Northey Street City Farm – AUGUST eNews

Welcome to the (whoops, later than usual) August eNews

IMPORTANT DATES:
Permaculture Design Course:
Monday 10th to 22nd September   PDC #4 – Intensive 2 week course (final presentation on Oct. 6)
Enquiries: cityfarmpdc@gmail.com,   Bookings: info@nscf.org.au

Sustainable Living Workshops:
Spring Special for Members - All Northey Street City Farm Assoc. members get 30% off workshops marked with: ***.  See the full list at the end of this eNews

***Saturday 25th August  (10am – 2pm)   GREEN ROOF PLANTING WORKSHOP
Curious about the new craze greening Europe’s cities? Come and get your hands into NSCF‘s own pioneering ‘green’ or living ‘meadow style’ roof in the making. Learn the difference between extensive and intensive ‘green’ roofs and how to design, build and plant out one yourself. Join in this hands-on workshop and be part of history in the making.
Cost: $50 full price, $35 concession.            Enquiries:  slw.nscf@gmail.com,   Bookings:  info@nscf.org.au

We are also looking for volunteers to help with preparation of the roof on Thursday 23, or Friday 24 AugustContact Simon on nscf.farming@gmail.com if you’d like to help

Saturday 22 September, 11am to 4pm   SPRING EQUINOX PICNIC
Come and celebrate Spring at the Farm. Join us for a family-friendly day of fun at the Farm.  For more details contact Kylie Mitchell on siteandevents.nscf@gmail.com

IN THE MEDIA
Northey Street chooks on ‘Better Homes and Gardens’ TV
Thanks to Patricia and Kristy who hosted the ‘Better Homes and Gardens’ television crew, and Dr Harry.  Dr Harry treated our chooks for scaly foot disease, and said complimentary things about the farm.
You can watch the show, including Dr Harry’s spot with our chickens, here (it was originally shown on 10 August)

Sunday Farmers Market customers on Channel 7
Channel 7′s ‘Sunday Night’ show covered a story on bath milk. The segment included footage of our Organic Farmers’ Market. There weren’t any mentions of our Market, but some of our regular customers were interviewed.
You can find out more, and watch the segment, here

Market customers were also interviewed by ABC’s 7.30 Report, and they showed some footage of our Market

We were also voted as one of the Top Ten markets in Brisbane, by the Courier-Mail

CIG UPDATE
The new kiosk pantry is almost complete and the Green Roof is being prepared for planting (see above for workshop details).  Watch out for the next stages: security lighting, a shade sail near the kiosk, and an improved storage shed near the Nursery

CHAI CAFE
We’d like to improve the atmosphere at the Café with a little light music. If you or a friend are buskers, and are interested in busking at the Café from 7am to 10.30am on Sunday mornings, please contact Kylie Mitchell atsiteandevents.nscf@gmail.com

NEWS FROM THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (MC)
The Management Committee is currently working towards holding a Special General Meeting on 1st September to make a decision regarding paid staff on MC. All current Farm members will be invited to participate in this meeting. Please come along if you want to participate in this decision. Also, check that your membership is current, you can easily renew it from our website using Paypal

WELCOMES
This month we welcome Kylie Mitchell as Site and Events Manager, Steve York as Organic Farmers Market Coordinator, and Murray Carew as Education Coordinator

DONATIONS
We now have a Paypal donation facility on the website. You can make a cash donation to the farm at any time. All donations over $2 are tax-deductible and go into our registered Environment Fund.
If you think you have something that may be useful for the Farm please call 07 3857 8775, or emailsiteandevents.nscf@gmail.com or nscf.farming@gmail.com to find out if it’s something we might need.
We are looking for donations of Daylilies – do you have a congested clump in your yard? Now’s a good time to divide the clump and bring the extras to the farm! We want to increase the variety of edible flowers we produce and add a bit of colour to the Farm at the same time

ONGOING ACTIVITIES AT THE FARM

ORGANIC MARKETS:  Our Sundays are still going strong, come along and check us out 6am – 10.30am. We still haven’t missed a weekly market in 6 years!

CHAI CAFE:  Meet your friends inside the Farm every Sunday 6-11am amongst our lush Permaculture gardens. Please support Northey Street City Farm, when choosing your Sunday breakfast. Try our special hot chilli chocolate.

VILLAGE LIFE:  Our Village Life Market focuses on supporting eco-friendly local businesses and fair trade organisations. We are very keen to hear from new applicants and especially fair trade sellers. Please contact Steve at markets.nscf@gmail.com for details.

OFFICE OPENING:   Business as usual – Tuesday till Thursday 10am – 4pm

PLANTING for PIZZAS:   Supported Gardening program, Wednesdays 10am -1pm

FREE FARM TOUR:  Every Tuesday morning 9.30am – everyone welcome… meet on the cafe deck. If you are interested in volunteering at the Farm, this is a great introduction. The tour takes about an hour.

EDUCATION PROGRAM
Murray Carew has been appointed as the new Education Co-ordinator. He has been organising a very full program of School Tours.  The program of Permaculture courses, Sustainability Workshops, school tours and other group tours continues. See details of upcoming courses below.

EARTH ARTS:  Mud Arts activities for children, or the young at heart, are held at the Farm every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings with Bob McMahon, aka Bob Mud. Bob, an experienced teacher, encourages children to explore their creativity through mud paints, paper crafts, music and instant ceramics. No-cost pottery is made from found clay without a kiln. Moulds are made from latex, or clay is sculpted and then fired. These simple arts activities encourage children to touch the earth and take something home. As Bob says, ”participation is the loving partner of learning, even if it’s no more than painting a mud picture on a leaf.” Sunday mornings are very busy, so if you’d like to help with these activities, contact bobmud@hotmail.com

ALLOTMENT GARDENS
The allotment gardens are thriving, all plots have been allocated and a waiting list has been started.
In recent months allotment holders have become self-sufficient by making their own compost, running a worm farm and starting a weed tea system. A new aquaponic garden in a donated bath-tub was put in this month.
The allotment holders meet on the first Sunday of every month for a cuppa, a chat and a working bee from 10am to midday – all farm friends are welcome to join us.
Around half the allotment holders have netted their gardens which has reduced turkey damage and theft.
To apply for a plot (the waiting list is quite short) email allotments.nscf@gmail.com

NURSERY:  Trading Tuesday – Saturday, 9am – 4pm and 6am – 12pm on Sundays.
At Edible Landscapes we can assist you by pH testing your soil for you. Just bring in a sample or two, and we’ll test it to see how your soil can be improved.

PROGRAMS:  Our Community Service, Work-For-The-Dole and other programs continue to run on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For anyone on Centrelink benefits, there may be a program or opportunity here at Northey Street City Farm that would be of benefit to yourself and the Farm; contact info@nscf.org.au for more details.

EDUCATION COURSES IN 2012

PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE
We have 1 exciting Permaculture Design Certificate course left for the year. Booking forms available here.
PDC #4  (2-week Intensive, school holidays) 10th – 22nd September

Bob Mud’s Earth Arts Activities  Every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday

SUSTAINABLE LIVING EDUCATION WORKSHOPS IN 2012
This workshop program is part of our PDC so places are limited. Book now to ensure a place
Our full Sustainable Living Workshops program is available at workshops 2012 for your information some details are below:

We hope you’ve enjoyed the read… and we look forward to seeing you around the farm sometime soon for one or many of the above.  Cheers, and happy days to you all!

Information Team, Northey Street City Farm