Reminder: EEfS Strategy Feedback due
Compost Making Workshop
Workshop: Vegan 101
Posh Nosh Gala Dinner: Kaivolution Fundraisert
Mustelids in New Zealand
Waikato Biodiversity Forum event
MEIT volunteers wanted
Hammond Park Fun Day
Classifieds
Reminder: EEfS Strategy Feedback
Due Monday 10 October
Have your say on the draft National Strategy for Environmental Education for Sustainability 2016-2026 at doc.govt.nz/eefs
The Strategy is being developed through collaboration, including the Department of Conservation, Ministry for the Environment and Ministry of Education.
Feedback is being sought by 5pm Monday 10 October 2016.
Compost Making Workshop
When: 16th October 4-6pm
Where: Grandview Community Garden, 180 Grandview Road
Want to learn about hot composting, cold composting and worm composting (vermi-composting)?
- How do you make high quality compost?
- What is certified organic compost?
This will be a hands-on practical workshop.
Cost: $10
To register: email grandviewcommunitygarden@gmail.com or organicfarmwaikato@gmail.com or text Tim 0211035755
This event is hosted by OrganicFarm NZ Waikato and Grandview Community Garden Trust.
Workshop: Vegan 101
A practical and friendly tutorial for those who are new to veganism.
Check out this workshop for an introduction to a sustainable diet choice.
In a 2010 report the UNEP urged for a global move away from the consumption of meat and dairy which will be vital if we are to save the world from hunger, and alleviate poverty and the worst impacts of climate change.
Agricultural production accounts for a staggering 70% of the global freshwater consumption, 38% of the total land use, and 14% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Impact based studies highlight that animal products, both meat and dairy, in general require more resources and cause higher emissions than plant-based alternatives. Animal products are important because more than half of the world’s crops are used to feed animals, not people. Land and water use, pollution with nitrogen and phosphorus, and GHG emissions from land use and fossil fuel use cause substantial environmental impacts.
An indirectly large proportion of the world’s crops have to be produced to feed animals, with a high land use as a consequence. The production of agricultural biomass, especially animal products, is and will remain an inefficient transformation process compared to most industrial processes.
The report notes that our preference for meat and dairy-heavy diets is "unsustainable", especially as the population is expected to grow to 9.1 billion by 2050, a growth of 50%.
The Inaugural Posh Nosh Gala Dinner: Kaivolution Fundraiser
Kaivolution needs some dosh to keep its wheels in motion, so we have organised a fun fundraising event:
The Inaugural Posh Nosh Gala Dinner is taking place on the 11th of November at the Wintec Atrium.
This event offers a delicious, three course meal and excellent entertainment. All money raised will fund Kaivolution’s operations and build its capacity, including enabling the employment of more van drivers and allowing us to operate from larger food sorting facilities.
Kaivolution provides a waste minimisation and food redistribution service. Food that is good enough to eat but not good enough to sell is collected from more than 15 food retailers and 6 supermarkets across the city, and there are a number of supermarkets waiting to sign up. In less than two years Kaivolution has rescued over 160 tonnes of food, and has distributed it to over 65 charitable organisations throughout the Waikato.
We are experiencing considerable demand for our food rescue service, but in order to respond we need more operational funding and a larger food sorting centre. So please join us for the Gala Dinner and help grow Kaivolution's capacity.
Tickets purchased before the end of October go in the draw to win a nights accommodation at Solscape Eco-accommodation in Raglan, with restaurant vouchers included. Guest speaker Pamela Storey and some awesome prizes are part of the entertainment line-up.
Mustelids in New Zealand
Small mustelids in New Zealand: Predator invasion ecology down-under
Inaugural Professorial Lecture next month.
Professor Carolyn (Kim) King, from the Faculty of Science and Engineering, will give her Inaugural Professorial Lecture.
When: Tuesday 11 October at 5.15pm
Where: The Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato. The Opus Bar will be open at 4.30pm.
Carolyn is an international authority on stoats, weasels and ferrets, and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement at the Hamilton Science Excellence Awards.
You can listen to a 2010 RNZ interview with her at: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2419841/carolyn-king-small-mustelids
Waikato Biodiversity Forum event
Information, workshops and fieldtrip for managing bush reserves, steep areas, wetlands and streams
Date: Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Time: 9am-3pm
Venue: Pirongia Memorial Hall, 997 Franklin Street, Pirongia
The day is a mixture of presentations, a trip to a steep site on the slopes of Pirongia and workshops. Of particular appeal will be hearing about the use of indigenous forestry for commercial return and learning about the principles of healthy plant communities.
If you want to attend please email or phone Moira Cursey at m.cursey@xtra.co.nz or 027 222 3791. Morning tea and lunch provided (registration essential).
MEIT volunteers wanted
Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust volunteers are wanted for species work and a news brief for Maungatautari art exhibition. Attached is a notice, requesting expressions of interest from new volunteers for our species work and also a news release about our upcoming exhibition. A news release is also available for download below.
The volunteer need is a real one for us now, as we try and fill several species monitoring, census and intervention programmes with capable people to assist a very small, stretched staff.
Very keen to hear from anyone who wants to learn fast or better, who knows enough to hit the ground running.
There are kokako, hihi, tieke, kaka and kiwi programmes currently running which could all use folk, especially if they are available during the week.
The pest team also has sporadic need for volunteers over spring and summer.
Contact Matthew Lark 021 156 3360 or email heritage@maungatrust.org
Hammond Park Fun Day
When: Saturday 29 October, 1-3.30pm
Where: Hammond Park (entrance off end of Malcolm Street, Riverlea, Hamilton)
Let's celebrate a park alive with native flora and fauna, thanks to residents, City & Regional Councils, and RESI who work together to restore Hammond Park for the enjoyment of us all.
Programme (it's all free!)
- Fun nature activities for kids.
- Guided swamp tours and bush walks.
- Learn about suburban restoration in your own backyard.
- Learn about weed control.
- Bring an unknown weed from home for identification. The first 30 will receive a free native plant.
- Sausage sizzle.
Hammond Park is one of the last remaining areas of mature native bush along the Waikato River. It is home to long-tailed bats, tui, kereru, bellbird, morepork, native fish, glow worms, and the regionally rare swamp maire.
Classifieds
Three palettes in a range of sizes available on a first-come-first served basis. Pick up from the Waikato Environment Centre, 242 Peachgrove Road, Five Crossroads, Hamilton.
