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You are here: Home / Archives for Karen Lavin

June 7, 2022 by Karen Lavin

Loving Pesky Pests: Possums

             

We’ve had an influx recently of people asking ‘How do I stop the local possum from eating all my plants’ and ‘How do I keep possums out of my garden?’  To this, we say ‘Lucky you!’  Believe us, the Nursery has its own fair share of pesky possums trying to eat up the herbs and veggies in the night – in fact, you’ve probably seen the nets and covers we place over the plants to protect them – and we’ve always considered ourselves extremely lucky to have wildlife in a highly suburban-industrial area.  Just because we’re all lucky, doesn’t mean we can’t protect our plants!

The ’why’ is the first thing to consider when dealing with pests like possums: acknowledge that we live in a society that idealises suburbs filled with fence-to-fence grass backyards.  This often forces wildlife like possums to get creative with where they live and what they scavenge. Thus, if you notice possums sleeping in your gutters and eating your lemon trees, then they probably have nowhere to go and are very desperate.  Of course, we want our lemon trees to survive too! In these situations, instead of trying to get rid of them, think of the permaculture principles and remember that it is easier to work with the environment than against it.  For enviro-friendly possum prevention methods, try out some of the following – and remember: everyone’s garden is a little different, so you may need to mix and match a couple of different options.

Prevention
Make a homemade mix of chilli, garlic, tea, or lemon to spray onto the affected plants– there are plenty of quality online recipes.
Fence off specific areas or cover plants in mesh (ensure you use bird and bat safe netting!)
Grow citronella or garlic plants amongst the affected plants–garlic chives, leeks, and citronella geraniums are all good choices.

Offer them alternative options
Provide a tray of fruit and salad scraps – like putting out bird seed.
Select a plant that will act as a gift (or sacrifice) and place it near the possum’s trail and allow them to eat it.
Gift them a nesting box! Place it in the garden away from the plants they eat and/or near the area they are currently sleeping in.

Filed Under: Nursery Tagged With: #CityFarmNursery, #factsheets, #possums, info

June 2, 2022 by Karen Lavin

Grow, Share, Yarn

A quarterly First Nations food and medicine gathering, for mob by mob. Families welcome.

All First Nations mobs are welcome to come along and enjoy a morning of sitting, talking, sharing, and learning around urban-based bush foods and medicines.

The events will be held every three months and will include sharing around propagating from seeds/cuttings, soil health, using and identifying foods/medicines, foraging and ‘guerrilla gardening’, connecting stories, and sharing resources.

There will also be some native grain damper cook-ups, native grass weaving, and cups of tea by the fire.

BYO seeds, cuttings, or foods/medicines to share, or just come along and take some plants home.

The Northey Street City Farm markets will be happening from 6 am – 11 am, for you to enjoy as well.

Hope to see you there!

For more information, please email Dominique Chen – info@walkingstory.com.au.

Date of next gathering: Sunday 11 September, 11 am to 2 pm
At Northey Street City Farm, 16 Victoria St, Windsor. 

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: #firstnations

May 12, 2022 by Karen Lavin

Winter Solstice 2022

Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year and is celebrated globally with diverse spiritual, cultural, and seasonal practices.

To grab your tickets, and read the program details click here.

We are inviting volunteer applications here.

 

 

Filed Under: Solstice Festival Tagged With: #wintersolstice, Events, festival

May 6, 2022 by Karen Lavin

May E-News

Mother’s Day at the Farm, volunteers, education, Winter Solstice. Read the full newsletter HERE.

Northey Street City Farm publishes a free electronic newsletter every month.
To subscribe to our monthly free e-newsletter CLICK HERE.

The newsletter will go to your inbox once a month to let you know what is happening at the farm.

Filed Under: eNews Tagged With: #eartharts, #earthkids, #wintersolstice, cityfarm, floodrecovery, mothersday, organic farmers market, volunteering

March 1, 2022 by Karen Lavin

Temporary Farm Closure

Northey Street City Farm was hit hard by the recent floods.

We have suffered extensive damage on a par with the ’74 floods. Assessment of the site is still underway and we are anticipating more flooding this coming weekend should the forecasted rain eventuate.

A BIG shout out to YOU, our community.  We are grateful for all the messages of support and offers of help. At this point, we are focussing on making the site safe and we aren’t calling for volunteers just yet.  However, we will be in touch when we are in full clean-up mode.

The Market team will be working hard to get the Sunday Organic Farmers Market up and running ASAP.  Please keep an eye on the Market Facebook page here for news on that.  Likewise, the Nursery team will be working hard to open up again.  You can find updates about City Farm Nursery on their Facebook page here.

Northey Street City Farm Flood Relief

If you would like to donate to help pay for flood relief or towards the flood insurance excess, please follow this link. Feel free to share the link in your networks too!

We are immensely grateful for the fantastic response we have had so far and for every dollar raised.

From all of us at Northey Street City Farm,

thank you

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: #2022floods

February 9, 2022 by Karen Lavin

Grow, Share, Yarn

All First Nations mobs are welcome to come along and enjoy a morning of sitting, talking, sharing and learning around urban-based bush foods and medicines.

Read more here.

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: #bushfoods, #firstnations

February 9, 2022 by Karen Lavin

February E-News

Winter Solstice announcement, Education, Events, Job opportunity, call out to educators. Read the full newsletter HERE.

Northey Street City Farm publishes a free electronic newsletter every month.
To subscribe to our monthly free e-newsletter CLICK HERE.

You will receive the newsletter to your email once a month to let you know what is happening at the farm.

Filed Under: eNews Tagged With: #adulteducation, #CityFarmNursery, #firstnations, #jobvacancy, #wintersolstice, #youtheducation

February 1, 2022 by Karen Lavin

Vacancy – Nursery Co-ordinator

Do you have experience in a retail nursery and a passion for customer service, preferably with a practical working knowledge of Permaculture plants and their uses as well as managing people (staff and volunteers)?

Northey Street City Farm             
….. a place for learning about living sustainably in the city

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position:   Nursery Coordinator

Hours:                                24.5 hours per week (required to work weekends – penalty rates paid )

Pay rate:                            NSCF Award Agreement Level 3, $26.49 /hr, plus entitlements (e.g. leave, super) as defined in the NSCF Enterprise Agreement

Contract Position:       Permanent part-time

Responsible to:              Enterprise Manager

Person

The Nursery Coordinator will be responsible for operating the City Farm Nursery making it a profitable enterprise that provides a service to the community through providing useful plants and other permaculture resources. The Nursery Coordinator should have experience in a retail nursery and a passion for customer service, preferably with a practical working knowledge of Permaculture plants and their uses. This role will be responsible for supervising and developing volunteers to assist with the nursery retail and production. The person will ideally be reliable, passionate about plants and customers, an enthusiastic self-starter who is willing to work with our community to meet the financial, social and environmental objectives of the nursery. They will have initiative and be open to sharing their practical skills and experiences with a broad range of people.

Responsibilities

  • Manage the ordering, sales and stocktaking of all retail lines ensuring that stock is always available for sales.
  • Maintain a Point of Sale & inventory management system for the retail operations.
  • Maintain a welcoming retail space with appropriate visual merchandising and to OHS standards.
  • Implement and contribute to the development of a marketing plan for the nursery.
  • Build a loyal customer base, providing outstanding customer service.
  • Supervise and develop nursery volunteers, staff and students to meet the operational needs of the nursery.
  • Develop, implement, and maintain a knowledge base of processes and procedures for the retail Nursery.
  • Liaise with the Farm & Site Manager to produce plants for retail.
  • Provide the Enterprise Manager with financial and operational reports.
  • Monitor the Nursery budget ensuring the financial goals remain on track.
  • Maintain any agreed certifications as directed by the Enterprise Manager.
  • Ensure Nursery resources and equipment are maintained and in good working order.
  • Actively participate in relevant meetings.
  • Work co-operatively with the Enterprise Manager, other enterprises and teams at the Farm.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Selection Criteria)

Essential

  • Qualifications and training in horticulture.
  • Demonstrated experience in retail nursery operations.
  • A working knowledge of plants and other elements used in permaculture design including their requirements and uses.
  • Experience in customer service, cash handling, stock control and other administrative tasks required in a retail setting.
  • Experience in the use of Point of Sale & inventory management systems
  • Excellent communication and writing skills
  • Demonstrated experience in implementing marketing strategies and plans
  • Problem solving skills as they relate to retail nursery operations
  • Supervisory and leadership skills

Desirable

  • Permaculture Design Certificate
  • Experience in working in community-based organisations.

 Physical Demands

This position may be physically demanding at times and requires a person who is fit, energetic, and flexible.

Working Environment

Northey Street City Farm is a non-profit community project on the banks of Brisbane’s Breakfast Creek in the inner city suburb of Windsor. It has been developed for people to enjoy and participate in using the principles of Permaculture. It is also intended to be a demonstration site where people of all ages can learn through practical, hands on experience.

NSCF Vision: All living sustainably

NSCF Purpose: Our purpose is to be an inspirational working model of a community-based urban permaculture farm which promotes and educates for sustainability.

Applications:

  • Applications must address each of the selection criteria (maximum 100 words each)
  • Please also include a CV with at least two referees
  • Applications are due 4pm Tuesday 22 February 2022.
  • Proposed start date is early March 2022.
  • For further information, please contact the Desi Achilleos on enterprise.mgr@nscf.org.au
  • Please submit application electronically to: info@nscf.org.au

 Hard copies may be sent to: Northey Street City Farm, 16 Victoria St, Windsor, 4030

www.nscf.org.au           Phone: 07-38578775      Email: info@nscf.org.au

Filed Under: Jobs, Nursery Tagged With: #CityFarmNursery, #jobvacancy

January 25, 2022 by Karen Lavin

Bunya Nut Recipes

          

Bunya Pine

Araucaria bidwillii

Recipes from Share: a permaculture cookbook

  • Roo ‘n’ Bunya curry
  • Bunya nut pesto

Bunya pine is a large tree native to the Bunya Mountains and surrounding areas in southeast Queensland.  It produces soccer ball size cones in late summer, each cone containing 30 – 60 nuts.

‘For generations, First Nations peoples gathered every three years for a great bunya feast.  While bunyas fruit annually, every three to four years there would be a bumper crop, and this was the time for differences to be set aside and clans to gather, feast, trade, marry, perform initiations, and other ceremonial duties’. (State Library of Qld)

The nuts are high in starch and other complex carbohydrates.  They can be boiled, roasted, or dried and made into flour.  They can be used for purees, pestos, stuffing, and sauces.


Health benefits
  • Anti bacterial properties
  • May inhibit foodborne illness

One nut contains:

  • Water 40%
  • Complex Carbs 40%
  • Protein 9%
  • Fat 2%
  • Gluten free

Roo ‘n’ Bunya curry

Ingredients

  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 medium onion
  • macadamia oil
  • 800g kangaroo meat, cubed
  • 2 tbsp tandoori curry paste
  • 1 twig lemon myrtle leaves
  • 400 g coconut cream
  • 30 – 50 Bunya nuts (preboiled and shelled)
  • large handful of green beans
  • wedge of pumpkin
  • red capsicum julienned
  • bunch of sweet potato tip (or blanched Warrigal Greens)
  • fresh basil, chopped to garnish

Method

    1. Simmer chopped onion and garlic in a little oil until lightly browned.
    2. Add roo meat.
    3. Once the meat is browned, add curry paste, lemon myrtle, and a little coconut cream.
    4. Simmer for 10 minutes.
    5. Add bunyas, green beans, and pumpkin, and add a little more coconut cream.
    6. Continue to simmer for 10 – 15 minutes.
    7. Add red capsicum and greens as well as the remaining coconut cream.
    8. Simmer for a further 5 – 10 minutes.
    9. Serve when the pumpkin is soft.
    10. Garnish with basil.

Bunya Nut Pesto

Ingredients

  • 5 – 6 bunches of fresh herbs: basil, parsley, oregano, sage, fennel, tarragon
  • 1 cup bunya nuts, cooked and shelled
  • 1.5 – 2 cups macadamia or olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic (optional)
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp ground lemon myrtle
  • salt to taste
  • native mountain pepper

Method

    1. Blend herbs, bunya nuts, and garlic.
    2. Pour in oil until the consistency is smooth
    3. Add grated parmesan, lemon myrtle, salt, and pepper to taste.

     

Filed Under: Organic Farmers Market Tagged With: #organicfarmersmarket, bunya nuts, bushfood recipes, Recipes

December 14, 2021 by Karen Lavin

Vacancy – Nursery Co-ordinator

Do you have experience in a retail nursery and a passion for customer service, preferably with a practical working knowledge of Permaculture plants and their uses?

Northey Street City Farm             
….. a place for learning about living sustainably in the city

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position:   Nursery Co-ordinator
Hours:                                24.5 hours per week
(The Nursery Coordinator will be required to work weekends – penalty rates paid)
Pay rate:                            NSCF Award Agreement Level 3, $26.49/hr, plus entitlements (e.g. leave, super) as defined in the NSCF Enterprise Agreement)
Contract Position:       Permanent part time
Responsible to:              Enterprise Manager

Person

The Nursery Coordinator will be responsible for operating the City Farm Nursery making it a profitable enterprise that provides a service to the community through providing useful plants and other permaculture resources. The Nursery Coordinator should have experience in a retail nursery and a passion for customer service, preferably with a practical working knowledge of Permaculture plants and their uses. This role will be responsible for supervising and developing volunteers to assist with the nursery retail and production. The person will ideally be reliable, passionate about plants and customers, an enthusiastic self-starter who is willing to work with our community to meet the financial, social and environmental objectives of the nursery. They will have initiative and be open to sharing their practical skills and experiences with a broad range of people.

Responsibilities

  • Manage the ordering, sales and stocktaking of all retail lines ensuring that stock is always available for sales.
  • Maintain a Point of Sale & inventory management system for the retail operations.
  • Maintain a welcoming retail space with appropriate visual merchandising and to OHS standards.
  • Implement and contribute to the development of a marketing plan for the Nursery.
  • Build a loyal customer base, providing outstanding customer service.
  • Supervise and develop Nursery volunteers, staff, and students to meet the operational needs of the Nursery.
  • Develop, implement, and maintain a knowledge base of processes and procedures for the retail Nursery.
  • Liaise with the Farm & Site Manager to produce plants for retail.
  • Provide the Enterprise Manager with financial and operational reports.
  • Monitor the Nursery budget ensuring the financial goals remain on track.
  • Maintain any agreed certifications as directed by the Enterprise Manager.
  • Ensure Nursery resources and equipment are maintained and in good working order.
  • Actively participate in relevant meetings.
  • Work co-operatively with the Enterprise Manager, other enterprises, and teams at the Farm.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Selection Criteria)

 Essential

  • Qualifications and training in horticulture.
  • Demonstrated experience in retail nursery operations.
  • A working knowledge of plants and other elements used in permaculture design including their requirements and uses.
  • Experience in customer service, cash handling, stock control and other administrative tasks required in a retail setting.
  • Experience in the use of Point of Sale & inventory management systems
  • Excellent communication and writing skills
  • Demonstrated experience in implementing marketing strategies and plans
  • Problem solving skills as they relate to retail nursery operations
  • Supervisory and leadership skills

Desirable

  • Permaculture Design Certificate
  • Experience in working in community – based organisations.

 Physical Demands

This position may be physically demanding at times and requires a person who is fit, energetic, and flexible.

Working Environment

Northey Street City Farm is a non-profit community project on the banks of Brisbane’s Breakfast Creek in the inner city suburb of Windsor. It has been developed for people to enjoy and participate in using the principles of Permaculture. It is also intended to be a demonstration site where people of all ages can learn through practical, hands on experience.

NSCF Vision: All living sustainably

NSCF Purpose: Our purpose is to be an inspirational working model of a community-based urban permaculture farm which promotes and educates for sustainability.

Applications:

  • Applications must address each of the selection criteria (maximum 100 words each)
  • Please also include a CV with at least two referees
  • Applications are due 4pm Tuesday 25 January 2022.
  • Proposed start date is early February 2022.
  • For further information, please contact the Desi Achilleos on enterprise.mgr@nscf.org.au
  • Please submit application electronically to: info@nscf.org.au

 Hard copies may be sent to: Northey Street City Farm, 16 Victoria St, Windsor, 4030

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: #CityFarmNursery, #jobvacancy

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