Transition Epping 2012 Update

Hi Everyone,

To find out more about us email envirodoc@ozemail.com.au and ask to be put on our regular e-newsletter list which has news and event updates.

2012 EVENTS:

• Future Events in 2012: Events for the remainder of 2012 include a film night , a local bushwalk and a workshop to learn some practical skills. We have regular get-togethers to weed our community gardens and post-weeding coffee. We will also participate in local fairs and stalls eg the North Epping Street Fair, where members of the local community are able to sell their produce or craftwork..

• Buy Local Campaign Transition Epping is an avid campaigner for Buy Local in order to promote the concept of a reduction in costs of travel (both financial and environmental). We are looking at how to promote this in the community.

• Valuable Trees: Transition Epping is also concerned that with a change in the Hornsby Council tree preservation order the protection for many of our beautiful trees in Epping is lost. We plan to compile a list of significant trees in North Epping to submit to Council to encourage them to consider compiling a list for the whole of Epping. If you would like to be involved then please contact Sandra on 0438 415 715 or else email a photo of the tree with its location to envirodoc@ozemail.com.au.

• Epping North Public School vegie garden working bee in March 2012 was a big success! Over 20 families joined Transition Epping committee members on a fabulous sunny day in March to revamp the garden under the guidance of Cameron Little, principal of Sustainability Systems and well-known permaculturalist. A parent/community committee to manage the garden will be set up soon. If interested please contact parent Michelle Stern on 9877 0237 or email michelle.stern@bigpond.com.

• Herb planting at Forest Park in Forest Grove, Epping. On the Saturday 28 April from 10 am to noon, more than a dozen people turned up to plant herbs in the raised brick fence at Forest Park on 28 April. There was lots of enthusiasm and everyone pitched in to turn an eyesore into a community benefit. If you live nearby, please help care for the plants. In spring they should be ready for some harvesting!

2011 and 2012: Past and ongoing projects include:

• North Epping Shopping Village garden This project has seen the transformation of the carpark with the planting of herbs, fruit trees and native food plants. Transition Epping received a Bendigo Bank grant for $3,277 for this project.
• Solar panel buying scheme Transition Epping negotiated with Origin Energy for discount solar PV panels. If you are interested in the deal, please either email Mike du Plessis at michael@greenice.com.auor give him a call on 0402 310 306.
• Local bus service Researching efficiency options for the local 295 bus service linking North Epping with Epping station and Macquarie Shopping Centre. We have a report on this which we are all reading.
• Events and stalls Speakers on themes of interest, local guided bushwalks, and stalls at the North Epping Street Fair and Epping Twilight Christmas Market where members of the local community are able to sell their produce or craftwork.

Hope too see you at one of our events!

Mark, Sandra and the rest of the Transition Epping Team

Hi once again!

Saturday 24 March from 10am to 2pm Working bee to revamp the Epping North Public School ’s vegie garden to be followed by a sausage sizzle, generously provided by the school. This is our major event for the year and has been made possible by a $1,600 grant from Hornsby Council under their Community Donations Program.

Cameron Little, from Sustainability Systems, will demonstrate how to build a backyard food garden system and how to maintain it by composting your organic waste, whilst we assist with weeding and planting. Please bring along a trowel and some gardening gloves and any other garden tools that may be useful e.g. spade. The garden will be a valuable teaching resource for the students due to YOUR efforts!

If you plan to come along, please RSVP by Wednesday 21 March via return email or ring 0438 415 715 as I need to confirm catering numbers for the sausage sizzle with the school.

Also on Saturday 24 March 2012 is a Council plant giveaway from 1pm - 3pm for Hornsby Shire residents only
Location: Council's Community Nursery, 28 Britannia St , Pennant Hills. Conditions apply (see below). Ratepayers from the following suburbs only are invited to pickupfour free native plants. Note that you MUST take your rate notice along to get your plants (alternatively, neighbours/friends can collect some for you if they have your rate notice with them):

• Beecroft
• Carlingford
• Castle Hill
• Cheltenham
• Epping
• Eastwood
• Glenhaven
• Pennant Hills
• North Epping
• West Pennant Hills

Thats all for this week, will try and post in the next week or 2 with an update on all our working groups.

Hope to see you at the working bee.

Sandra, Mark and the Transition Epping Team

North Epping Shops No-dig Garden Working Bee and Chat

Weeding, meeting and greeting on SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY from 9am to 11am at the carpark community garden, Roma St, North Epping Shopping Village. Come along and meet the team and join us for coffee afterwards. Please bring your own trowel and gloves.

A calendar event you can add to your calendar at home here.


Thats all for now, will have a complete 2012 summary for you all in a couple of weeks. Hopefully then will be back to monthly publishing on this awesome group. So excited for 2012!

Thanks for reading.

Mark, Sandra and the rest of the Transition Epping Team.

P.S. For more information about our history and upcoming activities, please go to www.transitionsydney.org.au and look under local groups.