Home

Earthcare News

January 2000

I do what I can, where I am.

 

 

Now is the time to renew your membership!

Many Earthcare people no longer have current memberships and soon will no longer be able to receive the many benefits associated with being a member, such as this newsletter.

Please fill in the membership form on the back of this newsletter, plus the appropriate money and either post to Earthcare or give to a committee member

Individual $20, or family $30.

Pay up to day and help us in a range of enviro-friendly projects.

5th March, Clean up Australia day-Anti-plastic bag protest

Earthcare members have dutifully picked up litter around St. Kilda-literally mountains of the junk over the years. Clean up Australia day was one day when we always have had a good turn out. A few of us have found ourselves very angry that all this litter was there to be picked up. What is wrong with the human condition that all this stuff is produced, not recycled and then dumped by some unthinking sod?

This year we thought we’d try something different- An anti-plastic Bag Protest-The plan to date is to get together, 1pm at the Ecocentre and go down to Coles, Acland st. Calico Bags and the like in hand, do some shopping in a group, perhaps have a calico banner and invite the local media. All this is still in the thoughts cauldron. If you are interested in being involved come to the next Eathcare meeting, contact Jo (9534 5751) or watch for progress in the next newsletter.

Money matters

Earthcare does have money available in the general fund for Environmental initiatives but access has been limited by a confusion over how to use it. The committee has therefore attempted to clarify the process:

For amounts up to $50 one member of the committee can approve spending

For $50- $200 two committee members can approve spending

For amounts Over $200 the committee, through a virtual or actual meeting can approve spending.

 

 

Now is the time to renew your membership!

Many people no longer have current memberships and soon will no longer be able to receive the many benefits associated with being a member, such as this newsletter.

Please fill in the membership form on the back of this newsletter, plus the appropriate money and either post to Earthcare or give to a committee member.

 

Individual $20, or family $30.

Pay up today and help us in a range of Eco-friendly projects.

 

Friends of Sandringham Rail Reserve is a small group of people dedicated to the conservation and revegation of the Sandy rail reserve. Our aim is to create a nature corridor linking the Yarra with the sea, following the Rail route. The conservation of the existing remnant vegetation linked by plantings using local native plants will allow freer movement of bird, animal and butterflies etc… The whole effect will be a terrific visual improvement and may even reduce littering and increase civic pride.

For this project continual growth we need your support, practical or intellectual. There is plenty to do, grants to apply for, planning for future events as well as maintaining last years plantings and rubbish removal. Free plants are available for people living along the line to plant in their properties.

The next meeting is the 20th of January at 7.30 pm at The Eco Centre.

For further information please call Rob Scott on 9537 2599 or 0412 865 027 or email at robscot@naturelinks.com.au

 

On the 19th of September, members of Seirei no kai participated in Clean up the World. This years focused on the Ishigase River. All our member wore our recently made Seirei no Kai t-shirts, which were good for PR purposes. As a result of heavy rains there was a lot of sand in the river and many empty cans were buried amongst the sand. According to press reports 300 people collected 200 bags of rubbish.

Making the water wheel _ a team has been formed who will manage the construction of the water wheel. Mr Fukaya is leading the team, with 3 sub-leader appointed. With the combination of all their knowledge and expertise the activity is being approached from open minded and flexible perspectives.

 

Environment Festival in Obu’99. Our stall included a panel display titled "The Charcoal Making Process" which showed the completed kilns. In addition to this we sold charcoal to the public. The 30 plants we received were planted in the firefly pond.

Working Bee – November

  1. Pruned branches from the willow trees were bound together and were sunken into the middle of the pond, becoming ideal hiding places for the smaller fish.

    2. This year the plants were pulled up by carp trying to eat them. To save ourselves the same trouble next year, something needs to be done to prevent this from occurring again.

  2. Preparations to ensure that the water hyacinth survive the winter.

  3. Observational tour of the Natural Symbiosis Centre in Kawashima Town, Gifu Prefecture.

INVITATION TO WEST BEACH ST KILDA

Enjoy the summer at West Beach. Bring your bathers, bring your friends,

pull out a few weeds, join us for lunch.

West Beach is threatened by an exotic weed called juncus acutus which could take over the foreshore.

Help us to get rid of it before it drops its seeds.

Saturday 22nd January

any time between 10am and 3pm

tools will be available,

but if you have a favourite hoe, spade, mattock or hand tool,

bring it along.

(don’t forget to Slip Slop Slap)

Earthcare St Kilda 041 384 3594

 

The Ecocentre now has a reference library available to members. It is an invaluable reource for improving your knowledge or compiling a grant etc….

However it is strictly a reference library all books must be kept there. Come and have a browes. If you have any books on related topics that you no longer use it would be a great use for them, and would be greatly appreciated.