i

, lni

, i'

::''.. .111 ;r' rii. , i:, .: ".".., ' .'i l,...irl1 r, lir 'rt'

.{r:
q::^ '];'.'.-:::

irit!-:
:. li

"t it

'h,*iu 't;]

Y:i

,+

. ii?ii ji:

,/ i,

: \!:,t.. I .-j i

lilit l .,.1 , I: '-' lti|!;|il :iltbi

.-"rJ:i:
:l

,t

t, i"' =

liii i: . .i !t:, ,:-t:,:

.l
.riii

I ':':, :t '.,::. :::i:::=i'!' .::

..}'

'.ii:rrrq|lii-r:=i i :r::rrli:

....-:'$\..::

lt-t,i I $ i:

-^,*$$q* .roffim
#r'rY'?{L$#$#

,fi

- .i' !.}U$,Jl{ ft' '."1 ; - , t'";

)

t,/

TAS students build chook shed for community garden

Being a tradie for a day or two isn't what rnost of us think happens
in your average maths lesson.

Recycling Centre for the corrugated iron," said Year 12 student Rowan McGowan.

chickens." Quoting and building a chook shed for the Armidale Community Garden has enabled the students to utilise math skills in an everyday situation and contribute to the growing home grown produce movement.
"l am off the land and really value the importance of home grown produce and it is great to give something back to the community for such a worthwhile project like the Armidale Community Garden."

ForYear 11 and 12 TAS math students, however, that's just what confronted them when they were set the challenge to quote for, supply materials and build a chook shed for the Armidale Community
Garden. "We started the design process for the chook shed last term and this term we did more of the practical elements like going to Bunnings to

The studenis are just starting to construct the framing for the chook shed and hope to have the project completed and installed over at the community gardens some time nelC term. "lt is a pretty simple design that will allow room for someone to walk in and clean out," said Rowan. "When it is finished it should comfortably house around 20 to 30 duce lots of good quality, fresh, affordable organic food, but there is far more to it than this. ln a very real sense, it is whatever the community wants it to be. Every community garden is different; over time our garden will evolve into whatever our local community wants and needs. A successful community garden becomes an active inclusive space, bringing people together across different age groups and cultures. lt should be a creative place, full of vitality, but also peace and beauty; a place where all can feel
ment to focus on wind, a resource we in New England have in abundance and one currently more economical than solar. Adam Blakester, with supporl from a group of local organizations and under the auspices of Starfish Enterprises, applied :for and received a grant from the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change and from Fair Trading to undertake a feasibility study. Six community forums, held throughout the region, hundreds of small conversations and a large

price the timber and the Armidale

Year 12 student Rowan McGowan working on timber frames for the chook shed for the Armidale Gommunity Garden.
Winter will see the planting of some fruit trees, followed in due course by all the promise and vigour of Spring growth. Support within the community has been phenomenal, not only from the band of cheerful volunteers who turn up regularly to help create the garden, others who have donated tools or plants and well-wishers who stop by to give encouragement, but also vital help given by local businesses and Council. ln particular, both Ducats and Greg lnglis Plurnbing made a commitment to support local jobs, use local resources, and invest some of the income in local projects, the benefits of the cooperative will flow through the
community.

The Armidale Community Garden

For almost two decades, a set of tennis courts sat abandoned in a delightful but largely forgotten little corner of Armidale, tucked away behind the New England Regional Art Museum. Now the courts are coming to life again, in a new way, as the Armidale Community Garden.

they are welcome, and belong.

The Armidale Community Garden is still in its first stage, transforming clay tennis courts into a living garden, but already it shows

So what exactly is a community garden? Naturally, a big part of any community garden is to pro-

promise of good things to come. A variety of plants are growing vigorously and many have been successfully harvested over the summer. Two different methods of composting are already in operation, and also the first of several worm farms. On the bank outside the garden are the beginnings of a large strawberry patch.
on-line survey showed ovenrrhelming support for renewable energy and enthusiasm for a communityowned wind farm. So wetre going aheadl We're going for a cooperative because that's what the community recommended. And aiming for six to eight turbines will generate about half the domestic energy for the Tablelands. There was overwhelming support for a project that would make a difference. Because the majority of investment will be from local people and local businesses, and because we have

helped magnificently in getting the garden off to a really great stad, while Armidale Dumaresq Council have constantly supported the garden from the beginning and have been generous with their donations of garden soil and mulch. The garden is open from 1 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. lt can be accessed either on foot from Kentucky St (there is a wooden footbridge across the creek behind NERAM) or from Taytor St via the entrance leading to Moran
playing fields.

The birth of New England Wind

About a dozen people sat around a big table and discussed how New England might become self sufficient in community owned renewable energy. Dreams were big and included recognition of a necessary mix of solar, wind, hydro and bio-gas. Out of the meeting came agree-

coop because it is essential to

involve the community and to keep people informed. Forums and events will be promoted through the website and the media.

A public announcement of the site is anticipated shortly and work will then commence on wind monitoring, grid connection negotiations and a range of planning, permits and licences. A dedicated website has just been launched, (www. newenghndwind.

New England Wind is an initiative of local community organisation Starfish Enterprises and led by a consodium which includes Southern New England Landcare, Embark, Sustainable Living Armidale, Community Mutual Group, Environmental Defenders' Office, NSW Office of Environment & Heritage and the Community Power Agency.