Saltgrass

This episode was recorded and first released in May 2020. This is an updated version with a new intro. The interview remains exactly the same. In this episode we speak with a family of activists and we take a closer look at what is going on with the Adani Coal mine.  A hotly contested mine that is still in construction in Queensland.  Long term residents of Castlemaine Ben and Jacinta have spent a...

The climate related news media has been saturated over the last few weeks in reactions, reflections and commentary about COP26 . For a show about grassroots climate action it has been hard to know what to say about it all. Enter Cam Walker, who you might remember from a past episode about Friends of the Earth , he has just released an article with reflections about COP26 and what it means for Aust...

Following on from our last episode with Rob Law we head up to Mildura, over 400km to the north of Castlemaine. My interest in Mildura has been growing lately. It is a regional city sitting right on the mighty Murray River, and at the heart of a region called the Mallee. I have been up to Mildura twice this year and have collected interviews each time. Why Mildura? According to climate projections...

Rob Law, Executive Officer of the CVGA – or the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance – joins us to talk about alliances and collaborations between local councils, its not as boring as it sounds, I promise. After years of careful and persistent efforts the CVGA has been instrumental in helping numerous councils in Victoria come together and commit to 10 years worth of renewable energy AND install...

'Don't treat your soil like dirt' is a motto today's guest Dr Jess Drake lives by. Soil scientist and science educator Jess tells us how soil plays a vital part in healthy ecosystems, carbon sequestration and life itself.

Recorded at a live, online book launch of Trace Balla’s latest creation Cycling Together . Trace is a multi award winning author, illustrator and creates the most beautiful graphic novellas , including Rivertime, Rockhopping and the Thank you Dish. This is a beautiful book with a very important message. Trace has created this book to support the work her brother Mark Balla is doing in India to hel...

Recorded at a recent town meeting this episode shares the Q&A session that followed the presentation by Deane Belfield of MASG  This is our second episode looking at the contentious bioenergy plant proposed for Castlemaine. (hear the presentation in our last episode ) For many who are worried about climate change this kind of renewable energy project seems like a great idea, but those living at it...

This episode is the first of two that looks at a contentious issue in Castlemaine at the moment, the proposed bioenergy plant. For many who are worried about climate change this kind of renewable energy project seems like a great idea, but those living at its doorstep have some serious reservations.  Allie starts the episode by providing a bit of context and then we hear a presentation given by De...

This episode looks at the implications for human health as the climate changes. Vanora Mulvenna joins us from the DHHS (the Victorian State government's Department of Health and Human Services) to discuss how our state government is already planning for the possible health impacts of climate change.  Before the interview Allie takes some time to reflect on the latest IPCC report and celebrates Sal...

What is saltgrass ?  This show was named after a real plant and we wanted to know more about it... but it actually isn't very well known.  In this episode we chat with Karl Just, local ecologist, who is one of the few people we were able to find who knows about the plant.  We discuss its properties, both biological and metaphorical.  We also discuss a rare species he has been involved in monitorin...

The final episode for Season 3 has a plethora of voices all asking for the same thing: fund our future, not gas. The Australian School Strike for Climate crew have struck again.  Just before our state was locked down due to another covid outbreak thousands of students walked out of school and gathered in major cities and country towns.  Allie went to the train station early in the morning to chat...

Alex Kelly interviews Scott Ludlam about his new book ' Full Circle - a search for the world that comes next'   For full episode details and links click here

Hear Here is a sound art project that featured in the recent Castlemaine State Festival. In this episode we speak with the two artists who created Hear Here - Dan Koop and Daniele Constance.   Read full episode notes and find links to things discussed here .  

This episode continues on the theme of bread! We hear from bakers from across Australia who have joined the GrAiNZ movement, a loose collection of sourdough bakers who want to create a new, more sustainable grains economy.   See full episode description at saltgrasspodcast.com

This episode takes a look at a local bakery and how it can be an example of everything we want to achieve in terms of community building, supporting local food systems and taking care of the planet. Find out more at https://saltgrasspodcast.com/2021/04/06/s3-e19-redbeard-bakery-with-john-reid/

Jessie Boylan is a PhD candidate at RMIT's School of Art.  She has work in the upcoming Castlemaine State Festival called The Smallest Measure. Her thesis and upcoming art instillation has taken her out to the wilds of a remote outpost at the edge of Tasmania... to a place called Cape Grim where there is a science lab that tests the air coming in off the ocean there. Without land or human habitati...

In this episode we re-visit Chris Hooper, who has been running the Castlemaine Repair Cafe for over four years.  We also chat with Lucy Armstrong about the joy and meaning of repairing clothes.   https://saltgrasspodcast.com/2021/03/02/s3-e17-repair-with-chris-hooper-and-lucy-armstrong/

In this episode we explore the alternative economic concept of Degrowth with Anitra Nelson and Terry Leahy.  It is a growing movement across the world and has at it's heart sustainability and ways we can live in balance with the planet. Find out more and see the links and resources at saltgrasspodcast.com

In today’s episode we are talking with Anton Vikstrom co-founder of the Good Car Company.  These guys are helping the electric car (or EV) transition happen in Australia by facilitating bulk buy purchases of second hand vehicles from Japan. Find out why getting a second hand EV makes good sense for the environment and for you!   Read full episode description at saltgrasspodcast.com

In today’s episode we hear from a couple of fellow sound producers who are making a podcast called Endgame . They too are exploring the journey this local community is undertaking towards a more sustainable future – with a focus on the transition to zero net emissions – or the local z-net movement .  Kyla Brettle , Rob Law and I are all involved in that process, in various ways – which has been go...

A quick little message from Allie for the New Year.  Some reflections on the year that has been and some thoughts and ideas for Saltgrass in 2021. We've been going since this time last year and look forward to another year of sharing our community's climate journey with you. Stay tuned.... 

In this episode we hear from Warwick Smith, a Castlemaine Local, about his dual careers as an ecologist and an economist. (You might remember him from the Student Strike Episode earlier this season) He is fascinating to talk to, I think, because so often we are presented with the idea that these two things are in competition with each other. According to Warwick this does not have to be the case....

If you find talking about climate change difficult, you are not alone! A complex and contentious topic that often makes people anxious and overwhelmed… of course it is hard to talk about. Yet that is exactly what we must do if we are going to make sure everyone is paying attention to this critical issue. In this episode we talk with Rebecca Huntley about her new book ‘How to Talk About Climate Cha...

In this episode I have two interviews for you.  One with Gabe Lillington, the young man who was up the tree when the last show was recorded.  He spent two nights and three days up in what is called the grandfather tree to successfully halt works until legal processes mandated a stop work reprise – until the 19th of November – which is this week. The other interview is with a woman who goes by the...

This week we chat to the people who have been protesting the controversial Western Highway upgrade near Ararat. The Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy has been existing amongst the contested trees for three years and this week one of the significant trees was cut down and others were at great risk. Protesters scrambled into action – some scaled trees and tied themselves in and others support...