Our Treasurer Kym Mogridge sent this MP3 (audio) file - Late Night Live's Phillip Adams interview about Norway's seed vault.
Global Seed Bank
The world agricultural community faces a number of challenges over the coming decades; in addition to a rapidly growing population, and the threat of global warming is the knowledge that plant genetic diversity has been greatly reduced over the past decades. Further loss of diversity needs to be prevented. To that end, the first Global Seed Bank will be opened soon in Svalbard, Norway to store millions of seeds from across the world for posterity.
As the South East region gets drier and hotter, food supply will be a big issue.
Gardens are likely to suffer from water shortages and sunburn.
With aquaponics you can grow fish and vegetables and fruity side by side in a (near) closed system and enjoy healthy home grown food.
The waste from the fish becomes food for the plants, which in turn clean and oxygenate the water for the fish, which you can eat.
It is being perfected in Western Australia by a Permculturist. Watch the video below and visit their site www.backyardaquaponics.com
SCPA has organised a starter kit for your information at the SCPA markets 1st and 3rd friday of the month in Zingel Place Bega. 7:30am-12:30pm.
To get a pre-view of this exciting new opportunity download Back Yard Aquaponics Magazine Issue 1 , Issue 2 , Issue 3 .
The demand for locally grown vegetables is very strong and appears to be growing rapidly. Many of our local retailers and restaurants would love to get more, along with consumers at our Farmers' Market.
Adding to the demand are small catering groups looking to use and promote local produce. One is even offering to pay up-front to guarantee supply; see Spicy Mama's Letter to Growers below.
If you are a local grower with a capacity to supply seasonal vegetables, please "Contact Us" via this web-site or phone Gary Hooley on (02) 6494 2210.
Our pro-organic position on food production recognises the premium price organic food can attract.
A pro-organic position on food production also guarantees a premium perception on the quality of a region thus improving our tourism potential as a 'good and healthy' place to visit or to live.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) risks the current perception of Australia's food production industry and our region as 'clean and healthy'.
Why would we risk the high quality perception of our region when the bulk of scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that GMOs have serious health effects.
This could damage our primary and tourism industries if GMOs are released into the local food chain.