The Melbourne Writers Festival – with an Indigenous Twist

The Melbourne Writers Festival – exploring worlds through words.

Thoughtful conversations, insights, inspiration and ideas … talks on climate change and social change, and an indigenous themed opening night – it’s all been part of the mix at this year’s Melbourne Writers Festival. Hot on the heels of Melbourne’s recent International Film Festival, and soon to be followed by the Melbourne Fringe Festival, this city has certainly earned its reputation as a key cultural centre for creativity and the arts.

Melbourne – a cultural hub for creativity and the arts.

The program for this year’s Melbourne Writers Festival featured a wealth of home-grown Australian talent plus a line up of international guests from various cultural backgrounds. It was an event for thinkers, readers and writers of all genres – from poetry and literature, to photojournalism and non-fiction. In addition to the main presentations, panels and workshops, there was the odd musical interlude and exhibition, sessions for students and a series of outreach events at local libraries.

Centred once again around Federation Square and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), plus some satellite locations, and with around a quarter of the events being offered for free, the Writers Festival remains quite accessible and provides something to suit all tastes. But it is not just for writers and literary types. Featuring over 370 authors, taking part in 300+ events, covering a smorgasbord of topics – from gender and race, to science and science fiction, revolution, activism, and politics in the Trump era – it has been a veritable feast of good food for thought!

Climate change was one of the topics discussed at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

I always find it worthwhile to explore the opportunities to hear directly from those writers and creators who inform or uplift us or who manage to transport us into new worlds through their work and their words. I like to hear ‘the stories behind the stories’, to find out about the inspiration that leads on to publication, and to meet the people behind the bylines.

In this age of technology, what is the future of the written word … and the art of conversation? Many questions to explore, and social issues and ideas to discuss. Away from the presentations, the pop up bar at Fed Square became a centre for socialising and continuing the conversations, with a nearby Readings Festival Bookstore for browsing, and plenty of opportunities to meet authors and get books signed. It’s always a big week when the Writers Festival is in town.

Lisa Kennedy, illustrator of Auntie Joy Murphy’s new book, ‘Welcome to Country’, at a ‘meet the author’ session for school children.

A Gala Opening with an Indigenous Theme

A beautiful, cross-cultural ‘Earth Honouring’ performance (from L to R, by Gina Bundle, Vicki Couzens and Priya Srinivasan), set the scene for the evening.

This year, the highlight for me, was the opening night for the Festival – which featured a celebration of indigenous culture, through performance, music and the spoken word. To kick off the gala evening, Wurundjeri elder, Auntie Joy Murphy, gave a heartfelt ‘Welcome to Country’ – welcoming everyone to the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people and inviting guests to explore and enjoy the festival and its events.

Aunty Joy Murphy, indigenous elder and author, gave the ‘Welcome to Country’ at the gala opening for the Melbourne Writers Festival.

This welcome was followed by a soulful ‘Earth Honouring’ performance, featuring indigenous artists, Vicki Couzens and Gina Bundle, in collaboration with Indian performer, Priya Srinivasan. Inspired by music, movement and the spoken word, this choreographed, cross-cultural piece portrayed feminine energy in motion and in gentle connection to the earth, creating a very grounded and calm tone for the evening. With evocative poetry, the sharing of indigenous language and song, and Vicki Couzens’ heartbeat-like drumming, this enchanting performance followed a recent collaboration between the artists at the pop-up Jaipur Literary Festival in Melbourne. Below is a short video I filmed on my iPhone.

A Thought Provoking Keynote Address

Continuing on with the indigenous theme, Kim Scott, author and Professor of Writing at Curtin University in West Australia, delivered a keynote address about how stories can help create or challenge our sense of national identity. Kim was the first indigenous writer to win the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award, for his novel, Benang, and he won the prize a second time for That Deadman Dance. His latest novel, Taboo, is set in rural Western Australia and tells the story of a group of Noongar people who revisit the site of a massacre.

A thought leader on cultural identity and a proud member of the Noongar community, Kim is also the founder and chair of the Wirlomin Noongar Language and Story Project, which has published a number of bilingual books as part of its work reviving and recording local language.

One of the bilingual books from the Wirlomin Noongar Language and Story Project.

As a writer, Kim Scott’s work challenges the conventional notion and narrative of  ‘Australian history’, originally viewed and documented through ‘white’ or European eyes. He shines a light on historical trauma and highlights indigenous connections to culture, language and land. Articulately presented, on the page or in this case, in person, his work integrates the lesser known, shadow side of Australian history and is part of a national conversation that needs to continue.

Indigenous author, Kim Scott. (Image courtesy of MWF/photographer Sorell Wilson)

In his presentation to the literati at the gala, Kim referred to the words of Mark Twain, the noted American author who, after a visit to Australia in the 1890s, commented that Australian history is “always picturesque; indeed, it is so curious and strange … it does not read like history, but like the most beautiful lies.”

“Beautiful lies?” queries Kim. “The fundamentals of Australian history as far as I am concerned, involve stolen country, a tiny percentage of the original population, especially in south-east and south-west Australia, surviving the first 50 years of colonisation, and then an apartheid-like regime for much of our shared history.”

Kim Scott used some archival examples to highlight the pervasive, often derogatory attitudes towards indigenous people following colonisation. His own writing explores a historical narrative which includes an indigenous perspective and his work draws upon important elements of Aboriginal culture and ‘lived experience’, bringing this forward into the national discussion about our shared history and identity.

A page from the 1947 book, ‘Australia’s Coloured Minority: Its Place in the Community’. The author, A.O. Neville, Chief Protector of Aborigines and Commissioner for Native Affairs in WA from 1915 to 1940, articulates the belief that assimilation of Aboriginal people of mixed descent could only occur through ‘breeding out the colour’. (Image courtesy of Museums Victoria Collections https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/1496210)

An adept researcher, Kim revealed that he found countless examples in the historical archives that were full of disparaging references to race. His presentation also highlighted how Aboriginal people had tended to be portrayed in literature and lyrics, drawing upon a Slim Dusty song as an example of inherently accepted racism. Indeed, he pointed out that there could be something insidious, a type of ‘poison’ in certain songs and stories.

“Perhaps we have outgrown these stories now?” he asked. Kim welcomes the opportunity for people to review such content through new eyes and to see it for what it is. He indicates that although there is still a long way to go, he believes that times and attitudes are changing and that there is a growing and genuine interest in Aboriginal history, heritage and culture. And he sees the road ahead as a time for healing.

Kim Scott talks about his work with the Wirlomin Noongar Language and Story Project – an initiative aimed at reviving language and sharing culture through stories.

“Perhaps you can understand some of us wanting a different story of identity and belonging in which we might dwell, and of imagining a community that might gather around these stories that we tell” he said.

“The community that gathers around our stories is built up one by one. We are collaborating together in the story we are making, and in the telling and the retelling.” Kim reminds us that our collective story is still being created. “History is never over, it continues.”

A Moving Musical Tribute

Following Kim Scott’s powerful keynote address, the ‘Mission Songs Project’ took to the stage. Presented by Jessie Lloyd and accompanied by singers Emma Donovan, Deline Briscoe and Jessica Hitchcock, this vocal quartet performs songs drawn from the missions, reserves and fringes of townships where indigenous people were relocated.

The Mission Songs Project shares indigenous stories through the revival and performance of songs from the past. 

The Mission Songs Project is part of an ongoing initiative to research and present a collection of indigenous songs that were composed and performed from 1900 to 1999. This somewhat gospel-like and moving collection of songs provides an important historical insight into the lives of indigenous people and their experiences of cultural identity, love and loss.

One of the songs in the Mission Songs Project repertoire is about a boat called ‘The Irex’, which used to transport people from the mainland of Queensland over to Palm Island. Many of those who travelled on this boat were displaced or removed as punishment under the Protection of Aborigines Act. They included young children who are now considered part of the ‘Stolen Generation’. ‘The Irex’ was a song that was sung in memory of those lost children and loved ones, as families did not know if they would ever see them again. 

Below is a brief video clip, shot on my iPhone, which provides a glimpse into the type of songs and the beautiful voices that bring this quartet and important project to life.

The song lyrics share what day to day life on the missions, settlements and reserves was like, through music. Jessie Lloyd explains that these rare songs consist of almost forgotten stories that have the power to shed light on the history of indigenous elders, families and communities. It is great to see these songs and stories being shared with the wider community.

Rap’d

The indigenous themed gala opening for the Melbourne Writers Festival wrapped up with an after-party and music from DJ Sovereign Trax, with her playlist of music from contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians – including samples from rap and hip hop artists.

Authors, illustrators and performers at the gala party.

DJ Sovereign Trax.

Music from contemporary indigenous artists set the tone for the after-party.

Jessie Lloyd and Jessica Hitchcock from the Mission Songs Project.

Kim Scott chats with guests and signs some books.

Earth honouring performers, Gina Bundle and Vicki Couzens, with Kim Scott at the after-party.

Books from the Wirlomin Noongar Language and Story Project.

Overall, the opening night was a really fitting way to acknowledge the richness and resilience of indigenous culture and stories, shared through words, music and performance, and it provided an opportunity to look to the past as well as the future. This event highlighted that storytelling comes in many forms … and as Kim Scott reminds us, our shared stories in this ancient land continue as we co-create and record them, for the present and for future generations.

The Melbourne Writers Festival is an annual event that runs for 10 days in late August/early September. For further information, visit http://www.mwf.com.au

For further information about the Missions Songs Project, visit missionsongsproject.com

 

 

Adapting to Climate Change

Lisa at Yandoit Farm in Central Victoria.

As we enter early Autumn, after what has been a long and hot, dry summer, El Nino continues to bite and wreak havoc with the weather patterns and rainfall cycles across south-eastern Australia and elsewhere. High temperature records for recent months have not just been broken, they have been smashed! And as Summer rolls into Autumn, here in Melbourne we are facing a forecast for a week of heatwave temperatures, with little rainfall or relief in sight. But as a catalyst for change – such conditions can make us think more deeply about how we can plan for the gardens and the communities of the future, to build resilience and to become more water-wise and more sustainable in our practices.

Recognising water for the precious resource that it is.

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/weather/respect-the-heat-ambos-warn-as-autumn-heatwave-menaces-melbourne-20160308-gnd6u2.html

Having just spent several weeks on a study tour of farms in Central Victoria and having seen the drought conditions first hand, the topic of farming and gardening in the face of climate change is something that is set to attract more attention as we move forward. In some ways, El Nino is a bit like a warm up act for longer term climatic changes – a taste of things to come. So how do we adapt and how do we plan for viable methods of food production and for the farms and gardens of the future?

Welcome to ‘Kentgrove’ in Goulburn, New South Wales.

While travelling across New South Wales last year, I passed through Goulburn and caught up with Doug Rawlinson and his wife Sharon, who ran a local plant nursery in town for several decades. In recent years they have been focusing their efforts on restoring a historic estate called ‘Kentgrove’, which they purchased after it had fallen into a state of disrepair during a period of ongoing drought. The estate had once been home to the largest orchard in the southern hemisphere, in the late 1800s, complete with its own jam factory.

The back of the ‘Kentgrove’ heritage home, viewed from the kitchen garden. (Photo courtesy of Doug Rawlinson)

Along with the restoration of the property’s heritage buildings – including the home, stables and old jam factory and cannery – the Rawlinsons’ love of horticulture has also seen them create some really interesting and diverse gardens around their new home. Including one of the country’s first private demonstration sites for ‘climate change gardening’.

Doug and Sharon Rawlinson. 

Encouraged to sign up for the Open Garden scheme (which recently wrapped up after 27 years of operating), Kentgrove became the first listing for a ‘Climate Change Garden’. Doug and Sharon have since received many additional requests for tours and workshops … along with visits from the odd journalist wanting to find out more.

Unseasonal Spring snowfall. (Photo courtesy of Doug Rawlinson)

‘Climate change’ is not just about ‘global warming’ and an increase in heat waves, although that is certainly an important aspect on the spectrum of forecast and unfolding changes. It is also about broader ‘changes’ to the climate overall – be that an increased frequency of storm events, damaging winds, shifts in usual weather and rainfall patterns, or intermittent or unseasonably intense downpours, frosts or snowfalls.

Goulburn is an area with some tough climatic conditions to contend with.

The Goulburn region has some challenging growing conditions at the best of times, so it has been an excellent training ground for the Rawlinsons, in terms of learning to deal with weather extremes. From the regular frosts and notoriously cold winters, to unseasonal Spring snowfalls, and hot inland summers and heatwaves. All in the relatively dry climate of New South Wales’ Southern Tablelands. There is much that we can learn from such locations about resilience and adapting to change!

Gateway to the ‘Climate Change Garden’.

The Rawlinsons learnt valuable and sometimes costly lessons, largely through a process of trail and error. Their original vegie patches were decimated during the hot, dry summers. The heatwaves really started to take their toll on the gardens and on the Rawlinsons, prompting a rethink, followed by a redesign of their productive growing areas.

A handyman by nature, Doug enjoys using recycled and repurposed materials wherever possible.

Doug converted an old tennis court into a English-inspired, Victorian Kitchen Garden – which he adapted to suit Australian and local conditions. He set about planting hedges around the perimeters, to create a wind break and protection from storms, and he integrated a range of rain harvesting and water conservation techniques, including the use of a gravity fed system, to provide for irrigation needs. The end result was Doug’s ‘Climate Change Garden’ – a productive food garden complete with its own ‘lid’ in the form of a shadecloth canopy “to protect the garden as well as the gardener from the summer heat!”

The series of raised beds are protected by perimeter hedge plantings and a shadecloth canopy.

With the shadecloth ‘roof’ and wind protection, coupled with organically enriched soil, good mulch and water conservation measures, Doug recorded a significant reduction in water use of 75 percent. He also noticed that winter productivity was not affected adversely and there was not an increase in mildew issues in the cooler weather, as the set up still allowed for good air flow and open pollination.

Water plants and an ornamental pond in the Victorian kitchen garden. (Photo courtesy of Doug Rawlinson)

Ever the experimenter, Doug has also created a ‘Warm Room’ next to the shed, for winter gardening, capturing natural light and generating warmth a bit like an English sunroom. Things like citrus trees (which otherwise struggle in this area) and even avocados and tropical pineapples can be grown in this sort of micro-climate. An old machinery shed has been converted into an additional greenhouse, to propagate seedlings and less cold-tolerant plants, ready for Spring plantings.

The greenhouse helps to extend the growing season in colder weather.

The Kitchen Garden has become a highly productive space, year round, growing a broad range of fresh, seasonal foods. More than 30 beds are home to vegetables, herbs, dwarf fruit trees, berries, grape vines and flowers (for decoration, colour and attracting pollinators). The Rawlinsons are largely self-sufficient and their ‘food miles’ have shrunk down to become daily walks from their kitchen to their garden – a round trip of around 40 metres!

Australian garlic growing in the kitchen garden.

Doug continues to experiment and explore the boundaries of plant propagation at Kentgrove. He has even created a ‘Rainforest Room’ out of a section of the old jam factory. Here, under the protection of a roof, open windows let in light, birds and insects, and all manner of temperate rainforest and food plants can be found growing between the walls. Ponds and waterfalls are part of this harvested rainwater garden, and winding wooden walkways lead on to pleasant places to sit and enjoy this cool space. It is a beautiful site for hosting the gardening and sustainability workshops that the Rawlinsons present to the public.

A section of the old jam factory has been converted into a ‘Rainforest Room’.

A pond and plantings within the ‘Rainforest Room’.

After decades working as a nurseryman, assisting fellow gardeners to deal with things like water restrictions and drought, and having experimented in his own gardens, learning through trial and error, Doug is well placed to share his experiences from his journeys in sustainable living and gardening. He has created a real model garden for the future, demonstrating how we can adapt to meet the challenges associated with growing plants and produce in an era of climate change.

Rain is usually a blessing for a gardener!

As Doug sums up so succinctly, “During drought times, people learnt to do more with less and to do things differently. When dealing with environmental challenges it is all about responding appropriately and also, learning what works and learning to adapt.”

Thanks Doug, for being willing to share your story and your experiences!

* To read the full feature article (with its tips on climate change gardening), which appeared in ‘Your Vegie Patch’ magazine (Issue Vol 6/ No. 1), click on the link below.

YVP_Adapting to Climate Change (Vol 6/No 1)

 

Doug’s latest project – the creation of a Japanese contemplation garden, which will also be home to ‘tea rooms’, to refresh the growing number of visitors who are keen to attend sustainability and gardening tours and workshops at the Rawlinsons’ home.

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

 

Sign of the times.

One of my favourite botanical gardens in Australia is also one of the oldest. The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens has a history stretching back almost 200 years, and a long association, not just with horticultural display gardens but also, with the growing of food. From its transformation from farmland in the early 1800s, to its establishment of heated walls to grow food plants in cold weather, through to the creation of the much-loved ‘Pete’s Patch’ for ABC TV’s ‘Gardening Australia’ programme, with the inimitable Peter Cundall and more recently, Tino Carnevale, through to the hosting of the Tasmanian Community Food Garden.

Peter Cundall and friends, at the opening of the Tasmanian Food Garden. (Photo courtesy RTBG)

Today, the RTBG has become one of the most progressive botanical gardens around, with its ground-breaking development of a ‘community garden’ onsite, providing plots for a diverse array of community and school groups, and training and workshops in all aspects of growing food, for members of the public. It is all about ‘Feeding the Future’ – an initiative to ensure food security and food production skills for all members of the Tasmanian community, including those most at risk of not having enough fresh, healthy food to eat.

Launching a new era in the role of botanical gardens. (Photo courtesy of RTBG)

Gardening Australia presenter, Tino Carnevale, in the food garden. (Photo courtesy of RTBG)

The Tasmanian Community Food Garden has become a real hub of activity, for gardening and gardeners, and a special place of learning in one of the most beautiful ‘classrooms’ imaginable. With its picturesque riverside setting in Hobart, it is a tranquil and welcoming site for visitors and volunteers alike.

The Community Food Garden is a collaborative project.

In addition to maintaining the community food hub, the RTBG retains its focus on horticultural display gardens more broadly, as well as seed preservation and conservation. These latter measures serve as a bit of an insurance policy for the future, as the world faces issues such as the significant loss of natural habitat, and the impact of changing climatic conditions.

Horticultural Co-ordinator, David Reid (R), with colleague, Marcus Ragus (L).

Community education and engagement have become an important new focus for the botanical gardens. In the community food garden, staff enjoy helping to empower people and communities with the skills and confidence to grow their own food. A noticeable outcome of this shared experience has been the building of a strong sense of ‘community’ in and around the gardens, providing social connections for people who come together from all walks of life, to enjoy the productive garden space and the company of others, and the opportunity to develop new skills.

Volunteers lend a helping hand in the garden.

The various community groups enjoy cultivating and harvesting fresh, healthy food to take back to their respective groups. Any excess is donated to a not-for-profit organisation called ‘SecondBite’, for distribution to emergency food relief programmes, welfare groups and people in need. So nothing goes to waste!

Volunteers from the not-for-profit SecondBite gardening team.

Tasmanian Community Food Garden curator, Adam Lancaster, loves his outdoor ‘office’ and working with the garden volunteers. He enjoys watching them grow in skills and confidence as they take part in the workshops and start to spend more time in the gardens.

Tasmanian Community Food Garden curator, Adam Lancaster.

A plant propagation workshop in the greenhouse.

Through its food gardening programmes and classes, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is reflecting a broader community interest in edible and not just ornamental plants, and in the skills relating to their cultivation. Botanical gardens were originally established, in medieval times, in association with the early universities, largely as centres for research into medicinal herbs – the medicines of the day. Botanical gardens have continued their fundamental research, seed repository and horticultural display roles over the intervening centuries but they have also continued to evolve over time. In more recent years, edible, useful and productive plants have once again started to come more clearly into focus.

The vegetable patch in Tasmania’s botanical gardens in the late 1800s. (Photo courtesy of RTBG)

The gardens of the future.

 The widespread community support that is being demonstrated at RTBG for the growing of food demonstrates that this is a welcome role for botanical gardens to be exploring and indeed, provides an important model for the future, and for the development of skills for gardening under the influence of a changing climate. Hopefully other botanical gardens across Australia and elsewhere are watching carefully and taking note. Wouldn’t it be great to see more of these community food gardening initiatives in other capital cities and regional towns?

* To view the double feature on the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, which appeared in ‘Your Vegie Patch’ magazine, click on the links below.

RTBG_The Tasmanian Community Food Garden (YVP Issue 5/Vol 5)

RTBG_Botanical Gardens – Living Learning Centres (YVP Issue 5/Vol 5)

 

Farming, Fair Food and Fine Films

Documenting a revolution in food production.

It’s been a week of ‘foodie films’ with a twist – shining a spotlight on how our food is being produced and how this ‘production’ – both small-scale and large-scale – could be expanded to feed a projected global population of 10 billion people by 2050. There is growing awareness about ‘food miles’ and the health and environmental consequences associated with the highly processed western diet that many people consume. More people are starting to look at where their food actually comes from and what goes into it, and there is increasing support for local farmers and producers, through the likes of farmers markets and community supported agriculture.

Farmers Markets (like this one in Lancefield, Victoria) are growing in popularity.

There is also a grass roots movement evolving across the globe, with the practice of ‘urban farming’ really starting to gather momentum. Many people are wanting to reconnect with nature and the land or to cultivate the traditional skills associated with ‘growing your own’ – be that in community gardens or on rooftops, in paddocks, plots or pots, school yards, backyards or balconies.

As the two ‘food’ films that premiered in Australia and screened at the Transitions Film Festival in Melbourne this week highlight, we are in the midst of what is quietly but steadfastly becoming a social revolution. A small but significant percentage of the population is starting to shift towards becoming more localised and self-sufficient in terms of developing the skills and know-how to grow and source more of their own food. And the flow on benefits include re-invigorated local economies, an increased sense of ‘community’ and improvements in people’s overall health and well-being.

Community gardens are a great place to grow food and build a sense of community.

The ‘Plant This Movie’ is an award-winning documentary that tracks the rise of urban agriculture internationally, from the productive ‘Victory Gardens’ of the war years, through to the post-war ‘age of consumerism’ that took hold from the 1950s onwards, starting with the baby-boomer generations. Decades of disconnection from food production in the western world followed, with the increasing commercialisation and industrialisation of the food supply. To the point where many people have lost the fundamental skills associated with ‘edible gardening’ – a practice that was far more common amongst our great-grandparents’ generations.

However, in recent years, things have started to come full circle, as more and more people have started to seek out those traditional skills and reconnect with the art of growing, cooking and sharing good food. Fresh, healthy home-grown and community-grown food.

The ‘Plant This Movie‘, directed by Karney Hatch, is narrated beautifully by Daryl Hannah and provides an uplifting and tangible sense of global change taking place, providing examples from both the developing and developed worlds but mainly North and South America.

For me, sitting in the audience, there was definitely a “feel good” factor … and it reinforced why I love my work as a garden writer, with a special interest in the growing of food. I love meeting fellow gardeners across Australia, in the course of researching, writing and photographing my stories – home gardeners, guerrilla gardeners, horticulturists, educators, community builders and the like – people who are making a difference to their own lives and the lives of others, and who, through the simple act of productive gardening, are part of a quiet global revolution. The phenomenon of ‘growing your own’ and urban farming is something that I definitely observe taking place across Australia.

Australia is part of the revolution in community gardening and ‘urban farming’.

The second ‘food’ movie featured at the Transitions Film Festival this week was ‘10 Billion: What’s on Your Plate?‘ This German documentary with English narration, directed by Valentin Thurn (‘Taste the Waste‘ producer), provides a thought provoking and sobering look at the issue of how to feed the world’s growing population, which is expected to reach 10 billion by around 2050. In exploring the future of food, the film takes viewers on a journey across the globe, through both developed and developing countries, to explore the various options. From insects to industrial farming, from the roll out of big-business technological ‘solutions’, to the rise of organic, small-scale and community based farming practices.

While some of the high-tech options may at first appear to be bordering on the sic-fi, they are actual examples of research and development, or even implementation, in different parts of the world. These include ‘meat’ being grown from stem cells, in test tubes and petri dishes, within research laboratories (although a ‘burger’ currently weighs in at around $250,000) and genetically modified animals and plants designed to be fast growing and ‘high yield’ via the introduction of new genes from other species. Today, there are ‘plant factories’ in operation in  Japan, with food cultivated without soil, on multi-platform levels, under artificial lights. Such high-tech propositions currently carry high price tags, which make them rather prohibitive for developing country budgets.

Then again, as the documentary highlights, we can learn much from the farmers of the developing world, with their age old practices and precious species diversity, held within seed banks. Although, many farmers did get caught up in the ‘Green Revolution’ that was rolled out in the west and beyond, as the ‘answer’ to improving crops and yields and feeding the world. However, as the big seed, fertiliser and pesticide companies prospered, poor farmers became increasingly dependent upon this high-input way of farming and mono-culture approach to agriculture.

Organic farming is one of the options explored in the film.

As a counterbalance, traditional and small-scale practices are steadily making a comeback, with the value of diversity and lower energy-input practices becoming more valued as viable options for the future.

Organic farming is one of the agricultural methods that is steadily on the rise as people look for alternatives to the agribusiness model and also look to repair the environment and produce healthy sources of food. The film also looks at community supported agriculture (CSA), the rapid growth of ‘urban farming’, and movements like the Transition Network, with its local currency (in the original Totnes, UK example of a Transition Town) and its support for locally produced food and the building of community resilience.

Backyard chickens are part of the urban farming revolution.

Good food for thought.

 All in all, both documentaries provide good food for thought, as we explore how to address potential food shortages for the globe’s growing population. Moving forward into the future, different approaches and solutions will be required in order to deal with the challenges ahead, which will inevitably include soil depletion and climate change. It is encouraging to see that re-localisation, creativity and innovation, the new phenomenon of ‘urban farming’, and equipping people once again, with the skills to sustain themselves, all look set to play an increasingly important role in addressing food security and in planning ahead to feed the world’s future generations.

 .

* The Transitions Film Festival runs through until 3 March in Melbourne (and 20-29 May in Adelaide). Its programme of thought provoking films aims to engage, educate and inspire. In essence, positive, solutions-focused films and cutting-edge ideas from around the world are showcased, often followed by Q&A and panel sessions with leading local thinkers and ‘agents of change’, drawn from the creative, academic, governmental, community and business realms. 

For more information, visit http://www.transitionsfilmfestival.com, where you can also sign up for their newsletter and event updates. The Transitions team also screens special sessions and hosts mini-events at other times of the year, which are well worth checking out.

For more information on the movies and their creators, visit:

http://www.plantthismovie.com

http://www.thurnfilm.de/en_doku_10Milliarden.php

* Thank you to farmer Fiona, from Adsum Farmhouse, and the Jills of Lancefield, and to urban farmers, Jen from Orange and Yasmine from Austria, for appearing as my farmers market and community garden ‘models’ in this blogpost.

 

The People’s Climate March

A global demonstration of support for action on climate change. 

‘People Power’ took to the streets of Melbourne on Friday 27 November, as the first of a weekend of Climate Marches took place across Australia. Tens of thousands of people added their voices to calls for action on climate change.

The ‘voice of the people’ echoed across the world, as citizens in towns and cities – from Argentina to Zimbabwe – poured onto their streets as well, in a weekend of global community action, sending a powerful message – loud and clear – to world leaders on the eve of the United Nations Climate Summit in Paris.

[* ‘Frontline’ montage photos (above) by ROWENA DELA ROSA YOON, images below by TESS HOLDERNESS]

The ‘voice of the people’ echoed across the globe.

Just as social movements have historically sprung up and been a catalyst for change in addressing inequities – like Apartheid in South Africa or the civil rights movement in the United States – this time, a world-wide revolution is starting to really gather momentum in response to a shared global issue which is increasingly and profoundly affecting humanity at large, socially and economically as well as environmentally.

People from all walks of life joined together as one united group.

Taking to the Streets

The reality of climate change can be sobering and even quite confronting, yet ‘inspiring’ and ‘heartening’ are words that spring to mind to describe Melbourne’s Climate March. Largely because people are starting to feel that change is in the air – literally.

A time of great change.

There was a strong sense of a critical mass of people joining together, locally as well as globally. These are people who are aware of the issues and what is at stake. People who are willing to show their support for a rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the phasing out of fossil fuels and the roll out of clean energy technologies. Indeed, there is a sense that we are on the cusp of nothing short of a revolution whose time has come.

Calling for a clean energy revolution.

An estimated 60,000 Victorian citizens – of all ages and from all walks of life – came out onto the Melbourne streets to voice community concerns about global warming and to demand action on climate change. As people gathered together, there was a real buzz in the air and an electrified feeling of anticipation. Looking around at the diversity of the different groups that were there to demonstrate, a real sense of camaraderie and support was quite evident.

There was an air of hope and camaraderie amongst the demonstrators.

Many disparate groups had coalesced in a common cause, brought together by a desire for greater action on climate change. From indigenous people to trade unions and supporters of various political parties, from church and religious groups to artists, musicians and representatives of conservation organisations, from youth groups to baby boomers, teachers, office workers, emergency service personnel and health professionals. From parents with babes in arms to community elders and everyone in between – all singing from the same hymn book. As one young mother commented on the crowd as she walked past, “we are all in this together”.

A family friendly event, for people of all ages.

Calls for Action

The rallying speeches articulated the calls for action but more than that, they also laid out a vision for the co-creation of a more sustainable, equitable future, based on the use of clean energy technologies. Such a future will be filled with a range of new opportunities and possibilities, accompanying the transition to a more sustainable society, powered by renewable sources of energy.

There is strong community support for a shift towards a more sustainable way of life. 

Within the ‘broad church’ of civil society calling for such social change, there exists a sense of hope and a willingness to help facilitate such a shift – through personal and professional actions. In fact, many people just want to “get on with the job”. Such a proactive and positive approach provides an important antidote to the concerns, fears and anxieties that surround the growing number of reports of environmental crises and further climatic changes, the consequences of climate disruption that have already begun.

People want a transition away from fossil fuels, to a renewable energy economy.

Companies and politicians with vested interests in continuing with the ‘business as usual model’ and people who choose to remain in ignorance or denial about the changing climate, can be sources of great frustration to those who are looking to move forward and transition to a less polluting and less environmentally damaging economic model.

People want their politicians to do more and to show some leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change.

Federal Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, after the Melbourne march, reiterating the Labor Party’s plans for zero net emissions by 2050.

The Australian Greens Leader, Senator Richard di Natale, was warmly welcomed by the crowd.

In Our Hands

Awareness is certainly building in regard to what is happening to our environment and our climate system and importantly, what needs to be done to address the underlying root causes. Tipping points for the ‘solutions revolution’ are coming more clearly into view. However, this comes at a time when the climate system itself is heading towards its own tipping points – with global mean temperatures increasing, icecaps and glaciers melting and sea levels rising.

Climate change is affecting the world’s biodiversity and habitats.

An increasing frequency and severity of droughts, heat waves and fires, torrential rains and floods, and more intense storms are occurring across the globe as the early consequences of global warming and climate change kick in. Species diversity, along with many habitats and marine environments, are in decline. Oceans are experiencing increased rates of acidification and the world’s beautiful coral reefs are being subject to more bleaching events. Such observations and reports provide further impetus for change – social and economic change.

Young people were out in force to draw attention to the plight of our environment and to call for change.

What is at stake is the very future of the habitable planet that we inherited and became environmental stewards of. But what will we be passing on to the young people of today and future generations to come? We still have time to take part in what has been termed a critical ‘Transition Decade’ – a window of opportunity to “turn the Titanic” – but we are approaching a very important fork in the road.

Time to “turn the Titanic” and chart a new course for humanity.

Up to Us

As a global society that shares the ecosystems and climatic systems that support and sustain us as one human family, we have choices to make in terms of how we move forward and how fast we transition to a clean energy economy. We have the skills, knowledge and know-how and the technical capacity and expertise to enable this shift. And we are steadily building the necessary social capital and ‘community will’ to drive and facilitate such change.

Think of the type of future we want to create.

Future generations will look back on this time as an important junction in human history. Lying before us now, is the opportunity to redefine our future. It is in our hands and the eyes of the world now fall upon Paris. We will stay tuned to see if the necessary ‘political will’ to make a timely transition to a clean energy economy is to be demonstrated.

We are all ‘climate guardians’.

… And we never give up hope.

As Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor of The Guardian UK reports, the first day of the UNFCCC COP21 gathering began with strong rhetoric from the world’s leaders … will it translate into strong action?

Read the full story at: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/live/2015/nov/30/paris-climate-summit-world-leaders-meet-for-opening-day-live?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=KIITG_PCC_Day1_301115&utm_term=140554&subid=11356678&CMP=ema-60

For full coverage of the Paris Summit from The Guardian, visit:  http://www.theguardian.com/au/environment

Our common future.

For a short video and recap of the Climate Marches in Australia, visit the Australian Conservation Foundation, at:           https://acf.exposure.co/peoples-climate-march?&utm_medium=email&utm_source=acflive&utm_content=2&utm_campaign=PCM-final-reminder-CCL-PTW-2015-11-26&source=PCM-final-reminder-CCL-PTW-2015-11-26

For accurate and independent information from Australia’s Climate Council, including reports from the Paris Climate Change Conference, visit: http://www.climatecouncil.org.au/

For updates from Melbourne Uni researchers, from the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, who are attending the Paris conference (including authors Tim Flannery, Kate Auty, Don Henry and John Wiseman), visit: http://sustainable.unimelb.edu.au/cop21blog

For official information about UNFCCC COP21, including background details, webcasts and the e-newsroom, visit: unfccc.int/2860.php

For background information about climate change and ideas about what you can do to play your own role in the ‘solutions revolution’, or to request a presntation on climate change in your area, visit The Climate Reality Project (a not-for-profit organisation founded by Nobel Prize Laureate and former US Vice-President, Al Gore): https://www.climaterealityproject.org

* Words and images by TESS HOLDERNESS

NB – ‘Frontline’ montage photos (at the start of story) and portrait of the author (above) at the Melbourne Climate March by ROWENA DELA ROSA YOON (portraits below by TESS).    Thanks Rowena! T  : )

 

Eingana – The Journal of the Victorian Association for Environmental Education

I enjoyed working as the interim Editor of Eingana – the Journal of the Victorian Association for Environmental Education, for its April-June 2015 edition. It would have been nice to have continued on in the role but I have too many other work and travel commitments at the moment. Perhaps another time …

It is always good to share stories about the journey towards sustainability and how we can engage others, as educators and communicators.

Eingana is the great Earth Mother. She is fertility herself. She is the source of all life forms, of all being.

DJAUAN TRIBE, NT

To view the Eingana e-publication, click on the link below …

VAEE Eingana Journal_Vol 38 #1

At VAEE, it was also wonderful to meet with VCE Environmental Science teachers and contributors to discuss plans for the new VCE textbook for 2016. Such a committed group of people!

FROM THE EDITORS

…………………..

By Sarah Houseman and Tess Holderness

Environmental educators, like gardeners, take a long term vision for their work. Observant of small changes and indicators of a healthy eco-system, they are encouraged and re-energized by new growth and short term projects which flower to the wonder of all. Some change is incremental and subtle in character and can only be discerned in reflective moments. Failure to thrive invites some deeper questions and enquiry. At other times a number of factors come together to create change that is profound and impactful, even revolutionary. Professional educators are driven to ‘make a difference’.

In the current edition of Eingana, we hear from some of these educators (and students) and look at how those seeds of change are being planted, nurtured, pruned and harvested. How can we bring people, schools, businesses, institutions and communities together to learn about and explore pathways to sustainability? In ‘From Lectures to Conversations’, Ian McBurney, creator of the Talking ecoLogical card deck, explains how the cards can be used to inspire and encourage conversations about sustainability.

Monash University researchers share their findings about the value and effectiveness of Sustainability Victoria’s ResourceSmart Schools program and how it can be further improved. Tracy Young reflects on the future of early childhood environmental education, while Kirsty Costa, 2013 VAEE Environmental Educator of the Year, suggests that it’s time to change the way we talk about sustainability in an education context. We also hear a student perspective, with Year 9 Cornish College student, Katja Jansen, sharing her investigation into the health of the Murray River.

In this edition, we also welcome our new Eingana Editor, Tess Holderness. With a background in biology, she comes to us with extensive experience as a science and environmental journalist, editor and photographer – making a valuable addition to the journal and VAEE team. Tess is looking forward to sharing stories that help to connect, inform and inspire members of the environmental and sustainability education communities.

It was lovely to catch up with some of our members at the recent VAEE Community Gathering, convened to provide an opportunity for educators to connect with and learn from each other and build our community. The second Community Gathering will be held in late May – look out for more details in the next edition of EnviroEvents.

The next edition of Eingana will focus on the theme of Advocacy – both within environmental education and for the environment. If you would like to submit an article relevant to the theme please contact Sarah Houseman via vaee@vaee.vic.edu.au.

We hope that you enjoy reading this latest edition of Eingana and find the contents to be good food for thought. As one of our contributors, Tracy Young, points out so well in her article:

“The intent must be to not only create inspiring messages that hopefully enact environmental change as the seeds of change are sown, but to also consider how these seeds can develop deep rhizomes that spread in multiple directions and build firm foundations of change.” ●

A Budding Green Thumb

In my last post, I shared a feature profile on school teacher, Mick Bourke. The accompanying story in the current edition of Your Vegie Patch magazine, is on 10 year old gardener and sustainability advocate, Jamie van Wensveen – who just happens to be my son! Although, in this story, I focus on the inspiration that his class teacher has been, in inspiring him to take up gardening and an interest in the environment, not to mention learning to cook. Bless you Mick Bourke!

Needless to say, I had plenty of pics to choose from for this feature. And I am pleased to say that Jamie now shares my interests in gardening and sustainability – a kindred spirit! From the feature article …

A BUDDING GREEN THUMB

In the previous gardener profile we met a Kitchen Garden teacher … here, we meet one of the young students who has been inspired to set off on his own gardening adventures.

      

To view the story, click on the link below …

Your Vegie Patch Magazine-Feature Story on JAMIE

Teachers – Sowing the Seeds of Change

It’s been a while between blogs! I have been busy working and travelling … But back in Melbourne now, and it is high time to share some of my recent stories, on gardening and sustainability – two of my favourite themes. This feature story, for Your Vegie Patch magazine, is on environmental educator and primary school teacher, Mick Bourke, from Preshil – the Margaret Lyttle Memorial School in Kew.

SOWING THE SEEDS OF CHANGE

For primary school teacher, Mick Bourke, engaging students in learning about Kitchen Garden activities and sustainability is one of the highlights of his job.

 

To view the story, click on the link below …

TESS_YVP_GARDENER PROFILE_MICK BOURKE_FINAL

Magazine Feature – ‘In Conversation with Stephen Ryan’

A garden tour with Stephen Ryan provides an insight into ‘unusual edibles’.

Time to share some of the work that I do … writing about the realms of science, sustainability and gardening. The latter is particularly good therapy – wandering around gardens, taking photos and interviewing people who are growing interesting things. It inspires me to try new things on the home front, and slowly my humble vegie patch is starting to transform itself into quite a productive food garden. I have even donned the gloves to help with the kitchen garden and sustainability programs at my son’s school, Preshil – but more about that in a future blog.

An abundant vegetable garden, with towering amaranth – a source of edible flowers, greens and grains.

The vivid colour of flowering amaranth heads.

Today’s post is about magazine features … using the case in point: ‘In Conversation with Stephen Ryan”, which currently appears in the September-October edition of ‘Your Vegie Patch’ – a magazine all about growing your own food. I really enjoy contributing to this publication, especially features for the section on ‘Gardener Profiles’.

At the end of each month (or two for bi-monthlies) there occurs the ritual changeover of magazines on newsagency shelves, so I am about to bid Stephen (and also a piece on ‘Caroline’s Courtyard’) farewell to make way for a couple of different features in the next edition of the magazine.

At a time of high turnover, 24-hour news cycles and ever-present internet availability, magazines, unlike their newspaper counterparts, are tending to hold and even increase their circulation figures. This is due to a number of factors – including readership loyalty and the existence of niche genres – which is nice to see.

Tending the vegetable patch.

Stephen’s garden is full of meandering pathways and little surprises hidden around corners.

Personally, I love writing and creating photographic features for the magazine format. I am definitely an advocate for this type of ‘slow journalism’ (think the ‘slow food’ movement and simply apply it to writing).

I first met Stephen Ryan, former host of the ABC TV series ‘Gardening Australia’, at an Open Garden Day in the Macedon Ranges, when I was farm sitting out that way. I went to visit his beautiful property, Tugurium, and we had an interesting chat during a tour of his garden. I quickly planned a return visit, camera in hand. The garden is a wonderful example of beauty and productivity – a real labour of love that is filled with all manner of rare plants, given Stephen’s expertise and interest in this area. He just happens to run the Dicksonia Rare Plants Nursery up the road.

The unusual ‘medlar’ – a beautiful fruit tree or a productive ornamental – depending on how you look at it.

The medlar fruit is like a cross between a pear and a hawthorn and tastes somewhat like a baked cinnamon apple.

In addition to all the interesting plants I had never laid eyes on before … and his fabulous vegie patch … one of the things that really appealed to me was Stephen’s interest in “usual edibles”. These added beauty and interest to the garden in their own right and they weren’t simply confined to the vegetable beds or the orchard, rather they were peppered throughout the property, skilfully interwoven amongst the ornamentals, to great effect. Given Stephen’s wealth of knowledge, effusive enthusiasm and remarkable garden, I thought that this was a story well worth sharing …

The photo-feature, as it appeared in ‘Your Vegie Patch’ magazine, can be found at the following link:

‘In Conversation with Stephen Ryan’

Relaxing in a tranquil spot by the back pond. Stephen and botanical illustrator Craig Lidgerwood.

Drawing inspiration from the garden, literally  – one of Craig’s illustrations. Hardenbergia violacea.

About

This is me with my 9 y o son, Jamie, at the Melbourne Aquarium – one of our favourite places. The preservation of nature and the life support systems that sustain us all, is what will determine the type of planet and future that we pass on to current and future generations. What will our legacy be?

This site is where I will document not just my own journey towards living more sustainably but also the experiences of others. The plan is to write occasional blog posts on interesting developments in the realm of renewable energy, productive food gardening and addressing climate change, etc. And to profile those working within this sphere. Early days yet but as this all develops I will continue to add useful links and resources, along with some samples of my published work.

For me, both gardening and garden writing are good therapy!

Photo-journalism has always been a special interest for me – having grown up on a diet of National Geographic and wildlife documentaries – and I continue to love its ‘story telling’ role. With a background in biological sciences, my early work centred mainly around journalism and reporting, primarily for magazines and broadcast media, generally with a special interest in science and nature.

I have enjoyed writing for science and gardening magazines and working on shows like ‘Talk to the Animals’ with Dr Harry Cooper, doing feature stories on wildlife and meeting lots of salt of the earth people along the way. Sometimes my work would also branch off into general reporting or areas more foreign to me, like producing stories on women’s sport for SBS television … although I must admit that somehow the stories tended to morph into segments on the science of sport!

It has all been a very interesting journey … and great food for thought, as you never stop learning.

Testing out a solar vehicle designed and built in Australia by engineering students at UNSW. The Sunswift prototype holds the world record for the fastest electric car over 500 km. Renewable energies are the way of the future.

Over the past 15 years or so my work has evolved into science writing and editing for international scientific research institutions. I’ve really enjoyed assisting scientists and researchers from around the world (including places like Africa, Asia and South America), often with English as a second language, to prepare their work for publication or presentation at major conferences. I love what I do because I am forever meeting interesting people and learning about the important research that they do.

WHY THE BLOG?

A couple of key reasons … Journalism and communications have moved into the digital age. So it is time to get with the programme and I am seeing increasing value in what the blogosphere has to offer in terms of connecting people and sharing information. Another inspiration has been the work of climate protection advocate and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Al Gore, the former Vice-President of the United States. In 2014 I was selected to do some training with Mr Gore in Melbourne. I had been following his work with great interest, since the release in 2006, of the Academy Award-winning documentary, ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ and I was quite keen to gain more of an insight into the work that his Foundation (The Climate Reality Project climaterealityproject.org) has been undertaking in the intervening years.

Nobel Laureate, Al Gore, Founder of the Climate Reality Project, at a Leadership training session in Melbourne.

As a science journalist, I accept the consensus science and research behind human induced climate change. My interest is particularly on the ‘solutions’ – those approaches designed to move us forward and help us to adapt and mitigate (that is, reduce the impact of and factors leading to) a changing climate. Attending the training really reinforced for me, the importance of effective science communication in helping to create a better informed public and a civil society better equipped to make decisions about the challenges we face and identify the best pathways forward.

The training programme also highlighted the importance of seeing this not just as a scientific issue but as an issue that affects each and every one of us, globally – socially, economically and politically. As a result, I am choosing to refocus my work, in alignment with my background and interests, to produce more stories about sustainability, including profiles on those who are getting on with this important work. I am really looking forward to sharing ideas, information and inspiration from the people that I will be meeting with, interviewing and photographing, as a way of highlighting the great work that is unfolding in this area.

Fellow members of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps in Melbourne.

Despite the challenges, I believe there are positive signs of change everywhere we look, reflecting the transition that is currently underway towards the creation of a more socially just and environmentally sustainable society. Change will not simply come from the top down and this is far too important an issue to just leave to our politicians. Change will come from the ground up, from people like you and me, and from every direction in between. Working together, in a shared direction, is what will enable transformation. This is not just for our sake but for the sake of our children and for future generations – those who stand to inherit the earth that we will leave behind for them.

This decade has been termed the Decade of Transition. We have the skills, technology and knowhow, we just need the social capital and political will, and this is continuing to build towards a critical mass – a tipping point if you like, as the climate system also heads towards some crucial tipping points.

Learning about renewable energy technology, research and solutions at the recent ‘Clean Energy Show’ in Melbourne.

As one of Australia’s leading atmospheric scientists, Prof David Karoly, points out, with the help of a Goldilocks cartoon, we can no longer offer the future generations that follow us, the climate system that we grew up with. There is no longer a “just right” option – the options now on the table are for “hot”, “hotter” or “boiling”. The changes we make now will determine our future and theirs. The choice is ours and the time is now.  Welcome to the Transition Decade! I do hope that you will be part of this exciting journey.