Solar power from roof-top photovoltaic panels is becoming a common feature of the change to more sustainable living - but are we just out-sourcing our industrial pollution? This article points out that while we can feel virtuous for installing solar PV systems, if they come from China, as many of our manufactured goods now do, the big-picture analysis of what we are doing is not as green as we would like to believe:
www.worldwatch.org/node/5650

Just a public note to thank Justin and John Turner and Pat for dashing down to our place when our barbecue went up in flames – not the meat (only), but the (non-fire resistant) paint – and raising the alarm to a newly-clean oblivious me still in the bathroom!

Whilst not aware of all details, I also am very much aware that some of the Village youngsters saw the smoke curling up from under our back veranda (on the “hidden” side of our house) and raised the alarm, very sensibly, to Justin, John and Pat. There may have been others but Wanjo, Jarra and Karri have a big thank you from us.

The whole event probably took less than ten minutes, but considering what might have been sends a few wobblies swishing roundabout, followed by some reasonably intense thoughts that barbecues are best made of non-painted metal.

ISN’T IT GREAT LIVING IN THIS VILLAGE

Richard C.

You may be interested to have a look at  the new website, permacultureprinciples.com, created by Permaculturist Richard Telford and scheduled to be launched at the Australian Permaculture Convergence in Sydney on Friday 21 March:    

http://www.permacultureprinciples.com/

The aim of the site is to help people understand the foundations of permaculture, and how the principles can be applied to everyday life.  Through the photolog on the site I am giving permaculture designers and practitioners at all levels the opportunity to share their photos and stories, and to showcase their projects. The photolog will evolve as submissions come in.  Some friends and I have put a few photos with stories onto the photolog to get it started. High quality photos can also be submitted for the 2009 Permaculture Calendar, which is hosted on the site. Your photos and your feedback are welcome.

Hi everyone,

There were several enquiries about lots for sale from people passing through the Information Stand at the Fringe last night. We suggested they keep an eye on our Community website at www.aaev.net for property sales under "About" in the Homepage menu.

So - if your plans are changing and you are thinking of selling rather than building, don't forget to list on our community website. Send me the relevant details for posting by email or phone 8556 6892.

Elizabeth H.

Hi everyone,

If you check this world map with sea level rise and zoom in to the AAEV with 14m sea level rise, the village is waterfrontage! See: http://flood.firetree.net/
The bottom corner of the farm is where to tie up the boats. Maybe we could propose to the Farm Committee to get in early for a marina development!

Cheers - Colin E.

I would like to offer to anyone planning to buy Solar Hot Water and PV solar electric panels in the next 3 months or so to contact me because I am involved in a group wishing to buy panels in bulk. This would mean that we will get significant price reductions due to the size of the order.

Please contact Michael V. at 8557 6123 to put your name down. We should be able to get at least 10% off.

I would like to offer to anyone planning to buy a water pump in the next 3 months or so to contact me because I want to create a group of people wishing to buy pumps in bulk. This would mean that we will get significant price reductions due to the size of the order.

Please contact Michael V. at 8557 6123 to put your name down. We should be able to get at least 10% off.

What goods do we "consume", what do we really need, and what provides true satisfaction and wellbeing? If you are interested in this area, here's a useful discussion paper. Thanks to Vanda for the link:
www.sustainabletechnologies.ac.uk/PDF/Working%20papers/201b.pdf

What kinds of economic goods actually contribute to the satisfaction of human needs and promote human well-being, and which simply serve as pseudo-satisfiers or destroyers of the underlying needs?...these questions are amongst the most crucial questions of our time. In a world in which economic consumption is threatening to erode the integrity of the global ecosystems, it is particularly vital to be able to identify which bits of consumption contribute to human needs satisfaction, and which simply operate as pseudo-satisfiers and destroyers. And yet, the truth is that we have barely even scratched the surface in asking such questions, let alone formulated coherent answers for them.
[I will put a hard copy of this article in the Library for those unable to access electronically - Ed.]