I attended the Future Ready Expo at Kawana Waters on Saturday and learnt a lot! Wearing the SustainaBundy shirt meant I was approached by a few original Bundabergians who wanted to know more about what SustainaBundy's doing. The second-hand, green-and-gold work shirts certainly attract attention!

The morning workshop "Surviving in the Suburbs" looked at solutions for a low-carbon future across many levels- home, food, personal and community. I got a bigger-picture perspective and realised the importance of community in responding to peak oil and climate change- we're all in this together and together we'll get through it better than alone. Anne Wensley also talked about Maslow's hierarchy of needs and how food and shelter are the most basic need- so we need to have those sorted first. Later, I was able to learn more about permaculture principles and low-energy backyard solutions such as solar and cob ovens.

From listening to the presentations of Geoff Lawton I felt a sense of hope. Geoff talked a lot about The Permaculture Research Institute's projects in "developing" countries, where permaculture techniques are used to rehabilitate land and significantly improve the residents' quality of life, by providing clean sources of drinking water and sustainable systems of producing food to prevent starvation. Geoff emphasised that many lives can be improved by sharing this important knowledge - including our own - all we need is people out there doing it!

Geoff also talked about drought-proofing areas of land and water harvesting, which I thought were amazing ideas- I didn't know it was even possible, but permaculture is clever, using knowledge of natural systems. With Australia's escalating water concerns, these solutions are now highly relevant.

All in all, it was inspiring to see many interested and knowledgeable people united to explore solutions to current environmental issues such as peak oil and climate change.

I can't wait to see more at Bundy's World Environment Day Celebration!

A couple of interesting episodes on TV for your information:
Landline, ABC (replay Monday 7th, 11am)
The Food Forest
Segment about a permaculture farm in Gawler, South Australia growing over 150 varieties. Included an introduction to the concept of permaculture and an interview with David Holmgren (featured in the SustainaBundy guide!) talking about his permaculture courses. Was inspiring to see this success story. The transcript should be online in the next few days.

Insight, SBS, (replay Monday 7th, 3.30pm)
Australia: A Car-Dependent Nation
Discussion revolved around how much Australians love their cars. Guests included representatives from an oil company, a car manufacturer and NSW Greens party leader. There was talk about peak oil, emissions, climate change and health effects. Unfortunately, the only solutions discussed were electric/hybrid cars and hydrogen fuel. The Greens leader talked about public transport, but there was no mention of reducing transport and food miles, relocalisation or serious discussion of public transport. I felt like the program was driven by 'popular' opinion, led by industry present, that if we just buy a different car, we won't have to adjust our lifestyle. Regardless of the shortfalls, it was still good to see the topic of peak oil on TV. Read the online discussion here .

Did anyone see Insight on SBS tonight? It featured a forum discussion about building sustainable cities in response to climate change, involving Minister for Environment Peter Garrett, a demographer, a town planner, a developer, and others. Public transport, energy efficient buildings and relocalisation strategies were discussed.

It will be repeated on SBS at 1.30pm on Friday and 3.30pm next Monday. Check it out!

The first SustainaBundy General Meeting was held on February 11.
Topics covered:
-progress update on the SustainaBundy Directory and Guide;
-future projects and events.

Guide Update
Content was submitted to the printer on February 11.
Promotional 'got local' stickers will also be printed to promote businesses selling local.

Future Events
Please note that not all events were discussed at this meeting. Watch the Events noticeboard on this website for a complete list.

Garage Sale, March 8
144 Barolin Street
Some guidelines were discussed; no new objects or anything made especially for the Garage Sale, no plants or food. The message is, "Buy second hand first".
Possible venues for future garage sales were also discussed. If anyone would like to host a SustainaBundy garage sale, please contact Andi or Dean (details below).

All-Day Movie Festival Saturday March 29
6+ movies will be shown at the School of Arts, with a discussion room set up next door. It is essential to have at least 2 SustainaBundy members present at all times throughout the day.
Anyone who is available to participate on the day, please contact Andi or Dean (details below).

World Environment Day, Saturday June 1
The group brainstormed activities for the day.
A WED committee is meeting next week to organise the event, including representatives from SustainaBundy, Bundaberg Community Development, Community Garden Committee, Hinkler Greens, Landcare, and WPSQ.
If you would like to be on this committee, please contact Andi or Dean (details below).

Future Ready Expo, Sunshine Coast April 18-19
Roberto Perez is a guest speaker at the event (as seen in 'The Power of Community').
Some SustainaBundy members are carpooling to attend. Anyone who is interested, please contact Andi or Dean for details.

For more information about any of these events, please contact Andi or Dean on 4196 0043 or email sustainabundyNOSPAM@gmail.com (remove the "NOSPAM" part).

The SustainaBundy management committee met on February 4th to:
-discuss the progress of the SustainaBundy Directory and Guide;
-discuss feedback from the success of the recent movie night; and
-map out the next 6 months of SustainaBundy activities.

Update on Guide Progress
We discussed outstanding advertising and organised proofing to prepare for imminent printing. (Further update: all advertising has now been received and incorporated into the Guide. Only final proofing left to do!) Guide content will be submitted for printing early next week.
See also Andi's recent post about funding for the SustainaBundy Directory and Guide.

Movie Night III: Story of Stuff, Wednesday January 30th
The event was well-promoted and well-attended. Discussion was engaging and constructive.
We signed up 4 new members and all the membership forms were gone by the end of the night! Contact information has now been added to the membership form as some attendees took forms home. More membership forms and information will be provided at future movie nights and events to meet demand.
Another screening will take place on Monday, February 18th.

SustainaBundy's next 6 months
We have an exciting 6 months ahead, jam-packed with events! Here's a brief overview:
February 11: General Meeting
February 18: Movie Night
March 8: Garage Sale
TBA: SustainaBundy Directory and Guide Release Party
March 29: All-Day Movie Festival
April 18-19: 'Future Ready' Sustainability Conference and Expo
May 8-10: Agro-Trend
June 1: World Environment Day
August 31: Multicultural Festival

If you would love to get involved in one or more of these events, contact Andi or Dean on 4196 0043 or email sustainabundyNOSPAM@gmail.com (remove the "NOSPAM" part).

More Future Projects
The Directory and Guide is almost finished, but don't despair! There are lots of SustainaBundy projects to get involved in, so whatever sparks your interest, just put your hand up and get into it! And of course, if you have other ideas that you'd like to make happen, start a discussion, get some people together, and go for it!
Bulk Solar Hot Water Drive
SustainaBundy library section
CQU movie nights
Educational movie nights
More "Buying Second Hand First"
Composting workshops & Worm-farm building

More...
Find out more at the General Meeting next Monday 11th, 5.30pm at the School of Arts.

The SustainaBundy management committee met on Wednesday, 5th December to:
-discuss membership terms and fees;
-make arrangements for the SustainaBundy Garage Sale Christmas Breakfast Party;
-check progress on the SustainaBundy Directory and Guide;
-discuss involvement in the 'Future Ready' Renewable Resources Expo & Conference at the Sunshine Coast next April; and to
-meet an interested potential member from Bundaberg Marketplace Fruit and Veg.

Business arising from previous meetings:
SustainaBundy's application for incorporation has gone to Office of Fair Trading management to be approved and should be confirmed by Christmas.

Membership:
Fees, terms of membership and voting were decided.
Details about membership can be found here.

SustainaBundy Garage Sale Christmas Breakfast Party, Dec 15:
Only members may sell goods.
Members should bring a plate of food and a table to display their wares.
Bundaberg Marketplace Fruit & Veg will provide a fresh hamper for possible raffle.
Although there is no fixed commission to SustainaBundy for purchases, a donation is strongly recommended!
Contact Andi Hazelwood for more information.

Directory and Guide:
There is sufficient content for the publication.
Now organising advertising and layout to prepare for printing.
An Events Calendar will be added to provide year-round information.
A stand-alone Markets Section may be included.

'Future Ready' Renewable Resources Expo and Conference, April 18-19
There are tentative plans to organise a SustainaBundy road trip to attend.
Roberto Perez from Cuba (as seen in the 'Power of Community' movie) will be speaking!

We also discussed future movie night ideas, progress on the Community Garden project, involvement in other regions covered by the guide, networking, advertising and cross-promotional avenues, and linking wholesale and retail information for consumers.

Last night's episode of Catalyst was about reducing your carbon footprint. The show got a carbon audit and looked at ways of becoming carbon neutral. There was also a segment on Carbon Conscious Shopping.
Read the transcript on the Catalyst website and catch the replay on Tuesday at 1.30pm.

Tonight a number of SustainaBundy members were once again seen suspiciously hanging around the School of Arts building- this time, for the November BCGC Meeting.
It was my first meeting, and it seems the committee has gone through a lot of planning and negotiating for their goal of creating Bundaberg's first food garden accessible to the general public. Their dedication may soon pay off. The issues have been identified: the need to form a sustainable partnership with an incorporated entity; and to obtain an appropriate site for the garden, and it looks like solutions are available for both.

Attendees also discussed the desire to see schools involved in the project, and the Gin Gin School was mentioned as a successful example we can learn from.

A lot of existing groups are working towards a common goal and an important part of our work is in supporting them to continue their great work, to energise and encourage the people involved! Go SB, go! (cue superhero music!)

Got a few more ideas for the SustainaBundy Guide- an article on the uses of vinegar, oral histories, plus 'Tips From Yesteryear', on how previous generations lived in Bundy.

The End of Suburbia
I watched The End of Suburbia, which helped me understand the oil peak situation and the seriousness of the effects we are facing in our lifetime. I'm not a mother yet, but I know what I want for my kids- a connection with nature, appreciation for our world, strong community ties, and healthful food to give them the best life possible. I know that working for SustainaBundy is ensuring the best future for me, my future family and fellow Bundaberg residents. One of the most positive things that came up in the documentary was the reference to increased human interaction as a result of the resource "crisis". We will have to "learn to be neighbours again"! Although I don't think this is a real problem in Bundaberg yet, in cities it will have a hugely positive impact, and for this, I am grateful to the oil peak! It seems that disaster always brings us closer together. The current lifestyle of overconsumption must end to conserve resources, but I reckon it will also improve our spiritual and mental health- being less greedy, more considerate and thoughtful, more independently resourceful!

Electricity Famine
The documentary also inspired an idea for a future SustainaBundy group publicity generator/educational project; an electricity famine. A group of us publicly (i.e. with media attention) live without using any electricity for a brief period of time (2 days? a week?) to educate ourselves, find creative solutions for reducing energy consumption, and best of all, to raise awareness in the community. We could document the experience and do an interview with e.g. the News Mail as a community/interest article. Would anyone be willing to do this with me? I haven't thought through all the implications for my lifestyle, but being almost summer, I figure it would be easier to go without hot water, hot meals etc. Oh, but what about refrigeration? And my house has a bore, which runs on electricity. Is it even possible to live without power in my house?? It certainly raises a lot of questions, the eyebrows and the heart rate, at the thought.

Involving Youth
I found the QLD Government Youth Community Centre and checked out the monthly schedule of community youth events. This is something SustainaBundy might be able to tap into in the future. I know this is some time ahead, but my eyes are always open now for possible links!

Searching for SustainaBundy Candidates
Working on the single-line directory for the SustainaBundy Guide is already changing my experiences- suddenly, TV ads are interesting! I have a heightened awareness of things around me, every shop, every brochure, thinking how we could connect these dots. My mind is running wild thinking of the possibilities of connecting our community.

The energy just keeps building!

Today I went over to Andi and Dean's place for an expertly-cooked chicken caesar salad (thanks Dean!). The meeting was very successful, with us enthusiastically discussing goings-on and ideas for the future of SustainaBundy. I'm so inspired by how far SustainaBundy has come in such a short time!

I had lots of questions, including where to start designing my backyard to make it more self-sufficient. We touched on permaculture principles, such as sectors/zones, and Andi explained the banana circle (which can be found in the report on the Organic Gardener's meeting last night). I got a tour of their garden, which only served to fire my enthusiasm further. I can't wait to get my own garden rolling beyond the potted herbs!

I had been a bit concerned about my lack of expertise in so many areas, including basic organic gardening, let alone permaculture! But Andi reminded me that we are surrounded by knowledge, in the people around us. Yes, there's a lot to learn, but a couple of generations ago, it was the way of life! I'm keen to refresh that knowledge for my generation and those following- now is the time to recapture it before we lose those who remember. I'm planning to do some oral interviews with locals to document some of Bundaberg's history, so that we can preserve it and use it once again. Attending upcoming community meetings will also be an important step in expanding my own knowledge.

What I'm personally excited about is the opportunity to strengthen ties in our community, from the individual level in project participation, to encouraging existing groups to work together for their common goals, thus making the whole greater than the sum of its parts. Furthermore, by increasing interaction among community members, I believe the overall integrity of our town will improve, with results such as a lower crime rate and increased happiness!!

Andi lent me a DVD about Peak Oil entitled, "The End of Suburbia", which should help fill in some gaps in my background knowledge. We also agreed that although some information in the media about peak oil and climate change is fear-based, focusing on positive solutions to inspire and motivate is much more helpful. Personally, I'm a huge believer in the importance of spreading positivity, and that's a main reason I joined SustainaBundy!

Just as I was leaving, Andi mentioned contacting schools to suss out the possibility of working with kids in future SustainaBundy projects. The school she mentioned was my old school and the contact, my old biology teacher! A coincidence? I think not. I'm looking forward to getting involved with my school once again, if it's workable.

It's uplifting to see where SustainaBundy is going, and the huge potential that exists. This is just the beginning of a beautiful future!