EarthChat

The art of growing and eating delicious, nutritious, local food! S24, Ep31

On this EarthChat, Chloe Fox, Brontë Haines, and Nelly Watson chat with Ruth of their passion, commitment and creativity in bringing yummy affordable local seasonal produce from farm to plate.To produce a healthy and creative feedback loop that ensures sustainable reciprocity means we must take care of the earth. And in the process we get to witness the beauty of how plants grow alongside the invaluable contribution made by micro organisms, insects, and birds in this marvelous reciprocal loop.Growing and eating local food also creates community. We come together to share and swap the abundance of what we grow and inevitably conversations ensue about how delicious freshly picked fruit and veggies taste, and the many ways the entire plant can be eaten, along with learning about lesser known produce including native bush food and how to prepare it. Lots of recipe ideas, etc…..Gastronomy, the study of the relationship between food and culture, the art of preparing and serving rich or delicate and appetizing food, the cooking styles of particular regions, and the science of good eating goes only part of the way.Chloe Fox brings a wealth of growing experience from running Somerset Heritage Produce, a small scale cooperative organic market garden based in Seymour Victoria. Located on the banks of the Waring (Goulburn) River. “We grow according to organic principles and focus on soil health and biodiversity.  We grow primarily heirloom varieties, our vegetables are delicious, full of nutrients and grown and harvested with love and care. We embrace the unique and diverse beauty of our vegetables”.Brontë Haines is generally in the garden. Fair Food & Wildflowers store in Avenel is where her love for growing, food security, and caring for her home, on Taungurung Grey Box Grassy Woodland, intertwine. She has a degree in nutrition and a Masters in environmental restoration. She has worked researching the experience of food insecurity among people seeking asylum, as well as among people accessing food charity in Victoria. When not at the store she is at Euroa Arboretum tending the grounds and the little plants.Nelly Watson is currently part of a team that helps Brontë run Avenel Fair Food and Wildflowers. Her other roles include sourcing and ordering products for local venues who are passionate about using and promoting locally sourced ingredients/products. She has been a delivery driver for the Open Food Network's experimental, small producer focused logistics project, 'Open Road’, and she is part of a team of coordinators for the Strathbogie Local Food Hub, a Euroa based, community led initiative to support local producers during Covid. She describes herself as being fortunate to work in the local food scene since moving to the Strathbogie Ranges 8 years ago where she hangs out in a self built tiny house on wheels in the foothills among the stringy barks, critters and granite outcrops. Nelly also works at the Euroa Arboretum as part of the Bush Crew.This is a lively and enlightening ‘foodie’ romp introducing us to delicious new vegetables, native foods, and the utter delights of growing and eating fresh seasonal produce, along with the many ways we can care for the earth while doing so. Food, Glorious Food!

Senator Janet Rice reflects on Gaza, climate action and other issues. S24, Ep30

Our guest on this week's EarthChat is the former Greens Senator, Janet Rice. For over 40 years, Janet has been a campaigner for people and the planet, including campaigning against trucks in residential areas, campaigning for forest protection, being a founder of the Greens in Victoria and being a Senator in the Australian Parliament for the last 10 years. She was the Greens spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Social and Community Services, Forests and LGBTIQ issues among others. She was also the co-convenor the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Palestine Group, and the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet.Janet joins Tim Budge and Peter Lockyer to discuss a range of topics including the importance of Palestinian solidarity as a social justice issue, her reflections on her achievements as a Senator and campaigner on important causes, and her plans for life after politics. Listen in for what will be a fascinating conversation with someone who has shaped debate on many national and local issues over a long period of time. Read more about Janet Rice and her career on her Wikipedia page. Read her blog about her bike ride home here.
 

Taungurung Lands and Water Council proposes management of the Tallarook Forest as a Cultural Reserve S24, Ep29

What does this proposed Indigenous management mean now that the logging threat has subsided. Or has it? Is selective logging within this proposal?The Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) believes that the State Government must put Country and people first when deciding on the future of the Central Highlands forests following direct involvement in the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement.TLaWC requests that forests within these cultural landscapes be designated as Cultural Reserves rather than National Parks to enable this significant part of Taungurung Country to be managed consistently according to Taungurung cultural knowledge:
“Active management for a broad range of values is needed to heal and care for Country”
Matt Shanks,  Executive Manager of Biocultural Landscapes at TLaWC and proud Taungurung man, joins EarthChat to discuss the emergence of First Nations, and particularly Taungurung Land and Water Council in seeking management of State Forests  since the cessation of VicForest and logging of Victoria’s native forest.The Rapid Biocultural Expressions Assessment of the State Forests within the Central  Highlands Regional Forest Agreement (CHRFA) area occurring on Taungurung Country represents the findings of a Taungurung led research project and outlines Taungurung’s position on the future of forests. It identifies a number of significant cultural landscapes in the Central Highlands and asks that forests within these cultural landscapes be designated as Cultural Reserves. See also here.First Nations managing State Forests seems a neat fit. But what does this management look like, what uses will be envisaged and how does the conservation of biodiversity fit within the Cultural Reserves model.Matt Shanks is an engaging speaker and up for a robust conversation. His thinking creates an exciting landscape of cross-cultural engagement good for First Nations and our broader community.

Local Environment Activities, S24, Ep28

This week Marie Gerrard and Peter Lockyer chat with Elyse Kelly, Mitchell Shire Council's Environment Coordinator about a range of plans to enhance the local environment in our beautiful shire. Elyse has worked at the Mitchell Shire Council for several years and during that time there have been many improvements in the protection of our very diverse area. In the coming months there will be a range of consultation opportunities for the public to comment on various Council plans related to the environment.They also have details of the National Tree Day on Sunday 28th July where there will be opportunities for everyone to take part. 

Handy Hints to Reduce Plastic S24, Ep27

It's now the middle of Plastic Free July and this week's EarthChat gives us a good opportunity to do a plastic-free stock take. How is the month going for you? What have been the small steps you have taken to make a big difference in reducing plastic in your life? What's going well and what has been a struggle?
So, this week, Tim and Ruth chat about plastics. They also have three different local guests who give their perspectives and share handy hints for reducing plastic. Some actions are harder than others and some people have yet to see the importance of reducing plastic waste. However, the good news, is that some changes are easy and fun and can make you feel much better about life and the planet. Hear how one business, Cafe 96, has been doing some exciting things to reduce plastic in their food preparation and offerings. It's a win-win for them and their customers. Also, get some handy hints about other businesses which are moving away from plastic and who you can support them. We look forward to your company.It's not too late to get on board with Plastic Free July. Take the challenge here.

Turtles in the Goulburn Valley S24, Ep26

Turtles in the Goulburn Valley - ancient survivors under threat from foxes and vehicles.Ken Wallis lives on a property  near 5 Mile Siding on the Goulburn River, on which he grows flowers with his partner TR but a healthy turtle habitat has sparked a new interest for them both.Ken’s turtle habitat includes billabongs along the Upper Goulburn Road east of Tallarook. Freshwater wetlands, swamps slow-moving rivers and farm dams are the favoured habitat. The Eastern Long-neck Turtle is in healthy numbers, but their nests  are under heavy threat every nesting season. Foxes in the main, and perhaps larger birds, have an appetite for disturbing nests and eating eggs.  95% of nests in Australia are damaged. So whilst a long-neck turtle can lay a lot of eggs- up to 13 hard-shelled eggs- the brightly coloured plastrons take 120-150 days to emerge. That leaves  a lot of time as vulnerable to hungry foxes and foraging larger birds.Turtles date from 230 million years ago, and have survived the dramatic changes that wiped out dinosaurs but their future is uncertain in a changing climate with pest predators and vehicles. Ken joins Peter Lockyer to discuss the turtles at Five Mile Siding; their nesting habits, how to identify turtle nests, where the nests are most likely and how to conserve the nests. What are the conservation measures available? Have you got turtle evidence in your backyard?Ken has a keen eye, and also shares his observations of patterns in migration of snakes, wombats and birds up and down the Tallarook Ranges through Seasonal Concepts to the Goulburn River. And these patterns change.Ken Wallis chats with Peter Lockyer on EarthChat. Education and stories from our Goulburn River backyard in Taungurung country that makes our region just that more fascinating to share. 

Lessons from the Voice Referendum, S24, Ep25

Despite the recent referendum result the reconciliation journey continues - it is far from over as the need for recognition, justice, and healing is ongoing.6.2 million Australians voted YES. And then there were many who voted NO who actually want positive change for indigenous people in this country but because of confusion and misinformation they heeded the outrageous advice from the Leader of the Opposition who counselled: “If you don’t know, vote NO..” What on earth happened to: ‘if you don’t know, find out’?As we prepare for Treaty negotiations in Victoria let’s get clear about what drove people to vote NO? We must learn these lessons to ensure Victorians are clear that this important opportunity ensures Indigenous Victorians will at last have the freedom and power to make the decisions that affect all of their communities, cultures, and Country. They are after all the experts when it comes to identifying and communicating their needs.Ruth’s guest this week is Professor Andrew Gunstone who is an international authority in the field of reconciliation. His recent book: Reflections On The Voice : During and After the Campaign, the first to explore the Referendum and its Aftermath, was written both during and after the Referendum campaign.It explores many critical reconciliation matters, including Indigenous rights, addressing racism substantive reconciliation, equality, truth-telling, community engagements, international agreements, and allyship.Prof. Gunstone is the Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Reconciliation at Federation University, where he has institutional responsibility for all reconciliation matters, including the Nations Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, which he created in 2023.Andrew has been engaged in reconciliation for many years and is also Co-Chair of Reconciliation Victoria, the peak State-wide reconciliation body; Foundation Editor of the Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, Co-convenor of the National University R.A.P. Network; and a member of the serval national and regional reconciliation committees.Join Ruth for this important conversation with Andrew Gunstone who helps us get clear about what it will mean to have a Treaty in Victoria.

Birdlife Australia - Save birds, save lives

This week on EarthChat, Marie and Ruth chat with the Hon Kelvin Thompson about Birdlife Australia. The conversation is a great chance to learn about long-standing group and its work that makes the most of the power of citizen science.Marie and Ruth discuss the long term findings of the organisation's annual bird count with Kelvin who had a long career in politics but has also been a bird watcher since childhood He is a life member of Birdlife Australia as well as their Education Officer. It's an interesting and informative conversation.Many of us environmental activists have a love of birds and their place in nature in our childhoods. BEAM always welcomes children in our activities.Want to learn more about Birdlife Australia, check out their informative website here.
 

A Rising Tide of activism against fossil fuels

The Rising Tide of community activism against the fossil fuel export industry has a local champion in Peter Gaffney. Rising Tide is an activist community group focused on real action to address the climate change challenge. Actions are direct and dramatic for this is the challenge of our time.“We are the rising tide of ordinary people, called by extraordinary times. We are a diverse movement demanding Australia honours our commitment to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. We are prepared to take whatever peaceful actions within our power to defend the climate.”Time is short and the stakes are high as our climate change escalates.As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says… “2023 is a year of reckoning. It must be a year of game-changing climate action. We need disruption to end the destruction. No more baby steps. No more excuses. No more greenwashing. No more bottomless greed of the fossil fuel industry and its enablers.”Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of coal and gas. The emissions from these exports dwarf our domestic climate pollution. The Port of Newcastle is the biggest coal port in the world, and Australia’s single largest contributor to the climate crisis. So Rising Tide's action focus is on coal - stop expanding coal mines, and stop exporting coal to become someone else’s emissions problem. That problem impacts us all.Last year Rising Tide staged a blockade of the Port of  Newcastle. Newcastle is the largest coal export port in the world. A 30 hour blockade that attracted committed people from infants to 90 year-olds.Peter Gaffney is a committee member of BEAM Mitchell Environment Group. Peter was really enthusiastic about direct action in Newcastle last year and is now on the Victorian organising committee of Rising Tide.On EarthChat this week,  Peter shares about the “fire in his belly” over coal and climate action with Peter Lockyer. 

Plastic Free July - small steps, big difference

Plastic Free July is coming and we have an amazing guest to help us plan individual and local community activities! On this week's EarthChat, Tim and Ruth chat with Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, the founder of the global Plastic Free Foundation.Plastic Free July is a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation, inspiring all of us to work towards a vision of seeing a world free of plastic waste. From humble beginnings in 2011 with Rebecca and a small team in local government in Western Australia, it is now one of the most influential environmental campaigns in the world. Millions of people across the globe take part every year, with many committing to reducing plastic pollution far beyond the month of July.Rebecca is a change-maker, author, TEDx speaker and sustainability professional who is motivated to care for people and planet. Rebecca believes that as individuals, by changing our relationship with plastic and challenging our consumption, together we can work towards a world without plastic waste.Want to read more and get involved in Plastic Free July? Look here. Also check out our Facebook page and our website for BEAM's Plastic Free July events.