City Farm Email Update – November 2010
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
Thu 11 Nov - Partnership Dinner
Sat 13 Nov – (1) NSCF Annual General Meeting, 9:00am
Followed by – (2) Preceded by annual volunteers’ thank-you breakfast, 11:00am
Fri 17 Dec - Office closes for 2010 (please note: Organic Markets & Nursery continue)
Tue 21 Dec – Summer Solstice & Full Moon
Tue 11 Jan – Office re-opens for 2011
.
Volunteers’ Annual “Thank You” Breakfast
Saturday 13th November, 9:00am
This annual event provides us with the chance to say thank-you to those who provide the backbone for the farm – our volunteers. Anyone who has helped through gardening, for events, in the nursery, grant writing – whatever – is invited for this free celebration. All volunteers are invited to enjoy a delicious breakfast, look back on 2010, and share our ideas for the coming year. This is a celebration of all volunteers at the farm – we’d be lost without you.
There will be pancakes, fruit salad, sausage sizzle and hot drinks to accompany our gathering and celebrating together. No need to RSVP – and please spread the word to others who have helped. If you would like to help on the day, or beforehand, please call Gemma on 0422 185 633.
.
Annual General Meeting
Saturday 13th November
The 2010 AGM will be held on Saturday 13th November from 11am. This is a special time for the farm to acknowledge the work of the previous committee and to elect the new group. Please note: Nominations for positions close this Monday 8th November.
The time has passed for new members to apply, but existing members can renew their membership up until the time of the meeting. A membership form, along with all other forms, are attached below.
.
Remaining ‘Sustainable Living’ Workshops for 2010:
Bush Tucker Banquet – Limited places
Saturday 6 November, 9 – 4
Pests and Diseases – Limited places
Friday 12 November, 9-12
Seed Saving – Limited places
Friday 12 November, 1:30 – 4:30
Solar Cooking
Saturday 13 November, 9 – 12
Bamboo Construction
Saturday 13 November, 9-4
Building a Local Permaculture Community – Limited places
Friday 19 November, 9-12
Sustainable City Living Walking Tour – Limited places
Friday 19 November, 1.30 – 4.30
Blacksmithing – Limited places
Saturday 20 November, 9 – 12
Introductory cheese-making for everyone – Limited places
Saturday 20 November, 9 – 12
AND 1:30 – 4:30 pm
Sustainable housing & Renewable Energy – Limited places
Friday 26 November, 9 – 12
Natural Body Care: Be beautiful naturally
Saturday 27 November, 1 – 4
“Thinking of a Tree Change” Bus Tour – Limited places
Friday 3 December, 7.30 – 5
Small Space Container Gardening
Saturday 4 December, 9 – 12
Growing and Cooking with Asian Herbs
Saturday 11 December, 9 – 12
Papermaking with Natural Fibres
Saturday 18 December, 1 – 4
Dates to be determined:
Cob Oven Building
Designing and Building a Portable Chook House (tractor).
We are also looking for Expressions of interest for mid week workshops Wednesday mornings 10am – 1pm “Growing Healthy Vegetables” and “Establishing & Maintaining a Healthy Garden”. Enquiries, Bookings and Payment here.
.
Christmas Ideas from the Nursery
Holiday Season is fast approaching, so here are some great ideas:
- Permaculture Calendar or Diary for 2011, put out by ‘Permaculture Principles’ $12 and $30 respectively
- New 2011 Astrological Moon Planting Calendar Poste, $11
- Brisbane Organic Growers (BOGI) Planting Guide – great for novice and experienced gardeners, $10.50
- Worm Farms (and Worms!) $75 + extra for worms
- Gift Vouchers for all our Nursery stock
- Local honey (very local, as in from Northey Street City Farm)
- Planter Boxes – great for herb gardening in a limited space
- Fruit Trees
- Permaculture Cookbook, ‘Share’, $20
.
Supporting the Nursery
Want to give us a present? ‘Edible Landscapes Nursery’ needs 100ml pots and open-cell punnets. We also really need ice-cream containers, so enjoy the warm weather and tuck in. As always, volunteers are welcome, it’s a great way to learn the nursery arts. Come in and meet our awesome new Nursery trainee, Juliette Leleu (as long as you don’t mind a French accent!). Happy Gardening – Joey, Juliette, Peta and Genevieve.
.
Free Screen Printing Workshops
This Thursday 11th November
A free workshop with Kathy – just turn up at 2pm to learn how to screen print and prepare end-of-year gifts.
We’ll be using Bob’s environmentally-friendly clay paints!
.
Saturday Volunteering – “Spring Gardening”
Saturday morning gardening has been going well, with numbers slowly increasing. It’s a day of relaxing fun, and the we can’t wait to see those new summer crops come up in the kitchen garden. We’re now starting at 7am, in the kitchen garden area. Tools and safety gear are available, as for our volunteers during the week.
.
New Education/Office Building
We have now moved into the new upstairs office, with much gratitude to our builders Base Projects, our Architect Steph Zannakis, Our own Dick Copeman and Gavin Hardy, and many, many volunteers. The 2nd half of the project – the solar system, green roof, furnishings and landscaping is promised through the Federal Government, and should be happening in the first quarter of 2011.
.
“Village Life” Social Enterprise Project
The craft and healing components of our Sunday Markets will be continuing, in the main community garden area, under the guidance of Kate Allen. She takes over from Faith Thomas and Anaheke Metua. We thank these two wonderful people for a great job in getting this started, and running so well. We wish Kate all the best in her roles, and she and the new stallholders can be supported by you walking through from the organic food markets on Sunday, pausing only for a drink or breakfast at the Chai Cafe!
.
‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ Course, Crystal Waters
15th – 18th November
Offered specially for Northey Street City Farm and others involved in Permaculture, Transition, Community Gardens, City Farms and all things sustainable. This is a low budget, residential 4 days training designed to up skill people and generate confidence and add more tools to the tool box. A number of our City Farm staff and committee members will be attending this. Click here to get excited by the flier!
.
Full Moon Bush Dance
This was a wonderful evening of dancing and socialising – we thank ‘Humpin’ Old Bluey’ for the great music and dancing, and Bunya, Lindsay, Juliette and Crew for the damper. “Same again next year” was the call!
.
Permaculture Convergence
Recently there was the Australasian Permaculture Convergence in Cairns. A few people from NSCF went, and many were unaware of this important event. While we will undertake to keep the NSCF friends know of such things, people can stay in touch themselves with things happening in Permaculture Community Gardens nationally through the Website of the Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network (ACFCGN) and joining their news lists, as well as getting details for coming events at Permaculture Convergence. Over to you!
.
Give “Share – The Permaculture Cookbook” for Christmas!
It’s the best Christmas Present ever – the cookbook of Northey Street City Farm! Simply the best, most heartfelt, interesting and useful cookbook you may ever own.
Written completely from the heart with sharing in mind! Go to Share – The Permaculture Cookbook for details and a booking form.
Only $20 at Edible Landscapes Nursery or through the website.
.
Partnership Dinner
We host a partnership dinner shortly here at City Farm. This is to celebrate and develop relationships and partnerships between NSCF and businesses, government agencies and other NFP groups. Even at this late stage, if you have any suggestions for attendance or attention on the evening, please email community@nscf.org.au to make your suggestions. And if you’re a business looking to support NSCF with mutual benefits, we’d especially like to hear from you!
.
Organic Gardening Course: Grow Your Own Green Fingers!
The next 10-week round of this practical and accredited training program starts on Saturday 29 January, 2011. These programs are great opportunities to learn all about all things gardening. In this next series, titled “Design The Backyard Blitz” you will learn how to read and reshape your landscape for our subtropical climate and to get the most benefit and enjoyment from your space. Treat yourself, and go to Courses & Workshops for more details.
.
Ongoing at the Farm
Every Sunday
Organic Markets & Chai Cafe
Six days a week
“Edible Landscapes” Nursery
Every Tuesday
9:30 am: Orientation tour of farm – good for new volunteers.
Every Wednesday
“Planting for Pizzas” 11 – 2
.
Sign up for Monthly Email Updates