COFFEE POD RECYCLING IN FULL SWING

Contributed by one of our young urban farmers:

At St Laurence’s College urban farm, we have started to recycle used coffee pods. We collect the pods from staff rooms around the school, take the coffee grinds out, wash the empty pods and then send the pods off to Terracycle, who collects and recycles almost any form of waste.  We store the coffee grinds and occasionally add them to the worm farm and the compost. This project helps to reduce the amount of plastic going to landfill.

PROTECTING THE HONEY BLUE EYE FISH

The Honey Blue Eye fish (Pseudomugil mellis) is a small freshwater fish about 3 cm long, with characteristic blue eyes. This species is endemic to Queensland.   It is listed as Vulnerable in Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992) and nationally (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). It is ranked as a critical priority under the department's ‘Back on Track’ species prioritisation framework. 

The Urban Farm was visited recently by Mr Peter Johnson, a representative of the Australia & New Guinea Fishes Association (ANGFA), who approved our site for the inclusion of Honey Blue Eye fish. The fish were added to the water garden that was already under construction, along with some native water plants.  In keeping with the goals of urban food production, edible Watercress and Vietnamese Mint have also been added to the water garden, and they are thriving.  It is expected that these native fish will breed in several weeks’ time, and we are very proud to contribute to the protection of its population.

ROSEMARY - a distinguished herb on ANZAC Day

If you look closely at veterans and the public paying their respects at ANZAC Day services, you will often see a small sprig of rosemary pinned to their shirts or lapels. This aromatic, perennial herb is native to the Mediterranean region, and has become a symbol of Australia’s commemorative day for a number of reasons.

Since ancient times it has been associated with the dead, and Egyptians used it more than 2,000 years ago to place on tombs. The smell of rosemary is also believed to improve memory, with stories that Greek scholars wore it in their hair to help them with their studies. Perhaps because of this, it has since become an emblem of fidelity and remembrance in literature and folklore.
 

It also has particular significance for Australians, as the herb can be found growing wild all over the Gallipoli peninsular, where troops fought in 1915.

When a wounded digger from Adelaide was repatriated to the Army Hospital at Keswick, South Australia, in 1915, he is reported to have brought back with him a small rosemary bush dug up from the slopes and ravines of ANZAC Cove and it was planted in the hospital grounds.

Cuttings from this original plant were grown in nurseries and today can be found all over Australia. It is this original Gallipoli strain of rosemary that is worn on ANZAC Day, and also sometimes on Remembrance Day.

(Author, Matlida Dray, RSL, https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1642828296332865360#editor/target=post;postID=6416886332741702001)

WORM FARM Woo Hoo!

A worm farm is a fantastic way to minimise food waste by turning your organic kitchen waste into nutrient-rich fertiliser for your plants and soils. Worms eat organic waste (their own weight in food everyday) and turn it into liquid fertiliser and worm castings (the organic material that has been digested by the worms). Both of these products can be used on your garden and on your pot plants to keep them thriving. We also use worm liquid to replace fertiliser.

We have two fully functional bathtubs worm farms housing 5000 red composting worms in total, with another two 'tubs' under construction.  Our worm food - scraps - are gathered from the College canteen, and donated by parents and staff.  

HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY and thanks for a great Term 1

BEHIND THE URBAN FARM IS A LARGE SUPPORT CREW….

It’s been a magnificent Term 1 for the Urban Farm. Rather than listing the key achievements and improvements that have occurred, this is a list of the many people who have been involved with the farm, so far this year, in various capacities.  To these people, we say “Thank You” for your contributions toward ensuring that the Urban Farm continues to be a successful model of an inner-city food producing system.

From within the College Community we thank Principal Leadbetter and the CLT, Brendan Bartlett – Farm Caretaker, Chanelle Heshusius – Communications Manager, Will Pike – Events Manager, Todd Hazlett – Accounting Manager, Lorraine Kopp – Human Resources Director, Ben Reyneke and the Facilities and Maintenance team, Julie and Chris Thompson – Laurie's Canteen, Mallissa Spina and the Café Edmund team, Nigel and Chris – Printroom team, Laneway Team – Levi, Katie and Jesse, Student Leader and film maker – John Hunt, Student Assistants – Cale Dennis, Callum Jesser and Joshua Scott and Jake Sutherland, all of our young urban farmers – too many to name individually, and the many staff who make donations and who provide feedback.

From the wider community we thank Dave Storey – Banks Street Botanicals, Chris and Joanne Edwards – Australian Catering Services, Abington Aquaculture, National Worms and Compost, Bruce and Mary Hunt, Joc Curran, Colleen Parr, everyone who has donated 2^nd hand materials, and the many parents who visit and enjoy the farm.

Contact Nataleen Kilburn on 3010 1185 or nkilburn@slc.qld.edu.au if you have a question about the Urban Farm or would like to be involved.

ST JEROME'S LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2018

St. Jerome's Laneway Festival is about leading new and revered seminal music. The festival has always been interested in finding what's fresh and bringing it to unique settings and surrounds to be appreciated by music lovers.

The size of the festivals, the locations and the way they encourage community all form part of the way in which the Laneway team strive to present a unique live music experience.  For the second year running, The Urban Farm has been invited to bring the sustainability message to the event.  

Our mobile greenwall was provided as a backstage activity for artists and guests, who could pot a herb or flower and place it on the wall.  By the end of the event, many hands contributed to the creation of a gorgeous living wall.  We love hosting this activity and look forward to continuing our association with Laneway 2019.