This monthly of recent news and upcoming events is emailed to all members and subscribers. Continue reading for this month’s issue and the opportunity to sign up for future updates.

DATECLAIMERS
Saturday 5 March: Community Benefit Festival:  “Live, Care, Inspire”
Saturday 12 March: Working Bee, from 7am
Sunday 20 March: 2nd  Community Harvest  Day , 2 – 6 pm & Autumn Equinox Celebration
Tuesday 22 March: Commencement of 6-month Green Army Program
From March: Sustainable Living Workshop Series for Autumn
Saturday 25th June: Winter Solstice Festival

COMMUNITY  BENEFIT  FESTIVAL
Yes, the rain is abating, and the Live, Care, Inspire is on! We are excited about hosting our first event at the farm on this Saturday, March 5th.  The poster has all the information, with the latest news being:

· Tickets: At the door, or pre-purchased here

· Bring something dry to sit on!

· Event Information: Ph. (07)3246 5426 or email Rebecca

· Volunteers: We’d love a hand setting up, serving and cleaning up. Please turn up any time from 9:00am or stay to help us clean up for the next morning’s markets.

· Spread the word: We’d appreciate any effort to spread the word! Show your support on Facebook, or Download & distribute the full poster

JOB VACANCY:  CHAI CAFE COORDINATOR POSITION
This position is now being advertised on our website. Please go to Chai Cafe Coordinator for full position description and application details. Applications close 18^th March.

GREEN ARMY PROGRAM FOR CITY FARM
The Green Army (Skilling Queenslanders for Work program will commence on Tuesday 22 March and will Employ  12 previously unemployed people for 4 days a week for 6 months. Applications forparticipation and staffing (Supervision, Coordination, Training) close shortly. Further details are on our website.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING WORKSHOPS

We have a delicious smorgasbord of workshops on offer for our Autumn program these include:  solar cooking, fomenters’ kitchen, natural fibre papermaking, natural dye making, natural skincare, composting and worm farming, cob oven building, bamboo construction, water gardening, keeping chooks, chook tractor construction and MORE……  Go to our website for more details and to register your interest in any of these workshops.

EDUCATION PROGRAM: EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

As detailed in the last  February eNews, we’re seeking expressions of interest in:

· Attending PDC (Permaculture Design Courses) in the Evening

· Hosting Group Design Projects on your yard/land

· Facilitation / Participation in our popular Sustainability Workshops

· Undertaking a Certificate III in Permaculture

SATURDAY GARDENING

The Saturday gardening has been indefinitely postponed until we find a regular facilitator for this. Please assist here if you can!  The group meets at 7am for an hour or so to work usually in the kitchen garden.  The role would suit someone who has a keen interest in permaculture gardening and a friendly manner. You would liaise each week with the Green Team to determine what needs doing in the garden.  For more information or to put your hand up for this role please email Belinda at volco.nscf@gmail.com

COMMUNITY HARVEST DAY and  AUTUMN EQUINOX CELEBRATIONS
On Sunday 20^th March, we host our next Harvest/Cooking/Celebration activity. Full details will be on our website from 8^th March, but we can tell you that:

· There will be a community harvesting of the surplus and weeds (yes, weeds for tucker!) from 10am, along with a beer brewing demo

· The food prep will take over the Chai Cafe from about 1pm

· Through the afternoon will be food prep and lots of sharing, as well as new plantings in our garden

· At dusk – a shared meal to celebrate our harvest, the new seeding, our community and the Autumn Equinox (as per our Summer Solstice gathering) with some ritual and a small fire.

To register your interest or for more information, go to anaheke@gmail.com

HOP HARVESTING / BEER BREWING DEMO

Simeon is hosting a beer making/hop harvesting demo at Northey Street Markets, on Sunday 20^th March, as part of the Community Harvest Day (above), from 10am through to about 1pm.  This will be near the chai cafe, so please inquire there or at the NSCF Info Stall or Sausage Sizzle. No bookings required – just turn up. A donation will be requested to cover costs.  More info on our website from 8^th March, or contact Simeon directly on enoggera@brewerschoice.com.au

DONATIONS OF MATERIALS

We are grateful for people’s generosity in donating materials. There have been some great items, especially after the flood. We ask though that you check in first before leaving anything on site here. We do get a lot of things that we don’t have a use for, or have nowhere to store it. Please check in first with Rob (general gardening or building materials), Genevieve (nursery materials, plants etc) or Kirsty (office materials) first.

ON-GOING AT THE FARM
Every Sunday Morning: Organic Markets, with Chai Cafe, Nursery and Village-Life
Six days a week: “Edible Landscapes” Nursery
Every Tuesday: 9:30 am:  1 hour orientation tour of farm – good for new volunteers.
Tuesday – Friday each week: Volunteering in and around the Farm
Every Saturday Morning: Gardening – volunteers needed!
Every Wednesday: “Planting for Pizzas” (gardening and cooking activities) 11 am – 2 pm