Finally we made it to "average" rainfall!
31/12/09 15:39 Filed in: Villager's
News
Assuming we get no further rain between posting
this news and midnight tonight (New Year’s Eve),
the total rainfall recorded unofficially for 2009
by the gauge in our garden is 534 mm.
This compares with 241 mm in 2006, 477 mm in 2007, 362 mm in 2008, and a long-term average for the region of 520 mm.
So finally, our annual rainfall has cracked average - but I, for one, will not be in the least surprised if “average” is now permanently down on where it was. This has already happened elsewhere across southern Australia (Perth and Melbourne).
Let’s hope for some “tropical in-feeds” to provide summer rain and help ease the stress on gardens.
Elizabeth H.
This compares with 241 mm in 2006, 477 mm in 2007, 362 mm in 2008, and a long-term average for the region of 520 mm.
So finally, our annual rainfall has cracked average - but I, for one, will not be in the least surprised if “average” is now permanently down on where it was. This has already happened elsewhere across southern Australia (Perth and Melbourne).
Let’s hope for some “tropical in-feeds” to provide summer rain and help ease the stress on gardens.
Elizabeth H.
Vanda's bean salads
31/12/09 14:40 Filed in: Villager's
News
For those who enjoyed Vanda’s smorgasbord of bean
salads at the Village Christmas Party and would
like to try making some or all of them, the
recipe leaflet is ATTACHED:
With cheers from Vanda R
Bean Salads Xmas 2009
With cheers from Vanda R
Bean Salads Xmas 2009
Unexpected value of Australia's dingo
31/12/09 14:27 Filed in: Villager's
News
From University of Adelaide research comes the
news that biodiversity loss attributed to
invasive exotic species is actually a consequence
of aggressive dingo control measures. Where dingo
populations were allowed to recover, invasive and
opportunistic species declined considerably, and
native biodiversity increased. Dingos were
consistently found where threatened species were
surviving. See ATTACHED article.
So - banish shooters and poison bait, bring back the dingo and cherish that yellow Aussie dog!
Dingo benefits ecosystems
So - banish shooters and poison bait, bring back the dingo and cherish that yellow Aussie dog!
Dingo benefits ecosystems
Rain harvesting from roads: For the Village?
28/12/09 14:52 Filed in: Villager's
News
Hi there,
I came accross this very inspiring website through an article about Brad Lancaster (Permaculture Guru) in G Magazine. These videos show Brad in Tuscon Arizona harvesting rainwater from the road outside his home to produce a green landscape that is self sustaining and provides habitat, shade, and edible indigenous food. The videos took ages to open on my computer, but were well worth the wait. Very topical for our neighbourhood group as we are looking into street trees at present and could possibly use a similar system to water the trees. The area only receives 304mm. rainwater annually so is a good indicator of what is possible here in Aldinga.
http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/wp-content/uploads/sustainableroute1.mov
http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/wp-content/uploads/sustainableroute2.mov
Bridget O’D
[Note from Elizabeth H while posting Feed: These really interesting videos suggest to me that, where appropriate, we could replace roadside mounds (that shed water) with roadside planted swales (that collect water). Also, the slope of associated parking bays could be adjusted to feed water into the swales rather than having it wash out across the roads as happens in a number of places at present. John and I have thought for some time that the parking bay and mound outside our house on Hakea Walk could be modified this way - to grow trees better and stop gravel washing out of the parking bay across the road. We were originally told that the high earth mound was to block car headlights, but trees and shrubs would do this just as well in the fullness of time. Perhaps the NEC could consider the above videos in this context.]
I came accross this very inspiring website through an article about Brad Lancaster (Permaculture Guru) in G Magazine. These videos show Brad in Tuscon Arizona harvesting rainwater from the road outside his home to produce a green landscape that is self sustaining and provides habitat, shade, and edible indigenous food. The videos took ages to open on my computer, but were well worth the wait. Very topical for our neighbourhood group as we are looking into street trees at present and could possibly use a similar system to water the trees. The area only receives 304mm. rainwater annually so is a good indicator of what is possible here in Aldinga.
http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/wp-content/uploads/sustainableroute1.mov
http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/wp-content/uploads/sustainableroute2.mov
Bridget O’D
[Note from Elizabeth H while posting Feed: These really interesting videos suggest to me that, where appropriate, we could replace roadside mounds (that shed water) with roadside planted swales (that collect water). Also, the slope of associated parking bays could be adjusted to feed water into the swales rather than having it wash out across the roads as happens in a number of places at present. John and I have thought for some time that the parking bay and mound outside our house on Hakea Walk could be modified this way - to grow trees better and stop gravel washing out of the parking bay across the road. We were originally told that the high earth mound was to block car headlights, but trees and shrubs would do this just as well in the fullness of time. Perhaps the NEC could consider the above videos in this context.]
Thankyou for community
24/12/09 18:03 Filed in: Villager's
News
Hi there everyone,
Just a quick note to say thankyou to all of you who devote precious time to helping our community run and flow with ease and pleasure. This is such a special place to live, and it is truly inspirational living and working together on beautiful Earth. What an exciting year it has been; how the Village has grown and changed!
Merry Christmas, Solstice and Happy New Year!
Heidi Karo
Just a quick note to say thankyou to all of you who devote precious time to helping our community run and flow with ease and pleasure. This is such a special place to live, and it is truly inspirational living and working together on beautiful Earth. What an exciting year it has been; how the Village has grown and changed!
Merry Christmas, Solstice and Happy New Year!
Heidi Karo