The 2009 AGM for the Network for Sustainable and Diversified Agriculture will be held on the Tuesday 27 October 2009 at Edge Hill State Primary School's environmental education centre, corner of Russell and Pease St, Edge Hill.

Nominees for the positions of Treasurer, Secretary and Vice- President have already been secured, but the position of President is still available. If you know of someone who may be a suitable candidate, or if you would like to put your hand up for the job- then please let me know.

There will be a guest presentation on the day, and light refreshments will be provided.

Please find proxy forms, membership forms and nominations forms attached.

nsdamgtcommitteenominationform.pdf nsdamembershipapplicationform.pdf

proxyform.pdf

Hope to see you there!

You are invited to the Tropical Queensland Harvest Luncheon, featuring local, low mileage foods, flavours and colours of our region.

12 noon, Tuesday 6 October, Pesci's on the Water, the Pier at the Marina.

$65 per person. Group bookings available.

Contact: Pesci's on the Water on (07) 4041 1133.

Supported by Tropical North Queensland Tafe and Farmgate Market.

Caring for country grants now open

Elgible community groups can apply for grants from $5,000 to $20,000 to take action to help preserve Australia's natural environment.

Applications using the online application form close at 5pm (AEDT) on Thursday 22 October 2009.

Hard copy applications must be post dated by 5pm Thursday 22 October 2009.

Eligible community groups include:

• community groups involved in coastal rehabilitation, restoration and conservation
• groups of farmers or land managers working on sustainable farming or improving natural resource management
• Indigenous partnerships involved in protecting or improving the environment
• community groups involved in biodiversity conservation, environmental protection or managing natural resources

Community Action Grants are only available to eligible community groups not individuals.

Eligible projects must:

• involve volunteers and communities in activities which work towards achieving outcomes in the Caring for our Country national priority areas of Biodiversity and Natural Icons, Coastal Environments and Critical Aquatic Habitats, and Sustainable Farm Practices

• be completed within 18 months or less

The OFA is working with a number of other organisations to promote Organic products and systems through October is Organic Month.

October will feature numerous organic events. The main event is Trust Organice- A night of awareness, featuring Organic Standards and Climate Change- Friday October 2 to Sunday October 18, 2009.

For more information go to www.trustorganic.org.au

In September, members of Permaculture Cairns attended a Transition Towns (TT) workshop in Kuranda with Janet Millington and Sonya Wallace. Janet and Sonya are the co?founders of Transition Sunshine Coast, Australia’s first Transition Town and the first outside the UK. With communities around the world facing the twin challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change, committed and visionary people responding with positive local action. Far from being ‘doom and gloom”, Transition Initiatives, provide a framework for positive local action planning.

The next meeting is on Tuesday 20th October.

For more information, contact www.permaculturecairns.org.au

Permaculture Cairns’is making preparations to host the Australasian Permaculture Convergence (APC10)in September 2010, right here in the Far North. The Conference
will appeal to agriculturalists, researchers, educators, gardeners, natural resource managers, planners and the general public and is expected to attract 300 visitors to Cairns.

There will be a host of exceptional guest speakers, workshops, tours and delicious food, all set amongst a delightful rainforest setting.

Interested people are invited to partcipate in making this opportunity into a reality. For more information or contacts, go to www.permaculturecairns.org.au