“Dear Environmental/Sustainability Educators

The election is over, and while there were some positives for the environmental movement, there is work to be done over the next three years! But, the Christmas holidays are almost here, and I wish you a safe and happy break! Santa is coming, and soon after the NZAEE conference will be upon us! If you haven’t registered yet, it’s not too late. Early Bird has closed but it’s still a great deal to come along and join us for three days of learning and fun! So visit www.nzaeeconference.co.nz. Delegates number over 180 so far and hail from several different countries so we are looking forward to a vibrant event!

We have a full programme, which can now be viewed on the website at http://www.nzaeeconference2010.co.nz/uploads///Prog_24Nov.pdf. Our Youth Scholarships have proven popular with ten awarded so far, ensuring that our next generation will have something to say at the conference. The field trips are looking great, with the promise of a long, hot summer meaning that hats and sun block will be a must (but bring a raincoat in case the forecasters haven’t got it quite right!). The social programme will be fabulous, from the opening pōwhiri and reception, through home grown entertainment on Wednesday night, to a feast and hoe-down at the conference dinner. There will be wisdom from Joseph Cornell, provocation from Wayne Cartwright, tips from Les Robinson, straight talking from Rod Oram, and with luck, words of encouragement from Nick Smith! Joseph Cornell is bringing some of his most well-known books to sell at the conference, so save some cash for that.  With the NZAEE AGM as well, there will be few dull moments!

If you have any questions regarding the conference, please contact Kathryn Hunter at kathryn@fp2.co.nz! See you in a few weeks time!”

$12 per packet (8 cards per packet)

pictures by Tauranga Forest & Bird Kids Club members

Christmas green gift solutions for sale here at the Waikato Environment Centre - from wormfarms to Bokashi composting buckets, Sweetree Honey, Ragbags (recycled fabric shopping bags), and even books on local and national environmental issues.

• "Filthy Flies and other Bad Bugs" by Rachel Goddard $10
• "Worms Unlimited" by Rachel Goddard  $25
• "How to Grow Your Own Food" by Hamilton Permaculture Trust $25
• "Our Wet & Wild Places (celebrating NZ's internationally significant wetlands)" by National Wetland Tust $10
• "Botany of the Waikato" by Waikato Botanical Society $15
• "Living with Natives (New Zealanders talk about their love of native plants)" Ian Spellerberg and Michele Frey $20
• "The Biochar Revolution" edited by Paul Taylor $30

We're open Monday - Friday 10am to 4pm

pop in to see us at Level One, 25 Ward Street, Hamilton 

call us 07 839 4425

or email admin@envirocentre.org.nz

Closed 24 December 2011 until 13 January 2012

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And on that note:

Hey all our individual Waikato Environment Centre members - be sure to use your Green Card for savings and deals at over 28 participating businesses within the Waikato region. Participating businesses are listed on our website at: http://www.envirocentre.org.nz/projects_and_events/environment_centre_open_week/green_card_businesses/

Have you used your Green Card lately? Tell us! 

UPDATE - correction of spelling mistake: permaham@actrix.co.nz

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The Permaculture Design Certificate will run over 12 weekends throughout 2012 (each module beginning at 9am and finishing at 5pm), held at a variety of sites throughout the Waikato enabling participants to view different levels of permaculture in practice.

Participatants wishing to complete the Certificate must attend the first module of the course, but can complete the Certificate over 2 years and attend modules in other regions.

It is also possible to partake in chosen modules as a part-time participatant without receiving the Certificate.

Module fees:

$100 per module for beneficiaries, part-time workers and those completing the Certificate.

$120 per module for those in full employment, and participation in chosen modules without completing the Certificate.

Contact: Cheryl Nobel, Hamilton Permaculture Trust

07 834 2249, 021139 0935, permaham@atrix.co.nz

www.hamiltonpermaculture.org

Te Araroa ("the long pathway") - a national walkway running the length of New Zealand - opens this Saturday 3 December 2011.

Read the Herald article here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10769198

Or visit Te Araroa's website: www.teararoa.org.nz/index.cfm

Royal Society of New Zealand Talk Series: Facing the Future

(see http://www.rsnzwaikato.org/talkseries)

Free, all welcome

7.30 pm, Tuesday 6 December 2011

Waikato University, Room S.G.01 – entry via either Gate 1 on Knighton Road or Gate 8 on Hillcrest Road, Hamilton

"A New Way of Using Our Land"

by bio-engineer Dr Rod McDonald, NZ Institute for Plant & Food Research, Ruakura)

Could we use our land in a radically different way? A way that would help us meet the challenges and opportunities in world population growth, resource depletion, climate change, food shortages and crop and animal disease threats?

Our temperate climate supports production of large quantities of protein-rich leafy plant material, most of which goes into maintaining the animals we use to convert it to milk and meat. This system has worked well for us, but it generates problems, and it is inefficient in terms of food production per hectare. With world food production under increasing strain, that inefficiency may justify looking at another approach.

1pm-3pm

this Saturday 26 November 2011

If you can, please come to Hammond Bush to pull out/knock down weeds trying to choke our fabulous new plantings. Meet at the Malcolm Street (Riverlea, Hamilton) end of the boardwalk.

No special equipment required, but gumboots might be good.

Come and be green regardless of which way you're voting!

Queries to: Andrea 07 856 1575, riverlea.soc@gmail.com, www.resi.org.nz

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A reminder to Green Card holders - don't forget to present your Green Card to participating local businesses to obtain discounts only available to Green Card members. The list of participating businesses is on our website and has been updated for the 2011 - 2012 year.

We've just taken delivery of aproximately 25 orphaned cabbage trees here at the Waikato Environment Centre (Level One, 25 Ward Street, Hamilton)

$2 each. Proceeds to help support the volunteer tutors at English Language Partners NZ.

Be in quick!  First in, first served.

If you'd like us to set aside some for you, please telephone 07 839 4452 or email: admin@envirocentre.org.nz.