For more information about Boomerang Bags check out their website or facebook page or join the community facebook group.

Submission to MRSC Strategic Plan from Kyneton Transition Hub – February 2017

Kyneton Transition Hub is a part of the international transition town movement and is concerned with sustainability issues in a broad sense. Our special focus is on building strong and resilient communities in a future of peak oil and climate change.

Our vision for the Macedon Ranges region includes initiatives to make our region more resilient and sustainable and also ways to contribute to a more resilient and sustainable world. For these reasons we recommend the following issues are included in the next council strategic plan:
• Divestment – ensure MRSC does not have investments in fossil fuel and other unsustainable industries. Adopt an ethical investment policy for all money held by the council.
• Invest in renewable energy for council owned buildings and encourage and facilitate the same for community-owned buildings in the region. Encourage and support community-owned renewable energy initiatives like the solar and wind farms in Woodend.
• Urban agriculture should be encouraged through edible trees on nature strips, a clear and positive nature strip garden policy, support for community and neighbourhood gardens, and encouraging edible gardens on under-utilised council land and open spaces.
• Support for local agriculture that recognises the importance of resilience and equity not just economic issues. Help build links between producers and their local customers, but also address the issue of food insecurity as it affects the disadvantaged in our community.
• Resilience and sustainability can only be achieved if equitable solutions are sought. This relates to food security issues, but also homelessness and access to housing. Council should work with other groups to help secure equitable outcomes for all.
• Work with local communities and community groups to preserve and enhance our local parks, botanic gardens and nature reserves.
• Bring sustainability issues to the fore in all council decision-making. This may require a sustainability reference group that includes community members and experts to ensure sustainable outcomes.
• Enhance council decisions by embedding community consultation into the processes. This is likely to be some form of deliberative democracy such as citizens juries.
This is only a brief outline of our key concerns. We would be happy to discuss this in more detail as the council plan takes shape.

Contact details:
Julie McLaren, Community Liaison
Kyneton Transition Hub
KynetonTH@gmail.com
(03) 5422 3023

Once again a selection of local edible gardeners are throwing open their garden gates to welcome visitors. It’s a chance for you to check out what they have been doing and what they’ve learned along the way.

You can learn about lots of gardening topics including: wicking beds, bird and insect attracting plants, native bee hotels, fresh local produce, organic gardening, vegetables, fruit, nuts and herbs, companion planting, free range chickens, composting, water saving, hugelkultur, water harvesting, soil improvement, seed saving, biochar and many aspects of permaculture.

Eleven very different edible gardens around Kyneton are opening their gates on Saturday 3 September 2016 as part of the Kyneton Daffodil andArts Festival. Some of you may have already seen the Festival program, but please note that several new gardens have been added since the program went to print and one garden has become unavailable. For a complete list check out the map and descriptions below or pick a copy up from your first garden for the day or at the Festival or Visitor Information centres.

The gardens will be open at various times with the first opening at 10 am and the last closing at 4 pm. The gardeners will be happy to share what they have learned from their gardening experiences.

If you’re an edible garden fan, we suggest you make the time to visit all the gardens we have lined up for you. There are some exciting new additions since the last open day, as well as a few favourites open again.

If you are visiting Kyneton for the Festival we suggest you squeeze at least one or two into your busy schedule.

Our local Kyneton edible gardeners look forward to making you feel welcome.

If you’ve been considering solar panels, the MASH2 session at the KMI will help.

Unfortunately due to ill health, Alan & Kathy’s garden will not be open.

There are still six amazing gardens to see and lots to learn.

Once again a selection of local edible gardeners are throwing open their garden gates to welcome visitors. It’s a chance for you to check out what they have been doing and what they’ve learned along the way.

You can learn about lots of gardening topics including: worm farms, hugelkultur, water harvesting, soil testing and improvement, companion planting, wicking beds, native bee hotels, integrating ornamentals and art work, seed saving, biochar and many aspects of permaculture.

Seven very different edible gardens around Kyneton are opening their gates on Saturday 12th September as part of the Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival. Some of you may have already seen the Festival program, but please note that several new gardens have been added since the program went to print. For a complete list check out the map and descriptions below or pick a copy up from your first garden for the day.

The gardens will be open at various times with the first opening at 10 am and the last closing at 4 pm. The gardeners will be happy to share what they have learned from their gardening experiences, and this time some are having talks at specific times.

If you’re an edible garden fan, we suggest you make the time to visit all the gardens we have lined up for you. There are some exciting new additions since the last open day, as well as a few favourites open again.

If you are visiting Kyneton for the Festival we suggest you squeeze at least one or two into your busy schedule.

Our local Kyneton edible gardeners look forward to making you feel welcome.

Explore issues important to the future of Kyneton and the rest of the world

Come along and learn about why and how our current economic system needs to change and is changing.

On Tuesday 25th August Kyneton Transition Hub will be hosting a forum to discuss the current economic system based on the growth imperative, and alternatives that have been proposed or are being explored.

There will be two short films and discussion facilitated by Julie McLaren. Also, LInda and Vivien from the Macedon Ranges Community Exchange will talk about LETS systems and local currencies to illustrate one alternative to our current economic system.

This is part of our regular monthly Future Forum, and the interactive format has proven popular with participants..

Each month a new topic is chosen to explore the future of Kyneton and beyond. The topics relate to our aim of building community resilience to be more sustainable in the face of the impacts of peak oil and climate change. A short film, guest speaker or facilitator informs the participants and gets the discussion started.

There will be a break to our forum series in September due to school holidays and we will resume in October. Some possible future topics include regenerative agriculture, energy descent, and healthy oceans. If you have any ideas for future topics, please let us know.

The evening starts with a light meal from 6.30 pm (vegetarian and gluten free available) and discussion starts at 7 pm. This is a great opportunity to meet others who share the same concerns and learn together about these important issues.

 Kyneton Future Forum is on  4th Tuesdays of the month (no forum in September)