Postponed OAA Annual General Meeting

Presenter: Alan Broughton

‘Grow Your Knowledge’ Session - Thursday 3rd June.
TOPIC: Berries - How to manage raspberries, strawberries and blackberry cultivars. Bring along spare berry plants for exchange or donation. Presenter: Alan Broughton

OAA AGM (Brief) & NSW Organic Farmer Interviews

When/Where - Sunday May 23rd, 11.00am, Organic Centre, 14 McKean St Bairnsdale.

Following reports from the president and treasurer and the election of office bearers, and a casual lunch, Alan Broughton will talk of his recent trip with Nguyen Van Kien of Mekong Organics to interview organic farmers in NSW. These interviews were live streamed via Zoom to farmers in Viet Nam. While some of the crops grown are not those commonly produced in Gippsland – rice, bananas, coffee, turmeric, ginger – others including leafy vegetables, macadamias and citrus are or can be. Important lessons of biodiversity for pest management and local direct selling apply anywhere. The group certification scheme used on the South Coast is also very interesting and relevant.

Members and non members all very welcome.

‘Grow Your Knowledge’ Session - Thursday 1st April.

TOPIC: A hands-on workshop to build a Bio-Dynamic compost heap at the centre.

Presenter: Sharon Dent

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Biochar Workshop & Discussion Group - Sunday the 8th of November.

I invite anyone interested in Biochar, the process and the use, or that is willing to contribute their knowledge to attend.

The day will begin no later than 10am with a preliminary insight into my experiences to-date, followed by hands-on Biochar making, a process that will continue for approximately 5 Hrs. During this extended period, discussion, input and questions relating to methods, results and use will be expressly welcomed.

Discussion & evaluation will include - Biochar Methods/Principles, Kiln Design & Economics; Scale - Large through to Backyard/Domestic; Materials - including an Evaluation of Converting Weeds & Household Wastes; Opportunities when Cleaning Up & in Preparation for Bush-fire Season; Benefits, Use & Application; Biological Inoculation.

Presenter: Stephen Cross

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‘Grow Your Knowledge’ Session - Thursday the 5th of November, 2020, at 1:00pm.

TOPIC: Top tips for tomatoes:

Managing tomato pests and diseases; Selecting varieties; Propagating, including grafting.

Seeds and seedlings will be available. Attendees are invited to share your insights.

Presenter: Alan Broughton and Sharon Dent

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‘Grow Your Knowledge’ Session - Thursday, the 1st of October 2020, 1:00pm.

TOPIC: Seed Saving

Topics: Why save seeds? How to prevent crossing? When to harvest? How to store?

Seeds will be on sale - we have a big new lot of interesting varieties. Seed curators wanted, to reproduce these varieties for the OAA Seedbank.

We can only have 10 people, so you must register beforehand with Alan.

Presenter: Alan Broughton

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Fruit Fly Webinar - September 3rd - 7.00 pm.

Presented by Bronwyn Koll, Queensland Fruit Fly Regional Coordinator, Yarra Valley.

Bronwyn speaks to East Gippsland on control of the fruit fly, now spreading well beyond its previous range. Topics include recognition of the fruit fly, monitoring, organic and non-organic methods of control, and community awareness and involvement.

The presentation is for land managers and home gardeners in East Gippsland, anyone who grows fruit and tomatoes. It is jointly organised by the Organic Agriculture Association, East Gippsland Landcare Network and Far East Victoria Landcare Network.

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OAA AGM - Sunday the 30th of August - Accessible via Zoom, Details to come.

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‘Grow Your Knowledge’ Session - Thursday 5th March 2020, 12:30 to 2:00pm.

TOPIC: Growing edible plants from cuttings - Best methods, timing, media to use and after-care of cuttings. BYO secateurs.

Presenter: Arja Toivanen

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‘Grow Your Knowledge’ Session - Thursday 6th February 2020, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

TOPIC: Budding - Techniques for budding fruit trees, including rootstock production and compatibility. Bring a sharp pocket knife to practice.

Presenter: Alan Broughton

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‘Grow Your Knowledge’ Session - Thursday 5 December 2019, 12:30 to 1:30pm.

TOPIC: Herbs for Health: Sharon Dent, a naturopath, will present useful, easy to follow information about growing and using herbs. Sharon works with biodynamic and organic gardening practices, and promotes a holistic view of the interdependence of soil, plant and human health. A mini product making workshop at the end. Information session is free; small costs apply for take home items.

Presenter: Sharon Dent

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‘Grow Your Knowledge’ Session - Thursday 7 November, 2019, 12.30 to 1.30pm.

TOPIC: Wicking Beds - Learn about and share your knowledge of ‘Wicking Beds,’ a productive and water efficient principle and garden bed design that can be of great benefit for food production and gardening generally.

Presenter: Stephen Cross

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‘Grow Your Knowledge’ Session - Thursday 3 October, 2019, 12.30 to 1.30pm.

TOPIC: More worthwhile, unfamiliar vegies and fruit to grow: learn about those that suit East Gippsland and best ways to grow them - The aim is to share experiences, so please bring samples or photos if you can.

Presenter: Alan Broughton

‘Grow Your Knowledge’ Session - Thursday 5 September, 2019, 12.30 to 1.30pm.

TOPIC: Growing edibles from seed - How to succeed, what to grow, seedling growing methods, seed raising mixes, pricking out and potting up seedlings, troubleshooting and extra tips, includes a hands-on activity.

Presenter: Alan Broughton

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OAA AGM Sunday June 2nd - Shared lunch and discussions, then a film "Voices of Transition", " A documentary action movie for community-led food production", 2014 Doors open 11 am. There will be a very brief meeting to elect office bearers and present the short reports. All Welcome, not just members of the OAA.

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Mekong Organics comes to Bairnsdale Sunday March 24th 2019, 2.00 pm - Organic Information and Resource Centre14 McKean Street, Bairnsdale.Speakers:Dr Nguyen Van Kien - Mekong Organics and its activities- Floating rice restoration projectLe Ngoc Hiep & Nguyen Van Thai - Khmer organic home vegetable garden projectAlan Broughton - Impressions of organic farming in the Mekong Delta. The Organic Agriculture Association is working with Mekong Organics to promote organic farming in the Mekong Delta and experience interchange between Australian and Vietnamese organic farmers. All welcome to an interesting discussion.

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OAA Seminar Pesticides: Safety myths Farming without pesticides 8:30am - Thursday 28th June 2018 the Hub - 27 Dalmahoy St, Bairnsdale Victoria 3875 Speakers: Andre Leu • Pesticides effects on children • Farming without chemicals - How it can be done ? Alan Broughton • Effects of chemicals on soil biology Liz Clay • Growing vegetables without pesticides Van Kien Nguyen • Emerging organic agriculture in Vietnam Reza Davari • Pest management experience in Iran and India Program/Speaker Profiles Registration/RSVP - 20th June - All Welcome Entry - $30 Members $35 Non-members (Catering Provided) Membership Form

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OAA AGM (Brief) & Film Screening - 11am Saturday 21st April 2018. Mundi. Bring your lunch and take the opportunity to share ideas and stories with other members. Contributions of cake or fruit to share with tea or coffee gratefully received. After lunch we will be screening a documentary about peak oil and climate change. “Anima Mundi” highlights permaculture as a practical solution and the Gaia theory as a philosophical evolution deepening our connection with earth. Many people do not realize that permaculture is much more than about growing fruit and vegetables, it is a whole view incorporating the environment, energy, resources, housing, technology, education, healthcare, the arts, spirituality, psychology, philosophy and agriculture. It provides a realistic alternative for our future sustainability, a gentler way that treads lightly on our Mother Earth. Anima Mundi is not a “How To” video, it is a “Where To” documentary showcasing alternatives like Earthships, Permaculture, Permablitz, retrofitting the suburbs, lifeboats, localised food production and currencies, planned energy descent and Gaian philosophy. FEATURING David Holmgren – Co-founder of Permaculture Dr Christine James – Psychology Stephan Harding – Gaian Ecology Vandana Shiva – Human Rights Dr Mark O’Meadhra – Integrative Medicine Noam Chomsky – Activism Michael C Ruppert – Peak Oil (as seen in the movie Collapse) Permablitz – Permaculture Michael Reynolds – Earthships (as seen in the movie Garbage Warrior) John Seed OAM – Deep Ecology.

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Snowy Growers Community Garden, Autumn Harvest Festival Saturday 28 April 11pm – 4pm, 32 Lawson Lane, Orbost. A family friendly festival celebrating the end of summer, and 5 years of the Snowy Growers Community Garden. Come along for a day filled with live music from Electric Yeti Collective and a special open mic, local food and drink stalls, makers and artisans, funshops, fresh produce, and more! Free entry, all welcome.

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Korean Organic Farming Talk Wednesday October 25th, 7.30 pm 2017 - Members and friends are invited to hear Rei Yong speak on the Jadam organic farming technique. This is a low-cost system based on anaerobic fermentation to produce beneficial soil biology that enhances crop production and controls soil borne diseases. Further information on the technique is available at http://en.jadam.kr/. Rei is also speaking at the NASAA conference at Mount Macedon on Friday the 27th of October https://www.nasaa.com.au/newsandevents/events.html.

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Field Day and (very brief) AGM Sunday June 4th 2017 - Busch Organics, from 11am.