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Z Day
You are warmly invited to come along to this day of sharing information about different groups and movements happening in Melbourne next Sunday the 24th.
There will be a talk on Transition (2-3pm), if any TD peeps would like to co-present or be on a little Q&A panel contact sally.macadams[at]gmail.com
There is a cover charge of $10 to cover the venue etc.
Includes a showcase of 3D printers!
Next TD coordination meeting 18 March
All welcome at TD’s next coord meeting on Monday 18 March at Mike’s place, 5 French Ave, Northcote, from 6.30pm. Bring a plate to share!
On the agenda will be the joint TD-Sharehood event in May, food swaps, reports back from local projects and coordination roles and lots of other fun stuff.
Come and meet the crew!
Please rsvp to gatherings[at]transitiondarebin.org to give us an idea of numbers.
Transition Darebin: Sustaining Ourselves
Sustaining Ourselves Workshop 2013
Sunday 19th May
9:45-4:00
Darebin Creek Environment Centre
Darebin Parklands
End of Separation St, Alphington
What is it:
A workshop using Joanna Macey’s ‘Work that Reconnects’ as well as elements of meditation and yoga. Our aim is to refresh, renew and re-inspire transitioners, permaculturalists, greenies, climate activists, environmentalists, upskillers, community developers, occupiers or diy-ers that are troubled by the state of the world, overworked, overstressed, disillusioned, despairing, burnt out, or on that path.Children are warmly welcome. There will be children’s activities and childminding through the day.
Why:
In the midst of all the work we do for our community and our world, sometimes we forget to nurture ourselves.
Logistics:
The cost of the workshop is $20 full or $10 concession – vegetarian lunch provided. If you would like to bring some snacks to share for morning and afternoon tea that would be lovely – some will be provided.
Registration: $20 full | $10 concession | children free
ONLINE BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
http://www.trybooking.com/CSCB
RSVP to Regan Bleechmore bleecr01@gmail.com 0432 875 413 (preferred by 12th of May). Places are limited so please get in early.
TD coord meeting on monday
Hi everyone,
tour darebin’s edible gardens by bike! 24th Feb
A year of treading lightly
Check out this awesome blog by Thornbury locals and TD members Paul and Nikki:
www.treadinglightlyblog.wordpress.com
After pondering about “why we hear about the fluctuations of the FTSE, the Yen and Tapis crude a dozen times a day but don’t know the names of our next door neighbours” Paul and Nikki decided to take on a year of experimentation with their two toddlers and four chickens…
“A year to find out whether we can live more sustainably and have more fun doing it, because we know things are going to change, but I refuse to believe that the end of cheap oil and living within the means of our planet needs to be a bad thing.
So after a couple of long conversations spanning many an evening and several good bottles of (locally produced) wine we have come up with four areas that we plan to try and focus on over the next 12 months.”
See what they came up with!
www.treadinglightlyblog.wordpress.com
First TD Gathering for 2013
For our first gathering of 2013, we are teaming up with Urban Reforestation, who are hosting a workshop called “The Art of Community Gardening” at the Old Apple Tree. It will be more of a discussion than a one-way workshop – people with all levels of experience and interest are welcome – whether you are an old hand or just finding out about community gardens.
If anyone has not come across the Apple Tree before, it’s a bit of a local icon. A very big, very old apple tree right next to the railway line which has been lovingly documented by photographer Cat Wilson, and adopted and given a new lease on life by locals including TD members and people in the neighbourhood, most recently led by Urban Reforestation members, who have spruced up the area, adding seating, a planter box and other plants. And started a facebook page for the Apple Tree.
After the workshop there will be a hands-on working bee, giving the apple tree and surrounds some TLC.
And then a picnic which will double as our first TD gathering of the year. Perhaps we may even bring out the TD banner, which still needs a little more painting to be complete, and features our apple tree inspired by… you guessed it – the Old Apple Tree.
**You can come to any part or all of this smorgasbord of activities!**
Saturday 12 January
Corner of Herbert St and Beavers Rd, Northcote.
10.30am morning tea and meet up!
11am Workshop and advice sharing on setting up a community garden. Tips
include: engaging community, creative design ideas, working with local
council and ongoing maintenance.
12pm Working bee at The Apple Tree Herbert Street! Putting some
creative design ideas into action.
1pm Yummy vegetarian picnic lunch – please bring a vegetarian plate to share. Come and meet with TD peeps and the locals around the Apple Tree.
Cost: by donation.
For more details and to RSVP for the workshop see http://www.urbanreforestation.com/community-gardens-2/workshop-the-art-of-community-gardening/
Christmas Crafting #2 Preserved Lemons
As foretold… today after coming home from TD berry picking, I followed this method to preserve some already long-in-the-tooth lemons. I also used left over cloves from the pomanders, bay leaves from a food swap, and Murray River salt.
I guess I won’t know if it worked until I’ve let them sit for a few weeks and see if they develop the ‘harmless white mould’ referred to… harmless has a comforting ring to it – I’m sure I can just scrape it off if so, right? Don’t take my advice on that, seriously, I eat borderline stuff all the time, my stomach’s used to it.
Oh, and some of my pomanders did develop mould =( I think I might have to try again and find a dryer, cooler place to store them while they season… definitely taking them to work in a sealed container was a bad, bad idea…
Anyway the one experimental thing I did today was to use some of the nicer looking peels of the lemons that I squeezed for juice. I just put more salt in each half-lemon peel, then tucked another one on top and repeated and squeezed into a smaller jar.
Let’s see how it goes!
Christmas crafting #1: Pomanders
Christmas Crafting Part 1: Making Orange and Clove Pomanders
For the last few Christmases I’ve been making my own little Christmas gifties. Two years ago I had bags of lemons from the tree and so make lemon cordial (thanks to a winner recipe from Julie from the Plummery Food Coop). Last year I had bags of boysenberries, blackberries and logan berries from Sunny Creek Organic Berry Farm from our TD berry-picking excursion – if you want to join this year’s excursion, email Rachel.
What was hanging around this year? My lovely housemates had buckets of oranges and lemons so I decided on a very traditional Christmas decoration/gift – pomanders of oranges, studded with cloves. I’m not sure where I first heard of these but it was as a child, and I’ve always been rather enchanted by the concept. They smell good, they look good, and they are
meant to ward off moths too, so you can hang them in your
cupboards after the holiday season – they last for years apparently, just sort of drying out and wafting their goodness around.
So, how to make pomanders? Here’s the recipe I used.
I did a couple of things slightly differently – I didn’t bother with the masking tape, just put the ribbon straight on, and
I rubbed oil directly on the oranges for extra pungency and preservation (I used orange blossom, cinnamon and sandalwood). Oh and one other thing I found, and it could be because my oranges were already… seasoned, shall we say… I often didn’t need any piercing implement,just pushed the cloves straight in.
Preserved lemons will be Part 2, if I’m not sick of the sight of citrus by then..

Transition in the Pub
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