Price 5671 2270
Transition Towns Wonthaggi District- meet every 3 weeks- month
Contact: [email protected]
Transition Towns Phillip Island District- meet Mondays every month
Contact: Adrian James at [email protected]
Energy Innovation Co-op
PO Box 441 Korumburra 3950 [email protected] or 56573108
South Gippsland Conservation Society- The Bunurong Environment Centre
Contact [email protected] or 5674 3738
Southern Cross Permaculture Institute- Leongatha
www.southerncrosspermaculture.com.au
Contact: Rick and Naomi Coleman 5664 3301
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A smelly compost may indicate
your compost is acidic or too
wet. Reduce moisture by adding
some dry materials and turning
the compost. Acidity can be
reduced by mixing in a handful
of garden lime.
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Ants in your compost may
indicate it is too dry. Increase
the moisture level and turn the
contents regularly.
Vinegar flies in your compost
bin may indicate the compost
has become acidic. Mix in a
handful of garden lime.
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