Transition Towns in Wellington

The international Transition Towns movement is gaining momentum in New Zealand.

Here in the Wellington region we already have active groups in groups in Brooklyn, Hataitai, Johnsonville, Karori, Lower Hutt, Ngaio, Upper Hutt, Wadestown, Aro Valley and Wellington South.

The Transition Towns movement shares with Slow Food an overarching concern for local communities and their environments - and many in the movement are placing importance on traditional food production methods.

The most recent issue of Slow Food's Snail's Pace focuses on urban agriculture, and contains an article about permablitzes. Permaculture principles heavily inform the Transition Towns movement - and so you'll currently find many Transition Towns groups - including those in Wellington - at different stages of planning or carrying out permablitzes.

To find out more about Transition Towns in Wellington and its upcoming events, see the New Zealand Transition Towns website.

'Cooking with Simply Good Food'

Here are the details for the Simply Good Food CSA's next Farm Day:

'Cooking with Simply Good Food'
Saturday 23 August @ 11am-5pm

Start and Finish at the Featherston Railway Station.

Come and learn some tricks of the trade from Simply Good Food chefs Kelby and Roddy.

RSVP to info@simplygoodfood.co.nz

For more info about the CSA, see their website.

Simply Good Food Farm Days

The Simply Good Food CSA runs regular Farm Days which non-members are welcome to attend. They offer an opportunity to visit the CSA's gardens and orchards, engage with growers, and join in whatever farming activities are happening on the day.

The next Farm Day is on Saturday July 5. Here's the schedule for the day:

Start: 11:00am at Featherston Railway Station

Morning session: Enjoy a talk on some of the oldest Maori garden sites in the Wairarapa along the Cape Palliser Coast; includes a presentation by Colin Walker on the history of cultivation in New Zealand. Opportunity to help with seed processing.

Lunch: The Paddock.

Afternoon session: Visit the greenhouse with the new heating unit near Greytown and learn about winter indoor vegetable production

Finish: 5:00pm at Featherston Railway Station

Cost for the day is $20 per person or $40 for a family. This includes lunch, as well as transport to and from the station and between the different sites with guides from Simply Good Food.

RSVP by Wednesday July 2 to info@simplygoodfood.co.nz or (06) 379 7866.

(Pay on the the day or post a cheque to: The Wairarapa Growing Company Ltd, 76 High Street North, Carterton 5713.)

http://www.simplygoodfood.co.nz/

"Grow Your Own" screening on Tuesday 10 June at 7.30 (Paramount Cinema)

I received an invitation from the Wellington Rotary Club to attend the screening of the British film "Grow Your Own". The trailer suggests that it's worth seeing: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/621149/grow_your_own_trailer/
The film screens at 8pm. The $25 donation includes a drink. Proceeds are being donated to the Changemakers' Refugee Forum. Further details can be had by emailing brianklee@clear.net.nz or telephoning Brian on 04 973 8533.

Wairarapa Organics Good Life Trail

The first event for 2008 that members of Aotearoa Slow Food convivium will be attending is the Wairarapa Organics Good Life Trail on Easter Monday 24th March 2008.

The Good Life Trail will give you the opportunity to visit three Organic producers in the Wairarapa : The Sprout House, the Peak Brewery and Mela juices. Click the logo for a brochure for details.