Please note the Community Pickling Day has had a venue change from Adsum Farm to the Senior Citizens Hall (behind the Daylesford Town Hall). Please enter via Vincent Street.
Please notes that masks have to be worn by all adults attending.
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Hepburn Seed Savers
The Hepburn Seed Savers are meeting every third Sunday afternoon from 2pm at the Glenlyon Hall starting from Sunday February 21. Come along and help pack and swap seeds, and meet fellow like-minded seed lovers.
Hope to see you there!
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Forest and Free
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Ballarat Tool Library
Congratulations to Ballarat for recently launching their tool library!
The Ballarat Tool Library is a volunteer-led initiative that provides access to the tools needed to repair and care for your home and belongings while saving you money from having to buy new tools you may only use once or twice.
We provide a local library of tools - both used and new - garden tools, construction tools, kitchen tools, woodworking tools and artist tools. If it’s a tool we’ll try and stock it as we grow and expand!
We believe that bringing the community together to share resources helps us work towards a sustainable future.
Plus everyone deserves the right to build and repair the things they own - not just those who can afford the tools.
We hope to follow in your footsteps, Ballarat, and one day have a tool library in Hepburn Shire.
November Wild Fennel
Hello! The details for the next Wild Fennel gathering are:
Saturday 16th of November
9.30am - 12.30pm
Senior Citizens Kitchen, Daylesford Town Hall
Delight your senses with the beauty of roses and other astringent plants of the Rosacea family (think hawthorn, peach, blackberry, etc.)
You might like to bring...
- all of your roses!
- a notebook
- herbs, seedlings, seeds or homemade remedies, etc you would like to share or trade
- stories to share
This is a free gathering and everyone is welcome to attend
Hi everyone! I am looking for someone to help with sending out Wild Fennel emails and creating event details in a more timely manner than I can. It's a small job, but will help a whole lot. Please be in touch with me if this is something you're interested in.
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Final Culture Club for the year
You are formally invited to join the Daylesford Culture Clubbers for their end of wonderful year gathering. Bring a jar of something fermented or preserved, take home a jar of something fermented or preserved.
Brenna Quinlan, you've done it again! Thank you so much for taking notes at the October Culture Club and allowing us to broadcast them so this knowledge can be shared far and wide:
Australia has lots of wild pollinator insects that are often overlooked. European honey bees get a lot of attention because they are a social species, they are easy to identify and spot and their hives are easy to domesticate and manage.
However, many native insects also contribute to pollination in crops and gardens all around the country. We still need to do a lot of research to identify all our pollinator insect species, understand their ecology and how they are affected by human activities. So far, we know that Australia has around 2,000 native bee species, all of which are important pollinators. We also know there are a couple of thousand butterfly, wasp, fly, moth, beetle, thrips and ant species, some of which are documented pollinators. Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of information on the ecology of many of these insects, what flowers they pollinate, or where they are found.
The Wild Pollinator Count gives you an opportunity to contribute to wild pollinator insect conservation in Australia. We invite you to count wild pollinators in your local environment and help us build a database on wild pollinator activity.
Hepburn Seed Savers: out in the world, down in the soil
Have you visited our local seed library at the Daylesford Library yet?
Enthusiastic library staff member Sarah Hines took these photos:
Seed library co-ordinator Brenna Fletcher has done such a beautiful job!! If you are keen to get involved in this exciting vital project, please get in touch with Brenna.
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A very different kind of world
Can you imagine a world where you can't forage for mushrooms or wild fruit on public land? Where you are not allowed to scrounge at the tip for materials? Can you imagine having to ask council for permission when you want to throw a birthday party at the pub? Or plant a tree on your nature strip?
After ten years, Hepburn Shire Council is making changes to some of its local laws about what can and can't be done on public land and in public places. While the laws are not too dissimilar to the ones made ten years ago, the new laws are more controlling and more suburban in flavour, and are completely at odds with the recent Climate Emergency declaration and the acceptance of the award winning Z-Net Plan, a 10-year masterplan for the Hepburn Shire to reach 100% renewable
electricity supply, zero-net energy and zero-net emissions by 2029.
Please have a read of the new proposed laws. If, like so many of us, you are outraged by the proposed laws, you have until 5pm on Friday December 13 to send a submission to Hepburn Shire Council to let them know.
Co-operation - a way of living for ourselves & the planet
Following on from the hearty community conversation in May on Co-operatives as alternative economic structures, Localising Leanganook is hosting a workshop to continue the discussions and drill more deeply into new and emerging cooperatives in central Victoria, cooperatives that are responding to both community and ecological needs.
What: An experiential workshop on Co-operatives: principles, benefits and challenges. Contribute towards three fledgling ventures.
When: Saturday November 30th 2019, 10am to 4pm
Where: Daylesford, Yandoit and Castlemaine
The November 30th workshop will visit three emerging co-operative ventures in central Victoria:
First, Goathand Co-operative – a community owned and managed shepherding co-operative that combines goat browsing and grazing with manual handtool work as a powerful method to reduce dominant weed species and fuel loads in the steep gullies and common land around Daylesford and Hepburn.
Second, a common land/farm co-operative on 50 acres of fertile land in Yandoit, where workloads, risks, learnings and experiences are shared, and where regenerative food growing practices are coupled with wildlife corridors. In the developmental stage, this co-op enables access to land for those locked out due to prohibitive costs.
Third, a manufacturing cooperative in/around Castlemaine. In the initial exploration phase, this co-op will support local people, respond to current and future bio-regional needs, provide meaningful and local livelihoods, and produce goods in an ecologically regenerative way. Potential manufacturing initiatives include: soy milk, re-creating animal milk processing (a variation on the old butter factories), materials required for ecological living, and biochar.
Practicalities: The workshop will start in Daylesford (the forest at the end of Tierneys Lane- the way will be sign posted) with the Goathand Cooperative. Then we will move to Yandoit Farming Co-op (Steeles Rd, Yandoit) and finally to the Ray Bradfield room in Castlemaine to brain storm manufacturing possibilities. Please wear comfortable shoes as there’ll be some walking involved.
Who: Dave Kerin from Earth Worker will share his extensive knowledge and experience with co-operatives, both theory and practice. Vasko Drogriski, along with the other members of the Goathand Cooperative, will share their story including benefits and challenges. Michael and Lisa Jackson, from Yandoit Farm, along with Nikki Marshall will share beginning work and imaginings for the Yandoit farm commons/co-op. Localising Leanganook and interested central Victorians will share their thoughts about potential manufacturing co-ops for the area/bioregion.
Transport: Two 12 seater community buses are available to transport workshop attendees between Castlemaine, Daylesford and Yandoit, and car sharing is encouraged. Contributions to bus costs are requested.
Lunch and refreshments: BYO lunch and keep cup/water bottle. We will be eating lunch at Yandoit farm. A simple morning and afternoon tea will be provided.
This is a free workshop and everybody is welcome to attend.
Registrations are essential! For catering and transport. Please register via email to to assist with transport (bus and car pooling) and catering. For further information contact Nikki Marshall on 0432 232 073.
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A community newspaper for Daylesford
A public meeting on Thursday 14 November at 7pm at the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre.
The proposed Community News does not aim to compete with existing publications – the Advocate, Lost or the Local, or the Daylesford Grapevine – but rather, aims to share information about community happenings, regular gatherings, one off events, sporting results, information about local organisations and activities, and local services available in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs – information that contributes to the fabric of the community, and which is currently not always readily available.
The public meeting will consider the responses from the community to the Proposal, and if supported, will establish a community association to establish and run the Community News.
Cr Kate Redwood would like to hear your views and suggestions. Please email Kate with your comments and ideas. All written correspondence sent to Kate will be reported to the public meeting on 14 November. You are most welcome to attend the meeting and have your say.
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Sing for the climate
Thank you Jen Bray and the Daylesford XR crew for encouraging us to raise our voices collectively as we sing for life.
(If you are reading this in your inbox, the vid won't show up, but you can see it here.)
The Hepburn Seed Savers' Brenna Fletcher says, "This is what my nights have been looking like. I feel so lucky to be doing this work of sharing and loving seeds. Seed savers bank will be in the library on Tuesday (October 29) this week!! So much excitement."
Soooo wonderful, Brenna! We can't wait to start borrowing seeds to grow and return.
Come plantfolks, herbellies, curious cats and wanderers. We are gathering again for another morning of herbal tidbits and community connections.
We will revisit the foundational actions and plants as teachers before honing in on bitters, with the help of plants in the community garden, to help us get our creative spring juices flowing.
Saturday October 19
9.30am - 12.30pm
Skate Park Community Garden
Corner of Duke St and Stanbridge st, Daylesford
We'll be outside, so you might like to bring:
something to sit on (rug or chair) in case the ground is still wet.
Sun hat
Notebook
Any herbs, plants, seeds or homemade remedies you would like to share or trade at the end of the talk
Something to nibble on; bitters stimulate digestion and you might need something to tide you over until lunch
a cup
a thermos of tea or hot water to share
This is a free gathering and everyone is welcome to attend.
Each month we will look at different aspects of herbal medicine and focus on a particular plant, with the intention of reclaiming herbal medicine as an accessible mode of healthcare for ourselves and our community and bringing us into closer connection with the land and plants where we live.
Spring Rebellion in Melbourne was energetic and disruptive. Some folk from Daylesford went down to take part in bringing the issue of climate crisis to the front page and nightly news.
Daylesford's next action will be to raise awareness in our local community through a FLASH MOB. There will be singing, dancing and music.
Wanna join our CLIMATE FLASH MOB? Simply learn this song at home.
We need everyone! There are roles for singers, dancers and musos too.
You can watch the clip here:
(If you are reading this in your inbox you'll need to click through to the blog to see the clip.)
Stay tuned for the next rehearsal. FLASHMOB date to be announced soon. It will be a weekend in the next few weeks.
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Hepburn Seed Savers
Here we go! The seed donation box and a few reference books have been officially installed at the Daylesford book library! The seed library is not far away now, but in the meantime please bring your seeds - they will be gratefully received, admired and then dispersed.
An article on the Hepburn Seed Savers was featured in The Courier on September 28. Congrats to Brenna Fletcher and all involved!
Photo: Adam Trafford
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Castlemaine Weekly Farmers Market
Castlemaine is about to launch a weekly farmers market on Wednesday afternoons. Focussing on fresh produce, the aim is to move people's weekly shopping habits away from supermarkets while offering an avenue for small local producers to sell their wares.
You are invited to a fundraiser at Castlemaine's historic Theatre Royal on Sunday November 3 at 2.30pm - 5pm to celebrate the launch of the new weekly market. The fundraiser is a screening of In Our Hands - a film about food, agricultural systems and food sovereignty.
The Hepburn Seed Savers's charter is to help take responsibility for our Shire's local food supply. It will operate out of the Daylesford library, where it will have a permanent installation consisting of small packets containing seeds for vegetables and herbs that grow and thrive in our bio-region.
The day to day loaning of the seeds will be managed by the Hepburn Shire Council library staff.
How the Seed Library works:
Borrowers check out the seeds, then
Grow the seeds in their gardens
Use the crops to provide food for their family + friends
Allow some plants to mature (to produce viable seed)
Save and dry the seeds
Return the seeds to the library to be repackaged
The beautiful cycle of life continues…
Before the seed library can get up and running, organiser + seed enthusiast and down right wonderful woman Brenna Fletcher is putting a call out for seeds, and volunteers to be involved in this life honouring new project.
We had Jane Morton (Extinction Rebellion Melbourne) come out and give an inspiring presentation last Tuesday on the climate emergency and what we can do about it. Now we're meeting up again to come to a decision on the best way forward for the emerging Daylesford Extinction Rebellion group.
Tuesday September 24
7pm - 8.30pm Senior Citizen's Room (rear of Daylesford Town Hall)
We'll be deciding what form we would like our local XR group to take, and what works best for us (i.e. do we want to do a Non-Violent Direct Action training, more workshops, local protests, and what role will Daylesford play in the International rebellion in October?)
This is a free event and everyone is welcome to attend. We'd love to see new faces who couldn't make it last week, and if you can't make it this time, feel free to post ideas on the event page and we'll bring them up at the meeting.
Coffee and tea will be available. BYO snacks/bikkies to share if you would like.
Just a reminder that all HRN events are waste-free. No single use plastic please.
Thank you to Hepburn's Brenna Quinlan for facilitating the XR group. We love your gutsy energy!!
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Introduction to Natural Dyeing
Discover some of nature’s hidden sources of colour! Plants have been used to dye fibre and fabric for thousands of years and a beautiful natural palette is still available to you without the need for harmful chemicals. Local weeds or kitchen off-cuts can offer harmonious hues in a range of values and intensity.
This hands-on workshop with Ilka White introduces a selection of local colour possibilities, as well as discussing fibre types, mordanting options and safety of dyes. A shibori technique will also be used to produce patterned cloth.
For those who haven't seen it yet, Hepburn Wind is putting on a free screening of 2040.
The film captures a positive vision of our future where environmental challenges are faced with practical solutions available to us now.
Before the film screening, a panel will discuss how the Hepburn Shire is implementing its own vision to protect our planet and reduce emissions through local projects and the Hepburn Z-NET project.
Thursday October 17
6pm – 9pm
The Palais, 111 Main Road Hepburn Springs
Free screening but bookings are essential. RSVP here.
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Wild Fennel's inaugural workshop
50 people turned up to the first Wild Fennel workshop. 50!! A sure sign that our community is ready to learn about the plants that surround us and to take responsibility for our own health.
A huge thank you to Rosie Cooper and Ali Grace for facilitating the workshop and sharing their knowledges so generously. Have a look at Brenna Quinlan's stunning illustration of the workshop:
Details for the October Wild Fennel gathering here.
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Mazel tov Hepburn Shire!
Congratulations to Hepburn Shire Council for fessing up to what's happening on our planet and declaring a Climate Emergency at last Tuesday's ordinary council meeting.
If you'd like to know more about what it means when local councils declare a Climate Emergency you can read more here: www.climateemergencydeclaration.org
From the HSC FB page:
...Council unanimously resolved to join a growing global movement and declare a climate emergency. This further supports the proactive actions Council is already taking to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, by reducing our own emissions and assisting the community to reduce theirs. With initiatives like the Towards Zero Emissions Roadmap and Z-NET Hepburn Shire, Council and community are at the forefront of localised emissions reduction action.
