Saltgrass

In this episode I speak with Deb Taylor about her sustainable business choices and her bike ride across the Nullarbor Plain. A six week journey across one of the most iconic Australian landscapes.  She rode approximately 2,468 km from Port Lincoln in South Australia, to Busselton in Western Australia. I wanted to know why she wanted to do it and what it was like for her.  From the practicalities o...

In today's show we have three interviews with people doing sustainable babies in very different ways. Firstly Joan Webster tells us how it was back in the day when you boiled a copper to wash all your clothes, including the cloth nappies (diapers). Then I speak to new parents Alex and Mark, about using washable nappies these days... finally I have a chat with Nickie and Miles about how they raised...

In today’s episode I am talking to Chris Hain and Mel Willard about Food Security.  Chris is the President of the Victorian Farmers Market Association and market manager at both Bendigo and Castlemaine markets. Mel is one half of Gung Hoe growers, with her partner in crime Sas Allardice.  Gung Hoe Growers is the vegetable growing arm of the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative.  I spoke to these g...

In today's episode we talk with Peter Yates, who you might remember from episode seven when we spoke to him and his son Rory about their documentary When the River Runs Dry. Today we listen to an interview I did with Peter several months ago, back when the bushfires were the main topic and we had never heard of the coronavirus... remember that? In this interview we begin our chat by talking about...

In this episode we chat with two local author/illustrators.  Trace Balla is a Castlemaine local and much beloved author/illustrator who has produced multiple comic style books about young people learning about and thus learning to love nature. Her latest creation 'Landing with Wings' has just been released by Allen & Unwin. J. M. Rodier is a Kyneton local and has just published her first book call...

In this episode we explore the global phenomenon of the coronavirus, or Covid-19, and what it means for the environment.  It touches on carbon emissions, pollution, waste management and personal choices about hand sanitiser and, of course, toilet paper!! Then we move on to a collection of interviews I recorded in late February at the Hepburn Wind Farm as we all gathered to create a human sign to c...

This week we spoke with Ilka White (artist), Dale Cox (artist) and Brodie Ellis (curator and artist).  They are all involved in an exhibition about the climate crisis at Lot 19 Castlemaine called Upwelling . Our conversation explores the concept of the show and how it was brought together by Brodie and the works made by Ilka and Dale, before moving on to look at what part art has to play in commun...

Dr Susie Burke (psychologist) and Kerrily Jennings (Community House) join us to discuss the controversy surrounding the council funded workshops at Castlemaine Community House.  It surround a series of three workshops run by Susie which are all looking at how we humans are responding to climate change... see links below.  The conversation ranges far and wide, with discussions on how parents can ta...

In this episode, we discuss the documentary film 'When the River Runs Dry' made by a father son team from Maldon. Only just released and already honoured with multiple awards, this film explores the 2019 mass fish kill event in the Darling River.  In the first half of the episode we get a review of the film from Andrew Skeoch and Nathan Johnson, both locals deeply interested in nature.  Andrew is...

In this episode we catch up with Eliza Tree.  She spoke to us in Episode 4 about the People's Climate Assembly gathering in Canberra that week. In this episode we hear about what happened up there and how it all went.  She also gives us an insight into the Climate Emergency Summit she attended last weekend in Melbourne.  In among all of that we catch a glimpse of the whimsy of author and illustrat...

This is a get to know you episode with local climate activist and community change agent Terry White.  Hear about his story from being a kid wandering the wilds and developing a love of nature to what he is doing now to help push us and our local council towards change.

In this episode we discuss protest.  This week a contingent of locals took a road trip to Canberra to rally outside of parliament and a Castlemaine rally took place in support of the Canberra crew.  I wanted to know what they were protesting about and whether they really thought it would change anyone's mind.   links:   The Totnes Extinction Rebellion Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUt1ELCXw...

In this episode, we start with what the frik is going on with recycling in this region!  Then move on to Transition Towns... what are they?  how can that be applied here? and what comes next?  I am joined by Mary Blain from MASG and Ian Lillington Premaculturalist, both of whom have been fans of the Transition Towns concept for over ten years!   Read more about the global movement that is Transiti...

In this episode we speak to Bill Grant who is a self confessed compost nerd and whose job it is to know all about waste.  We discuss why it is so important to keep organic waste out of landfill and what is REALLY going on with recycling.  We also delve into the controversial world of dog poo... if it stinks, we've covered it in this episode.    Links mentioned in the episode below: Nasa https://ww...

The first episode in a new series. Allie introduces us to the new series and puts it in the context of the devastating fires that have been out of control across much of Australia this season.  We start with Deane Belfield, talking about the book Drawdown and how it can help us all avoid climate catastrophe. Then we are joined by Joan Webster OAM discussing bushfire safety.   Books mentioned:   Dr...

Recorded in 2018, this episode of An Environment for Change sees Allie, Mel and Rachel gather again at the end of their month of plastic free living.  They share stories and tips and things they have learnt over the month of July.  They reveal what worked and what didn't work, where they met success and where they had to compromise. 

Three women chatting about plastic free July.  They are committing to varying levels of plastic free living and in this first episode discuss their thoughts before starting.

In this episode of An Environment For Change we spoke to Julie Holden, principal of the Chewton Primary School.  Under her leadership the school has achieved a five star sustainability rating, the highest rating there is. Find out what she and her team and the students at Chewton Primary School have done to achieve this.

In this episode of An Environment for Change I speak with Chris Hooper about the Castlemaine Repair Cafe.  She has been running a monthly Repair Cafe in Castlemaine for over a year and they have saved over 600kg of waste from being thrown out; objects, clothing and mechanical items that can now live to see another day.  I speak to Chris about how it all started, how it works and where it is going....

A laughter filled chat about very serious issues; the importance of small scale diverse farming providing for local markets.  Sas and Mel have been farming veggies on their patch of land in Harcourt, subletting from the Mount Alexander Fruit Gardens, for several years.  In that time they have doubled thier size and then doubled again, all the while learning and sharing with their local community. 

In this episode I speak to Katie, who has been running the organic orchard Mount Alexander Fruit Garden for over 20 years with her partner Hugh, and Ant, who is set to start running the orchard as Katie and Hue retire.  The conversation ranges over topics from the hidden benefits of organic farming to the exciting new ways young farmers like Ant are starting to organise.

In this episode of An Environment for Change I speak with Ginny, the force behind Boomerang Bags Castlemaine.  She and a group of dedicated volunteers have been following the Boomerang Bags model; sewing and offering upcycled cloth bags to the public of Castlemaine in the hopes of helping us all transition away from plastic bags and towards more sustainable options. 

In this episode I speak to Lucy Young about her ongoing campaign to make Castlemaine a plastic bag free town. We talk about the ins and outs of running a campaign, the personal reasons behind working so hard for sustainability and what we can do to replace plastic bags in our lives. This is the second episode of eight in a series about sustainability in Central Victoria. Brought to you by MAINfm a...