A little window into what is coming!
A little window into what is coming!
A quick update before we launch into season 6!
Allie talks about why it's been a while between seasons and what has changed since last time you heard from Saltgrass.
Season 6 is coming really soon... for reals!
A quick update before we launch into season 6!
Allie talks about why it's been a while between seasons and what has changed since last time you heard from Saltgrass.
Season 6 is coming really soon... for reals!
Handing out popcorn can get you arrested these days, especially if you do it in a bank.
In this episode I chat with three activists who did just that over a year ago. Then, earlier this year they went to court to argue that they had to do it to prevent great harm from happening, that is to prevent the bank's connection to future fossil fuel extraction.
Activists often get represented as ratbags or trouble makers, disrupting things just for the sake of it, but what you will hear today is much more in alignment with the vast majority of my experience of activists – which is people who have deeply considered what they are doing and why and feel that taking action is one of the only avenues left open to them to effect change.
Guests: Bernard Tonkin, Laura Levetan and Dean Bridgefoot
Go to saltgrasspodcast.com for links related to this episode.
Handing out popcorn can get you arrested these days, especially if you do it in a bank.
In this episode I chat with three activists who did just that over a year ago. Then, earlier this year they went to court to argue that they had to do it to prevent great harm from happening, that is to prevent the bank's connection to future fossil fuel extraction.
Activists often get represented as ratbags or trouble makers, disrupting things just for the sake of it, but what you will hear today is much more in alignment with the vast majority of my experience of activists – which is people who have deeply considered what they are doing and why and feel that taking action is one of the only avenues left open to them to effect change.
Guests: Bernard Tonkin, Laura Levetan and Dean Bridgefoot
Go to saltgrasspodcast.com for links related to this episode.
This is the final episode of the three about the housing crisis and what my local community is doing about it. In this episode we hear about some of the creative solutions including community groups building housing specific for their needs, Council utilising existing sites to build affordable housing, adjusting council laws to allow more flexibility for tiny homes on wheels, working out how to use existing houses and how to keep people in their homes in ways that work for everyone.
For links go to the Saltgrass website.
This is the final episode of the three about the housing crisis and what my local community is doing about it. In this episode we hear about some of the creative solutions including community groups building housing specific for their needs, Council utilising existing sites to build affordable housing, adjusting council laws to allow more flexibility for tiny homes on wheels, working out how to use existing houses and how to keep people in their homes in ways that work for everyone.
For links go to the Saltgrass website.
In these three episodes we will explore how housing is a key climate issue and we’ll look at how the housing crisis is impacting where I live, in regional Victoria.
In this second episode we are looking at what deliberative development is and how co-housing and community building can be a part of our housing solutions.
In the next episodes we’ll explore what the local community is already doing about housing and at some innovative solutions that may be helpful.
For links go to the Saltgrass website.
In these three episodes we will explore how housing is a key climate issue and we’ll look at how the housing crisis is impacting where I live, in regional Victoria.
In this second episode we are looking at what deliberative development is and how co-housing and community building can be a part of our housing solutions.
In the next episodes we’ll explore what the local community is already doing about housing and at some innovative solutions that may be helpful.
For links go to the Saltgrass website.
How is the housing crisis linked to sustainability?
In the next three episodes we will explore how housing is a key climate issue and we'll look at how the housing crisis is impacting where I live, in regional Victoria.
In this episode we will look at how the land lies, what is the problem?
In the two following episodes we'll explore what the local community is already doing about it and also at some other innovative solutions that may be helpful.
For links go to the Saltgrass website
How is the housing crisis linked to sustainability?
In the next three episodes we will explore how housing is a key climate issue and we'll look at how the housing crisis is impacting where I live, in regional Victoria.
In this episode we will look at how the land lies, what is the problem?
In the two following episodes we'll explore what the local community is already doing about it and also at some other innovative solutions that may be helpful.
For links go to the Saltgrass website
I know it has been a while since there was anything new on Saltgrass, so here is a quick (6 min) update for you.
In summary:
There will be 5 new episodes coming out soon which will wrap up season 5 of Saltgrass and then we will get stuck into season 6.
Also, Saltgrass won some cool awards :) Yay!
I know it has been a while since there was anything new on Saltgrass, so here is a quick (6 min) update for you.
In summary:
There will be 5 new episodes coming out soon which will wrap up season 5 of Saltgrass and then we will get stuck into season 6.
Also, Saltgrass won some cool awards :) Yay!
This is the full audio from the Connecting Country event called ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’
The event featured presentations from Sasha Jellinek from the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water, Oli Moraes - Project Manager at Djaara and Tess Greives from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA)
This is the full audio from the Connecting Country event called ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’
The event featured presentations from Sasha Jellinek from the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water, Oli Moraes - Project Manager at Djaara and Tess Greives from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA)
Connecting Country is a not for profit organisation which works closely with landcare groups and others in restoring neglected and damaged ecosystems. Hadley Cole and Bonnie Humphries from Connecting Country join Allie to discuss how landcare groups contribute to various restoration efforts, and how the unprecedented nature of climate change and its impact on existing ecosystems makes the task complex and unpredictable. Various strategies are being tried, including mixing plant provenances to achieve a higher genetic diversity and boost ecosystem resilience.
In this episode are excerpts from an event called 'Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate' featuring Sasha Jellinek from the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water, Oli Moraes from DJAARA and Tess Greives from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA),
The full recording of the event will be shared in upcoming weeks.
Guests:
Bonnie Humphries – Connecting Country – Landscape Restoration Specialist
Hadley Cole – Connecting Country – Landcare Facilitator
Sasha Jellinek - the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water
Tess Greives - North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA)
Summary:
00:00 Introduction
02:28 Acknowledgement of Country
03:22 Hadley Cole and Bonnie Humphries in conversation about Connecting Country and Landcare
17:30 Excerpts from event: ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’
17:53 Sascha Jellinik – climate impact and importance of genetic diversity
21:14 Oli Moraes - The Role of Djaara in landscape restoration and climate strategies
25:36 Tess Greives – Climate ready Reveg projects
28:07 Bonnie and Hadley on the Importance of Genetic Diversity in Ecosystems
31:35 The Role of Climate Future Plots in Ecosystem Restoration
43:09 The Importance of Community Involvement in Ecosystem Restoration
46:03 Conclusion and Final Remarks
LINKS:
Related Episodes:
Connecting Country is a not for profit organisation which works closely with landcare groups and others in restoring neglected and damaged ecosystems. Hadley Cole and Bonnie Humphries from Connecting Country join Allie to discuss how landcare groups contribute to various restoration efforts, and how the unprecedented nature of climate change and its impact on existing ecosystems makes the task complex and unpredictable. Various strategies are being tried, including mixing plant provenances to achieve a higher genetic diversity and boost ecosystem resilience.
In this episode are excerpts from an event called 'Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate' featuring Sasha Jellinek from the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water, Oli Moraes from DJAARA and Tess Greives from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA),
The full recording of the event will be shared in upcoming weeks.
Guests:
Bonnie Humphries – Connecting Country – Landscape Restoration Specialist
Hadley Cole – Connecting Country – Landcare Facilitator
Sasha Jellinek - the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water
Tess Greives - North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA)
Summary:
00:00 Introduction
02:28 Acknowledgement of Country
03:22 Hadley Cole and Bonnie Humphries in conversation about Connecting Country and Landcare
17:30 Excerpts from event: ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’
17:53 Sascha Jellinik – climate impact and importance of genetic diversity
21:14 Oli Moraes - The Role of Djaara in landscape restoration and climate strategies
25:36 Tess Greives – Climate ready Reveg projects
28:07 Bonnie and Hadley on the Importance of Genetic Diversity in Ecosystems
31:35 The Role of Climate Future Plots in Ecosystem Restoration
43:09 The Importance of Community Involvement in Ecosystem Restoration
46:03 Conclusion and Final Remarks
LINKS:
Related Episodes:
Today we are going to Village Dreaming Farm and Orto cooking school. Mara and Ralf live on about 15 acres just outside of Daylesford – about a 30min drive south of where I am in Castlemaine. They have been there since 2015 and in that time have transformed the empty paddocks of former grazing land into a small farm that follows regenerative and permaculture principles, with a kitchen garden, orchards and wetlands.
Links:
Ceres - environmental park in Melbourne
Natural Tucker - sourdough bakery
Damian Cook - who Ralf worked for for many years
Critical Mass - cycling protest
Related Episodes:
Ilka White on her art practice and Ethical Apparel
Today we are going to Village Dreaming Farm and Orto cooking school. Mara and Ralf live on about 15 acres just outside of Daylesford – about a 30min drive south of where I am in Castlemaine. They have been there since 2015 and in that time have transformed the empty paddocks of former grazing land into a small farm that follows regenerative and permaculture principles, with a kitchen garden, orchards and wetlands.
Links:
Ceres - environmental park in Melbourne
Natural Tucker - sourdough bakery
Damian Cook - who Ralf worked for for many years
Critical Mass - cycling protest
Related Episodes:
Ilka White on her art practice and Ethical Apparel
Are you good at composting? I certainly haven't been in the past. But with the help of a community composting group called YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) I have become a kitchen scrap saviour, a leaf collecting ninja and I make steaming hot compost.
In today's episode I talk to Lucy Young, Joel Meadows, Mikaela Beckley and Claudia Lang about what this group is all about and why they are passionate about compost. (Spoiler: reducing greenhouse gasses, connecting community, building beautiful soil)
Are you good at composting? I certainly haven't been in the past. But with the help of a community composting group called YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) I have become a kitchen scrap saviour, a leaf collecting ninja and I make steaming hot compost.
In today's episode I talk to Lucy Young, Joel Meadows, Mikaela Beckley and Claudia Lang about what this group is all about and why they are passionate about compost. (Spoiler: reducing greenhouse gasses, connecting community, building beautiful soil)
Recent episodes have been looking at the farmers out at the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative. We've been out there to explore how farming and agriculture might be done in a way that is earth, biodiversity and humanity friendly.
Each and every one of the farmers talked about how important the support of the local community has been, and how much enthusiasm they have received from people who get what they are trying to do, even if it costs a bit more and is not as convenient as shopping at the supermarkets.
But it isn’t just individuals buying for their families that support these farmers and so this week we're looking at small businesses who prioritise locally produced food, these are people who go to the extra effort and often spend extra time working with the farmers through the ups and downs, wins and losses of seasons and years and changing weather.
This episode features:
Mel from Gung Hoe Growers
Alex Perry from Bar Midland
Paul and Patricia from Sprout Bakery
Sas Allardice - co-founder of Gung Hoe Growers
Links:
HOFC – Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative
Sprout Bakery and their Instagram
Other Related Episodes:
S4 E17 Djakitj Larr – Eating Country Healthy part 1
S4 E17 Djakitj Larr – Eating Country Healthy part 2
S5 E11 An Incredible Octopus – with Katie Finlay
S1 E06 Gung Hoe Growers with Sas and Mel
S1 E05 Mount Alexander Fruit Garden
Recent episodes have been looking at the farmers out at the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative. We've been out there to explore how farming and agriculture might be done in a way that is earth, biodiversity and humanity friendly.
Each and every one of the farmers talked about how important the support of the local community has been, and how much enthusiasm they have received from people who get what they are trying to do, even if it costs a bit more and is not as convenient as shopping at the supermarkets.
But it isn’t just individuals buying for their families that support these farmers and so this week we're looking at small businesses who prioritise locally produced food, these are people who go to the extra effort and often spend extra time working with the farmers through the ups and downs, wins and losses of seasons and years and changing weather.
This episode features:
Mel from Gung Hoe Growers
Alex Perry from Bar Midland
Paul and Patricia from Sprout Bakery
Sas Allardice - co-founder of Gung Hoe Growers
Links:
HOFC – Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative
Sprout Bakery and their Instagram
Other Related Episodes:
S4 E17 Djakitj Larr – Eating Country Healthy part 1
S4 E17 Djakitj Larr – Eating Country Healthy part 2
S5 E11 An Incredible Octopus – with Katie Finlay
S1 E06 Gung Hoe Growers with Sas and Mel
S1 E05 Mount Alexander Fruit Garden
It has been almost a decade of effort and love and garlic from Gung Hoe Growers – supplying our local community through the local farmers market, selling to cafes and restaurants and providing boxes of veg to seasonal and annual subscribers.
Many have felt sadness on hearing that Gung Hoe will not be renewing their lease out at the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative.
This episode is a big chat with Mel about how and why this has happened and how this reflects on our farming and food production systems.
Listen back to the start of the Gung Hoe story:
Saltgrass Season 1 Gung Hoe Growers with Sas and Mel
Links:
HOFC – Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative
It has been almost a decade of effort and love and garlic from Gung Hoe Growers – supplying our local community through the local farmers market, selling to cafes and restaurants and providing boxes of veg to seasonal and annual subscribers.
Many have felt sadness on hearing that Gung Hoe will not be renewing their lease out at the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative.
This episode is a big chat with Mel about how and why this has happened and how this reflects on our farming and food production systems.
Listen back to the start of the Gung Hoe story:
Saltgrass Season 1 Gung Hoe Growers with Sas and Mel
Links:
HOFC – Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative
We are heading back out to the Harcourt Farming Cooperative – this time to talk to Tess Sellar who runs a herd of 10 or so dairy cows and supplies organic milk and yoghurt to our local community.
Tess uses regenerative farming practices, re-usable glass containers and does countless other things to make her micro-dairy as low impact as possible.
Trigger Warning:
Please note that this episode contains conversation about suicide. If you feel vulnerable or at risk please reach out for help.
If you are in Australia you can go to Lifeline or call 13 11 14
Resources and Links:
Harcourt Organic Farming Co-operative
We are heading back out to the Harcourt Farming Cooperative – this time to talk to Tess Sellar who runs a herd of 10 or so dairy cows and supplies organic milk and yoghurt to our local community.
Tess uses regenerative farming practices, re-usable glass containers and does countless other things to make her micro-dairy as low impact as possible.
Trigger Warning:
Please note that this episode contains conversation about suicide. If you feel vulnerable or at risk please reach out for help.
If you are in Australia you can go to Lifeline or call 13 11 14
Resources and Links:
Harcourt Organic Farming Co-operative
Following on from the last episode about the Harcourt Farming Cooperative, today we are looking at The Orchard Keepers. They are part of the grand experiment of this farming cooperative, having taken over the orchard management a couple of years ago.
They are using organic and regenerative practices and they are not just farmers, but they are visionaries and committed activists through the work they do on and in the soil.
Listen as we discuss the challenges and joys of taking on a mature orchard and trying to make a go of farming with young kids and extreme weather.
The Orchard Keepers are:
Ingrid Phyland Alex Kelly Yoann Le Guen Megan Roberts Brian Morris Rachael Cilantro
Resources and Links
Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative
World Wildlife Fund – Innovate to Regenerate fund
Related Episodes:
S5 E11 An Incredible Octopus - with Katie Finlay
Following on from the last episode about the Harcourt Farming Cooperative, today we are looking at The Orchard Keepers. They are part of the grand experiment of this farming cooperative, having taken over the orchard management a couple of years ago.
They are using organic and regenerative practices and they are not just farmers, but they are visionaries and committed activists through the work they do on and in the soil.
Listen as we discuss the challenges and joys of taking on a mature orchard and trying to make a go of farming with young kids and extreme weather.
The Orchard Keepers are:
Ingrid Phyland Alex Kelly Yoann Le Guen Megan Roberts Brian Morris Rachael Cilantro
Resources and Links
Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative
World Wildlife Fund – Innovate to Regenerate fund
Related Episodes:
S5 E11 An Incredible Octopus - with Katie Finlay
This is the first of four episodes that will be released about the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative.
Long term listeners may remember two episodes from season one that captured conversations with farmers from the cooperative as it was just beginning back in 2018.
I’ve been following the process of this cooperative with interest since it began because it is a fascinating case study of alternative farming... that is, an alternative to large scale, monocultural farming which contributes to climate change rather than helping mitigate it.
Listen to Katie talking about what it has been like to open her family farm up to young farmers and the co-op - what she affectionately describes as an incredible octopus!
Links:
Project Drawdown on climate and farming
Indigenous native food – Murrnong Mummas
World Wildlife Fund – Innovate to Regenerate fund
AFSA – Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance
Farming on other people’s land - FOOPL
Grounded – community land trust
This Farm Needs a Farmer (Facebook link)
Related episodes:
Saltgrass Season 1 Katie and Ant
This is the first of four episodes that will be released about the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative.
Long term listeners may remember two episodes from season one that captured conversations with farmers from the cooperative as it was just beginning back in 2018.
I’ve been following the process of this cooperative with interest since it began because it is a fascinating case study of alternative farming... that is, an alternative to large scale, monocultural farming which contributes to climate change rather than helping mitigate it.
Listen to Katie talking about what it has been like to open her family farm up to young farmers and the co-op - what she affectionately describes as an incredible octopus!
Links:
Project Drawdown on climate and farming
Indigenous native food – Murrnong Mummas
World Wildlife Fund – Innovate to Regenerate fund
AFSA – Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance
Farming on other people’s land - FOOPL
Grounded – community land trust
This Farm Needs a Farmer (Facebook link)
Related episodes:
Saltgrass Season 1 Katie and Ant
Plastic Free July had humble beginnings in back in 2011 when Rebecca Prince-Ruiz had the idea of refusing to buy or accept single use plastics for the month of July, just to see if she could. She asked people around her if they wanted to do it too and now it is a global movement with an estimated 140 million people from 195 countries participating in 2022.
I wanted to Talk to Rebecca, not only because she is amazing, but also, Plastic Free July is truly a grassroots movement that has made a global impact. And I was so curious to hear how it started and how it grew. Rebecca is also overflowing with stories of people making change at all levels of society and business and she happily delves into discussions about balancing personal responsibility with demanding action from corporations and governments and we also had some great questions from the audience as well.
Links:
Book: Plastic Free
By Rebecca Prince-Ruiz and Joanna Atherford Finn
(Published 2020)
Some other plastic education media pieces:
Climate Town: Plastic Recycling is a scam
Plastic Free July had humble beginnings in back in 2011 when Rebecca Prince-Ruiz had the idea of refusing to buy or accept single use plastics for the month of July, just to see if she could. She asked people around her if they wanted to do it too and now it is a global movement with an estimated 140 million people from 195 countries participating in 2022.
I wanted to Talk to Rebecca, not only because she is amazing, but also, Plastic Free July is truly a grassroots movement that has made a global impact. And I was so curious to hear how it started and how it grew. Rebecca is also overflowing with stories of people making change at all levels of society and business and she happily delves into discussions about balancing personal responsibility with demanding action from corporations and governments and we also had some great questions from the audience as well.
Links:
Book: Plastic Free
By Rebecca Prince-Ruiz and Joanna Atherford Finn
(Published 2020)
Some other plastic education media pieces:
Climate Town: Plastic Recycling is a scam
How can local councils and Traditional Owners work collaboratively towards climate and environmental goals?
Today's episode explores one way to get things going.
Back in November 2022 Djaara – the Traditional Owners in Central Victoria where Saltgrass is made – invited representatives from local councils to gather on Country and workshop how Djaara and councils can co-design climate strategies and manage environmental issues together.
Along with the audio from the workshop there is an extended interview with the organisers of that event that includes Oli Moraes from Djaara, Melanie Marshall, Climate Change Coordinator at Mount Alexander Shire Council – my local council and Dr Alexander Saeri – or Zan – from Monash University and Behaviour Works Australia.
Resources and Links
About Djaara:
Guests:
Oli Moraes from Djaara
Dr Alexander Saeri from Behaviour Works Australia
Melanie Marshall from Mount Alexander Shire
Mount Alexander Shire Climate Change Strategy
How can local councils and Traditional Owners work collaboratively towards climate and environmental goals?
Today's episode explores one way to get things going.
Back in November 2022 Djaara – the Traditional Owners in Central Victoria where Saltgrass is made – invited representatives from local councils to gather on Country and workshop how Djaara and councils can co-design climate strategies and manage environmental issues together.
Along with the audio from the workshop there is an extended interview with the organisers of that event that includes Oli Moraes from Djaara, Melanie Marshall, Climate Change Coordinator at Mount Alexander Shire Council – my local council and Dr Alexander Saeri – or Zan – from Monash University and Behaviour Works Australia.
Resources and Links
About Djaara:
Guests:
Oli Moraes from Djaara
Dr Alexander Saeri from Behaviour Works Australia
Melanie Marshall from Mount Alexander Shire
Mount Alexander Shire Climate Change Strategy
Tim Hollo is many things, musician, politician, anarchist and the author of Living Democracy – An ecological manifesto for the end of the world as we know it. He was in conversation at the Taproom in Castlemaine with Jim Buckell and introduced by Alex Kelly with an extended Q&A with the audience.
Links:
Living Democracy Book
There is no time left not to do everything – an article and now a chapter in the book
Tim Low’s book ‘Where Song Began’
Nobel Prize winning economist Eleanor Ostrum ‘Defender of the commons’
Philosopher Hannah Arendt who escaped Nazi Germany and dedicated her academic life to exploring totalitarianism and the nature of power
Fearless Cities as exampled by Barcelona
Democratic confederalism as seen in Kurdish communities
Related Episodes:
Tim Hollo is many things, musician, politician, anarchist and the author of Living Democracy – An ecological manifesto for the end of the world as we know it. He was in conversation at the Taproom in Castlemaine with Jim Buckell and introduced by Alex Kelly with an extended Q&A with the audience.
Links:
Living Democracy Book
There is no time left not to do everything – an article and now a chapter in the book
Tim Low’s book ‘Where Song Began’
Nobel Prize winning economist Eleanor Ostrum ‘Defender of the commons’
Philosopher Hannah Arendt who escaped Nazi Germany and dedicated her academic life to exploring totalitarianism and the nature of power
Fearless Cities as exampled by Barcelona
Democratic confederalism as seen in Kurdish communities
Related Episodes:
Duang moved to Castlemaine just a few years ago, but is already an integral part of the fabric of our community.
She sells delicious Thai cooking at the weekly farmers market and came here, as you will hear, in part because she knew about the Harcourt Farming Cooperative and the community supported agriculture (CSA) method that they employ.
Duang was so keen to support the farmers that she offered a free zero waste cooking class to CSA members at her own home – a way to offer more value to those who subscribed. It was a fun class with Duang peppering the cooking advice with stories of her life. We made pesto out of carrot tops and talked about what makes a good life. Allie then went back later to have a longer chat with Duang.
Links:
SBS episode about Duang's life
Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative
Related Episodes:
Food Security and Farmers Markets
Duang moved to Castlemaine just a few years ago, but is already an integral part of the fabric of our community.
She sells delicious Thai cooking at the weekly farmers market and came here, as you will hear, in part because she knew about the Harcourt Farming Cooperative and the community supported agriculture (CSA) method that they employ.
Duang was so keen to support the farmers that she offered a free zero waste cooking class to CSA members at her own home – a way to offer more value to those who subscribed. It was a fun class with Duang peppering the cooking advice with stories of her life. We made pesto out of carrot tops and talked about what makes a good life. Allie then went back later to have a longer chat with Duang.
Links:
SBS episode about Duang's life
Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative
Related Episodes:
Food Security and Farmers Markets
Following on from the last episode about the Castlemaine Currency Project, this episode shares audio from a panel discussion that was part of the original exhibition and social experiment.
Featuring:
Warwick Smith, Castlemaine Institute
Karl Fitzgerald, Prosper Australia
Merryn Tinkler, Mount Alexander Shire - Manager of Economy and Culture
Anitra Nelson, University of Melbourne
Following on from the last episode about the Castlemaine Currency Project, this episode shares audio from a panel discussion that was part of the original exhibition and social experiment.
Featuring:
Warwick Smith, Castlemaine Institute
Karl Fitzgerald, Prosper Australia
Merryn Tinkler, Mount Alexander Shire - Manager of Economy and Culture
Anitra Nelson, University of Melbourne
Local currencies and alternative money systems... what is that all about? Is it really a helpful thing to be thinking about in the middle of the climate crisis?
A group of artists in Castlemaine have created an art project and social experiment in the form of a local currency they called The Silver Wattle to explore just these questions.
The audio in this episode was recorded at a live event that was held as part of the Castlemaine fringe arts festival – one year after the Castlemaine Currency Project was launched back in May 2022
LINKS:
About the Castlemaine Currency Project:
About the Artists:
Other Links:
Local currencies and alternative money systems... what is that all about? Is it really a helpful thing to be thinking about in the middle of the climate crisis?
A group of artists in Castlemaine have created an art project and social experiment in the form of a local currency they called The Silver Wattle to explore just these questions.
The audio in this episode was recorded at a live event that was held as part of the Castlemaine fringe arts festival – one year after the Castlemaine Currency Project was launched back in May 2022
LINKS:
About the Castlemaine Currency Project:
About the Artists:
Other Links:
Anna and Matt run the Salvage Yard in Castlemaine. They rescue building materials that would otherwise go to landfill, clean it up and sell it on. It isn't hoarding if you turn it into a business is it?
This episode is exploring waste again, but this time we are looking at the building industry and how we can construct and dismantle buildings better. Another example of how 'Reduce, Re-use and Recycle' can be applied to almost anything!
Go to saltgrasspodcast.com to see more about this episode, including a full transcript.
Anna and Matt run the Salvage Yard in Castlemaine. They rescue building materials that would otherwise go to landfill, clean it up and sell it on. It isn't hoarding if you turn it into a business is it?
This episode is exploring waste again, but this time we are looking at the building industry and how we can construct and dismantle buildings better. Another example of how 'Reduce, Re-use and Recycle' can be applied to almost anything!
Go to saltgrasspodcast.com to see more about this episode, including a full transcript.
Tiffany Inglis started an op shop (AKA opportunity shop - known as a thrift store in the USA) and all she wants to do is save the world one pair of very cheap second hand jeans at a time.
Not only is the Good Op shop keeping A LOT of stuff out of landfill, but money raised there is then given to worthy environmental causes. If that is not enough to convince you it is a 'good' op shop - then wait til you hear about the educational programs and recycling initiatives they have started.
Muckleford Catchment Landcare Group
Fundraiser for the machines (funding goal achieved!!!)
No such thing as a Hero article: https://lithub.com/rebecca-solnit-when-the-hero-is-the-problem/
Tiffany Inglis started an op shop (AKA opportunity shop - known as a thrift store in the USA) and all she wants to do is save the world one pair of very cheap second hand jeans at a time.
Not only is the Good Op shop keeping A LOT of stuff out of landfill, but money raised there is then given to worthy environmental causes. If that is not enough to convince you it is a 'good' op shop - then wait til you hear about the educational programs and recycling initiatives they have started.
Muckleford Catchment Landcare Group
Fundraiser for the machines (funding goal achieved!!!)
No such thing as a Hero article: https://lithub.com/rebecca-solnit-when-the-hero-is-the-problem/
Cassia Read and Ada Nano are both ecologists who have been working within a local climate focussed hub called The Castlemaine Institute. They have been developing a program called “Wilderhoods” that helps neighbours come together, learn about the land they are on and how to turn their nature strips and yards into places that birds, bees and lizards would want to hang out in. This is all while connecting with neighbours and creating climate resilient spaces that work for humans, plants and animals.
Cassia Read and Ada Nano are both ecologists who have been working within a local climate focussed hub called The Castlemaine Institute. They have been developing a program called “Wilderhoods” that helps neighbours come together, learn about the land they are on and how to turn their nature strips and yards into places that birds, bees and lizards would want to hang out in. This is all while connecting with neighbours and creating climate resilient spaces that work for humans, plants and animals.
Are you worried about waste?
If so, join us on an epic adventure of plastic reduction, waste management and letting your wheelie bin get dusty from neglect!
In this episode you can hear all about one inspiring local who has tackled this challenge head on. Gemma has set herself the incredible challenge of putting her landfill wheelie bin out just once per year! Hear all about how she managed to reduce her waste through making different shopping decisions and lifestyle changes.
What can and can’t be recycled is in constant flux and local landfill is a big pain in the council’s arse. It is becoming clearer and clearer that when we want to throw things away, there is actually no such magical place as ‘away’… it is just ‘over there’.
Inspired by Gemma, Allie is up for this challenge and her first goal is to reduce the frequency of putting her bin out to once every 3 months. Follow her journey with this across this new season of Saltgrass and how she reduces what needs to go to landfill.
We are inviting you to join us and challenge yourself to reduce your waste and measure this by how many times you put out your kerbside bin.
If you normally put it out every week, see if you can put it out once a month.
If you put it out once a month, see if you can put it out every three or six months.
Join us to swap notes, resources and tips and ideas.
Find out more https://saltgrasspodcast.com/wheelie-bin-challenge/
Are you worried about waste?
If so, join us on an epic adventure of plastic reduction, waste management and letting your wheelie bin get dusty from neglect!
In this episode you can hear all about one inspiring local who has tackled this challenge head on. Gemma has set herself the incredible challenge of putting her landfill wheelie bin out just once per year! Hear all about how she managed to reduce her waste through making different shopping decisions and lifestyle changes.
What can and can’t be recycled is in constant flux and local landfill is a big pain in the council’s arse. It is becoming clearer and clearer that when we want to throw things away, there is actually no such magical place as ‘away’… it is just ‘over there’.
Inspired by Gemma, Allie is up for this challenge and her first goal is to reduce the frequency of putting her bin out to once every 3 months. Follow her journey with this across this new season of Saltgrass and how she reduces what needs to go to landfill.
We are inviting you to join us and challenge yourself to reduce your waste and measure this by how many times you put out your kerbside bin.
If you normally put it out every week, see if you can put it out once a month.
If you put it out once a month, see if you can put it out every three or six months.
Join us to swap notes, resources and tips and ideas.
Find out more https://saltgrasspodcast.com/wheelie-bin-challenge/
Back in March 2022 Zoe Scoglio joined Allie live on MAINfm and shared some interviews she had collected for a Castlemaine Commons Collective project. Beautiful conversations about community, connectedness and resilience.
Episode 4 includes interviews with:
Allison Nye from Country Womens Association (CWA)
Carolyn Neilson about the Murnong Community
Back in March 2022 Zoe Scoglio joined Allie live on MAINfm and shared some interviews she had collected for a Castlemaine Commons Collective project. Beautiful conversations about community, connectedness and resilience.
Episode 4 includes interviews with:
Allison Nye from Country Womens Association (CWA)
Carolyn Neilson about the Murnong Community
Back in March 2022 Zoe Scoglio joined Allie live on MAINfm and shared some interviews she had collected for a Castlemaine Commons Collective project. Beautiful conversations about community, connectedness and resilience.
Episode 3 includes interviews with:
Back in March 2022 Zoe Scoglio joined Allie live on MAINfm and shared some interviews she had collected for a Castlemaine Commons Collective project. Beautiful conversations about community, connectedness and resilience.
Episode 3 includes interviews with:
Back in March 2022 Zoe Scoglio joined Allie live on MAINfm and shared some interviews she had collected for a Castlemaine Commons Collective project. Beautiful conversations about community, connectedness and resilience.
Episode Two includes interviews Zoe did with two locals; author Robyn Annear and ecologist Karl Just.
Song referenced: Sunset Village by Beverly Glenn-Copeland
(Sound quality starts out with some interference, but improves through the episode)
Back in March 2022 Zoe Scoglio joined Allie live on MAINfm and shared some interviews she had collected for a Castlemaine Commons Collective project. Beautiful conversations about community, connectedness and resilience.
Episode Two includes interviews Zoe did with two locals; author Robyn Annear and ecologist Karl Just.
Song referenced: Sunset Village by Beverly Glenn-Copeland
(Sound quality starts out with some interference, but improves through the episode)
This is the first of four episodes created in collaboration with The Castlemaine Commons Collective and artist Zoe Scoglio. They were recorded live at MAINfm in March 2022.
Zoe had been collecting local stories of community organising and collective care. Each episode in this series includes short edited excerpts from some of the conversations held by Zoe. We hope this can inspire further conversations, and so we can learn from each other about how to navigate these increasingly precarious times together brought on by the pandemic and climate crisis.
This is the first of four episodes created in collaboration with The Castlemaine Commons Collective and artist Zoe Scoglio. They were recorded live at MAINfm in March 2022.
Zoe had been collecting local stories of community organising and collective care. Each episode in this series includes short edited excerpts from some of the conversations held by Zoe. We hope this can inspire further conversations, and so we can learn from each other about how to navigate these increasingly precarious times together brought on by the pandemic and climate crisis.
Allie and some other podcasters got together last year at the NonfictioNow Conference and had a long chat about what it is to make media and try to communicate about climate change. In this second part of the discussion we explore why we make our shows and the various problems we grapple with as we try to make the complexities of the climate crisis accessible.
Featuring:
Allie - Saltgrass
Jess and Ash - Heaps Better
Tessa - The Nature Between Us
Mark - Climactic
Allie and some other podcasters got together last year at the NonfictioNow Conference and had a long chat about what it is to make media and try to communicate about climate change. In this second part of the discussion we explore why we make our shows and the various problems we grapple with as we try to make the complexities of the climate crisis accessible.
Featuring:
Allie - Saltgrass
Jess and Ash - Heaps Better
Tessa - The Nature Between Us
Mark - Climactic
Allie and some other podcasters got together last year at the NonfictioNow Conference and had a long chat about what it is to make media and try to communicate about climate change. In this first part of the discussion we interview each other about our shows - what our shows are, how they came about and what we hope to achieve with it.
Featuring:
Allie - Saltgrass
Jess and Ash - Heaps Better
Tessa - The Nature Between Us
Mark - Climactic
Allie and some other podcasters got together last year at the NonfictioNow Conference and had a long chat about what it is to make media and try to communicate about climate change. In this first part of the discussion we interview each other about our shows - what our shows are, how they came about and what we hope to achieve with it.
Featuring:
Allie - Saltgrass
Jess and Ash - Heaps Better
Tessa - The Nature Between Us
Mark - Climactic
A short message from Saltgrass host and producer Allie to close season four including some clues about what is coming soon.
A short message from Saltgrass host and producer Allie to close season four including some clues about what is coming soon.
This is part two on Djakitj Larr - Eating Country Healthy.
Please listen to the previous episode first to hear the full story.
In 2019 Bendigo was designated a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy.
In early 2021 about 100 people gathered at a winery just outside of Harcourt. Djakitj Larr was an afternoon of food, performance and creative conversation that allowed people to connect and reflect, and generate ideas for building sustainable food systems on Djaara Country.
In this two part podcast Allie shares audio from the day and also an interview with the creators.
Djakitj Larr creative team:
This is part two on Djakitj Larr - Eating Country Healthy.
Please listen to the previous episode first to hear the full story.
In 2019 Bendigo was designated a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy.
In early 2021 about 100 people gathered at a winery just outside of Harcourt. Djakitj Larr was an afternoon of food, performance and creative conversation that allowed people to connect and reflect, and generate ideas for building sustainable food systems on Djaara Country.
In this two part podcast Allie shares audio from the day and also an interview with the creators.
Djakitj Larr creative team:
In 2019 Bendigo was designated a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy.
In this episode we discuss what that means and also deep dive into an event called Djakitj Larr which explores all the reasons why our region was chosen for this.
In early 2021 about 100 people gathered at a winery just outside of Harcourt. Djakitj Larr was an afternoon of food, performance and creative conversation that allowed people to connect and reflect, and generate ideas for building sustainable food systems on Djaara Country.
In this two part podcast Allie shares audio from the day and also an interview with the creators.
Djakitj Larr creative team:
In 2019 Bendigo was designated a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy.
In this episode we discuss what that means and also deep dive into an event called Djakitj Larr which explores all the reasons why our region was chosen for this.
In early 2021 about 100 people gathered at a winery just outside of Harcourt. Djakitj Larr was an afternoon of food, performance and creative conversation that allowed people to connect and reflect, and generate ideas for building sustainable food systems on Djaara Country.
In this two part podcast Allie shares audio from the day and also an interview with the creators.
Djakitj Larr creative team:
Today I’ll be taking you along for the ride as my 14 year old Nephew Oliver and I head into Melbourne and take part in the student strike for climate that happened on the 25th of March. It was a global day of action so there were similar events not just around Australia, but around the world. We joined a huge crowd in the city and marched several city blocks, we disrupted traffic and made a lot of noise. I chatted to some of the young people there to hear what made them want to join the march.
Then later in the episode you will hear from another student strike, this one happened just this week in Castlemaine. The student strike movement in Australia was rallying again as they wanted to make sure that climate is an election issue, with just days to go before our federal election. So again strikes were organised right across the country.
Today I’ll be taking you along for the ride as my 14 year old Nephew Oliver and I head into Melbourne and take part in the student strike for climate that happened on the 25th of March. It was a global day of action so there were similar events not just around Australia, but around the world. We joined a huge crowd in the city and marched several city blocks, we disrupted traffic and made a lot of noise. I chatted to some of the young people there to hear what made them want to join the march.
Then later in the episode you will hear from another student strike, this one happened just this week in Castlemaine. The student strike movement in Australia was rallying again as they wanted to make sure that climate is an election issue, with just days to go before our federal election. So again strikes were organised right across the country.
Today we are going to be chatting with Castlemaine local Bryn Davies and a group he has been a part of called Democracy for Dinner. I thought it was a very pleasant sounding enterprise and an example of how we can, where ever we are, get together in a grassroots kind of way and start to take it upon ourselves to understand all of the above mentioned complexities and opportunities. Because, just like with climate change, it is easy to feel like it is way bigger than us and way beyond our control.
Links coming soon
Today we are going to be chatting with Castlemaine local Bryn Davies and a group he has been a part of called Democracy for Dinner. I thought it was a very pleasant sounding enterprise and an example of how we can, where ever we are, get together in a grassroots kind of way and start to take it upon ourselves to understand all of the above mentioned complexities and opportunities. Because, just like with climate change, it is easy to feel like it is way bigger than us and way beyond our control.
Links coming soon
We discuss how the seed library began and how it works as well as big ideas like the value of local seed banks in a changing climate, multinational seed trade, the resonances between seed collecting and art, and how we can foster a love of gardening and appreciation of all the cycles of nature in the next generation.
Resources and Links
Castlemaine Community House Community garden
International peasants movement
We discuss how the seed library began and how it works as well as big ideas like the value of local seed banks in a changing climate, multinational seed trade, the resonances between seed collecting and art, and how we can foster a love of gardening and appreciation of all the cycles of nature in the next generation.
Resources and Links
Castlemaine Community House Community garden
International peasants movement
I was lucky enough to have a wonderful conversation about possible climate futures, not through a lens of disaster and doom but gritty possibility, radical hope and extraordinary courage.
Alex Kelly and John Wiseman joined me recently to talk about their futuring practices. John has just published a book called Hope and Courage in the Climate Crisis and Alex is a co-creator of The Things We Did Next.
Links:
I was lucky enough to have a wonderful conversation about possible climate futures, not through a lens of disaster and doom but gritty possibility, radical hope and extraordinary courage.
Alex Kelly and John Wiseman joined me recently to talk about their futuring practices. John has just published a book called Hope and Courage in the Climate Crisis and Alex is a co-creator of The Things We Did Next.
Links:
Hello podcast crew, I haven't forgotten you even though there has been a bit of radio or podcast silence over the last month. This very short message is just to explain what has been going on and what is coming up soon. Hope all is well in your world! Allie
Hello podcast crew, I haven't forgotten you even though there has been a bit of radio or podcast silence over the last month. This very short message is just to explain what has been going on and what is coming up soon. Hope all is well in your world! Allie
Steve Healy is Executive General Manager of Climate and Population Adaptation at Coliban Water.
Climate change predictions for our region point to hotter and drier weather patterns and when it rains it is going to be more extreme, big dump kind of events. So water is on a lot of people’s minds when they think about how we might be able to keep living here through climate change.
We discuss how water works in our region, in the past, in the present and into the future.
Steve Healy is Executive General Manager of Climate and Population Adaptation at Coliban Water.
Climate change predictions for our region point to hotter and drier weather patterns and when it rains it is going to be more extreme, big dump kind of events. So water is on a lot of people’s minds when they think about how we might be able to keep living here through climate change.
We discuss how water works in our region, in the past, in the present and into the future.
Kathryn Coff is a committed community leader and she joins us to discuss race, privilege and power, which are themes that she lives with and grapples with every day of her life. She shares a beautiful way of getting to know people that opens us up so much more than 'and what do you do?'
Links:
Kathryn's speech at the Black Live's Matter rally in 2020
Kathryn is the CEO of Nalderun
Introduction method was borrowed from the work of Mishel McMahon and Leroy Little Bear
Kathryn Coff is a committed community leader and she joins us to discuss race, privilege and power, which are themes that she lives with and grapples with every day of her life. She shares a beautiful way of getting to know people that opens us up so much more than 'and what do you do?'
Links:
Kathryn's speech at the Black Live's Matter rally in 2020
Kathryn is the CEO of Nalderun
Introduction method was borrowed from the work of Mishel McMahon and Leroy Little Bear
Today’s episode is a series of interviews collected in Mildura at the local eco village. We had heard they were having a working bee and thought we might get a sense of the site and what goes on there. Interestingly the site is managed by council, so I wasn’t sure how community driven it was. However, as you will hear, every person there that day was volunteering their time to help out, and also involved in other local action groups.
Links:
Organisations and groups mentioned with no links available:
Today’s episode is a series of interviews collected in Mildura at the local eco village. We had heard they were having a working bee and thought we might get a sense of the site and what goes on there. Interestingly the site is managed by council, so I wasn’t sure how community driven it was. However, as you will hear, every person there that day was volunteering their time to help out, and also involved in other local action groups.
Links:
Organisations and groups mentioned with no links available:
This episode was recorded and first released in May 2020.
This is an updated version with a new intro. The interview remains exactly the same.
In this episode we speak with a family of activists and we take a closer look at what is going on with the Adani Coal mine. A hotly contested mine that is still in construction in Queensland.
Long term residents of Castlemaine Ben and Jacinta have spent a lifetime living with the earth in mind, from building a sustainable house to participating in protests and activism.
Ben travelled on the Adani convoy a couple of years ago, as lead by renowned greens leader and activist, Bob Brown. Ben is a visual artist and is known locally as something of an agitator, often providing cheeky and provocative takes on the current political issues.
Jacinta has studied a masters in social ecology, trained in facilitation and participated in the transition towns movement.
At the time of recording Rilka, their daughter, was heavily involved in the activist groups trying to disrupt the Adani coal mine from going ahead.
The reason I have chosen this one to replay right now is that Jacinta has, in the last week, moved from being the proud parent of an activist to taking action herself.
LINKS:
The Traditional Owners in the Galillee Basin where the Adani mine is happening and what they have been doing to stop the mine.
Protest groups mentioned in the show:
This episode was recorded and first released in May 2020.
This is an updated version with a new intro. The interview remains exactly the same.
In this episode we speak with a family of activists and we take a closer look at what is going on with the Adani Coal mine. A hotly contested mine that is still in construction in Queensland.
Long term residents of Castlemaine Ben and Jacinta have spent a lifetime living with the earth in mind, from building a sustainable house to participating in protests and activism.
Ben travelled on the Adani convoy a couple of years ago, as lead by renowned greens leader and activist, Bob Brown. Ben is a visual artist and is known locally as something of an agitator, often providing cheeky and provocative takes on the current political issues.
Jacinta has studied a masters in social ecology, trained in facilitation and participated in the transition towns movement.
At the time of recording Rilka, their daughter, was heavily involved in the activist groups trying to disrupt the Adani coal mine from going ahead.
The reason I have chosen this one to replay right now is that Jacinta has, in the last week, moved from being the proud parent of an activist to taking action herself.
LINKS:
The Traditional Owners in the Galillee Basin where the Adani mine is happening and what they have been doing to stop the mine.
Protest groups mentioned in the show:
The climate related news media has been saturated over the last few weeks in reactions, reflections and commentary about COP26.
For a show about grassroots climate action it has been hard to know what to say about it all.
Enter Cam Walker, who you might remember from a past episode about Friends of the Earth, he has just released an article with reflections about COP26 and what it means for Australia.
So I popped over to his place to have a chat about what the hell it's all about.
Links:
The climate related news media has been saturated over the last few weeks in reactions, reflections and commentary about COP26.
For a show about grassroots climate action it has been hard to know what to say about it all.
Enter Cam Walker, who you might remember from a past episode about Friends of the Earth, he has just released an article with reflections about COP26 and what it means for Australia.
So I popped over to his place to have a chat about what the hell it's all about.
Links:
Following on from our last episode with Rob Law we head up to Mildura, over 400km to the north of Castlemaine.
My interest in Mildura has been growing lately. It is a regional city sitting right on the mighty Murray River, and at the heart of a region called the Mallee.
I have been up to Mildura twice this year and have collected interviews each time.
Why Mildura?
According to climate projections my town may have a climate more like Mildura’s within decades.
I’d also heard about the huge solar farms going in up there and was curious about these developments.
This interview was conducted in March 2021, with Mildura’s mayor, Jason Modica and councillor for environment and sustainability Jodi Reynolds. We talk about the environmental and social issues specific to the region, with water and solar power obviously up the top of the list.
Find links and more at saltgrasspodcast.com
Following on from our last episode with Rob Law we head up to Mildura, over 400km to the north of Castlemaine.
My interest in Mildura has been growing lately. It is a regional city sitting right on the mighty Murray River, and at the heart of a region called the Mallee.
I have been up to Mildura twice this year and have collected interviews each time.
Why Mildura?
According to climate projections my town may have a climate more like Mildura’s within decades.
I’d also heard about the huge solar farms going in up there and was curious about these developments.
This interview was conducted in March 2021, with Mildura’s mayor, Jason Modica and councillor for environment and sustainability Jodi Reynolds. We talk about the environmental and social issues specific to the region, with water and solar power obviously up the top of the list.
Find links and more at saltgrasspodcast.com
Rob Law, Executive Officer of the CVGA – or the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance – joins us to talk about alliances and collaborations between local councils, its not as boring as it sounds, I promise.
After years of careful and persistent efforts the CVGA has been instrumental in helping numerous councils in Victoria come together and commit to 10 years worth of renewable energy AND install electric vehicle charging stations to connect small towns to the ever increasing cohort of EV drivers.
Find out more at saltgrasspodcast.com
Rob Law, Executive Officer of the CVGA – or the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance – joins us to talk about alliances and collaborations between local councils, its not as boring as it sounds, I promise.
After years of careful and persistent efforts the CVGA has been instrumental in helping numerous councils in Victoria come together and commit to 10 years worth of renewable energy AND install electric vehicle charging stations to connect small towns to the ever increasing cohort of EV drivers.
Find out more at saltgrasspodcast.com
'Don't treat your soil like dirt' is a motto today's guest Dr Jess Drake lives by. Soil scientist and science educator Jess tells us how soil plays a vital part in healthy ecosystems, carbon sequestration and life itself.
'Don't treat your soil like dirt' is a motto today's guest Dr Jess Drake lives by. Soil scientist and science educator Jess tells us how soil plays a vital part in healthy ecosystems, carbon sequestration and life itself.
Recorded at a live, online book launch of Trace Balla’s latest creation Cycling Together.
Trace is a multi award winning author, illustrator and creates the most beautiful graphic novellas, including Rivertime, Rockhopping and the Thank you Dish.
This is a beautiful book with a very important message. Trace has created this book to support the work her brother Mark Balla is doing in India to help girls stay in school with his charity Operation Toilets. We are joined today by both Trace and Mark. We are also joined by Jane Bennett, menstrual educator and agent of cultural change around how women and girls think and feel about their monthly cycle.
The event happened on Sat 18th September 2021.
LINKS:
How to get the book: https://traceballa.com/cyclingtogether
Trace Balla website: https://traceballa.com
Mark Balla:
TED talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3xr13xFfto
Toilet Warrior: https://www.toiletwarrior.net/
Operation Toilets: https://www.operationtoilets.org.au/
Jane Bennett:
Chalice Foundation: https://chalicefoundation.org/
Celebration Day For Girls: https://celebrationdayforgirls.com/
Topics we’ve discussed:
Drawdown – educating girls: https://drawdown.org/solutions/health-and-education
United Nations goals: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
Recorded at a live, online book launch of Trace Balla’s latest creation Cycling Together.
Trace is a multi award winning author, illustrator and creates the most beautiful graphic novellas, including Rivertime, Rockhopping and the Thank you Dish.
This is a beautiful book with a very important message. Trace has created this book to support the work her brother Mark Balla is doing in India to help girls stay in school with his charity Operation Toilets. We are joined today by both Trace and Mark. We are also joined by Jane Bennett, menstrual educator and agent of cultural change around how women and girls think and feel about their monthly cycle.
The event happened on Sat 18th September 2021.
LINKS:
How to get the book: https://traceballa.com/cyclingtogether
Trace Balla website: https://traceballa.com
Mark Balla:
TED talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3xr13xFfto
Toilet Warrior: https://www.toiletwarrior.net/
Operation Toilets: https://www.operationtoilets.org.au/
Jane Bennett:
Chalice Foundation: https://chalicefoundation.org/
Celebration Day For Girls: https://celebrationdayforgirls.com/
Topics we’ve discussed:
Drawdown – educating girls: https://drawdown.org/solutions/health-and-education
United Nations goals: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
Recorded at a recent town meeting this episode shares the Q&A session that followed the presentation by Deane Belfield of MASG This is our second episode looking at the contentious bioenergy plant proposed for Castlemaine. (hear the presentation in our last episode)
For many who are worried about climate change this kind of renewable energy project seems like a great idea, but those living at its doorstep have some serious reservations.
Find out more about the proposed project at bioenergy.net.au
Recorded at a recent town meeting this episode shares the Q&A session that followed the presentation by Deane Belfield of MASG This is our second episode looking at the contentious bioenergy plant proposed for Castlemaine. (hear the presentation in our last episode)
For many who are worried about climate change this kind of renewable energy project seems like a great idea, but those living at its doorstep have some serious reservations.
Find out more about the proposed project at bioenergy.net.au
This episode is the first of two that looks at a contentious issue in Castlemaine at the moment, the proposed bioenergy plant. For many who are worried about climate change this kind of renewable energy project seems like a great idea, but those living at its doorstep have some serious reservations.
Allie starts the episode by providing a bit of context and then we hear a presentation given by Deane Belfield at a town meeting. Deane explains as much as he can about the proposed bioenergy facility.
Next week we will hear the Q&A session that happened after Deane's presentation and also hear from people as they left the hall to see what they thought about it all.
Find out more about the proposed project at bioenergy.net.au
This episode is the first of two that looks at a contentious issue in Castlemaine at the moment, the proposed bioenergy plant. For many who are worried about climate change this kind of renewable energy project seems like a great idea, but those living at its doorstep have some serious reservations.
Allie starts the episode by providing a bit of context and then we hear a presentation given by Deane Belfield at a town meeting. Deane explains as much as he can about the proposed bioenergy facility.
Next week we will hear the Q&A session that happened after Deane's presentation and also hear from people as they left the hall to see what they thought about it all.
Find out more about the proposed project at bioenergy.net.au
This episode looks at the implications for human health as the climate changes.
Vanora Mulvenna joins us from the DHHS (the Victorian State government's Department of Health and Human Services) to discuss how our state government is already planning for the possible health impacts of climate change.
Before the interview Allie takes some time to reflect on the latest IPCC report and celebrates Saltgrass being a finalist in the Jackson Wild Awards. Fellow finalists are The Hopecast, by Jane Goodall and a National geographic project called The Guardians of the River.
This episode looks at the implications for human health as the climate changes.
Vanora Mulvenna joins us from the DHHS (the Victorian State government's Department of Health and Human Services) to discuss how our state government is already planning for the possible health impacts of climate change.
Before the interview Allie takes some time to reflect on the latest IPCC report and celebrates Saltgrass being a finalist in the Jackson Wild Awards. Fellow finalists are The Hopecast, by Jane Goodall and a National geographic project called The Guardians of the River.
What is saltgrass? This show was named after a real plant and we wanted to know more about it... but it actually isn't very well known. In this episode we chat with Karl Just, local ecologist, who is one of the few people we were able to find who knows about the plant. We discuss its properties, both biological and metaphorical.
We also discuss a rare species he has been involved in monitoring and protecting for some time now, the Eltham Copper Butterfly, as mention in our episode Caring for Country
What is saltgrass? This show was named after a real plant and we wanted to know more about it... but it actually isn't very well known. In this episode we chat with Karl Just, local ecologist, who is one of the few people we were able to find who knows about the plant. We discuss its properties, both biological and metaphorical.
We also discuss a rare species he has been involved in monitoring and protecting for some time now, the Eltham Copper Butterfly, as mention in our episode Caring for Country
The final episode for Season 3 has a plethora of voices all asking for the same thing: fund our future, not gas.
The Australian School Strike for Climate crew have struck again. Just before our state was locked down due to another covid outbreak thousands of students walked out of school and gathered in major cities and country towns. Allie went to the train station early in the morning to chat with some of those travelling into Melbourne for the strike and also recorded the support rally that happened in Castlemaine later that day.
For links and more information click here
The final episode for Season 3 has a plethora of voices all asking for the same thing: fund our future, not gas.
The Australian School Strike for Climate crew have struck again. Just before our state was locked down due to another covid outbreak thousands of students walked out of school and gathered in major cities and country towns. Allie went to the train station early in the morning to chat with some of those travelling into Melbourne for the strike and also recorded the support rally that happened in Castlemaine later that day.
For links and more information click here
Alex Kelly interviews Scott Ludlam about his new book 'Full Circle - a search for the world that comes next'
For full episode details and links click here
Alex Kelly interviews Scott Ludlam about his new book 'Full Circle - a search for the world that comes next'
For full episode details and links click here
Hear Here is a sound art project that featured in the recent Castlemaine State Festival. In this episode we speak with the two artists who created Hear Here - Dan Koop and Daniele Constance.
Read full episode notes and find links to things discussed here.
Hear Here is a sound art project that featured in the recent Castlemaine State Festival. In this episode we speak with the two artists who created Hear Here - Dan Koop and Daniele Constance.
Read full episode notes and find links to things discussed here.
This episode continues on the theme of bread! We hear from bakers from across Australia who have joined the GrAiNZ movement, a loose collection of sourdough bakers who want to create a new, more sustainable grains economy.
See full episode description at saltgrasspodcast.com
This episode continues on the theme of bread! We hear from bakers from across Australia who have joined the GrAiNZ movement, a loose collection of sourdough bakers who want to create a new, more sustainable grains economy.
See full episode description at saltgrasspodcast.com
This episode takes a look at a local bakery and how it can be an example of everything we want to achieve in terms of community building, supporting local food systems and taking care of the planet.
Find out more at https://saltgrasspodcast.com/2021/04/06/s3-e19-redbeard-bakery-with-john-reid/
This episode takes a look at a local bakery and how it can be an example of everything we want to achieve in terms of community building, supporting local food systems and taking care of the planet.
Find out more at https://saltgrasspodcast.com/2021/04/06/s3-e19-redbeard-bakery-with-john-reid/
Jessie Boylan is a PhD candidate at RMIT's School of Art. She has work in the upcoming Castlemaine State Festival called The Smallest Measure. Her thesis and upcoming art instillation has taken her out to the wilds of a remote outpost at the edge of Tasmania... to a place called Cape Grim where there is a science lab that tests the air coming in off the ocean there. Without land or human habitation for hundreds of kilometres, the air blowing in off the ocean to cape grim is considered the best air in the world to get base measurements of our atmosphere, including carbon and other green house gasses. This data is vital in our understanding of global warming. How does an artist depict the science of climate change? Listen to this episode to find out.
See Saltgrasspodcast.com for more information.
Jessie Boylan is a PhD candidate at RMIT's School of Art. She has work in the upcoming Castlemaine State Festival called The Smallest Measure. Her thesis and upcoming art instillation has taken her out to the wilds of a remote outpost at the edge of Tasmania... to a place called Cape Grim where there is a science lab that tests the air coming in off the ocean there. Without land or human habitation for hundreds of kilometres, the air blowing in off the ocean to cape grim is considered the best air in the world to get base measurements of our atmosphere, including carbon and other green house gasses. This data is vital in our understanding of global warming. How does an artist depict the science of climate change? Listen to this episode to find out.
See Saltgrasspodcast.com for more information.
In this episode we re-visit Chris Hooper, who has been running the Castlemaine Repair Cafe for over four years. We also chat with Lucy Armstrong about the joy and meaning of repairing clothes.
https://saltgrasspodcast.com/2021/03/02/s3-e17-repair-with-chris-hooper-and-lucy-armstrong/
In this episode we re-visit Chris Hooper, who has been running the Castlemaine Repair Cafe for over four years. We also chat with Lucy Armstrong about the joy and meaning of repairing clothes.
https://saltgrasspodcast.com/2021/03/02/s3-e17-repair-with-chris-hooper-and-lucy-armstrong/
In this episode we explore the alternative economic concept of Degrowth with Anitra Nelson and Terry Leahy. It is a growing movement across the world and has at it's heart sustainability and ways we can live in balance with the planet.
Find out more and see the links and resources at saltgrasspodcast.com
In this episode we explore the alternative economic concept of Degrowth with Anitra Nelson and Terry Leahy. It is a growing movement across the world and has at it's heart sustainability and ways we can live in balance with the planet.
Find out more and see the links and resources at saltgrasspodcast.com
In today’s episode we are talking with Anton Vikstrom co-founder of the Good Car Company. These guys are helping the electric car (or EV) transition happen in Australia by facilitating bulk buy purchases of second hand vehicles from Japan. Find out why getting a second hand EV makes good sense for the environment and for you!
Read full episode description at saltgrasspodcast.com
In today’s episode we are talking with Anton Vikstrom co-founder of the Good Car Company. These guys are helping the electric car (or EV) transition happen in Australia by facilitating bulk buy purchases of second hand vehicles from Japan. Find out why getting a second hand EV makes good sense for the environment and for you!
Read full episode description at saltgrasspodcast.com
In today’s episode we hear from a couple of fellow sound producers who are making a podcast called Endgame. They too are exploring the journey this local community is undertaking towards a more sustainable future – with a focus on the transition to zero net emissions – or the local z-net movement. Kyla Brettle, Rob Law and I are all involved in that process, in various ways – which has been going on for over a year. It is wonderful to hear another approach to this topic, and Kyla and Rob artfully weave together lovely moments and insightful conversations to tell the story of this process.
In today’s episode we hear from a couple of fellow sound producers who are making a podcast called Endgame. They too are exploring the journey this local community is undertaking towards a more sustainable future – with a focus on the transition to zero net emissions – or the local z-net movement. Kyla Brettle, Rob Law and I are all involved in that process, in various ways – which has been going on for over a year. It is wonderful to hear another approach to this topic, and Kyla and Rob artfully weave together lovely moments and insightful conversations to tell the story of this process.
A quick little message from Allie for the New Year.
Some reflections on the year that has been and some thoughts and ideas for Saltgrass in 2021.
We've been going since this time last year and look forward to another year of sharing our community's climate journey with you. Stay tuned....
A quick little message from Allie for the New Year.
Some reflections on the year that has been and some thoughts and ideas for Saltgrass in 2021.
We've been going since this time last year and look forward to another year of sharing our community's climate journey with you. Stay tuned....
In this episode we hear from Warwick Smith, a Castlemaine Local, about his dual careers as an ecologist and an economist. (You might remember him from the Student Strike Episode earlier this season) He is fascinating to talk to, I think, because so often we are presented with the idea that these two things are in competition with each other. According to Warwick this does not have to be the case. Today we are exploring how Warwick came to be both an ecologist and an economist, we also delve into how the economy came to be the way it is now and how that relates to our way of living and our way of treating our environment, our planet.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links: The piece by Warwick has contributed to our local Zero Net Emissions Transition Movement about how our community could utilise alternative economics. The Price of Capitalism paper Warwaick did with GetUp! There are more publications and videos by Warwick linked through his LinkedIn profile. He is on Twitter as @RecoEco He is a founding member of The Castlemaine InstituteIn this episode we hear from Warwick Smith, a Castlemaine Local, about his dual careers as an ecologist and an economist. (You might remember him from the Student Strike Episode earlier this season) He is fascinating to talk to, I think, because so often we are presented with the idea that these two things are in competition with each other. According to Warwick this does not have to be the case. Today we are exploring how Warwick came to be both an ecologist and an economist, we also delve into how the economy came to be the way it is now and how that relates to our way of living and our way of treating our environment, our planet.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links: The piece by Warwick has contributed to our local Zero Net Emissions Transition Movement about how our community could utilise alternative economics. The Price of Capitalism paper Warwaick did with GetUp! There are more publications and videos by Warwick linked through his LinkedIn profile. He is on Twitter as @RecoEco He is a founding member of The Castlemaine Institute
If you find talking about climate change difficult, you are not alone! A complex and contentious topic that often makes people anxious and overwhelmed… of course it is hard to talk about. Yet that is exactly what we must do if we are going to make sure everyone is paying attention to this critical issue. In this episode we talk with Rebecca Huntley about her new book ‘How to Talk About Climate Change in a way that makes a difference’. We explore why talking about climate change can be so difficult and what we can do to navigate it.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
If you find talking about climate change difficult, you are not alone! A complex and contentious topic that often makes people anxious and overwhelmed… of course it is hard to talk about. Yet that is exactly what we must do if we are going to make sure everyone is paying attention to this critical issue. In this episode we talk with Rebecca Huntley about her new book ‘How to Talk About Climate Change in a way that makes a difference’. We explore why talking about climate change can be so difficult and what we can do to navigate it.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
In this episode I have two interviews for you. One with Gabe Lillington, the young man who was up the tree when the last show was recorded. He spent two nights and three days up in what is called the grandfather tree to successfully halt works until legal processes mandated a stop work reprise – until the 19th of November – which is this week. The other interview is with a woman who goes by the name of Spring Blossom. Both are Castlemaine residents and both have been visiting and living at the Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy camp on and off over the last few years. We discuss what the action a couple of weeks ago was like for them and what it means to them to be an indigenous ally in times like this.
Though we are discussing action happening on Djab Wurrung land, both of these interviews were recoded back on Jarra country. I would like to pay respects to elders past, present and emerging as the struggles of being a traditional custodian of these occupied lands has not gone away.
Photo used in this image is by Warepul.
In this episode I have two interviews for you. One with Gabe Lillington, the young man who was up the tree when the last show was recorded. He spent two nights and three days up in what is called the grandfather tree to successfully halt works until legal processes mandated a stop work reprise – until the 19th of November – which is this week. The other interview is with a woman who goes by the name of Spring Blossom. Both are Castlemaine residents and both have been visiting and living at the Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy camp on and off over the last few years. We discuss what the action a couple of weeks ago was like for them and what it means to them to be an indigenous ally in times like this.
Though we are discussing action happening on Djab Wurrung land, both of these interviews were recoded back on Jarra country. I would like to pay respects to elders past, present and emerging as the struggles of being a traditional custodian of these occupied lands has not gone away.
Photo used in this image is by Warepul.
This week we chat to the people who have been protesting the controversial Western Highway upgrade near Ararat. The Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy has been existing amongst the contested trees for three years and this week one of the significant trees was cut down and others were at great risk. Protesters scrambled into action – some scaled trees and tied themselves in and others supported from the ground and started legal processes. In this episode we speak with the leader of the protest movement Zellanach Djab Mara and others who have been involved in the protest.
This episode of Saltgrass was recorded on Djab Wurrung country and produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
The Djab Wurrung Facebook group
Go to this facebook group to join in on the benefit gig on the 7th of November.
News related to this weeks action:
Alternate perspective from Ruben Berg
Illustration for this episode by Trace Balla
This week we chat to the people who have been protesting the controversial Western Highway upgrade near Ararat. The Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy has been existing amongst the contested trees for three years and this week one of the significant trees was cut down and others were at great risk. Protesters scrambled into action – some scaled trees and tied themselves in and others supported from the ground and started legal processes. In this episode we speak with the leader of the protest movement Zellanach Djab Mara and others who have been involved in the protest.
This episode of Saltgrass was recorded on Djab Wurrung country and produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
The Djab Wurrung Facebook group
Go to this facebook group to join in on the benefit gig on the 7th of November.
News related to this weeks action:
Alternate perspective from Ruben Berg
Illustration for this episode by Trace Balla
In this episode we chat with Jo Kaptein, manager of MASH (More Australian Solar Homes) They are a not for profit project that is organising bulks buys of solar panels right through central and northern Victoria. We discuss why rooftop solar is so important, the history of the project and what gets in the way of people getting solar on their roof.
Links:
CVGA - MASH's parent organisation
The HUB Foundation - MASH's initiators
In this episode we chat with Jo Kaptein, manager of MASH (More Australian Solar Homes) They are a not for profit project that is organising bulks buys of solar panels right through central and northern Victoria. We discuss why rooftop solar is so important, the history of the project and what gets in the way of people getting solar on their roof.
Links:
CVGA - MASH's parent organisation
The HUB Foundation - MASH's initiators
Today we chat with Madeline Hudson about waste free cooking. She is about to run a zero waste cooking course through the Castlemaine Community House and has been running the community lunch for four years. Those locals to Castlemaine may have seen her performing as Lilly Pilly Green in the Zucchini Clan… But people may not know that she comes from a background of frontline direct action and forest blockades. Madz talks about it all today, with a few songs thrown in for fun!
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
Madz spent her 20s protesting deforestation in Gippsland with a group called Geco
She then moved on to work with Friends of the Earth Melbourne with ACE and did a radio show called Radio Active at 3CR
The music in this episode is all by the Zucchini Clan
We played the songs 'seasons' and 'water'.
Today we chat with Madeline Hudson about waste free cooking. She is about to run a zero waste cooking course through the Castlemaine Community House and has been running the community lunch for four years. Those locals to Castlemaine may have seen her performing as Lilly Pilly Green in the Zucchini Clan… But people may not know that she comes from a background of frontline direct action and forest blockades. Madz talks about it all today, with a few songs thrown in for fun!
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
Madz spent her 20s protesting deforestation in Gippsland with a group called Geco
She then moved on to work with Friends of the Earth Melbourne with ACE and did a radio show called Radio Active at 3CR
The music in this episode is all by the Zucchini Clan
We played the songs 'seasons' and 'water'.
Today's episode is all about the proposed gas lead recovery for Australia and what our young people are doing to try and stop it.
Firstly we will hear from Warwick Smith, an ecologist and economist, who lays out exactly why the gas lead recovery is a nonsense.
Then we have two young people who have been involved in the school strike for climate movement. They have created an event for Castlemaine that is in coordination with actions across Australia to protest the gas lead recovery. I talk to them about activism, and how the school strike movement has changed their lives.
Then we throw back to an interview I did last season with Cam Walker. He works at environmental organisation Friends of the Earth and I thought what he said in that interview back in May is pertinent right now, on this issue.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links and resources:
The Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC)
References made in Student Striker interview:
Cohen spoke about being involved in the local Z-net effort which Saltgrass covered in Season 2 Episode 21.
If you want to get active and contact your Australian government representatives here are some starting points:
Current Australian Ministry List
If you want to focus on the Labour party
This is the Labour members of parliament
Cam Walker works at Friends of the Earth (FoE)
This link is if you wand to listen to the whole episode with Cam.
Today's episode is all about the proposed gas lead recovery for Australia and what our young people are doing to try and stop it.
Firstly we will hear from Warwick Smith, an ecologist and economist, who lays out exactly why the gas lead recovery is a nonsense.
Then we have two young people who have been involved in the school strike for climate movement. They have created an event for Castlemaine that is in coordination with actions across Australia to protest the gas lead recovery. I talk to them about activism, and how the school strike movement has changed their lives.
Then we throw back to an interview I did last season with Cam Walker. He works at environmental organisation Friends of the Earth and I thought what he said in that interview back in May is pertinent right now, on this issue.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links and resources:
The Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC)
References made in Student Striker interview:
Cohen spoke about being involved in the local Z-net effort which Saltgrass covered in Season 2 Episode 21.
If you want to get active and contact your Australian government representatives here are some starting points:
Current Australian Ministry List
If you want to focus on the Labour party
This is the Labour members of parliament
Cam Walker works at Friends of the Earth (FoE)
This link is if you wand to listen to the whole episode with Cam.
In this episode we speak with Natalie Moxham, a Castlemaine resident of over 10 years. She was a driving force in the Castlemaine Commons you tube series, which was created recently to look at how our community was managing the various factors playing out in this time of pandemic.
She has traveled the world and worked in many vulnerable communities, helping people create change… which is what we all know is needed, but can be so hard to make happen. She calls herself a change maker and movement builder, listen to find out what she has to say about how communities can change.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
Natalie's website: Leanganook Yarn
Check out the You Tube series Castlemaine Commons
Mentions in the show:
Find out more about the Mabo case here
Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth
I couldn't find the exact you tube clip we discussed but George Monbiot is a great thinker and worth checking out.
In this episode we speak with Natalie Moxham, a Castlemaine resident of over 10 years. She was a driving force in the Castlemaine Commons you tube series, which was created recently to look at how our community was managing the various factors playing out in this time of pandemic.
She has traveled the world and worked in many vulnerable communities, helping people create change… which is what we all know is needed, but can be so hard to make happen. She calls herself a change maker and movement builder, listen to find out what she has to say about how communities can change.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
Natalie's website: Leanganook Yarn
Check out the You Tube series Castlemaine Commons
Mentions in the show:
Find out more about the Mabo case here
Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth
I couldn't find the exact you tube clip we discussed but George Monbiot is a great thinker and worth checking out.
In this episode I speak with two Dja Dja Wurrung men about what they are doing to connect people to country and in doing that help protect it.
Harley Douglas is project manager on a project called Walking Together. It is a four year project looking at two sites. They are doing surveys of the flora and fauna in the parks, introducing cultural learning points and also asking for community input about these two parks.
Uncle Rick Nelson has been taking high school boys out bush to connect to them and strengthen community and also strengthen their understanding of this place and the culture that connects them to it.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
Some information about the Walking Together project:
Dja Dja Wurrung clans aboriginal corporation
About the Eltham Copper Butterfly
https://connectingcountry.org.au/education-resources/eltham-copper-butterfly-in-central-victoria/
About the Pink Tailed Worm Lizard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink-tailed_worm-lizard
Bendigo District Aboriginal Co-operative
Uncle Rick and the first coronavirus rap
Uncle Rick and the most recent corona virus rap
The episode mentioned with Aunty Julie McHale from earlier this season
The first episode of the Dja Dja Wurrung Radio series I did with Uncle Rick in 2016... the rest of the episodes follow on from this one. There are seven episodes.
In this episode I speak with two Dja Dja Wurrung men about what they are doing to connect people to country and in doing that help protect it.
Harley Douglas is project manager on a project called Walking Together. It is a four year project looking at two sites. They are doing surveys of the flora and fauna in the parks, introducing cultural learning points and also asking for community input about these two parks.
Uncle Rick Nelson has been taking high school boys out bush to connect to them and strengthen community and also strengthen their understanding of this place and the culture that connects them to it.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
Some information about the Walking Together project:
Dja Dja Wurrung clans aboriginal corporation
About the Eltham Copper Butterfly
https://connectingcountry.org.au/education-resources/eltham-copper-butterfly-in-central-victoria/
About the Pink Tailed Worm Lizard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink-tailed_worm-lizard
Bendigo District Aboriginal Co-operative
Uncle Rick and the first coronavirus rap
Uncle Rick and the most recent corona virus rap
The episode mentioned with Aunty Julie McHale from earlier this season
The first episode of the Dja Dja Wurrung Radio series I did with Uncle Rick in 2016... the rest of the episodes follow on from this one. There are seven episodes.
In this episode I am speaking with Ilka White, an artist and textiles worker who has been investigating ways to make wearing clothing more sustainable. We talk about fast fashion and its antidote - the fibreshed movement - and everything in between. Basically, what considerations come into play when you want to choose clothing ethically.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Resources and links:
Ilka White's homepage for her art, classes and textiles projects
Fibreshed movement's home in California
Look for a Fibreshed group near you, they are all over the world!
Have a listen to a previous episode about conscious clothing with Wonderpants maker Kathryn McAllister and textiles up-cycler Linnet Good.
Hear Ilka talk about her art practice in this episode about art and sustainability.
In this episode I am speaking with Ilka White, an artist and textiles worker who has been investigating ways to make wearing clothing more sustainable. We talk about fast fashion and its antidote - the fibreshed movement - and everything in between. Basically, what considerations come into play when you want to choose clothing ethically.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Resources and links:
Ilka White's homepage for her art, classes and textiles projects
Fibreshed movement's home in California
Look for a Fibreshed group near you, they are all over the world!
Have a listen to a previous episode about conscious clothing with Wonderpants maker Kathryn McAllister and textiles up-cycler Linnet Good.
Hear Ilka talk about her art practice in this episode about art and sustainability.
In this episode we are talking about masks, refugees and permaculture…. How are those things related? Well, in several ways it turns out.
We have three guests: Ginny Thomas has been working with refugee and immigrant women through an organisation called Sisterworks and they have been making washable, re-usable, cloth masks. Virginia Solomon has also been making masks, but this time as a fundraiser for Permaculture Australia, she talks to us about masks, waste and permaculture. Then finally Ian Lillington has been a leader in and educator of permaculture here in Central Victoria for over a decade and he talks to us about how the permaculture movement has had an impact in our region and also finds ways that masks and mask wearing in times of pandemic are related to the principles of permaculture.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Resources and Links:
Masks as pollution:
Some notes on masks and coronavirus:
Some videos about mask wearing from the World Health Organisation
"A dual-layered cloth mask is sufficient to protect people in public settings. It’s unlikely you’ll be infected in public by airborne viral particles. The real threat is touching an infected surface and then putting your hand to your face: Frequent hand-washing is a sure way to avoid COVID-19." Source
Research into the best fabrics to make masks out of
The three C’s Ian spoke of in terms of situations that put you most at risk.
The Department of Health and Human Services’s (DHHS) advice on wearing masks
The DHHS’s mask design
From Ginny's interview:
Two refugee assistance orgs Ginny volunteered with before working at Sisterworks:
From Virginia's interview:
Permaculture's Guiding Principles
Virginia’s website with masks for sale
In this episode we are talking about masks, refugees and permaculture…. How are those things related? Well, in several ways it turns out.
We have three guests: Ginny Thomas has been working with refugee and immigrant women through an organisation called Sisterworks and they have been making washable, re-usable, cloth masks. Virginia Solomon has also been making masks, but this time as a fundraiser for Permaculture Australia, she talks to us about masks, waste and permaculture. Then finally Ian Lillington has been a leader in and educator of permaculture here in Central Victoria for over a decade and he talks to us about how the permaculture movement has had an impact in our region and also finds ways that masks and mask wearing in times of pandemic are related to the principles of permaculture.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Resources and Links:
Masks as pollution:
Some notes on masks and coronavirus:
Some videos about mask wearing from the World Health Organisation
"A dual-layered cloth mask is sufficient to protect people in public settings. It’s unlikely you’ll be infected in public by airborne viral particles. The real threat is touching an infected surface and then putting your hand to your face: Frequent hand-washing is a sure way to avoid COVID-19." Source
Research into the best fabrics to make masks out of
The three C’s Ian spoke of in terms of situations that put you most at risk.
The Department of Health and Human Services’s (DHHS) advice on wearing masks
The DHHS’s mask design
From Ginny's interview:
Two refugee assistance orgs Ginny volunteered with before working at Sisterworks:
From Virginia's interview:
Permaculture's Guiding Principles
Virginia’s website with masks for sale
In this episode we explore e-bikes. What are they? What are they like to ride? What are some of the drawbacks? And why you should give them a go before you buy one. Allie chats with Sue Tomkinson, who has toured the would on bike and has transitioned to e-bikes in the last few years. She has run classes on e-bikes to help people understand all of the above. We also hear from Lucy Young and Euan Williamson who are e-bike users, about their experience.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
Sue's website for Victorian trails:
Some points on the environmental impact of e-bikes
Note: As long as you recycle the battery at the end of it’s life, it is one of the cleanest, least damaging ways to move around.
In this episode we explore e-bikes. What are they? What are they like to ride? What are some of the drawbacks? And why you should give them a go before you buy one. Allie chats with Sue Tomkinson, who has toured the would on bike and has transitioned to e-bikes in the last few years. She has run classes on e-bikes to help people understand all of the above. We also hear from Lucy Young and Euan Williamson who are e-bike users, about their experience.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
Sue's website for Victorian trails:
Some points on the environmental impact of e-bikes
Note: As long as you recycle the battery at the end of it’s life, it is one of the cleanest, least damaging ways to move around.
The is the first episode of season 3 of Saltgrass: Turning the Goldfields Green.
In this episode Allie speaks with local aboriginal Elder Aunty Julie McHale. They discuss her life and what it is about an aboriginal perspective that changes everything about how you treat the environment. A fundamental shift in perspective that may be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Links:
Castlemaine's aboriginal cultural centre, Nalderun:
Murnong Mummas catering service
https://nalderun.net.au/murnong-mammas-2/
Milpirri - Winds of Change, as mentioned by Aunty Julie
The is the first episode of season 3 of Saltgrass: Turning the Goldfields Green.
In this episode Allie speaks with local aboriginal Elder Aunty Julie McHale. They discuss her life and what it is about an aboriginal perspective that changes everything about how you treat the environment. A fundamental shift in perspective that may be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Links:
Castlemaine's aboriginal cultural centre, Nalderun:
Murnong Mummas catering service
https://nalderun.net.au/murnong-mammas-2/
Milpirri - Winds of Change, as mentioned by Aunty Julie
This episode is a collection of interviews with Uncle Rick and Vic Say about the gold rush era and what was really happening with the Dja Dja Wurrung at that time. Stories of human connection and mutual respect and help shine a different light on a time that has been characterised as one of greed and destruction on so many levels.
This is part 7 of a series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. It was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments in 2015 and 2016. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
This episode is a collection of interviews with Uncle Rick and Vic Say about the gold rush era and what was really happening with the Dja Dja Wurrung at that time. Stories of human connection and mutual respect and help shine a different light on a time that has been characterised as one of greed and destruction on so many levels.
This is part 7 of a series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. It was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments in 2015 and 2016. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
In this episode we have a collection of interviews with some local folk who each have a connection with the Dja Dja Wurrung. Alvan Briggs talks about didgeridoos, Sarah Moore talks about rapping and Lisa Musket talks about local plants and how to cook with them.
This is part 6 of a series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. It was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments in 2015 and 2016. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
In this episode we have a collection of interviews with some local folk who each have a connection with the Dja Dja Wurrung. Alvan Briggs talks about didgeridoos, Sarah Moore talks about rapping and Lisa Musket talks about local plants and how to cook with them.
This is part 6 of a series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. It was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments in 2015 and 2016. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
In this episode we have collated all of the episodes that involved Bill Davies, a local man who has taken an interest in researching and exploring the remnants of pre-colonial life here in Central Victoria. Topics include scar trees, trade routes, oven mounds, quartz scatter and water wells.
This is part 5 of a series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. It was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments in 2015 and 2016. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
In this episode we have collated all of the episodes that involved Bill Davies, a local man who has taken an interest in researching and exploring the remnants of pre-colonial life here in Central Victoria. Topics include scar trees, trade routes, oven mounds, quartz scatter and water wells.
This is part 5 of a series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. It was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments in 2015 and 2016. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
This episode of Dja Dja Wurrung Radio is a compilation of three episodes. The first is an interview with Historian Marguritte Stephens, discussing historical records that reveal tiny glimpses of what life was like as Central Victoria was being colonised. Then Uncle Rick and Allie discuss Sorry Day and what it means. Finally a recording of Aunty Julie McHale's speech at International Women's Day with reflection on Reconciliation and what women's business involves.
This is part 4 of a series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. It was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments in 2015 and 2016. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
This episode of Dja Dja Wurrung Radio is a compilation of three episodes. The first is an interview with Historian Marguritte Stephens, discussing historical records that reveal tiny glimpses of what life was like as Central Victoria was being colonised. Then Uncle Rick and Allie discuss Sorry Day and what it means. Finally a recording of Aunty Julie McHale's speech at International Women's Day with reflection on Reconciliation and what women's business involves.
This is part 4 of a series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. It was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments in 2015 and 2016. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
This is part 3 of a 2015 series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio featuring musical artists who performed in the stage show 'Ulumbarra'. The show was a soulful, uplifting and educational look at the history of the Dja Dja Wurrung.
This is part 3 of a 2015 series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. This series was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
This is part 3 of a 2015 series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio featuring musical artists who performed in the stage show 'Ulumbarra'. The show was a soulful, uplifting and educational look at the history of the Dja Dja Wurrung.
This is part 3 of a 2015 series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. This series was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
This episode is a collection of three interviews featuring children from the Meeting Place.
This is part 2 of a 2015 series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. This series was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
This episode is a collection of three interviews featuring children from the Meeting Place.
This is part 2 of a 2015 series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. This series was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
This episode is a collection of four interviews that are about Uncle Rick and his activities as elder and Dja Dja Wurrung representative.
This is part 1 of a 2015 series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. This series was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
This episode is a collection of four interviews that are about Uncle Rick and his activities as elder and Dja Dja Wurrung representative.
This is part 1 of a 2015 series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. This series was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.
The series was shortlisted for the 2016 Reconciliation Victoria Community Hart Awards.
In this episode we explore the emerging practice of regenerative agriculture, perhaps one of the best ways to drawdown carbon out of our atmosphere and help reduce the impacts of climate change.
Under the leadership of Deane Belfield, the Mount Alexander Regenerative Agriculture Group has been running a program for local farmers to learn about the techniques involved in regenerative agriculture and help them implement them and test them.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Related links:
More about the Mount Alexander Regenerative Agriculture Group:
As mentioned by Deane regarding the degradation of Australian soils after white colonisation:
Bruce Pasco Ted Talk about his book Dark Emu
Bill Gammage on his book The Great Estate
A book on regenerative agriculture mentioned by Deane:
Call of the Reed Warbler by Charles Massy
Some regenerative agriculture organisations:
9 Principles of Regenerative Agriculture
On regenerative agriculture and climate change
In this episode we explore the emerging practice of regenerative agriculture, perhaps one of the best ways to drawdown carbon out of our atmosphere and help reduce the impacts of climate change.
Under the leadership of Deane Belfield, the Mount Alexander Regenerative Agriculture Group has been running a program for local farmers to learn about the techniques involved in regenerative agriculture and help them implement them and test them.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Related links:
More about the Mount Alexander Regenerative Agriculture Group:
As mentioned by Deane regarding the degradation of Australian soils after white colonisation:
Bruce Pasco Ted Talk about his book Dark Emu
Bill Gammage on his book The Great Estate
A book on regenerative agriculture mentioned by Deane:
Call of the Reed Warbler by Charles Massy
Some regenerative agriculture organisations:
9 Principles of Regenerative Agriculture
On regenerative agriculture and climate change
In this episode we speak with several clothing creators about how they do it ethically and with the planet in mind. Ellen Doyle joins regular host Alison Hanly to discuss issues around fast fashion and the textiles industries. We also have interviews with Linnet Good talks about upcycling, that is, how she makes beautiful clothing out of second hand fabric, table cloths and sheets and Kathryn McAllister tells us about her brand of ethical undies, called Wonderpants.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
Fast Fashion:
https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environmental-impacts
Importance of organics:
https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/mount-alexander-fruit-garden/
Ethical Undies with Kathryn McAllister: www.wonderpants.com.au
Upcycling:
Linnet’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheCraftorialist/
Google search upcycling and you’ll get a lot of Pintrest hits.
Facebook groups that can support you in your endeavours:
There are several more like these as well.
You tubers:
In this episode we speak with several clothing creators about how they do it ethically and with the planet in mind. Ellen Doyle joins regular host Alison Hanly to discuss issues around fast fashion and the textiles industries. We also have interviews with Linnet Good talks about upcycling, that is, how she makes beautiful clothing out of second hand fabric, table cloths and sheets and Kathryn McAllister tells us about her brand of ethical undies, called Wonderpants.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Links:
Fast Fashion:
https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environmental-impacts
Importance of organics:
https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/mount-alexander-fruit-garden/
Ethical Undies with Kathryn McAllister: www.wonderpants.com.au
Upcycling:
Linnet’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheCraftorialist/
Google search upcycling and you’ll get a lot of Pintrest hits.
Facebook groups that can support you in your endeavours:
There are several more like these as well.
You tubers:
In this episode we joined by Amy Atkinson and Kerrily Jennings as we explore how Neighbourhood Houses can use their position in a community to help educate community members about sustainability and climate related topics. But more than that, how can organisations like this lead their communities in action around mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
LINKS
If you are in Victoria find your local neighbourhood house
Recycling
In this episode we joined by Amy Atkinson and Kerrily Jennings as we explore how Neighbourhood Houses can use their position in a community to help educate community members about sustainability and climate related topics. But more than that, how can organisations like this lead their communities in action around mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
LINKS
If you are in Victoria find your local neighbourhood house
Recycling
In this episode I speak with Taryn Lane (from Hepburn Wind and Hepburn Znet) and Terry White (from MASG) about a new plan to get us to zero net emissions in our little regional shire as quickly as possible. It is a huge collaborative effort with the Shire Council, MASG, Sustainability Vic, and many other groups.
Join us as we unpack what Z-NET even means and how it may be achieved in a community like ours.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
In this episode I speak with Taryn Lane (from Hepburn Wind and Hepburn Znet) and Terry White (from MASG) about a new plan to get us to zero net emissions in our little regional shire as quickly as possible. It is a huge collaborative effort with the Shire Council, MASG, Sustainability Vic, and many other groups.
Join us as we unpack what Z-NET even means and how it may be achieved in a community like ours.
Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.
In this episode I speak with Maikel Linke about the impact of our digital lives on the planet.
Maikel lives in Newstead, just 10 minutes out of Castlemaine. He runs a not for profit email service that makes your emailing as green as it can be. We talk about what the physical requirements of our digital world really are, what cost they have for the environment and what choices we, the consumers, have.
Then at the end of episode I explore how and why e-waste needs to be recycled.
Links:
Maikel's not for profit environmentally friendly email service:
https://www.ethicalmail.org.au/
Maikel also works for the Open Food Network, who help farmers and producers sell their produce online: https://about.openfoodnetwork.org.au/
A great info-graphic created to help explain what impact the internet has on the climate:
https://climatecare.org/infographic-the-carbon-footprint-of-the-internet/
An organisation that helps you research how to make your web presence green, and to check if the sites you are using are too: https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/
One of several apps that can help block ads while you are browsing: https://adblockplus.org/
This is the map of the world showing the underwater cables that make the internet possible: https://www.submarinecablemap.com/
A Greenpeace initiative with research on companies helping turn the internet carbon neutral:
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/global-warming/click-clean/
Recycling e-waste segment:
The article in The Conversation that was quotes in the episode:
Sustainability Vic is a great resource if you are in Victoria, follow this link and search for how e-waste is collected in your region.
https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/Campaigns/eWaste
https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/Campaigns/eWaste/How-is-ewaste-processed-and-reused
Also look up your local council website for more information on waste management and recycling in general.
In this episode I speak with Maikel Linke about the impact of our digital lives on the planet.
Maikel lives in Newstead, just 10 minutes out of Castlemaine. He runs a not for profit email service that makes your emailing as green as it can be. We talk about what the physical requirements of our digital world really are, what cost they have for the environment and what choices we, the consumers, have.
Then at the end of episode I explore how and why e-waste needs to be recycled.
Links:
Maikel's not for profit environmentally friendly email service:
https://www.ethicalmail.org.au/
Maikel also works for the Open Food Network, who help farmers and producers sell their produce online: https://about.openfoodnetwork.org.au/
A great info-graphic created to help explain what impact the internet has on the climate:
https://climatecare.org/infographic-the-carbon-footprint-of-the-internet/
An organisation that helps you research how to make your web presence green, and to check if the sites you are using are too: https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/
One of several apps that can help block ads while you are browsing: https://adblockplus.org/
This is the map of the world showing the underwater cables that make the internet possible: https://www.submarinecablemap.com/
A Greenpeace initiative with research on companies helping turn the internet carbon neutral:
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/global-warming/click-clean/
Recycling e-waste segment:
The article in The Conversation that was quotes in the episode:
Sustainability Vic is a great resource if you are in Victoria, follow this link and search for how e-waste is collected in your region.
https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/Campaigns/eWaste
https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/Campaigns/eWaste/How-is-ewaste-processed-and-reused
Also look up your local council website for more information on waste management and recycling in general.
In this episode we speak with Cam Walker who has been working at Friends of the Earth (FoE) for 30 years and has been an activist for even longer than that. If you want someone who really understands the push and pull, the nuance and dynamics of running a long term campaign for the environment Cam is your guy. Today I talk to him about Friends of the Earth, his life, what he sees as important in regional communities like central Victoria and what is the most important thing you can do today to help keep our government on track in this time of Covid 19 management and recovery.
Links:
To learn more about Friends of the Earth and their campaigns check out their websites:
If you want to hear more from Cam he has a blog called The Mountain Journal
If you are inspired to write to your local or federal politicians about the need to keep our post Covid 19 economic stimulus clean and green go to:
Find your local minister or a particular one such as the minister for energy or environment.
Book Review:
To borrow audio books and e-books from your local library you can use the app Borrow Box
Tim Flannery: The Weather Makers
In this episode we speak with Cam Walker who has been working at Friends of the Earth (FoE) for 30 years and has been an activist for even longer than that. If you want someone who really understands the push and pull, the nuance and dynamics of running a long term campaign for the environment Cam is your guy. Today I talk to him about Friends of the Earth, his life, what he sees as important in regional communities like central Victoria and what is the most important thing you can do today to help keep our government on track in this time of Covid 19 management and recovery.
Links:
To learn more about Friends of the Earth and their campaigns check out their websites:
If you want to hear more from Cam he has a blog called The Mountain Journal
If you are inspired to write to your local or federal politicians about the need to keep our post Covid 19 economic stimulus clean and green go to:
Find your local minister or a particular one such as the minister for energy or environment.
Book Review:
To borrow audio books and e-books from your local library you can use the app Borrow Box
Tim Flannery: The Weather Makers
In this episode I speak with Castlemaine local, Kerry Calcraft, who spent her twenties protesting logging in Western Australia at Giblett forest. We discuss the training she got in Deep Ecology and Non Violent Direct Action and how that has impacted her life since then... including how it helps her during this Covid-19 pandemic and into the future as the climate emergency increases.
We also have a recycling tips segment at the end of the episode.
Links:
Non Violent Direct Action:
How the Stanford University King Institute describes Martin Luther King’s journey to nonviolent direct action:
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/nonviolence
The Commons Social Change Library is a rich resource for further reading on Non-violent Direct Action:
https://commonslibrary.org/nonviolent-direct-action-nvda-start-here/
Deep Ecology:
About Arne Naess, the originator of Deep Ecology:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arne_N%C3%A6ss
An interesting article about Deep Ecology and Arne Naess:
https://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/learning-resources/what-is-deep-ecology
Joanna Macy Website:
https://www.joannamacy.net/main
WA forest protests:
This is a call to action for the Giblett forest from 1997:
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/wrr37/giblett.htm
A list of groups that unite to help protect the forests:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Australian_Forest_Alliance
South West Forest Defence Foundation:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_West_Forests_Defence_Foundation
Recycling tips from Sustainability Victoria:
In this episode I speak with Castlemaine local, Kerry Calcraft, who spent her twenties protesting logging in Western Australia at Giblett forest. We discuss the training she got in Deep Ecology and Non Violent Direct Action and how that has impacted her life since then... including how it helps her during this Covid-19 pandemic and into the future as the climate emergency increases.
We also have a recycling tips segment at the end of the episode.
Links:
Non Violent Direct Action:
How the Stanford University King Institute describes Martin Luther King’s journey to nonviolent direct action:
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/nonviolence
The Commons Social Change Library is a rich resource for further reading on Non-violent Direct Action:
https://commonslibrary.org/nonviolent-direct-action-nvda-start-here/
Deep Ecology:
About Arne Naess, the originator of Deep Ecology:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arne_N%C3%A6ss
An interesting article about Deep Ecology and Arne Naess:
https://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/learning-resources/what-is-deep-ecology
Joanna Macy Website:
https://www.joannamacy.net/main
WA forest protests:
This is a call to action for the Giblett forest from 1997:
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/wrr37/giblett.htm
A list of groups that unite to help protect the forests:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Australian_Forest_Alliance
South West Forest Defence Foundation:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_West_Forests_Defence_Foundation
Recycling tips from Sustainability Victoria:
In this episode I speak with a family of activists about the Adani coal mine and why it is being protested.
Ben Laycock, Jacynta Walsh and their daughter Rilka Laycock-Walsh have each participated in different ways; Ben joined last year's Adani convoy as lead by Bob Brown, Rilka has been protesting Adani with non violent direct action and all three have led a life of environmental activism.
LINKS:
Information about the Traditional Owners in the Galillee Basin where the Adani mine is happening and what they have been doing to stop the mine:
https://wanganjagalingou.com.au/our-fight/
About the Adani coal mine:
https://www.stopadani.com/why_stop_adani
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmichael_coal_mine
https://www.adaniaustralia.com/
Protest groups mentioned in the show - each name below is a link, so click away to find out more:
An article about protesters at camp Binbee and what they are up against:
https://www.echo.net.au/2019/08/from-lismore-to-camp-binbee-fighting-adani-every-step-of-the-way/
Art Swank interview with Ben Laycock about how his art practice and his activism interact:
Transition Towns episode as mentioned at the start of this episode:
https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/s2-e3-transition-towns/
In this episode I speak with a family of activists about the Adani coal mine and why it is being protested.
Ben Laycock, Jacynta Walsh and their daughter Rilka Laycock-Walsh have each participated in different ways; Ben joined last year's Adani convoy as lead by Bob Brown, Rilka has been protesting Adani with non violent direct action and all three have led a life of environmental activism.
LINKS:
Information about the Traditional Owners in the Galillee Basin where the Adani mine is happening and what they have been doing to stop the mine:
https://wanganjagalingou.com.au/our-fight/
About the Adani coal mine:
https://www.stopadani.com/why_stop_adani
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmichael_coal_mine
https://www.adaniaustralia.com/
Protest groups mentioned in the show - each name below is a link, so click away to find out more:
An article about protesters at camp Binbee and what they are up against:
https://www.echo.net.au/2019/08/from-lismore-to-camp-binbee-fighting-adani-every-step-of-the-way/
Art Swank interview with Ben Laycock about how his art practice and his activism interact:
Transition Towns episode as mentioned at the start of this episode:
https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/s2-e3-transition-towns/
In this episode we speak with a funeral director and an artist about how we can exit this world with as little harm as possible. Libby Moloney from Natural Grace Funerals in Woodend talks about how she got into the industry of natural funerals and what is really possible in terms of our choices when it is time to return to the earth.
Then Helen Bodicomb talks to us about her fully biodegradable artwork which is also her future funeral shroud.
The image for this weeks show is of Helen's artwork 'Shroud' created in 2019.
Links:
Libby Moloney's funeral company Natural Grace:
Natural Death Advocacy Network
Dying to Know Day by the Groundswell Project
Helen Bodicomb, artist
In this episode we speak with a funeral director and an artist about how we can exit this world with as little harm as possible. Libby Moloney from Natural Grace Funerals in Woodend talks about how she got into the industry of natural funerals and what is really possible in terms of our choices when it is time to return to the earth.
Then Helen Bodicomb talks to us about her fully biodegradable artwork which is also her future funeral shroud.
The image for this weeks show is of Helen's artwork 'Shroud' created in 2019.
Links:
Libby Moloney's funeral company Natural Grace:
Natural Death Advocacy Network
Dying to Know Day by the Groundswell Project
Helen Bodicomb, artist
In this episode I speak with Deb Taylor about her sustainable business choices and her bike ride across the Nullarbor Plain. A six week journey across one of the most iconic Australian landscapes. She rode approximately 2,468 km from Port Lincoln in South Australia, to Busselton in Western Australia. I wanted to know why she wanted to do it and what it was like for her. From the practicalities of making a trip like that to the meaning of what it is to be a successful human being... join us.
Links:
Nullarbor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nullarbor_Plain
Use Things:
La Spotiva running shoes:
https://www.lasportiva.com/en/one-percent-for-the-planet
https://www.lasportiva.com/in-love-with-nature
Post Resante:
In this episode I speak with Deb Taylor about her sustainable business choices and her bike ride across the Nullarbor Plain. A six week journey across one of the most iconic Australian landscapes. She rode approximately 2,468 km from Port Lincoln in South Australia, to Busselton in Western Australia. I wanted to know why she wanted to do it and what it was like for her. From the practicalities of making a trip like that to the meaning of what it is to be a successful human being... join us.
Links:
Nullarbor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nullarbor_Plain
Use Things:
La Spotiva running shoes:
https://www.lasportiva.com/en/one-percent-for-the-planet
https://www.lasportiva.com/in-love-with-nature
Post Resante:
In today's show we have three interviews with people doing sustainable babies in very different ways. Firstly Joan Webster tells us how it was back in the day when you boiled a copper to wash all your clothes, including the cloth nappies (diapers). Then I speak to new parents Alex and Mark, about using washable nappies these days... finally I have a chat with Nickie and Miles about how they raised their daughter nappy free!
If you LOVE poo... listen to Episode 2 where we talk about sustainable ways to manage your dog's poo. And Episode 10 'coronavirus and Human Signs' where we looked at what to use when there is no toilet paper to be found. Stay tuned for future episodes about composting loos and how to do it right at festivals!
Some fast facts about nappies:
"Although disposable diapers need to be exposed to oxygen and sunlight to decompose, they do not degrade well in a landfill. What's more, disposable diapers take about 500 years to decompose. The millions of tons of untreated waste added to landfills each year through plastic diapers can contaminate ground water."
https://oureverydaylife.com/environmental-impact-of-disposable-diapers-5088905.html
"Every child has about 6500 nappy changes, generating one tonne of plastic waste each. Damage is caused by nappies disintegrating into the environment, forming microplastics which can maim and kill fish, mammals and birds, and filter into the food chain for humans."
Resources:
Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene by Ingrid Bauer https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1132111.Diaper_FreeThe Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost by Jean Liedloff https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/331046.The_Continuum_Concept Washable Nappy advice website. They also have a great facebook page where you can ask your questions and get support: https://cleanclothnappies.com/
In today's show we have three interviews with people doing sustainable babies in very different ways. Firstly Joan Webster tells us how it was back in the day when you boiled a copper to wash all your clothes, including the cloth nappies (diapers). Then I speak to new parents Alex and Mark, about using washable nappies these days... finally I have a chat with Nickie and Miles about how they raised their daughter nappy free!
If you LOVE poo... listen to Episode 2 where we talk about sustainable ways to manage your dog's poo. And Episode 10 'coronavirus and Human Signs' where we looked at what to use when there is no toilet paper to be found. Stay tuned for future episodes about composting loos and how to do it right at festivals!
Some fast facts about nappies:
"Although disposable diapers need to be exposed to oxygen and sunlight to decompose, they do not degrade well in a landfill. What's more, disposable diapers take about 500 years to decompose. The millions of tons of untreated waste added to landfills each year through plastic diapers can contaminate ground water."
https://oureverydaylife.com/environmental-impact-of-disposable-diapers-5088905.html
"Every child has about 6500 nappy changes, generating one tonne of plastic waste each. Damage is caused by nappies disintegrating into the environment, forming microplastics which can maim and kill fish, mammals and birds, and filter into the food chain for humans."
Resources:
Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene by Ingrid Bauer https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1132111.Diaper_FreeThe Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost by Jean Liedloff https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/331046.The_Continuum_Concept Washable Nappy advice website. They also have a great facebook page where you can ask your questions and get support: https://cleanclothnappies.com/
In today’s episode I am talking to Chris Hain and Mel Willard about Food Security. Chris is the President of the Victorian Farmers Market Association and market manager at both Bendigo and Castlemaine markets. Mel is one half of Gung Hoe growers, with her partner in crime Sas Allardice. Gung Hoe Growers is the vegetable growing arm of the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative. I spoke to these guys in depth in 2018 in episode six of season one, it is one of my favourite episodes of that season, so I recommend you also listen to that:
https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/gung-hoe-growers/
Food security as a topic has been on the cards in terms of climate change since people first started thinking about it... but it has come up, as so many climate change related topics have, during this time of the corona virus with people panic buying seedlings, seeds and potting mix.
Links:
Victorian Farmers Market Association
Castlemaine Farmers Market
http://castlemainefarmersmarket.org/
Bendigo Community Farmers Market
Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative
Gung Hoe Growers
https://www.facebook.com/gunghoegrowers/
Gung Hoe interview from 2018
https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/gung-hoe-growers/
Another interview from 2018 with Katie and Ant – about organics and the importants of supporting local growers.
https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/mount-alexander-fruit-garden/
Further information about how the virus is impacting food security elsewhere in Australia:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-28/nt-food-security-amid-covid-19-pandemic/12092424
In today’s episode I am talking to Chris Hain and Mel Willard about Food Security. Chris is the President of the Victorian Farmers Market Association and market manager at both Bendigo and Castlemaine markets. Mel is one half of Gung Hoe growers, with her partner in crime Sas Allardice. Gung Hoe Growers is the vegetable growing arm of the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative. I spoke to these guys in depth in 2018 in episode six of season one, it is one of my favourite episodes of that season, so I recommend you also listen to that:
https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/gung-hoe-growers/
Food security as a topic has been on the cards in terms of climate change since people first started thinking about it... but it has come up, as so many climate change related topics have, during this time of the corona virus with people panic buying seedlings, seeds and potting mix.
Links:
Victorian Farmers Market Association
Castlemaine Farmers Market
http://castlemainefarmersmarket.org/
Bendigo Community Farmers Market
Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative
Gung Hoe Growers
https://www.facebook.com/gunghoegrowers/
Gung Hoe interview from 2018
https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/gung-hoe-growers/
Another interview from 2018 with Katie and Ant – about organics and the importants of supporting local growers.
https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/mount-alexander-fruit-garden/
Further information about how the virus is impacting food security elsewhere in Australia:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-28/nt-food-security-amid-covid-19-pandemic/12092424
In today's episode we talk with Peter Yates, who you might remember from episode seven when we spoke to him and his son Rory about their documentary When the River Runs Dry. Today we listen to an interview I did with Peter several months ago, back when the bushfires were the main topic and we had never heard of the coronavirus... remember that?
In this interview we begin our chat by talking about his life up to this point, a life that includes working with World Vision, travelling Australia with a young family in a gypsy wagon pulled by camels and working with indigenous rangers in land management. Later in the episode we unpack the ideas involved in Deep Adaptation which is a concept Peter had been thinking about and discussing with others. It is a topic made famous by Jem Bendell who published an academic paper in 2018 entitled Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy.
Links:
Deep Adaptation:
https://www.dumbofeather.com/articles/embracing-deep-adaptation/
https://www.lifeworth.com/deepadaptation.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jem_Bendell
Coronavirus and Climate change:
In today's episode we talk with Peter Yates, who you might remember from episode seven when we spoke to him and his son Rory about their documentary When the River Runs Dry. Today we listen to an interview I did with Peter several months ago, back when the bushfires were the main topic and we had never heard of the coronavirus... remember that?
In this interview we begin our chat by talking about his life up to this point, a life that includes working with World Vision, travelling Australia with a young family in a gypsy wagon pulled by camels and working with indigenous rangers in land management. Later in the episode we unpack the ideas involved in Deep Adaptation which is a concept Peter had been thinking about and discussing with others. It is a topic made famous by Jem Bendell who published an academic paper in 2018 entitled Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy.
Links:
Deep Adaptation:
https://www.dumbofeather.com/articles/embracing-deep-adaptation/
https://www.lifeworth.com/deepadaptation.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jem_Bendell
Coronavirus and Climate change:
In this episode we chat with two local author/illustrators.
Trace Balla is a Castlemaine local and much beloved author/illustrator who has produced multiple comic style books about young people learning about and thus learning to love nature. Her latest creation 'Landing with Wings' has just been released by Allen & Unwin.
J. M. Rodier is a Kyneton local and has just published her first book called 'Lanuola'. It is a whimsical and fantastical short novel for tweens with occasional illustrations all about the real problem of crown of thorn starfish in our reefs.
Coronavirus and the environment updates:
I'm really sorry to say it but some good news is fake news:
Also, if it ain't toilet paper then bin it or compost it but whatever you do, DON'T FLUSH IT:
https://www.coliban.com.au/coliban-water-calls-community-assistance-prevent-sewer-blockages
Trace Balla:
http://traceballa.yolasite.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TraceBalla/
Follow this link and scroll to the bottom of the page to get downloadable kids activities based on the book:
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/childrens/Landing-with-Wings-Trace-Balla-9781760296957
Links to indigenous groups mentioned by Trace:
http://www.djadjawurrung.com.au/
http://www.eelfestival.org.au/
J M Rodier:
https://www.facebook.com/RodierJM/
or email her at: michellerodier61@gmail.com
Some info about the crown of thorns starfish and giant sea snails:
In this episode we chat with two local author/illustrators.
Trace Balla is a Castlemaine local and much beloved author/illustrator who has produced multiple comic style books about young people learning about and thus learning to love nature. Her latest creation 'Landing with Wings' has just been released by Allen & Unwin.
J. M. Rodier is a Kyneton local and has just published her first book called 'Lanuola'. It is a whimsical and fantastical short novel for tweens with occasional illustrations all about the real problem of crown of thorn starfish in our reefs.
Coronavirus and the environment updates:
I'm really sorry to say it but some good news is fake news:
Also, if it ain't toilet paper then bin it or compost it but whatever you do, DON'T FLUSH IT:
https://www.coliban.com.au/coliban-water-calls-community-assistance-prevent-sewer-blockages
Trace Balla:
http://traceballa.yolasite.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TraceBalla/
Follow this link and scroll to the bottom of the page to get downloadable kids activities based on the book:
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/childrens/Landing-with-Wings-Trace-Balla-9781760296957
Links to indigenous groups mentioned by Trace:
http://www.djadjawurrung.com.au/
http://www.eelfestival.org.au/
J M Rodier:
https://www.facebook.com/RodierJM/
or email her at: michellerodier61@gmail.com
Some info about the crown of thorns starfish and giant sea snails:
In this episode we explore the global phenomenon of the coronavirus, or Covid-19, and what it means for the environment. It touches on carbon emissions, pollution, waste management and personal choices about hand sanitiser and, of course, toilet paper!!
Then we move on to a collection of interviews I recorded in late February at the Hepburn Wind Farm as we all gathered to create a human sign to communicate the need for our govt to set targets that keep global warming below 1.5 degrees.
Links:
Soap and coronavirus:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/24339/can-soap-get-dirty
Toilet paper alternatives:
(she is super excited to share with you - but don't be afraid, she runs through some good options)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD7iixnlhHw
Hygene advice from a Nona:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey08XMOisiw
How to use a tabo with Mikey Bustos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzb98tQp53I
Mikey kindly let me use the whole song in this episode. He has many very funny you tube parodies. Check them out at: youtube.com/mikeybustosvideos
How Corona is affecting the evnironment:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-coronavirus-pandemic-is-affecting-co2-emissions/
https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/face-masks-polluting-hong-kong-beaches-hills-since-coronavirus-began/
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/13/climate-advocates-hit-political-turbulence-127649
Wind Farm and Human Sign Links:
https://www.hepburnwind.com.au/
John Knox the King of the Human Sign
Recommended Reading - Ross Garnaut "Superpower"
https://www.readings.com.au/products/28351300/superpower-australias-low-carbon-opportunity
In this episode we explore the global phenomenon of the coronavirus, or Covid-19, and what it means for the environment. It touches on carbon emissions, pollution, waste management and personal choices about hand sanitiser and, of course, toilet paper!!
Then we move on to a collection of interviews I recorded in late February at the Hepburn Wind Farm as we all gathered to create a human sign to communicate the need for our govt to set targets that keep global warming below 1.5 degrees.
Links:
Soap and coronavirus:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/24339/can-soap-get-dirty
Toilet paper alternatives:
(she is super excited to share with you - but don't be afraid, she runs through some good options)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD7iixnlhHw
Hygene advice from a Nona:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey08XMOisiw
How to use a tabo with Mikey Bustos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzb98tQp53I
Mikey kindly let me use the whole song in this episode. He has many very funny you tube parodies. Check them out at: youtube.com/mikeybustosvideos
How Corona is affecting the evnironment:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-coronavirus-pandemic-is-affecting-co2-emissions/
https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/face-masks-polluting-hong-kong-beaches-hills-since-coronavirus-began/
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/13/climate-advocates-hit-political-turbulence-127649
Wind Farm and Human Sign Links:
https://www.hepburnwind.com.au/
John Knox the King of the Human Sign
Recommended Reading - Ross Garnaut "Superpower"
https://www.readings.com.au/products/28351300/superpower-australias-low-carbon-opportunity
This week we spoke with Ilka White (artist), Dale Cox (artist) and Brodie Ellis (curator and artist). They are all involved in an exhibition about the climate crisis at Lot 19 Castlemaine called Upwelling.
Our conversation explores the concept of the show and how it was brought together by Brodie and the works made by Ilka and Dale, before moving on to look at what part art has to play in communicating about the Climate Crisis.
"This exhibition brings ancient and new knowledge, ideas, and actions to the surface of the climate change struggle. Science from a deeper understanding of the natural world will direct our survival plan for the future we are creating today."
Zoe Amor, Alvin Briggs, Dale Cox, Punctum Inc, Cameron Robbins with Maison Lapalus, Gretel Taylor & Leonie Van Eyk, Ilka White, John Wolseley
Curated by Brodie Ellis & Mark Anstey.
The gorgeous song in this episode - suggested by Ilka - is from a project called The Lost Words Spell Songs - who kindly gave us permission to use the full song in this podcast.
"The Lost Words: Spell Songs is a musical companion piece to The Lost Words: A Spell Book, the acclaimed work by authors Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, responding to the removal of everyday nature words from a widely used children’s dictionary which grew to become a much broader protest at the loss of the natural world around us, as well as a celebration of the creatures and plants with which we share our lives, in all their characterful glory."
If people want to download The Blessing they can purchase as an individual track or entire album here: https://folkbytheoakrecords.com/the-lost-words-spell-songs
This week we spoke with Ilka White (artist), Dale Cox (artist) and Brodie Ellis (curator and artist). They are all involved in an exhibition about the climate crisis at Lot 19 Castlemaine called Upwelling.
Our conversation explores the concept of the show and how it was brought together by Brodie and the works made by Ilka and Dale, before moving on to look at what part art has to play in communicating about the Climate Crisis.
"This exhibition brings ancient and new knowledge, ideas, and actions to the surface of the climate change struggle. Science from a deeper understanding of the natural world will direct our survival plan for the future we are creating today."
Zoe Amor, Alvin Briggs, Dale Cox, Punctum Inc, Cameron Robbins with Maison Lapalus, Gretel Taylor & Leonie Van Eyk, Ilka White, John Wolseley
Curated by Brodie Ellis & Mark Anstey.
The gorgeous song in this episode - suggested by Ilka - is from a project called The Lost Words Spell Songs - who kindly gave us permission to use the full song in this podcast.
"The Lost Words: Spell Songs is a musical companion piece to The Lost Words: A Spell Book, the acclaimed work by authors Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, responding to the removal of everyday nature words from a widely used children’s dictionary which grew to become a much broader protest at the loss of the natural world around us, as well as a celebration of the creatures and plants with which we share our lives, in all their characterful glory."
If people want to download The Blessing they can purchase as an individual track or entire album here: https://folkbytheoakrecords.com/the-lost-words-spell-songs
Dr Susie Burke (psychologist) and Kerrily Jennings (Community House) join us to discuss the controversy surrounding the council funded workshops at Castlemaine Community House. It surround a series of three workshops run by Susie which are all looking at how we humans are responding to climate change... see links below. The conversation ranges far and wide, with discussions on how parents can talk to kids about climate change, how different people cope with the emotions raised by the prospect of climate change and the role of civic engagement and personal responsibility.
Links:
The Courses at Community House:
https://www.cch.org.au/coping-with-climate-change/
https://www.cch.org.au/deep-adaptation-to-climate-change/
https://www.cch.org.au/talking-with-children-about-climate-change/
Dr Susie Burke (psychologist) and Kerrily Jennings (Community House) join us to discuss the controversy surrounding the council funded workshops at Castlemaine Community House. It surround a series of three workshops run by Susie which are all looking at how we humans are responding to climate change... see links below. The conversation ranges far and wide, with discussions on how parents can talk to kids about climate change, how different people cope with the emotions raised by the prospect of climate change and the role of civic engagement and personal responsibility.
Links:
The Courses at Community House:
https://www.cch.org.au/coping-with-climate-change/
https://www.cch.org.au/deep-adaptation-to-climate-change/
https://www.cch.org.au/talking-with-children-about-climate-change/
In this episode, we discuss the documentary film 'When the River Runs Dry' made by a father son team from Maldon.
Only just released and already honoured with multiple awards, this film explores the 2019 mass fish kill event in the Darling River. In the first half of the episode we get a review of the film from Andrew Skeoch and Nathan Johnson, both locals deeply interested in nature. Andrew is a nature sound collector and Nathan is a conservationist. Then in the second half of the episode we discuss the film and the issues it raises with the filmmakers Peter Yates and Rory McLeod.
Trailer for the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUG1EGs0guQ
Rory McLeod's website:
https://rorymcleodfilm.weebly.com/
Andrew Skeoch (one of our reviewers) is a professional nature sound recordist:
https://www.listeningearth.com.au/LE/index.php
In this episode, we discuss the documentary film 'When the River Runs Dry' made by a father son team from Maldon.
Only just released and already honoured with multiple awards, this film explores the 2019 mass fish kill event in the Darling River. In the first half of the episode we get a review of the film from Andrew Skeoch and Nathan Johnson, both locals deeply interested in nature. Andrew is a nature sound collector and Nathan is a conservationist. Then in the second half of the episode we discuss the film and the issues it raises with the filmmakers Peter Yates and Rory McLeod.
Trailer for the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUG1EGs0guQ
Rory McLeod's website:
https://rorymcleodfilm.weebly.com/
Andrew Skeoch (one of our reviewers) is a professional nature sound recordist:
https://www.listeningearth.com.au/LE/index.php
In this episode we catch up with Eliza Tree. She spoke to us in Episode 4 about the People's Climate Assembly gathering in Canberra that week. In this episode we hear about what happened up there and how it all went. She also gives us an insight into the Climate Emergency Summit she attended last weekend in Melbourne. In among all of that we catch a glimpse of the whimsy of author and illustrator Trace Bella's morning routine, foraging for her breakfast.
Note that the song was played in full during radio broadcast, but due to licencing issues cannot be played in full for the podcast.
Links:
https://www.climateemergencysummit.org/
https://www.facebook.com/peoples.climate.assembly/
Guests:
In this episode we catch up with Eliza Tree. She spoke to us in Episode 4 about the People's Climate Assembly gathering in Canberra that week. In this episode we hear about what happened up there and how it all went. She also gives us an insight into the Climate Emergency Summit she attended last weekend in Melbourne. In among all of that we catch a glimpse of the whimsy of author and illustrator Trace Bella's morning routine, foraging for her breakfast.
Note that the song was played in full during radio broadcast, but due to licencing issues cannot be played in full for the podcast.
Links:
https://www.climateemergencysummit.org/
https://www.facebook.com/peoples.climate.assembly/
Guests:
This is a get to know you episode with local climate activist and community change agent Terry White. Hear about his story from being a kid wandering the wilds and developing a love of nature to what he is doing now to help push us and our local council towards change.
This is a get to know you episode with local climate activist and community change agent Terry White. Hear about his story from being a kid wandering the wilds and developing a love of nature to what he is doing now to help push us and our local council towards change.
In this episode we discuss protest. This week a contingent of locals took a road trip to Canberra to rally outside of parliament and a Castlemaine rally took place in support of the Canberra crew. I wanted to know what they were protesting about and whether they really thought it would change anyone's mind.
links:
The Totnes Extinction Rebellion Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUt1ELCXwgM
In this episode we discuss protest. This week a contingent of locals took a road trip to Canberra to rally outside of parliament and a Castlemaine rally took place in support of the Canberra crew. I wanted to know what they were protesting about and whether they really thought it would change anyone's mind.
links:
The Totnes Extinction Rebellion Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUt1ELCXwgM
In this episode, we start with what the frik is going on with recycling in this region! Then move on to Transition Towns... what are they? how can that be applied here? and what comes next? I am joined by Mary Blain from MASG and Ian Lillington Premaculturalist, both of whom have been fans of the Transition Towns concept for over ten years!
Read more about the global movement that is Transition Towns here: https://transitioninitiative.org/
Find out the latest about Mount Alexander Shires recycling crisis here: https://www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.aspx?Page_Id=2552
In this episode, we start with what the frik is going on with recycling in this region! Then move on to Transition Towns... what are they? how can that be applied here? and what comes next? I am joined by Mary Blain from MASG and Ian Lillington Premaculturalist, both of whom have been fans of the Transition Towns concept for over ten years!
Read more about the global movement that is Transition Towns here: https://transitioninitiative.org/
Find out the latest about Mount Alexander Shires recycling crisis here: https://www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.aspx?Page_Id=2552
In this episode we speak to Bill Grant who is a self confessed compost nerd and whose job it is to know all about waste. We discuss why it is so important to keep organic waste out of landfill and what is REALLY going on with recycling. We also delve into the controversial world of dog poo... if it stinks, we've covered it in this episode.
Links mentioned in the episode below:
Nasa
Compost instructions
Faye White
https://www.faywhitemusic.com/
Recycle your shoes
asga.com.au/sos
In this episode we speak to Bill Grant who is a self confessed compost nerd and whose job it is to know all about waste. We discuss why it is so important to keep organic waste out of landfill and what is REALLY going on with recycling. We also delve into the controversial world of dog poo... if it stinks, we've covered it in this episode.
Links mentioned in the episode below:
Nasa
Compost instructions
Faye White
https://www.faywhitemusic.com/
Recycle your shoes
asga.com.au/sos
The first episode in a new series. Allie introduces us to the new series and puts it in the context of the devastating fires that have been out of control across much of Australia this season.
We start with Deane Belfield, talking about the book Drawdown and how it can help us all avoid climate catastrophe. Then we are joined by Joan Webster OAM discussing bushfire safety.
Books mentioned:
Drawdown - edited by Paul Hawkins
This and other books mentioned that are by him can be seen at:
http://www.paulhawken.com/write
The Complete Bushfire Safety Book by Joan Webster
Essential Bushfire Safety Tips by Joan Webster
Recycling:
The first episode in a new series. Allie introduces us to the new series and puts it in the context of the devastating fires that have been out of control across much of Australia this season.
We start with Deane Belfield, talking about the book Drawdown and how it can help us all avoid climate catastrophe. Then we are joined by Joan Webster OAM discussing bushfire safety.
Books mentioned:
Drawdown - edited by Paul Hawkins
This and other books mentioned that are by him can be seen at:
http://www.paulhawken.com/write
The Complete Bushfire Safety Book by Joan Webster
Essential Bushfire Safety Tips by Joan Webster
Recycling:
Recorded in 2018, this episode of An Environment for Change sees Allie, Mel and Rachel gather again at the end of their month of plastic free living. They share stories and tips and things they have learnt over the month of July. They reveal what worked and what didn't work, where they met success and where they had to compromise.
Recorded in 2018, this episode of An Environment for Change sees Allie, Mel and Rachel gather again at the end of their month of plastic free living. They share stories and tips and things they have learnt over the month of July. They reveal what worked and what didn't work, where they met success and where they had to compromise.
Three women chatting about plastic free July. They are committing to varying levels of plastic free living and in this first episode discuss their thoughts before starting.
Three women chatting about plastic free July. They are committing to varying levels of plastic free living and in this first episode discuss their thoughts before starting.
In this episode of An Environment For Change we spoke to Julie Holden, principal of the Chewton Primary School. Under her leadership the school has achieved a five star sustainability rating, the highest rating there is. Find out what she and her team and the students at Chewton Primary School have done to achieve this.
In this episode of An Environment For Change we spoke to Julie Holden, principal of the Chewton Primary School. Under her leadership the school has achieved a five star sustainability rating, the highest rating there is. Find out what she and her team and the students at Chewton Primary School have done to achieve this.
In this episode of An Environment for Change I speak with Chris Hooper about the Castlemaine Repair Cafe. She has been running a monthly Repair Cafe in Castlemaine for over a year and they have saved over 600kg of waste from being thrown out; objects, clothing and mechanical items that can now live to see another day. I speak to Chris about how it all started, how it works and where it is going. I also spoke to some of her repair volunteers, who talk about what it is like to be a repairer, why they do it and some of the things they have been asked to repair.
In this episode of An Environment for Change I speak with Chris Hooper about the Castlemaine Repair Cafe. She has been running a monthly Repair Cafe in Castlemaine for over a year and they have saved over 600kg of waste from being thrown out; objects, clothing and mechanical items that can now live to see another day. I speak to Chris about how it all started, how it works and where it is going. I also spoke to some of her repair volunteers, who talk about what it is like to be a repairer, why they do it and some of the things they have been asked to repair.
A laughter filled chat about very serious issues; the importance of small scale diverse farming providing for local markets. Sas and Mel have been farming veggies on their patch of land in Harcourt, subletting from the Mount Alexander Fruit Gardens, for several years. In that time they have doubled thier size and then doubled again, all the while learning and sharing with their local community.
A laughter filled chat about very serious issues; the importance of small scale diverse farming providing for local markets. Sas and Mel have been farming veggies on their patch of land in Harcourt, subletting from the Mount Alexander Fruit Gardens, for several years. In that time they have doubled thier size and then doubled again, all the while learning and sharing with their local community.
In this episode I speak to Katie, who has been running the organic orchard Mount Alexander Fruit Garden for over 20 years with her partner Hugh, and Ant, who is set to start running the orchard as Katie and Hue retire. The conversation ranges over topics from the hidden benefits of organic farming to the exciting new ways young farmers like Ant are starting to organise.
In this episode I speak to Katie, who has been running the organic orchard Mount Alexander Fruit Garden for over 20 years with her partner Hugh, and Ant, who is set to start running the orchard as Katie and Hue retire. The conversation ranges over topics from the hidden benefits of organic farming to the exciting new ways young farmers like Ant are starting to organise.
In this episode of An Environment for Change I speak with Ginny, the force behind Boomerang Bags Castlemaine. She and a group of dedicated volunteers have been following the Boomerang Bags model; sewing and offering upcycled cloth bags to the public of Castlemaine in the hopes of helping us all transition away from plastic bags and towards more sustainable options.
In this episode of An Environment for Change I speak with Ginny, the force behind Boomerang Bags Castlemaine. She and a group of dedicated volunteers have been following the Boomerang Bags model; sewing and offering upcycled cloth bags to the public of Castlemaine in the hopes of helping us all transition away from plastic bags and towards more sustainable options.
In this episode I speak to Lucy Young about her ongoing campaign to make Castlemaine a plastic bag free town. We talk about the ins and outs of running a campaign, the personal reasons behind working so hard for sustainability and what we can do to replace plastic bags in our lives.
This is the second episode of eight in a series about sustainability in Central Victoria. Brought to you by MAINfm and the Mount Alexander Shire Council and created by Alison Hanly.
In this episode I speak to Lucy Young about her ongoing campaign to make Castlemaine a plastic bag free town. We talk about the ins and outs of running a campaign, the personal reasons behind working so hard for sustainability and what we can do to replace plastic bags in our lives.
This is the second episode of eight in a series about sustainability in Central Victoria. Brought to you by MAINfm and the Mount Alexander Shire Council and created by Alison Hanly.
