The CCS seminar: The Social Life of Pesticides: the Future of Urban Agriculture and Biodiversity in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River addresses the ‘social life’ of pesticides in the Hawkesbury region at Sydney’s western fringe, where land use is dominated by small-scale horticulture. The seminar will report on a cross-disciplinary effort, involving researchers working in toxicology, environmental science, social science, design and applied sustainability research, to come to grips with the state of knowledge of the condition of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and the social causes of its chemicalisation. All interested parties are invited to join in discussing possible avenues for reform such that the ecological resilience of the Sydney basin can be enhanced and the contribution of peri-urban farming communities to our way of life can be appropriately recognised and supported.
“Source to Sea” is an ABC Landline story about balancing urban sprawl with food production in some of the nation’s most fertile farming areas. Much of the debate in the Sydney basin focuses on the demand for new residential developments. But if agriculture, fishing and horticulture are to survive on the fringe of Australia’s biggest city, the health of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river catchment will be of equal importance.
Spreading urbanisation and population growth are putting pressure on agricultural lands on the fringes of Sydney. The NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service e-brief Agriculture in the Sydney Region: historical and current perspectives presents an overview of the history of policies relating to agriculture in the Sydney region, placing this in the context of the current policy debate. It starts with a commentary on the extent of Sydney’s agriculture.
Landshare Australia brings together people who have a passion for home-grown food, connecting those who have land to share with those who need land for cultivating food. The concept of Landshare began in the UK, launched through the River Cottage television program in 2009, and has since grown into a thriving community of more than 57,000 growers, sharers and helpers across the country. Landshare is now in Australia and welcomes you to come and take part. Read the rest of this entry »
If you are interested in learning more about, or becoming a part of the practical and innovative opportunities that we can develop and harvest as a community to protect our future, our children’s future, our agriculture, our food, our families & friends, and the environment, in the face of transformable challenges, then this conference awaits and looks forward to your participation. To find out more visit Organic Agriculture Association News & Events.
The October 2010 Alternative Technology Association (ATA) ebulletin features:
To view this ebulletin visit ATA ebulletin October 2010 and to subscribe to future issues see “Subscribe to the ATA e-bulletin” in the right column of the ATA website.
The City of Sydney is conducting a City Farm Feasibility Study to investigate potential sites for a city farm, research best practice and consult with the community about what a city farm in central Sydney should look like. City Farms are large demonstration sites designed to educate residents, businesses and schools about sustainable living in an interactive setting. To find out how you can be involved visit the City Farm Feasibility Study webpage.
Edible street verge gardening is something that has been going on for the past 20 years or so in our cities but is now capturing the public imagination such that the number of plantings is rapidly increasing. For advocates of edible landscaping in our cities, this is good news but for local government the practice can be confusing. What has become apparent during the recent upsurge in the popularity of edible footpath planting is that a set of design and planting guidelines are desperately needed. Read more in this Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network article.