Saltgrass

S5 E23 Popcorn Activism

Handing out popcorn can get you arrested these days, especially if you do it in a bank.  
In this episode I chat with three activists who did just that over a year ago. Then, earlier this year they went to court to argue that they had to do it to prevent great harm from happening, that is to prevent the bank's connection to future fossil fuel extraction.
Activists often get represented as ratbags or trouble makers, disrupting things just for the sake of it, but what you will hear today is much more in alignment with the vast majority of my experience of activists – which is people who have deeply considered what they are doing and why and feel that taking action is one of the only avenues left open to them to effect change.
Guests: Bernard Tonkin, Laura Levetan and Dean Bridgefoot
Go to saltgrasspodcast.com for links related to this episode.

S5 E22 The Housing Crisis - Creative Solutions

This is the final episode of the three about the housing crisis and what my local community is doing about it. In this episode we hear about some of the creative solutions including community groups building housing specific for their needs, Council utilising existing sites to build affordable housing, adjusting council laws to allow more flexibility for tiny homes on wheels, working out how to use existing houses and how to keep people in their homes in ways that work for everyone.
For links go to the Saltgrass website.

S5 E21 The Housing Crisis - Building Together

In these three episodes we will explore how housing is a key climate issue and we’ll look at how the housing crisis is impacting where I live, in regional Victoria.
In this second episode we are looking at what deliberative development is and how co-housing and community building can be a part of our housing solutions. 
In the next episodes we’ll explore what the local community is already doing about housing and at some innovative solutions that may be helpful. 
For links go to the Saltgrass website.

S5 E20 The Housing Crisis - What's the problem?

How is the housing crisis linked to sustainability?
In the next three episodes we will explore how housing is a key climate issue and we'll look at how the housing crisis is impacting where I live, in regional Victoria.
In this episode we will look at how the land lies, what is the problem?
In the two following episodes we'll explore what the local community is already doing about it and also at some other innovative solutions that may be helpful. 
For links go to the Saltgrass website

April 2024 Update

I know it has been a while since there was anything new on Saltgrass, so here is a quick (6 min) update for you. 
In summary:
There will be 5 new episodes coming out soon which will wrap up season 5 of Saltgrass and then we will get stuck into season 6. 
Also, Saltgrass won some cool awards :) Yay!
 

S5 E19 Bonus: Connecting Country live event

This is the full audio from the Connecting Country event called ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’
The event featured presentations from Sasha Jellinek from the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water, Oli Moraes - Project Manager at Djaara and Tess Greives from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA)
 

S5 E18 Connecting Country

Connecting Country is a not for profit organisation which works closely with landcare groups and others in restoring neglected and damaged ecosystems. Hadley Cole and Bonnie Humphries from Connecting Country join Allie to discuss how landcare groups contribute to various restoration efforts, and how the unprecedented nature of climate change and its impact on existing ecosystems makes the task complex and unpredictable. Various strategies are being tried, including mixing plant provenances to achieve a higher genetic diversity and boost ecosystem resilience. 
In this episode are excerpts from an event  called 'Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate' featuring Sasha Jellinek from the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water, Oli Moraes from DJAARA and Tess Greives from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA),
The full recording of the event will be shared in upcoming weeks.
 
Guests:
Bonnie Humphries – Connecting Country – Landscape Restoration Specialist
Hadley Cole – Connecting Country – Landcare Facilitator
Sasha Jellinek - the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water
Oli Moraes - Djaara
Tess Greives - North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA)
 
 
Summary:
00:00 Introduction
02:28 Acknowledgement of Country
03:22 Hadley Cole and Bonnie Humphries in conversation about Connecting Country and Landcare
17:30 Excerpts from event: ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’
17:53 Sascha Jellinik – climate impact and importance of genetic diversity
21:14 Oli Moraes - The Role of Djaara in landscape restoration and climate strategies
25:36 Tess Greives – Climate ready Reveg projects
28:07 Bonnie and Hadley on the Importance of Genetic Diversity in Ecosystems
31:35 The Role of Climate Future Plots in Ecosystem Restoration
43:09 The Importance of Community Involvement in Ecosystem Restoration
46:03 Conclusion and Final Remarks
 
LINKS:
Connecting Country
Djaara’s Healing Country Plan
 
Related Episodes:
Wilderhoods
Walking Together
Caring For Country

S5 E17 Village Dreaming

Today we are going to Village Dreaming Farm and Orto cooking school. Mara and Ralf live on about 15 acres just outside of Daylesford – about a 30min drive south of where I am in Castlemaine. They have been there since 2015 and in that time have transformed the empty paddocks of former grazing land into a small farm that follows regenerative and permaculture principles, with a kitchen garden, orchards and wetlands. 
 
Links:
Village Dreaming
 
Ceres - environmental park in Melbourne
Natural Tucker - sourdough bakery
Damian Cook - who Ralf worked for for many years 
Critical Mass - cycling protest
 
Related Episodes:
Youth are Rising
Redbeard Bakery
Ilka White on her art practice and  Ethical Apparel

S5 E16 Compost!? Yes, In My Back Yard

Are you good at composting? I certainly haven't been in the past. But with the help of a community composting group called YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) I have become a kitchen scrap saviour, a leaf collecting ninja and I make steaming hot compost. 
In today's episode I talk to Lucy Young, Joel Meadows, Mikaela Beckley and Claudia Lang about what this group is all about and why they are passionate about compost. (Spoiler: reducing greenhouse gasses, connecting community, building beautiful soil)
 
 

S5 E15 Salad with Soul

Recent episodes have been looking at the farmers out at the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative. We've been out there to explore how farming and agriculture might be done in a way that is earth, biodiversity and humanity friendly.
Each and every one of the farmers talked about how important the support of the local community has been, and how much enthusiasm they have received from people who get what they are trying to do, even if it costs a bit more and is not as convenient as shopping at the supermarkets.
But it isn’t just individuals buying for their families that support these farmers and so this week we're looking at small businesses who prioritise locally produced food, these are people who go to the extra effort and often spend extra time working with the farmers through the ups and downs, wins and losses of seasons and years and changing weather.
 
This episode features:
Mel from Gung Hoe Growers
Alex Perry from Bar Midland
Paul and Patricia from Sprout Bakery
Sas Allardice - co-founder of Gung Hoe Growers
 
Links:
Gung Hoe Growers
HOFC – Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative
Sprout Bakery and their Instagram
Bar Midland
 
Other Related Episodes:
S4 E17 Djakitj Larr – Eating Country Healthy part 1
S4 E17 Djakitj Larr – Eating Country Healthy part 2
 
S5 E11 An Incredible Octopus – with Katie Finlay
S5 E12 The Orchard Keepers
S5 E13 Micro Dairy
S5 E14 Love and Garlic
 
S1 E06 Gung Hoe Growers with Sas and Mel
S1 E05 Mount Alexander Fruit Garden
 
S2 E13 Food Security and Farmers Markets
S5 E07 Root to Tip with Duang