Successful Creative Writing Workshop
29/05/08 15:44 Filed in: Arts News
Last Sunday, Julie, Anne, Elizabeth, Sandra and
Vi gathered at Sue Gebhardt's house for a
Creative Writing Workshop as part of the Arts and
Cultural Committee's workshop program.
We had an enjoyable time doing 10 minute writing exercises and sharing what we'd written. (See pictures ATTACHED.) The group wants to continue and will meet again in July.
Sue G.
080529 Writing worshop 25 May
We had an enjoyable time doing 10 minute writing exercises and sharing what we'd written. (See pictures ATTACHED.) The group wants to continue and will meet again in July.
Sue G.
080529 Writing worshop 25 May
Beware the spider in the boot!
29/05/08 15:25 Filed in: Villager's
News
Do you leave your gumboots and old shoes outside
the back door? Don't do what I did last weekend
and step into them on top of a redback spider. I
knew there was a spider in there - I could see
the web - so I put on a pair of leather gloves,
groped around inside the boots and pulled out all
the web, debris, egg cases etc. I assumed I would
have got rid of the spider, but she was made of
sterner stuff and had hung on grimly inside. When
my foot began to crush her, she did what she was
meant to do, and attacked with a vicious bite.
The bite of an adult female redback is not funny
at all, and can be potentially lethal, especially
to a child. So please check carefully for spiders
in any boots or shoes left outside the door.
For a picture of a redback spider and more information, go to:
http://www.aaev.net/management/nec/wildlife/index.html and click on the spider icon.
Elizabeth H.
For a picture of a redback spider and more information, go to:
http://www.aaev.net/management/nec/wildlife/index.html and click on the spider icon.
Elizabeth H.
Appreciation for Village tour
26/05/08 14:31 Filed in: Villager's
News
Village residents are increasingly aware that
interest in our unique ecovillage project
supports a program of frequent tours by various
adults and young people - often seen looking
around the site. Many are fascinated by what we
are doing and take the ideas away with them to
classrooms and other groups who may well use many
of them in the future. We can be proud of this
potentially catalytic role - and it is certainly
appreciated by those who come to look. Here's
some great feedback received by Bridget from a
teacher after a recent tour by a design class
from Cabra Dominical College:
"To Bridget - Thank you so much for your preparation for the tour and your adaptability given the weather! [It was a wet day.] I know I am questioning many of my own lifestyle practices since, and I am sure it has impacted on the students in perhaps small ... ... but significant ways. I thought this voucher would be a good way to say thank you to Elizabeth and the Community for accommodating us."
This appreciative note came with a $30 book token which will be targeted by Bridget and Elizabeth to the Book or DVD of "Jamie at Home" by Jamie Oliver - a great source of inspirational ideas for cooking direct and fresh from a home garden.
"To Bridget - Thank you so much for your preparation for the tour and your adaptability given the weather! [It was a wet day.] I know I am questioning many of my own lifestyle practices since, and I am sure it has impacted on the students in perhaps small ... ... but significant ways. I thought this voucher would be a good way to say thank you to Elizabeth and the Community for accommodating us."
This appreciative note came with a $30 book token which will be targeted by Bridget and Elizabeth to the Book or DVD of "Jamie at Home" by Jamie Oliver - a great source of inspirational ideas for cooking direct and fresh from a home garden.
Discing and sowing on the farm
22/05/08 16:07 Filed in: Farm News
It is rewarding to find that after several seasons of using mulch crops to return nutrients to the soil, the physical and chemical health of the soil appears to be improving as intended.
Inspiring local economies
19/05/08 14:18 Filed in: Villager's
News
If you are interested in thinking about helping
to stimulate local economic activity there might
be some inspirational ideas on offer through the
BALLE Network (Business Alliance for Local Living
Economies): http://www.livingeconomies.org/.
Is this a direction that could get a Village
"Economic Development Team back into action?
Also, on the off-chance you might be going in the direction of Brisbane this week, or know someone in the region with an interest in re-localising economies, check out the events on in Brisbane, Lismore and Sunshing Coast: http://www.climateleadership.net.au/
Also, on the off-chance you might be going in the direction of Brisbane this week, or know someone in the region with an interest in re-localising economies, check out the events on in Brisbane, Lismore and Sunshing Coast: http://www.climateleadership.net.au/
Need to 'toddler-proof' your mailbox?
15/05/08 15:34 Filed in: Villager's
News
Yesterday, two Village toddlers were observed, on
separate occasions, inspecting, playing with, and
redistributing the mail in mailboxes close to the
ground while their minders' backs were turned for
a few milliseconds! It's hard for even the most
beady-eyed parent to provide 100% supervision of
this age group - and hard for them to understand
the importance of what goes into which box so, if
your mailbox is close to the ground, you might
want to consider a lock for it.
Sweet Potato Challenge
12/05/08 15:07 Filed in: Villager's
News
The record has been broken! A sweet potato grown
by Lynda and Sue at Adrian's place weighed in at
2.95 kg!!! This was witnessed by Charlie and Vi,
as their scales were used. (But does size really
matter if it is soft in the middle and mostly
inedible?)
[And a reminder: For those who want to have a go for next season, I still have lots of planting material with shoots and roots on ready to grow. Elizabeth H.]
[And a reminder: For those who want to have a go for next season, I still have lots of planting material with shoots and roots on ready to grow. Elizabeth H.]
New EcoVillage - Cape Paterson
01/05/08 15:20 Filed in: Villager's
News
Dear friends,
Here is news about a very inspiring Victorian ecovillage initiative.
Regards - Sarah West
Original message from Brendan Condon, Director, Cape Paterson Ecovillage:
"We have prepared the ATTACHED newsletter to let you know how the Cape Paterson Ecovillage is progressing. If you have any questions about the project, please let us know - www.capepatersonecovillage.com.au."
080501 Cape Paterson Ecovillage
Here is news about a very inspiring Victorian ecovillage initiative.
Regards - Sarah West
Original message from Brendan Condon, Director, Cape Paterson Ecovillage:
"We have prepared the ATTACHED newsletter to let you know how the Cape Paterson Ecovillage is progressing. If you have any questions about the project, please let us know - www.capepatersonecovillage.com.au."
080501 Cape Paterson Ecovillage
How wide is the definition of "eco-home"?
01/05/08 15:15 Filed in: Villager's
News
If you thought an "eco-home" was all about living
more lightly on the earth, you may be stunned to
see what it implies for the well-heeled and
celebrity set! See the article "Who'd live in an
eco-house like this?" in the UK "Independent" of
Saturday 26 April:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/whod-live-in-an-ecohouse-like-this-815911.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/whod-live-in-an-ecohouse-like-this-815911.html
The world food shortage - Reasons
01/05/08 15:11 Filed in: Villager's
News
Escalating food prices and a growing world food
shortage suggest that, in the longer term, our
AAEV land and gardens will become an ever more
precious Community resource. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7361945.stm
Sign the national Wellbeing Manifesto
01/05/08 15:00 Filed in: Villager's
News
Are you tired of the way our political system
promotes economic growth at the expense of human
and environmental wellbeing? If so, you may want
to sign the national "Wellbeing Manifesto". See:
http://www.wellbeingmanifesto.net/