Free truckload of mulch for our verge gardens!!

Today we received a massive truckload of mulch to protect our gardens from the heat that is about to come; and it was free!! 

MulchNet has kindly donated the mix of beautiful mulch this afternoon, the lovely Wally dropped it off to us, and it is all now at the Pine St Creative Arts Centre, who also very kindly let us store it by our garden shed(thank you Phillip for giving Wally a hand! much appretiated!)

Now, we should all help to move it quickly to our verge gardens before it all blows away or the kids on school holidays find it!

If you have a balcony or backyard garden please also help yourself to some!

Happy Mulching everyone!

The Changing Biology of Our Food

In today’s post, environmental writer Madison Jones tackles the basics of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, and why exactly there is such a debate over the growth and promotion of this new type of food and fuel source. Although a biology or bioengineering degree can prepare scientists to work with GMOs, it cannot tell them whether they should or not. Amidst the arguments in favor of and against GMOs are the effects GMOs have on consumers, a topic recently addressed by a Sustainable Chippendale post about how food choice and quality can affect student behavior and productivity.

The Changing Biology of Our Food

For the last three decades, controversy has surrounded the development, propagation and promotion of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Advocates claim that GMOs solve global food shortages, while opponents argue against the notion of ‘improving’ upon naturally occurring processes. And in the middle of this contentious debate lies the ever-important concern about potential health risks – a topic that GMO publications have thus far avoided.

A genetically modified organism is created when engineering techniques are used to build upon the genetic material of an organism using DNA molecules from other sources. The result is a set of recombinant gene molecules, which are then transferred back to the original organism. According to Dr. Theresa Phillips of SciTable, the notion of producing superior organisms can be traced back to the early 20th century. However, earlier efforts utilized organic processes; some farmers used traditional cross-pollination techniques, while others practiced selective breeding by choosing organisms that displayed superior traits. In recent decades, however,” Dr. Phillips notes, “advances in the field of genetic engineering have allowed for precise control over the genetic changes introduced into an organism. Today, we can incorporate new genes from one species into a completely unrelated species through genetic engineering, optimizing agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable pharmaceutical substances.”

A wide array of GMOs exists today. Some GMO crops – such as rapeseed, flax, cotton, soybean, corn and sugarcane – are resistant to pesticides or herbicides. Others are modified to contain higher amounts of certain vitamins and nutrients, one example being rice, in which Vitamin A levels can be increased using human proteins. Fruits and vegetables can also be genetically engineered; these include tomatoes designed to resist rotting, papayas that stave off viruses, peas that cause allergic reactions in mice and sweet corn that secretes insecticide. Genetically modified meat and dairy products are produced when animals are given modified feed. And some GMOs indirectly provide food; one example is the modified canola plant, which not only produces oil but also provides nectar to honey bees, which in turn produce GM honey. Notably, the GMO industry has proven highly lucrative in recent years. In the United States alone, 154 million acres have been reserved for GMO production. As a result, more than 80% of processed food in the United States contains some form of GMO.

However, industrial prosperity and nationwide prevalence have not convinced anti-GMO groups that these foods are safe for human consumption. In 2008, the Institute for Responsible Technology noted several health concerns linked to GMO intake. These include:

• A 50% rise in soy allergies in the United Kingdom following the introduction of modified soy products
• Hundreds of allergic reactions suffered by handlers of modified cotton
• Liver problems in rats fed GM potatoes and canola
• Various livestock deaths (including cattle, water buffaloes, chickens and horses) following consumption of modified corn

Though the GMO industry has notoriously shied away from publishing data that assuages these concerns, the FDA has yet to characterize modified foods as unsafe. Until this occurs, any ‘health risks’ are considered somewhat unsubstantiated.

 * Image sourced from http://sustainablepulse.com/

Minimising your impact on the environment when on holidays!

Green Villages top ten tips on being a sustainable traveller:

1. Do your homework
Yes, we know the words homework and holiday don’t sound right together, but find out about your destination before you go. You may not want to whale watch in a country that regularly flouts moratoriums on whale hunting, or take a wildlife safari in a country with little commitment to conservation.

2. Your own backyard
Australia and New Zealand are renowned for their natural beauty and provide high quality eco tour experiences – and you’ll be using far less fossil fuels in getting there.

3. Respect native flora and fauna
Take pictures not petals, and don’t feed animals. Animals that are fed by eager tourists become less able to forage for themselves.

4. Shop local and support local
Buying local crafts, food and clothing at markets and small stores can be fun – and you’ll be supporting local trades, which helps the local economy.

5. Go local in your accommodation
Smaller local hotels usually have a lower environmental impact and employ local people. They also give you a more unique experience.

6. Think about your rubbish
Many places don’t have safe landfills or recycling facilities so pack as few disposables as possible. Remove wrappings from battery packs and take dead batteries home. Drinking bottled water can prevent illness, if it’s possible to refill bottles at a clean source, do.

7. Walk
Walking is the best way to experience a place and to interact with the people. It’s also a great way to keep fit, particularly if you’re over-indulging in local food. Local transport can also be a great way to see a country at close-hand – and keep your carbon footprint smaller.

8. Volunteer
Taking a holiday doesn’t have to mean lazing on a beach. Doing something useful can be an invigorating experience, and you can make a valuable contribution. Many countries offer volunteer programs for travellers, giving you a truly unique insight into the place you’re visiting, and helping you to forge lasting connections with people from around the world.

9. Carbon offset
Find out about carbon offsets for flights and adventure experiences, with many companies now offering opportunities to purchase green credits.

10. Tread lightly
No matter where you’re staying, don’t take long showers, remember to turn lights off, and try not to leave food on your plate at the end of a meal – it’s as wasteful as leaving a tap running!

To read full article click here.

Our verge gardens on the map!

List of community gardens on the City of Sydney council, found at the Green Villages website, complete with maps, directions, info and redirection to websites. We are there, standing proud! Check it out!

Click here to see the complete list of gardens around us!

Become a balcony garden bandit

Have a read of this clever tips collected from the Green Villages website on how to start your balcony veggie garden:

"Heard all the buzz about balcony gardens? Hankering to literally get your hands dirty and start subtly mentioning how good your homegrown herbs are? Living in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t cultivate your own small patch of earth. Not only will you score a beautiful balcony garden, you’ll enjoy the benefits of gardening to feed the body and nourish the soul. Here are our top tips to get you on your way.

1. Step outside
Before you start, spend some time outside. Realistically assess your ‘plot’ – is it sunny all day, shady and cool, windy, in the direct face of the southerlies? This will help you choose the best plants to plant.

2. Create a wind-break
High-rise balconies – even if they’re only one or two floors above ground – are often affected by wind. And if there’s a sea view, expect those breezes to be salty. If possible, erect a windbreak using a trellis with a tough climber. Plant in heavy pots that won’t blow over, and provide regular water to counteract the drying effect of the breezes.

3. Sun or shade?
Balcony gardens usually get light from only one direction – work out the aspect and plant accordingly. The ideal is north or north-east facing. If you’re lucky enough to face this way, most plants will grow. East and south-facing balconies need shade tolerant plants. If you’ve got a west-facing balcony, go for tough heat and sun-tolerant plants like rosemary, carrots and pumpkins.

4. Maximise your space
You mightn’t have an extensive acreage, but there’s no reason why you can’t maximise the vertical space on a balcony. Use hanging baskets and pots (could be time to unleash that secret love of macramé), as well as benches – with the sun-loving plants on top and the shady ones underneath.

5. Get composting
If you’ve got room, a small worm farm on your balcony not only diverts your organic waste from landfill, it also produces wonderful food for your plants. There are also small benchtop composting bins available for lovely little spaces.

6. Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Herbs don’t require much space and if you’re keen on starting an edible garden, they’re often the best way to begin. Simon & Garfunkel knew what they were talking about. 

7. Time for fruit and vegies
Vegies such as garlic, tomatoes and carrots can grow in pots, and you can try snow peas and beans on a trellis. There are also dwarf varieties of citrus, and smaller fruit trees such as cumquats that not only look beautiful, but are perfect for a mean marmalade.

8. Balcony buddies
Companion planting can really help in keeping pests at bay. Marigolds have an offensive smell for most bugs, nasturtiums protect strawberries, and organic spray repellents such as garlic oil can keep away the nasties.

9. A little love
All gardens need a little regular love. It’s a matter of keeping an eye on those pests and acting before there’s an infestation, using organic plant food and of course, regular watering. One of the advantages of balcony gardening is that there’s often a lot less you need to do than you would in a bigger patch – just a few minutes a day can result in a whole lotta goodness."

To read full article and to keep up to date with free green workshops around you CLICK HERE.

Bill Mckibben on global warming for the Rolling Stone magazine

Bill Mckibben, one of the world's most respected enviromentalists and co-founder of 350.org has written an amazing article for the Rolling Stone magazine, it is a long one, but well worth a read as it really paints a very clear picture about what we are doing to our planet.

"Global Warming's Terrifying New Math

Three simple numbers that add up to global catastrophe - and that make clear who the real enemy is.

By Bill Mckibben

July 19, 2012

If the pictures of those towering wildfires in Colorado haven't convinced you, or the size of your AC bill this summer, here are some hard numbers about climate change: June broke or tied 3,215 high-temperature records across the United States. That followed the warmest May on record for the Northern Hemisphere – the 327th consecutive month in which the temperature of the entire globe exceeded the 20th-century average, the odds of which occurring by simple chance were 3.7 x 10-99, a number considerably larger than the number of stars in the universe.

Meteorologists reported that this spring was the warmest ever recorded for our nation – in fact, it crushed the old record by so much that it represented the "largest temperature departure from average of any season on record." The same week, Saudi authorities reported that it had rained in Mecca despite a temperature of 109 degrees, the hottest downpour in the planet's history.

Not that our leaders seemed to notice." READ THE FULL ARTICLE.

Support A Sustainable Future In Sydney

The Plan is a free guide to making a city suburb more environmentally sustainable through a series of community-led projects. The Plan is set in Chippendale, Sydney, Australia, but is being used to guide innovation around the world.

Before you take the ideas you find there and put them into action in your city, help us make it happen where it all began in Chippendale.

Add your name to our petition so we can start building this real-life example of a sustainable suburb by June 2012. 

Join 747 signatories to our petition to Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, and help us put this plan into action!

A 40-year plan for energy that's worth getting behind.

In this intimate talk filmed at TED’s offices, energy innovator Amory Lovins shows how to get the US off oil and coal by 2050, $5 trillion cheaper, with no Act of Congress, led by business for profit. The key is integrating all four energy-using sectors—and four kinds of innovation.

Talk by Amory Lovins.