A community at work
January 16th, 2012 — community organising, inspiration
Here’s an event that may inspire you.
Visiting British activist, Adrian Porter, is to give a talk about how his home town of Totnes became the world’s first Transition Town.
7pm, Wed 8th February
Twin Ovals Function Centre,
Lightwood Dr (off Kingston View Dr),
Kingston
You’ll hear about the background of the Transition movement and also about the new Transition Streets Project.
January 12th, 2012 — activism, inspiration
Local Waterworks resident and long-term forest campaigner Geoff Law returned recently from an overseas working journey, visiting forests in other parts of the world.
For an interesting insight his essay The Tale of Two Forests makes a good read. Geoff is an able raconteur and writer.
(The essay is courtesy of the blog site of Miranda Gibson who climbed a rope to a platform on the top of the tree in the heart of the Southern Forests on December 14 and has vowed to stay until the forest is protected. Community members are urged to support her brave efforts.)
December 12th, 2011 — activism, inspiration
Waterworks Community produced this popular bumper sticker for Tasmania-wide distribution in 2009 and since then 2,000 of them have been distributed.
We’ve just had 2,000 more printed. We provide them at cost (35 cents each) and have no problem with them being sold in outlets for whatever price (normally $2).
So… if you know any ethical enterprise who would like to obtain some please let us know. The message seems to be very timely.
Actual size is 230mm x 70mm.
September 17th, 2011 — events, inspiration
The ever popular Sustainable Living Expo is on again in November.
This year the show will feature a novel set of Q&A style discussions to explore opportunities and challenges for creating sustainable lifestyles and livelihoods in our Island State.
What question would you like to see put to the line up of prominant Tasmanians as they explore these questions and more? You can submit your question HERE.
July 10th, 2011 — food + gardens, inspiration
by Shiny Bristow
Consider these facts:
The Great Wall of China was 9,000 kilometres long. Impressive? The total length of backyard fences in Australia = 750,000 kilometres. Average distance to the moon = 384,000 kilometres.
That’s enough fencing to go to the moon and back – and that’s an awful lot of timber and steel. Wooden ones age and have to be replaced every 25 years or so – and that’s an awful lot of trees that have to be cut down, year in and year out.
Is there a better way?
Well, imagine if just some of these unproductive fence lines were put to good use. Imagine if they could provide us with healthy food.
June 21st, 2011 — inspiration
On Saturday Blake Newton went out for his daily walk and got lost.
Residents up and down the valley had got to know Blake, a gentle man who derived great pleasure from walking along the local tracks both here and on Mount Nelson.
As a dementia sufferer, communing with nature was Blake’s great pleasure in life. In his private world he related to plants, animals and children with obvious joy, and so it was that members of the community were saddened by his passing away on June 18.
Our condolences to Blake’s family and friends.
January 7th, 2011 — events, inspiration
November 24th, 2010 — food + gardens, inspiration
Something new is growing in our cities, and it is food.
All over Australia, people are taking the initiative and growing some of what they eat, together, in community gardens.
Imagine this: city parks and underused land with gardens and orchards of flourishing, tasty fruit and fresh vegetables, all tended by friends and families. Imagine: children playing below the fruit trees and grazing on newly-ripened vegetables while, nearby, adults talk, collaborate and plan.
June 30th, 2010 — food + gardens, inspiration
The Australia and New Zealand Biochar Researchers Network delivered a workshop on Monday 28 June – an opportunity to learn basic facts about biochar and its potential applications and benefits.
Biochar can be produced from a wide range of organic materials – wood waste, paper waste, municipal green waste, animal manures and crop residues, to name a few.
(Click on graphic to enlarge.)
Continue reading →
May 10th, 2010 — energy saving, inspiration
Plugging energy waste in your home can be one of those rare investments that provide a guaranteed financial return.
By way of comparison, this graph (click on it to enlarge) compares your dividend on $10,000 invested in Microsoft shares versus investment in home energy saving retrofit (for a 5 year period.)
What the chart doesn’t show is 1) many energy saving measures cost almost nothing and 2) expenditures in energy saving keep paying back, year after year, for the life of the home. Once they have paid themselves back they effectively become a continuing source of household income. Full story HERE.
February 16th, 2010 — events, inspiration
ROLL UP, ROLL UP it’s Waterworks Harvest Fair time again!!!
Calling all you wonderful valley people who would like to help set up our second Harvest Fair about fun, food and sustainable living – it’s on Sunday March 28. Click HERE to see poster.
I am hostessing weekly morning teas (with scones) 10am at my house (144 Waterworks Rd) every Wednesday before the fair.
Amanda Sully (sully.amanda@gmail.com)
Please come if you are able to put in some real time and energy as we need your help!!!
November 10th, 2009 — inspiration
The above image depicts two million plastic beverage bottles – the number used in the US every five minutes.
Artist Chris Jordan has been in Hobart this week with his mind blowing artwork depicting consumerism and waste. The statistics will stun you, his pictures are amazing.
Click HERE and go down to Running The Numbers.
October 22nd, 2009 — inspiration, landcare + faunacare
Last Sunday an orchid walk was organised by the Waterworks Valley Landcare Group and the Council. Unfortunately not many people attended, probably because of the clash with the climate friendly home visits. However, if you want to see some beautiful orchids like those in the pictures below, head southwards across the road and up the hill from the Waterworks Reserve gates.
