A really interesting read.

http://scienceblogs.com/casaubonsbook/2010/02/what_does_collapse_mean_and_wh.php

Some food for thought for our meeting on the 1st of March.

You are invited to attend the first…

KAPITI FOOD FOREST
community feedback meeting.

WHEN: 7:30pm Monday 7th December
WHERE: Paraparaumu Community Centre (next to library off Rimu road)

Food is such an incredibly important issue for everybody.  We need to start reconnecting as a community with where our food comes from, learning how to grow good quality food sustainably and teaching these vital skills to our children.  Our food and health are too important to leave solely to others.

So what is a food forest?  Also known as a forest garden, a food forest is a productive garden designed like a forest.  Organic principles are used to create a stable, functioning environment based on the ecosystem and multiple layers of a natural forest.  Species will be selected to harmonise with each other and to fulfil the needs of gardeners.

The Kapiti Food Forest steering committee is seeking community feedback.  While options are being explored for where the food forest may be situated, volunteers are needed to help make the project a reality.  This public meeting has been arranged for all interested members of the community to attend.  Attendees will hear more about the proposal, meet the team and be able to give input.

EVENING FORMAT:
Introduction to what a food forest is.
Why we want a food forest on the Kapiti Coast.
Introduction to the Kapiti Food Forest steering group (the eight people behind this project).
What the community (you) can do to help.
Open Discussion
Supper.

Further details of the food forest project are available at
http://ttk.org.nz/?page_id=217
Contact person: Bena Denton 04 905 6151

Imagine a place that works in harmony with nature.  Imagine a place that provides a sustainable food supply.  Imagine a place that is an oasis of tranquility in a busy world. Imagine a place that will educate, inform and inspire people.  A group of Kapiti residents are imagining all of that.  Inspired by the ideas of permaculture expert Geoff Lawton, the group is currently exploring sites for the establishment of a sustainable food forest in the local area.

Look forward to seeing you there,

The Kapiti Food Forest steering group.

Continue reading TTK Community Food Forest Steering Meeting Minutes October 25th 2009

Continue reading TTK Community Food Forest Steering Meeting Minutes October 11, 2009

Hi permaculture and natural ways enthusiasts,

Another fantastic workshop!

Do away with your lawn mower and your gym subscription, and make hay/mulch for your garden.

On tour with Austrian scythes and trainer.  Coming to Otaki on 13th to 15th November.

Strictly limited numbers - unless you have your own scythe.

Please enroll by November 7th — at the latest!  Early expressions of interest would be helpful, especially if you would like to do the full master class.

Flyer.

Please pass on to people you think may be interested.

Cheers

Gary Williams gary@waterscape.co.nz (06) 3626684

Watersheds and Responsible Governance

A COLLABORATION ON WATER & THE WATERWAYS OF LIFE

AIM:
RESPONSE and Waterscape, in discussion with Ngati Raukawa representatives, are bringing together people with different interests in water from Aotearoa-NZ, and from the Pacific region. The ‘assembly’ will draw on diversity of cultural, historical, scientific, economic, technological and artistic ways of relating to and managing rivers and waterways, locally and globally. Knowledge about water will be shared, and based on holistic understandings of rivers as veins of the earth’s living ecosystems. The symposium is to contribute to integrative approaches for the health of waterways. Considerations and strategic planning will be cognizant of tangata whenua and indigenous knowledge and aspirations for governance of watersheds.

DATES:
November 5^th (evening) to 7^th – (mid afternoon) at Tatum Park, Levin.

CONTACTS:
Gary Williams gary@waterscape.co.nz (06) 3626684
Betsan Martin betsan@response.org.nz 021 388 337
Huhana Smith makareta@me.com 021 244 8711

Program | Registration

Thanks to all those who attended the herb talk at my place on 17th oct Sat morning with the rain making it more of an inside herb talk than garden tour!

I was so pleased to see so many turn up however being lots more than expected we ran out of notes. Hopefully they are attached to this link if the computer fairies are on my side.

To answer a question that was put forward re: anti-inflammatory herbs. There are a great number of very effective herbs to deal with inflammation however they vary according to where the inflammation is e.g There are specific herbs for organs,   muscles, digestive system etc…. and of course the reasons for inflammation are so many and need to be addressed along with any treatment plan plus a deficiency of vitamins and minerals can also contribute. So there is no one simple answer.

I plan to have another talk around February next year when we will discuss a different range of weeds and herbs and by then we may have a good example of Self Heal. I will have a limit of 16 people on this next one so it can be more personal and everyone will get to see and ask questions , plus I will have enough notes.

A special thanks to Nanette Wright for her knowledge and wisdom.

Thanks again it was a good learning experience for me and hopefully you all learnt something too.

Cheers Louise

The Age of Stupid is the new four-year epic from McLibel director Franny Armstrong.
Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking:

Why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

The Age of Stupid Global Premiere Trailer from Age of Stupid on Vimeo.

Please note the dates at the end of the above trailer are no longer valid.

When:   Tuesday 17th November 2009, 7.30pm

Entry:    Koha

Where:  Kapiti Uniting Church, 27 Raumati Road, Raumati

Here is a poster which can be downloaded, printed out and put up around town, thanks.

Very excited about this month’s Seedy Sunday. Darcy Philp, chicken man and lead consultant on This Way Up’s Funky Chicken Farm project, will be in to tell us a thing or two about keeping chickens in your backyard.

So bring all your chicken-related questions! We’ll also have chickens for sale and info from the Kapiti Coast District Council on their chicken-keeping guidelines.

And don’t forget the incredibly popular swap table. If you’re anything like me, you’ve bought a heap of seeds from beautiful catalogues and started planting them all out. I’ve got plenty of leftover seed to bring along and swap. Vege seedlings, cuttings, herbs, seeds, fresh produce are all welcome. I’m always amazed by the huge variety of things we have on the table.

Still seeking community support for our Community Food Forest
Just to point out once again, venue is now at the Paraparaumu Memorial Hall in Tutanekai St.

Entry by donation.

Links:
Poultry Industry Association of NZ - www.pianz.org.nz - Darcy is the President. Lots of good bird info.
The Funky Chicken Farm - www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thiswayup/chicken - Excellent show from Radio NZ with mp3s & videos.
Transition Towns Kapiti - ttk.org.nz - Building resilient communities on the Kapiti Coast.
Ooooby - ooooby.ning.com - Out Of Our Own Backyards is a network of food gardeners and locavores who support local food and living locally.
Ontoit - Sign up to the Kapiti Coast District Council’s monthly gardening e-newsletter by emailing ontoit@kapiticoast.govt.nz.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who may be interested.

Hoping to see you next Sunday!
Anna