Transition Darebin

Transition Coming Together

22 July, 2016 at 2:13 pm paul Leave a comment

Wow…after typing this e-bulletin up I’m exhausted. There is so much going on in the neighbourhood from food swaps, to grafting, citrus cleaning to bush dances and even random pop up music and arts festivals. Who would have thought that as the trees go into hibernation for the winter the people of Darebin would do exactly the opposite.

TD Events in the Comings Weeks

‘Share and Inspire’ SEATN Transition Convergence. Saturday, 30th July 2016 @Multicultural Hub 506 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
How do we build momentum? how do we look after our members? how to we get things actually happening to drive the change that we need for a strong, sustainable and resilient future? It’s not often you get to get together with a whole bunch of Transition Towns groups to ask these questions. The South Eastern Australian Transition Convergence is one of them though. It’s an opportunity to get together with other groups in a spirit of collaboration to hear about projects, to support action and like it says on the packet… to ‘Share and Inspire’. This is an open event and all are very welcome whether you’ve had lots of involvement with Transition Towns or just want to be see what it’s all about

Focus for the session will be on:

• sharing our celebrations and challenges
• discussing issues of interest or concern using “open space technology“
• using the permaculture design principles as guides to creating successful projects
• synthesis and next steps activities

Book through http://transition-convergence-2016.eventbrite.com.au

Convivial Kitchen: What’s cookin’ in the convivial kitchen this month? Sunday 31st July, 2-4 @ Preston Hub Community Space (137 High Street Preston)
Well this month it’s citrus season as we are joined by Kate from ‘The Urban Pear’ to find out how to use citrus in the kitchen and around the home. Together we will transform this zesty delight into marmalade and then discover how to make an amazing orange cleaning vinegar. Bring along two clean jars to take home some citrus goodness. Cost $15
For more information contact Tiffany by clicking here.

Darebin Urban Harvest Northcote Food Swap: Saturday 13th August 11-12 @ 251 High Street, Northcote
The Second Saturday of every month sees the Northcote food swap roll into action. Whether it’s produce, seeds, preserves or just some advice about what’s growing and how to deal with gluts and scarcity then this is a great session to check out.

Our Apple Tree ‘Tree Bee’: Sunday August 14th 1-3pm @ Our Apple Tree (Cnr Beavers Road and Herbert Street, Northcote)
Every 2rd Sunday we hold a ‘Tree Bee’ at Our Apple Tree. It’s a chance to meet, do some gardening, reclaim some public land and generally learn about community gardening. We’ve had the completely unexpected donation of some more fruit trees and the far more expected donation of some mulch. So come down and help us spruce up our space or just pop in to say hello.

Transition Coordination Meeting: August 15th 7:30 – 9:00
Once a month we get together to talk about what has happened and what needs to happen to build a more sustainable, resilient and localised Darebin. These meetings are open to anyone whether you want to take a role or just watch what happens.Email transitiondarebin@gmail.com for the address.

Darebin Urban Harvest Reservoir Food Swap: August 20th 10-11 @ cnr broadway and Chedder Road, Reservoir
On the Third Saturday it’s Reservoirs’ turn to join the sharing economy with their own food swap. This one might be new but it’s seen a great array of produce and a really keen bunch of ‘swappers’. With spring just around the corner don’t forget to bring any spare seeds you have and join the amazing array of food, seed collections and horticultural ‘know how’.

Transition in the Pub: August 23rd 7:30pm – 9:00 @ Bar 303 (303 High Street, Northcote)
Transition Darebin is all about a more sustainable, resilient and localised future for us and our children. The Transition in the Pub is an open and public session where people can come and hear about small steps they can take that have big sustainability impacts. Think of it as a space to mix beer, conversation and environmental awareness.

We’re backing up last months fabulous session with Dr. Samuel Alexander with a very special collaboration with Friends of the Earth as we bring….The Green Pledge. This was a highlight of Transition in the Pub last year and promises to be equally fabulous this year. The Green Pledge is an opportunity for people to take 3 actions on climate change and raise awareness of climate issues by seeking sponsorship from your peers and community. In the process, you’ll set yourself up for personal change and send a message that a movement toward lasting change is possible. Check out more about the Green Pledge at the link below and make sure you are at 303 on August 23rd for a great Transition in the Pub.
For more information check out www.thegreenpledge.net. and don’t forget to join ‘Team Transition Darebin‘ when you sign up.

Other Events (non-TD events)

Heritage Fruit Society: Grafting Days.
Join long time TD’er John Pinniger of the Heritage Fruits Society  for a ‘masterclass’ in grafting for anyone who would like to improve their skills – or learn the basics of fruit tree grafting. This will be hands-on and involve learning the reasons for, and the science of grafting, and then having plenty of time to practice. Budding will also be discussed even though winter is not the best time to do it. Bring a sharp knife if you have one.You may not ever graft another tree, but at least you’ll know  the reasons for grafting, when to graft and what to graft, as well as d see examples of grafts. We will concentrate on apples, but discuss a wide range of plant.
There is no cost, but the third hour of the three-hour session will be assistance with the grafting of Heritage Fruits Society’s trees, including potting, labelling, etc. (part learning, part application)
Sessions are planned for Wednesday 10^th August 9 AM – 12AM  and Sunday 14^th  August 1 – 4 PM. Please reply directly to cjpinn@bigpond.net.au
with preferred date and subject line GRAFTING.   Maximum 5 per session – more sessions if there is enough interest. Location will be Fairfield, accessible by public transport – address sent with acceptance. Also think about checking out the  Heritage Fruit Society – Petty’s Tree sales & Grafting Days

• Sunday 7^th August 10am – noon, at Petty’s Orchard, Homestead Rd, Templestowe, Melway 22 A11
• Saturday 13th August 2016 10 am – noon, at Ceres
• Saturday 20^th August – The Briars, Mount Martha

These are a great opportunity to learn some grafting, select some suitable rootstocks on just by some one year grafted trees from some seriously fruit tree obsessed people!

Creating a Climate for Change: Panel Discussion and Interactive Performance. Thursday 11th August, 7pm @ Northcote Town Hall

Creating a Climate for Change presents a panel of expert speakers and Q&A followed by an interactive performance with Playback Theatre’s ensemble of professional actors, musicians and MCs who will create a unique, improvised performance based on the audience’s real life experiences, and perspectives. This session will include:

• Professor Rob Adams AM (Director City Design and Projects, City of Melbourne)
• Lucy Best (Communications and Community Engagement Manager, Positive Charge)
• Dr Stephen Bygrave (CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions)

So join us for a great evening intersecting science with performance and robust conversation for more information. For more information click on the flyer.

The Gnomes are calling
Our friends at the Gnomes Gardening Collective (part of Livelihood) are putting the call out.They’re looking for both new farmers and for potential spaces! They want to grow beyond their current four spaces in north side Melbourne and connect more communities to grow their own yummy, local food!
Interested farmer folk, you can join them at one of their sites, or be part of a new site starting up (we’ll help you!). People with potential growing land, they’d love to hear from you (especially if you’re in/near Footscray, Brunswick or Hurstbridge).

For more information, check out http://www.livelyhood.community/gnomes.html

Open House Thornbury 6th August @ Thornbury
A group of amazing local residents are opening the doors of houses in our neighbourhood to create an instantaneous art and music festival, for locals and by locals! They will be providing a map of host locations to explore, each with a unique selection of visual, sonic and performance art. I’m told there will be more than 7 venues, 20 + emerging artists, performers and musicians and even the inauguration of the (imaginary) Thornbury Bureau of Tourism. So get to know your neighbours and see what talent dwells behind closed doors.

For more details on artists and performers check out facebook (open house thornbury#1) or openhousethornbury@gmail.com.  if you are a neighbour who wants to host, if you want to contribute your creative talents, or are willing to help us stir the mulled wine then let us know…or simply join us on the 6th of August in the area around Thornbury station!  More information at https://www.facebook.com/events/621431574689744/

Other food swaps and stuff
Sustainable 3078 Produce Swap. 1st Friday of Every Month 10-12 @ Alphington Community Centre Playground (2 Kelvin Road)
A casual drop in food swap, also check out gardening and preserving at the community centre on fridays.

Urban Orchard Food Swap @ Ceres
Open food swap, all welcome, even if nothing to give, no membership needed, every Saturday. 9.30am – 1pm at CERES market Brunswick East, Melbourne
Got a listing you want us to include, let us know at transitiondarebin@gmail.com

Project in Focus: Darebin Urban Harvest Food Swaps
Darebin Urban Harvest Food Swap:
There’s some really exciting stuff happening in Darebin around Food Swaps. We’ve got the reservoir swap that been going for 8 months and is still going strong. Most attendees walk or ride bikes to this swap and there’s always a great buzz in the air. Our new, you beaut sandwich board had its trial run last Saturday at this swap in the gorgeous weather for both swaps this month. We’ve also got the Northcote food swap that’s been going strong for years now and even got some publicity recently.

On top of that We’re building momentum for a South Preston food swap that will probably be held on the 4th Saturday of month starting in spring. TD Coordination members Rachel and Sheryl had a meeting with Darebin Councillor Bo Li, looking at the probable site at the back of the Care Community op shop corner of Oakover Rd and High St.   Bo has a group of local people interested in having a regular swap. Roslyn and David from the Northcote Swap are also interested and various others have emailed. If you are in this area and would like to be involved in a monthly food swap then let us know at transitiondarebin@gmail.com

Project in Focus: Transition in the Pub
We’ve had two amazing Transition in the Pub events since last report. The first in May was our hosting of ‘This Changes Everything’ the poignant film by Naomi Klein that goes along with the book of the same name. We have a great turn out with almost 60 people packing out the back room at Bar 303 and were treated not only to a great film but also great MCing by local entertainer Scott Edgar and a panel discussion with Transition Darebin, Friends of the Earth, Darebin Climate Action Now, Healthy Futures, Livelyhood and the Gnomes Garden Collective. It was a great night and a big thanks to all involved.

In June we welcomed Dr. Samuel Alexander to Transition in the Pub and also checked in with a new venue for the night at the Wesley Anne. Sam took us through a really captivating and insightful reflection on Henry David Thoreau, the author, agitator and simple living pioneer. Dr. Alexander’s reflection and guidance through this deep content was not only greatly appreciated but it was also greatly enjoyable. He finished off with a quick view into his own experiments with tiny houses, simply living and how he’s asked the two key questions of Thoreau’s, “how much is enough”… and “enough for what”?

If you are interested in learning and reading a bit more about Thoreau including his seminal work ‘Walden’ or his book on civil disobedience then check out http://thoreau.eserver.org/

Project in Focus: Fun Raising Bush Dance with Bushwahzee
Once upon a time communities would come together to celebrate a local event. Be it a birth, a local sporting success a harvest or whatever else there was lots of the ‘community glue’ that held communities together and helped them to build sustainable and mutually beneficial linkages. A core example of one of these events was the annual bush dance where local people would get together to drink, dance and … well just be!
Transition Darebin is bringing the Bush dance back with our very own bush dance featuring local bush callers Bushwahzee. This is a night of fun and dancing for the whole family and will be held on the 17th of September at the Fairfleld bowls club that guarantees not only a great atmosphere but genuine 1940’s bar prices. Kids and adults welcome, professional musicians and callers and a great opportunity to get out, shake around and build community.
Tickets are $20 +  booking fee ($2) for adults and free for kids and registrations can be made at https://register.eventarc.com/35117/transition-darebin-bush-dance .
There are limited tickets available and this will sell out so get in quick.

Transition Darebin Needs You…
That ridiculous concept, the tax year has come and gone which means that it’s time for us to start thinking about AGM’s. But Transition Darebin doesn’t do AGM’s the same way as most. Last year was a great session of debate, discussion and homebrew and this year promises to be no different as we will seek to add to our coordination group and hear the voices of our members about future projects. Volunteering for the coordination group is not an onerous task but it is an important one as these people help to coordinate the activities that make up Transition Darebin. There are roles for a whole range of interests and skill sets but also opportunities to build work experience and add to your own toolbox. So have a look at the roles and consider stepping up.
Roles in TD
– President                 – Secretary/Public Officer         – Gathering Organiser        – Media Liaison
– Vice President         – Ordinary Member                  – Volunteer Coordinator        – Web Manager
– Treasurer                – Membership Coordinator      – E-Bulletin

Do you need Transition Darebin?
Nobody died and made us king of the transition ideas! Maybe you’ve got a passion, some time or just the skeleton or an idea that needs some fleshing out. Transition Darebin is a truly grassroots organisation that holds the support of those with passion very dear. So if you’ve got an idea and want some help, or just need an organisation to help with that grant application then let us know or come on down to a coordination meeting because we don’t just need fully formed ideas…..we need all of them!

Till next time…

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