news9909

Earthcare News

September 1999

I do what I can, where I am Print Post 34339600013

Planting is a core Earthcare St. Kilda activity.

It keeps us grounded, in touch with the earth and connected with the seasons

Many of us live in flats and long to have our own garden, to dig the earth, to watch plants grow and enjoy their part in the web of life. Through Earthcare plantings we can begin to know that the City of Port Phillip is our garden.

This year the enthusiasm for planting appears to have waned. I muse as to why this is so. Perhaps the new projects have seemed more animating and we find we are lacking in time or energy. Perhaps we have lost our sense of gaining nourishment from being connected with the natural world. Perhaps it is time to take stock, to reflect to enjoy the wild places of Port Phillip and once again find sustenance in planting plants. Jo Samuel King

The next Earthcare meeting will concentrate on our planting program for the year 2000.

Due to the extremely poor attendance at planting sessions we have given serious thought to abandoning revegetation.

Have you ever wondered where we get the money to pay for the plants?

Grants have to be applied for and serious reasons have to be given for continued upkeep of our revegetation sites. Promising to put 2000 plants into an area has to be followed through, and this is very hard work for just two or three Earthcare members.

DO YOU WANT Earthcare TO ABANDON PLANTING SESSIONS

HAVE YOUR SAY on the future of revegetation.

7.30pm "The House" corner Blessington / Herbert Streets St Kilda Thursday 30^th September

THE "ECO HOUSE"

The "Eco House" launch was a stunning success, thanks to the hard work of all involved. The organic beer went down exceedingly well and a good time was had by all.

Michael Mobbs was an excellent speaker and very enthusiastic about the project.

We are currently taking part in a conference on sustainable development, applying for funding and firming up our plans.

A number of local permaculture experts are keen to work on the "EcoHouse" garden. The first garden subgroup meeting will be on October 16th, following on from the "EcoHouse meeting." Contact: Jonathon Long 9557 2298

Our next meetings are as follows:

Thursday 14^th October 7.30pm at "The House"

Saturday 16th October,

1pm at Stuart Mcquire's- a tour of his sustainable house at 19 Murray St. West Brunswick,

3pm at "The House",

4pm Ecohouse's garden subcommittee's first meeting (at the house)

Thursday 11th November-7.30pm

Thursday 9th December-7.30pm

SEATS ON WEST BEACH

The seats have finally been set on West Beach.

They are fabulous!

Go for a walk, rest, and enjoy the view.

TIMELINE OBSERVATIONS

What have you got written in your observations?

I hope you have not forgotten to fill in the significant natural events sheet that came with the last newsletter.

26.8.99 Tadpoles after heavy rain in Westgate Park

1.9.99 Looper moth on the window

10.9.99 Dragon flies mating over the backyard pond

14 Hoary headed Grebe in St Kilda harbour

Painted lady and Cabbage white butterflies in garden

20.9.99 Blue Jelly Fish on Middle Park beach

Hover fly around cinneraria flowers and greenfly on roses

Tadpoles with back legs in Westgate Park

Seirei no Kai

Due to photocopying difficulties and the quantity of paper we are consuming we will only be able to print excerpts from the Seirei no Kai Bulletin. The complete bulletins will be available in the new Eco Centre Library.

Ground works Meeting. Mr Kojima

The theme of the panel discussion was "improving our local environment as we approach the 21^st century". The panel was coordinated by Mr Ito and included four members including a representative from Seirei no Kai. As well as Mr Ogawa, all the other members had similar opinions.

Mr Ogawa emphasised the following points:

If we looked at the environment from the eye level of a small insect, then we would be able to see their living environment, and would have a greater understanding of what is required to improve the environment.
By supplying bamboo charcoal, we are showing people that they can improve their local environment and that by improving it, their actions are having a global effect.
Using plants such as water hyacinth and reeds to improve water quality is effective.
If we have a kind heart, then this will help us in improving our local environment.

We cannot restore the environment to its original state in a short time, however we can ensure that the situation does not worsen. To return to a state where all life forms are living in symbiosis, we need to tackle the problem.

The most important thing is to protect the natural environment and learn to appreciate and love nature.

I think that Seirei no Kai’s work is an example of how you can gradually increase the scope of your work.