Pumpkin harvest

Brighton group members, Cathy and Steve, harvested 50 kilos of pumpkins and trombones in early autumn. This is an impressive result for first time vegetable growers. Amazingly, these were grown in a space of just two square meters, surrounded by concrete, outside their back door. No fertilizer, compost or mulch was used.

Is this just beginner’s luck or do these two know something we don’t? The crop was promptly distributed to  grateful family, friends and neighbours. Welcome to urban farming, sharing the surplus, and delicious, local, organic pumpkin soups!

If you have access to some land and have never tried growing vegies, give it a go. Just throw some seeds from your shop bought vegetables into soil and see what happens. Like Cathy and Steve, you may be in for a pleasant surprise.

Smart Move – better for everyone!

Sustainable Communities was privileged to welcome City of Adelaide Lord Mayor, Stephen Yarwood to our public meeting, held on Thursday 23 May 2013 following our 5th AGM.

Stephen spoke about the City of Adelaide’s Smart Move 10 year transport and movement strategy that aims to create better streets and places for people, making the streets safer and more connected, so the city is easier to access and use.

Smart Move slides

Waste Reduction Project – Brighton Group

Although the volume and disposal of waste has serious environmental, economic and practical consequences, the results of a recent Adelaide survey showed most respondents did not support councils moving to fortnightly rubbish collections. More than 80 per cent of the 2147 respondents surveyed said the weekly system should be maintained. Read the full survey results here. The concerns expressed and reasons given may surprise you.

March against Monsanto

Mission Statement

by March Against Monsanto (Notes)

On 25 May, activists around the world will unite to March Against Monsanto.

Preserving seed freedom

On Monday 6 May 2013 a draconian new law was put before the European Commission, which creates new powers to classify and regulate all plant life anywhere in Europe. This law would make it illegal to ‘grow, reproduce or trade’ any vegetable seeds that have not been ‘tested, approved and accepted’ by a new EU bureaucracy named the EU Plant Variety Agency. It is called the Plant Reproductive Material Law, and it attempts to put government in charge of virtually all plants and seeds.

What are we wasting?

Although we have not posted about our activities so far this year, our group has been very productive and has also grown by another 3 members. Over the next few weeks, we plan to update you on many of our recent projects and activities.

Last month we celebrated our first anniversary and three founding members, Emma, Olivia and Kate delivered an informative presentation about the life cycle (cradle to grave) of some of the products we routinely put in our bins.

Old mattresses don’t die they become part of the garden…..

I recently decided to do some shedding, which included getting rid of a 40 year old mattress… probably one I slept on as a kid.  Tried to sell it at a garage sale… no luck, tried to give it away … no luck.  That leaves hard waste and ultimately landfill, or does it?

With a little time, and a few tools it can be reduced to its basic elements and reused.  As it is old I am fairly confident the innards will be natural fibre and there for easy to deal with.  You will need a blade and pliers, and dress in old clothes it is a messy job … 40 years of dust and whatever else will be exposed!

Tips from 50 years of backyard vegetable growing

At the recent One Planet Market we were treated to a talk by Andrew Skinner.  I say ‘treated’ because it is always a delight to hear about how seasoned gardeners have gone about their passion of growing good, fresh, healthy food in the city.  Admittedly Andrew and his family have the benefit of a tennis court size garden but based on his talk they make good use of every square inch.  The chooks roam between the vege plots helping clean up the potential pests and fertilizing as they go.   The excess produce is shared with others or preserved for leaner times.

Growing kang kong in the kitchen

by Pauline Muir

I’m interested in establishing some perennial vegetables in my garden and I came across kang kong or Chinese watercress, an Asian perennial vegetable, which tastes much like spinach. It is highly nutritious and never gets bitter.

What I read on the internet suggests that kang kong will grow just in water with added fertiliser. A kind of no dig spinach if you like. It is related to sweet potato and grows as a vigorous vine in tropical conditions and in places like Florida has become an invasive weed. Setting this up this has turned into an interesting experiment.

Smart Move – public meeting 23 May

Please join us for our Public Meeting and Annual General Meeting!

8pm Thursday 23 May 2013

All Souls Church Hall, 34a Third Avenue, St Peters 5070

7.15pm – Annual General Meeting of Sustainable Communities SA

8pm – public meeting

Come along to hear Stephen Yarwood,  Lord Mayor of Adelaide City Council, who will speak about Smart Move.

Smart Move is a 10 year strategy to support the City of Adelaide’s vision of creating an accessible city with great streets and places that people want to stay and enjoy. There’s much we can learn from hearing about this plan and how it will be implemented. It’s about making transport and movement more sustainable and people centred.

Please join us and bring your friends!