February 2019

“We need hope but the one thing we need more than hope is action. Once we start to act, hope is everywhere.

The climate crisis has already been solved. We already have all the facts and solutions. All we have to do is to wake up and change.

What we do or don’t do right now will affect my entire life and the lives of my children and grandchildren. What we do or don’t do right now, me and my generation can’t undo in the future.”

Greta Thunberg, 16-year-old student climate activist https://www.ted.com/talks/greta_thunberg_the_disarming_case_to_act_right_now_on_climate?

The February edition of our e-newsletter includes information about:

• Next Community Conversation- Climate, System Change  & Young Voices– February 25th
• Sustainable Living Festival-February 8th -10th
• Repair Cafes– Daylesford & Castlemaine
• Central Vic Climate Action
• Third Terra Nullius Breakfast in Daylesford
• Bush Tucker Workshop, Castlemaine
• Farm Day Out – Eganstown
• The Allure of Fungi book launch
• Daylesford Culture Club
• Housing for Degrowth book launch
• New community supported bakery- Daylesford
• Castlemaine State Festival
• Vegetable Boxes and bulk foods- Hepburn Springs
• Community Climate Change Adaptation (3CA) Grants
• Food for Thought- Ian McBurnie & Richard Flanagan

Next community conversation:  Climate, System change & Young Voices

When: 7.00pm, Monday February 25th, 2019

Where: Senior Citizen’s room, Castlemaine, Mechanics Lane, next to library

Young people from the Castlemaine area have played a leadership role in the students’ climate strikes. Come and hear the stories they have to tell. Come ready and willing to take action along side these young ones – they want action not just talk. Encourage other young students and people to attend so this grass roots movement for our climate can grow. (Photo: Castlemaine 350.org)

This community conversation will re-frame the climate crisis from young people’s perspective and will introduce research focused around re-calibrating ‘deep frames’  for a hyper-response to climate and environmental change.

The students will be joined by Creswick resident Dr Elizabeth Boulton, whose research focuses around reframing Climate and Environmental Change as a new type of security threat, a Hyperthreat. This involves a new way of thinking which draws upon a new field called post-human philosophy. A “Hyperobject/threat” lens allows us to think in a quite different way.  Elizabeth is currently developing a cutting-edge community model for mobilising climate action and sees young people cutting through rhetoric and calling it as it is.

Elizabeth’s research has found that the deep framing problem is larger, more entrenched and multi-faceted than expected. However, some new conceptual ‘life-rafts’ do exist. These new ideas are embryonic and experimental, nonetheless, in accordance with ‘Real Options analysis’, they may still expand the responsive space humans have at their disposal.

Elizabeth commenced her career with 15 years as a logistics Officer in the Australian Army. Her interest in logistics and sustainability saw her complete a Masters in this area at the University of Melbourne in 2007, where she thereafter worked in the areas of sustainable transport with the Victorian State Government and City of Melbourne. She later moved into climate risk communication with the Bureau of Meteorology. She has worked in Africa, the Pacific Islands, the Middle East and East Timor. While completing her PhD she has done part-time research work for Defence in the area of ‘women, peace and security.’

Sustainable Living Festival

When: Throughout February, Big weekend: Feb 9,10 and 11

Where: Birrarung Marr, Melbourne plus variety of locations

Cost: most events free

Program : http://www.slf.org.au/events

This year’s theme  is disruption–  emerge with solutions for sustainability. Festival events will be held throughout February across Melbourne central and suburbs, as well as country Victoria. During the big weekend, (February 9th, 10th and 11th), you can to hear Helena Norberg-Hodge (Saturday 9th, 1.30pm) make the case for a radically different paradigm in the face of rampant consumerism, ecological destruction and spiritual poverty. You can hear the students striking out for climate (Sunday 10th, 1.30pm), including one of our own Castlemaine young people – Harriet O’Shea-Carre, and the ways young people are changing dynamics of the climate movement. Bruce Pascoe (Sunday 10th, 3pm) will reveal the hidden histories of how Aboriginal people across Australia used domesticated plants and engaged in complex harvesting and irrigating, and explore how this can be applied today. The Great Debate (Friday 8th, 6.30pm) will explore the best game plan for large scale rapid change. In Animism Respoken (Saturday 10th, 3pm), three environmental story tellers, including Daylesford’s own Patrick Jones, along with Maya Ward and Claire Dunn, will explore rewilding the urban soul

The Housing for Degrowth book launch is also part of the Sustainable Living Festival, with Castlemaine’s Anitra Nelson . More information below.

Repair Cafes

Daylesford Repair Cafe- a special cafe in February connecting young students with repairers, held at the ARC alongside  Daylesford Secondary College

When: Sunday February 17th, 1-4pm

Where: Note- Temporary venue change for February- The ARC, Smith St Daylesford, alongside Daylesford Secondary College (back to usual venue at Victoria Park Pavillion in March)

Focus:

• Learn how to repair and maintain your bike and fix a puncture;
• Fix your favorite clothes- have you got a favorite garment that you can’t wear any more? Don’t throw it away. Bring it along and find out how easy it is to repair clothes.
• Repair school equipment and school uniforms
• Learn and share repairing skills

Castlemaine and surrounds Repair Cafe

When: 24th February, 10 am to 1 pm

Where:  new venue- Castlemaine Town Hall

Bring along broken household appliances, broken picture frames, book binding, furniture, sewing, darning etc. Repairs, tea, coffee and food all for a small donation.

Note: No Cafe in March due to State Festival.

Further info from Chris 54705508, facebook: castlemaine repair cafe or web: castlemainerepaircafe.wordpress.com

Central Vic Climate Action

Global School Strike: Save the date- Friday, 15^th March 2019. Adults, in addition to parents are welcome to attend. Sign up for this at https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/

Climate Emergency, Mt Alexander Shire Council:After an initial meeting with mayor Bronwyn Machin, the aim is for the shire to adopt “Climate Emergency” status. Council has to date divested only 60% of its investments away from fossil fuels. We want to know what Council is going to do with remaining 40%.

Fund Raiser film: The Reluctant Radical is a heart warming, but hopefully not global warming, American story about long time environmentalist and activist, Ken Ward. Plans are for this film to be a Castlemaine Fringe Festival event.

 Letter Writing Cafe: Keeping the pressure up to Stop Adani, targeting Labor politicians. Every 2^nd and 4^th Fridays, 10 am at the North Kitchen, Hunter Street, Castlemaine. Writing paper, envelopes and stamps supplied. (Photo- Castlemaine 350.org)

Grey Power Climate Protectors: Former Greens leader Bob Brown helped to launch this new movement which plans to lead a convoy to Bowen in Far North Queensland. Should Adani start work on the proposed coal mine, the convoy will depart Hobart and head northwards, stopping at cities and towns along the way to hold rallies and public meetings. These events will be co-hosted by FLAC and Sea Shepherd. Draft itinerary of the route can be found at https://www.bobbrown.org.au/stopadaniconvoy

Third Terra Nullius breakfast in Daylesford

Locals gathered for breakfast on the footpath outside the Daylesford Town Hall on January 26th for the third terra nullius breakfast. This gathering “is an overdue acknowledgement of our history, a ‘fessing up to what the state of Australia stands upon”, says Patrick Jones- Artist as Family

Photo courtesy- Artist as Family

Patrick Jones sums up the rationale for the gathering:

“Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet of eleven convict ships from Great Britain, and the first Governor of New South Wales, arrived at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1770 and raised the Union Jack to signal the beginning of the colony. The legal basis for this invasion of Aboriginal lands was called terra nullius which translates from the Latin as ’empty land’ or ‘no man’s land’.

Stone and timber villages, swidden agriculture, elaborate aquacultures and diverse bioregional culture making was trammelled and disappeared so as this imperialist legal term could be employed back in England. The employment of the term was so obviously an opportunistic fabrication by the British state and yet the day, January 26, is still used as a day of national celebration in Australia. To redress this colossal deception, the annual Terra Nullius Breakfast was started in Daylesford in 2017, and was a first of its kind in Australia, joining the ever growing Change the date and Invasion Day movements.

While the breakfast is an acknowledgement of the great lie of terra nullius, which this nation state is founded on, it is also a standing with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters who have more than survived the invasion and who are rebuilding their lives and their cultures after generations of oppression by the various Australian states.”

Bush Tucker Workshop- Castlemaine

When: 10am – 3pm, Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd of March

Where: Castlemaine Community House, 30 Templeton Street

Fee:$200 for full price, or $180 with the Early Bird Discount if booking and payment is made before the 1st February. All bookings must be made by the 27th February.

Spend two days with local bush tucker expert, Aunty Julie, as she introduces you to the diverse edible native plants, fruits and herbs of Australia. The workshop includes morning & afternoon tea, plus lunch, over both days. A unique learning experience, sure to ignite your interest in creating with local ingredients.

Download the Workshop Outline here: Bush Tucker Workshop

Places are limited! Bookings https://cch.weteachme.com/classes/1030199-bush-tucker-workshop

Farm Day Out- Eganstown

When: Sunday March 17th, 10:00am – 6:30pm

Where: Jonai Farms, Eganstown VIC 3461

The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance is hosting their inaugural fundraiser Farm Day Out  at Jonai Farms, with a stellar line up of Australian bands, local food, booze, and mineral water, and the launch of their revolutionary book Farming Democracy: Radically transforming the food system from the ground up! 

As we all watch in horror as our rivers die from mismanagement and greed that is built into industrial capitalist agriculture, there’s never been a more pressing time to work towards agroecological futures.

All encouraged to attend so that those of us in the engine room for radical transformation can catch up to some tunes and raise a toast to the future we’re trying to grow!

If you’re keen to attend but living on a tight budget there’s room for more volunteers. Contact admin@afsa.org.au

Note that AFSA members get a 10% discount on tickets – just email admin@afsa.org.au for the discount code.

The Allure of Fungi Book Launch

When: Thursday 28 February 2019, 6pm
Where: The Woodshed, 21a Raglan Street, Daylesford.

RSVP: alison@alisonpouliot.com

The Allure of Fungi brings together two decades of research
by ecologist and environmental photographer, Alison Pouliot.
The book presents fungi through multiple perspectives from
mycologists and naturalists, to foragers and philosophers.
Through a combination of text and visual essays, it explores
how a history of entrenched fears about fungi has led to their
near absence in Australian ecological consciousness.
Please join us for a glass of champagne and to hear some
excerpts from the book.
Discounted copies of the book will be available for purchase.
This event is supported by Wombat Forestcare.

Daylesford Culture Club

Making your own fermenting crock

Housing for Degrowth Book Launch

New community supported bakery in Daylesford

TwoFold Bakehouse is starting up a community supported bake (CSB) subscription in March, meaning fresh bread mid week (Wed) and a loaf (or two) with your name on it.

Here’s how it’s going to work:

Committing to a month of bread with us represents much more than bread. As a member you complete our small bread family of bakers, farmers and millers who believe in regeneration and real bread. Join us in saying no to waste, by baking only to order.

Our first month of once weekly bread starts Wednesday 6 March. We’ll be baking a Light Khorasan loaf (wholemeal) (see picture below for the lay of the loaf) for $7 each.

Pick up is from Daylesford from 3:30 – 7pm each Wednesday.

For the rest of your specialty bread, TwoFold Bakehouse will still be at the Daylesford Sunday Farmers Market each week.

As a bread family member, the bakehouse will also guarantee that your Sunday Market loaves are put aside so you don’t miss out – just make a note of this in your sign up email.

Email: twofoldbakehouse@gmail.com to express your interest

Follow on Instagram! @twofoldbakehouse

Castlemaine State Festival

When: March 22nd to 31st

Where: Castlemaine and surrounds

An inspiring array of music, performance, dialogues, film, visual arts and more. Many events cost but there are free events as well.

For more info: https://castlemainefestival.com.au/

Vegetable boxes 

Serge at Blampied  is preparing delicious organic veggie boxes, available weekly for $40. Pick up from Hepburn Springs. A great way to support our local organic and regenerative  farmers.

For more information or to order a box email: relocalisehepburn@gmail.com

Community Climate Change (3CA)
Grants

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is delivering a small grants program to build resilience to climate change impacts through community-driven
adaptation activities that address identified gaps and priorities in Victoria’s regions. The Community Climate Change grants program is now open. Grants from $25,000 to $75,000 are
available and applications must be submitted by
Sunday 31 March 2019.

The Community Climate Change program will support projects that:
• identify and support practical projects focused on adaptation activities with clear community benefit;
• foster partnerships between communities, local governments and regional stakeholders on adaptation; and
• generate and share lessons on good practice approaches to community adaptation.
Two categories of projects will be funded:
Building Adaptive Capacity: these projects will build the capacity of communities or regions to better plan for, coordinate and deliver actions that support communities to adapt to current or future climate change impacts.
Delivering Adaptation Action: delivering adaptation action projects will implement practical actions that will support communities and regions to adapt to current or future climate
change impacts.
For more information:  https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/…climate-change…/community-climate-change

Food for Thought

In the Live Ecological newsletter, prepared by Bendigo’s Ian Mc Burnie, (sustainability practitioner, one of the founders of Bhive Cooperative), Ian shares a poignant letter to his young nephew-  Dear Alexander- about a future that people are worried about.

http://ianmcburney.com/blog/dearalexander

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