Saltgrass

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.

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

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)

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 Oli Moraes - Djaara 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: Connecting Country Djaara’s Healing Country Plan Related Episodes: Wilderhoods Walking Together Caring For Country

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: Village Dreaming Ceres - environmental park in Melbourne Natural Tucker - sourdough bakery Damian Cook - who Ralf worked for for many years Critical Mass - cycling protest Related Episodes: Youth are Rising Redbeard Bakery 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)

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: Gung Hoe Growers HOFC – Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative Sprout Bakery and their Instagram Bar Midland 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 S5 E12 The Orchard Keepers S5 E13 Micro Dairy S5 E14 Love and Garlic S1 E06 Gung Hoe Growers with Sas and Mel S1 E05 Mount Alexander Fruit Garden S2 E13 Food Security and Farmers Markets S5 E07 Root to Tip with Duang

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: Gung Hoe Growers 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: Sellar Dairy Harcourt Organic Farming Co-operative Food Not Bombs Holy Goat Cheese

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 The Orchard Keepers Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative World Wildlife Fund – Innovate to Regenerate fund Related Episodes: S5 E11 An Incredible Octopus - with Katie Finlay S1 E05 Mount Alexander Fruit Garden S1 E06 Gung Hoe Growers S2 E13 Food Security and Farmers Markets

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 HOFC Grow Great Fruit Fruit Tree Nursery Gung Hoe Growers Sellar Dairy Indigenous native food – Murrnong Mummas The Orchard Keepers World Wildlife Fund – Innovate to Regenerate fund AFSA – Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance Farming on other people’s land - FOOPL Grounded – community land trust Farmer Incubator This Farm Needs a Farmer (Facebook link) Growing Farmers Related episodes: Saltgrass Season 1 Katie and Ant Saltgrass Season 1 Gung Hoe Growers with Sas and Mel Saltgrass Season 2 Regenerative Farming

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: Plastic Free July Book: Plastic Free By Rebecca Prince-Ruiz and Joanna Atherford Finn (Published 2020) Global plastics treaty Zero Waste Victoria BYO Containers Some other plastic education media pieces: Climate Town: Plastic Recycling is a scam DW Planet A: Recycling Myth The Story of Plastic

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: Djaara Djaara’s settlement agreement Djaara’s Healing Country Plan Waa 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 The Green Institute Green Music Australia Fourplay Jim Buckell Democracy for Dinner Democracy for Dinner Substack Tim Low’s book ‘Where Song Began’ Half of our body is not human 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 Murray Bookchin Democratic confederalism as seen in Kurdish communities Related Episodes: Democracy for Dinner Futures

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 Duang’s cooking school Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative Related Episodes: Gung Hoe Growers Mount Alexander Fruit Garden 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

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: Castlemaine Currency WebsiteCastlemaine Currency FacebookConversations from the Castlemaine Currency Project“StorylandABC articleArticle in garland magazine About the Artists: Carbon ArtsThe Castlemaine InstituteDale CoxAnn Ferguson Other Links: Get LostCastlemaine Pay The RentWikipediaTransition NetworkLocal Lives Global MattersTomorrowRob HopkinsTransition TownTotnes PoundWararak InitiativesJosh Durum Design by CommitteeIndigenomicsRegen MelbourneBrixton PoundAnitra Nelson – Beyond Money