The first National Permaculture Day is being held on this Sunday 1st May.  Northey Street City Farm is joining the celebrations, with a program of free tours of the market stalls (8:00 am), the new building (9:30 and 11:00am) and the gardens (8:30am and 10:00am) Also workshops (10:30am) to add to the regular Organic Market activities

• The full program is on the NSCF website and facebook
• Here’s the National Permaculture Day Poster
• And here is the IPD website with information and activity postings

.EDUCATION PROGRAM: COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
The Education Team will be running the following Permaculture Design Courses in the second half of this year (subject to minimum enrolments) and scheduling another if there’s enough interest.

Saturday PDC will run on Saturdays 16 July to 22 October with no sessions on 24 September 2011

2-Week PDC will run from Monday 19 September to Saturday 1 October (inclusive) during the school holidays, plus a final day for design presentations, celebration and wrap-up on Saturday 15 October.

You’ll learn heaps, have fun, be inspired and probably make some wonderful friendships along the way. So enrol today!!  Please go to our education page, email our farm office or contact Kirsty, Tues-Thu on (07)38578775.

WINTER SOLSTICE – EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
We are in planning mode for our big annual party, the Winter Solstice Festival on Saturday 25th June.  It’s a night of great music, food, fire, celebration and community, and we are seeking expressions of interest for the following:

• Bands and Performers for our two stages and chalkboard. Please contact Alex
• Roving Performers. Please contact Jen
• Creative ideas for the program. Please contact our Event Coordinators

There is no funding for this event, so we’re hoping for festival fans as well as regular volunteers to step up and do their bit. Volunteers for the night and beforehand can register here. A full list of roles and opportunities will be in the June eNews.

NEW BUILDING – MATERIALS AND PEOPLE WITH SKILLS NEEDED
The Construction Program would like to put out a request to farm community and friends for donated building materials for use in upcoming farm projects.

Things that would be useful are Pavers, 4×4, 4×2, 6×2, 3×1.5, hardwood in lengths over 3 metres and roofing iron. If anyone has these items surplus to needs and would like to see them reconfigured in a cool way could they please contact Simon McVerry on (PS: looking for quality rather than quantity)

Skilled certified plumbers, or carpenters who are willing to volunteer time for construction projects are also asked to contact Simon.

ALSO NEEDED @ THE FARM

• Mulcher Does anyone have a mulcher to loan? Big is better, but even a small one will be great to process the weeded and pruned vegetation by the Green Army.  Please let Belinda know on inafrica3@hotmail.com
• Gardeners Simon in the Market Garden, Juliette in the Seed-Savers Garden, Paul in the Kitchen Garden, Genevieve in the Nursery – all have one thing in common:  they could really benefit from extra help in the gardens. Please talk to our volunteer coordinator Belinda at volco.nscf@gmail.com if you can help during the week or on Saturday mornings

EVENTS:  SHAKESPEARE SHORTS
We are hosting the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble for part of the Theatre Anywhere Festival in May, with their productions of the ”Half-hour Hamlet” and ”Express Macbeth”.  There will be shows on our Markets on Sunday 8th May, and an evening show on Friday 13 May with a bonfire and refreshments.

Go to the Shakespeare Shorts website and scroll down to the two Northey Street City Farm performances during the Sunday Markets and a special Friday 13th. Bookings are preferred, but you can just turn up during the Sunday markets – it’s across the road from the main markets at the Mosaic Gardens area.

You can check out the theatre company at www.qldshakespeare.org

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: 9:30am: 1 hour orientation tour of farm – good for new volunteers.
Tuesday – Friday each week: Volunteering in and around the Farm, from 8:00am
Every Wednesday: “Planting for Pizzas” (gardening and cooking activities) 10am – 1pm

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES @ THE FARM
There’s an informal meeting of people interested in cultural activities next Thursday 5th May here at the farm at 3:30 pm. While we’ll be looking at a few cultural things related to the Solstice Festival, we’ll also be investigating cultural links and recognition (eg “welcome to country”, signage), ongoing art activities and proposed events and activities for the remainder of the year.  Please just turn up, or email us here.

WASTED ! – Workshop this Sunday
Artist Lisa Hepburn presents a hands-on workshop on how to upcycle your households waste paper this Sunday 1 May, and again on Sunday 29 May and Sunday 31 July.
Time: Morning 9am-12pm (3 hour sessions)
Venue: Village Life Market @ Northey Street City Farm
Cost: $50 ( 3 hour session)
Bookings: info@redhotfibre.com.au
Presented by: www.redhotfibre.com.au