At the Kevin Heinze Garden Centre, we have just had our spring plant fair. It was a great success. Participants with special needs at the centre have been growing so many healthy plants this year that we still have lots of quality plants left over for sale!

We have a great range, including herbs, edible plants, perennial groundcovers, shrubs and trees, natives, drought tolerant species, succulents, grasses, rushes, flowers, hanging baskets and more. More of our own grown vegies and herb seedlings for spring are growing to a take home size and becoming more readily available over the next few weeks also. Our prices are remarkably cheap. All plant sales aid in improving services at the centre for people with disabilities and special needs.

The centre is open between 8.30 to 4pm Monday to Friday only.

Kevin Heinze Garden Centre
39 Wetherby Road, Doncaster (VIC) (between  doncaster road & the eastern freeway, off the middleborough road exit, Melway Reference 47 H2) ph. 9848 3695
enquires at

http://www.kevinheinzegardencentre.com/

“Local groups are the lifeblood of how Permaculture Melbourne carries out it’s activities and provides services to the members. Without your local group in becomes hard to be involved beyond reading your bi-monthly slice of PIE

Local groups are all different, reflecting the difference between locations and peoples. Some hold interesting and challenging monthly meetings. Others get together less frequently, but for larger events. One has even established a very successful farmers market. Often they appear at events such as Petty’s Orchard’s fair, Ceres Kingfisher festival or the Rare Breeds Trust.”

to find your closest groups go to this link
http://www.permaculturemelbourne.org.au/group.html

The centre is a hub for local environmental action and education, and also shares lunch with locals and those who wish to turn up and visit. The centre also has an eco-house, built  to show people an example of  a sustainable home.

This is a link to the food garden page on their website:

http://www.ecocentre.com/res_advice&services_gardens_foodgarden.html

the compost boxes @ Port Phillip Eco-Centre, St. Kilda

{ http://www.sustainablemelbourne.com/ }

a presentation on the Fruit Peddlars Project, an idea pleasantly described as people riding bikes in Moreland picking fruit from trees in people’s yards and along the street, and sharing the fruit with the community by distributing it to local neighbourhood houses. Michael Chew conducted a feasibility research project into this great local concept on behalf of Environment Victoria.

http://www.sustainablemelbourne.com/visions/resource-michael-chew-presents-on-peddling-fruit-pickers-sustainable-cities-round-table-28-may/

To download the whole report on the Fruit Peddlars

http://www.sustainablemelbourne.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/environment.pdf

Art by Zenzo Siemendo - lady fruit seller on a bike

http://www.pfaf.org/leaflets/edible_uses.php

Flemington Community Garden, one of the many inner city community gardens providing garden plots near high rise public housing,  was relocated due to a new freeway extension. It is now growing on in its new space, with the help of Cultivating Community and Garden of Eden project workers. Art work by gardeners is also a strong feature of the new gardens.

more @ Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network:

“A new community garden in Flemington, Melbourne, features around 130 allotments, a chook shed designed in an organic architectual style, a rustic shelter, raised garden beds for less-mobile gardeners and hand-finished seats and tables.”

http://www.communitygarden.org.au/experience/gardens/flemington.html

(From ABC website, User submitted: Glenn Talaue)

Here is a summary of some interconnected environmental issues that have appeared recently at the ABC. I will continue to explore the BAD NEWS,that due to climate change, loss of mountain ash forest cover and bushfire impacts on water reservoirs, and the nearing return of the El Nino weather cycle, THE EMERGENCY OF OUR DWINDLING WATER SUPPLIES IN MELBOURNE ARE PREDICTED TO GET WORSE.

The government is beginning to use the bushfires impact on water catchments and climate change as a need for the desalination plant. I will also explore the massive climate changing carbon emissions the desalination plant will give us, as well as the large environmental degradation of the surrounding area. Simplistic answers will only be accepted through ignorance. Meanwhile the bushfire raged over much of the north-south water pipeline area, also contentious, especially in the bushfire ravaged communities and catchments which the pipeline takes water from.

ABC – Water supply moved amid bushfire threat

Billions of litres of drinking water is being moved out of Victorian reservoirs with catchments which are fire damaged. Ninety per cent of the O’Shannassy catchment and 40 per cent of the Maroondah catchment have been burned.

More @ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/17/2493439.htm

ABC- Fire crews work to protect water catchments

Fire crews in Victoria are working to try to stop bushfires doing more damage to Melbourne’s water catchments. The Kilmore East-Murrindindi North fire is one of six blazes still burning across the state.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/17/2493127.htm

ABC – Victoria ‘could face worse bushfire threat next summer’

An expert in climate modelling says next summer could see even higher fire dangers for Victoria due to extreme temperatures. It has been predicted that an El Nino climate event could hit Australia this year, causing higher than usual temperatures across the country.

More @ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/16/2492070.htm

ABC – ‘At risk’ firies want urgent global warming action

Australia is at risk of more tragedies such as the Victorian bushfires if the Federal Government does not reassess its approach to global warming, says the peak firefighters union.

More @ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/12/2489847.htm

ABC – Global warning worse than predicted, top scientist says

One of the world’s leading experts on climate change says a Nobel Prize-winning panel of scientists seriously underestimated the reality of global warming when it published its report just over a year ago.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/15/2491942.htm

The presenter, Jane Edmanson, is a well respected garden expert in Melbourne, and lends her support to both Sustainable Gardening Australia and the Food Gardeners Alliance.

As well as this, Jane explains that

“For over 30 years, I’ve encouraged schools to get involved in school gardening programs because there is no better way to create the next generation of gardeners. At Elwood Primary School in Melbourne, students are involved in a program that combines gardening and the kitchen. This gives children a unique experience.”

more @

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2451183.htm

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation http://www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/

Jane Edmanson’s website http://www.janesgarden.com.au/

Sustainable Gardening Australia Team
http://www.sgaonline.org.au/sgateam.html

Food Gardeners Alliance Save the Vegie Patch Forum http://www.fga.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=2