Monday, September 14, 2009

DSCF9377


DSCF9377
Originally uploaded by jester67

How beautiful is this??

Flickr

This is a test post from flickr, a fancy photo sharing thing.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Taranaki Sustainable Living Fair 2009

After the success of the Fair last year, we're having another one. This year you'll find the fair at:

Spotswood College, Devon St West, New Plymouth

on Saturday 7th of March, 10am to 4pm.

There are:
  • stalls and demonstrations to visit in the hall and outside in marquees,
  • a variety of speakers on the hour from 10am until 3pm in the tech block just to the east of the hall and in the library (see the full programme below)
  • food for everyone,
  • and the popular children's activity area.
Entry is by Donation.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Monday, January 21, 2008

Current Speakers / Workshops 2009

10am
  • Room T3 - Taranaki Directory of Sustainable Goods and Services - Nelle Rose
11am
  • Library - Green Party MP & Co-leader Russel Norman and National Party MP for New Plymouth Jonathan Young - Plans for Economic Recovery
12noon
  • Room T1 - Why Raw Food - MaliniBindu Patel
  • Room T2 - DVD
  • Outside - Making a Worm Farm - Paul Cooke
1pm
  • Room T1 - Fermented Food - Ruth Cohen
  • Room T2 - DVD
  • Room T3 - Grey Water Systems - Kama Burwell
  • Room T7 - A 10 year plan for reducing your energy dependency - Michael Lawley
  • Outside - Making a chook dome tractor house - Dee Turner
2pm
  • Room T1 - Sustainable Transport - Nathaniel Benefield
  • Room T2 - DVD
  • Room T3 - Permaculture - Kama Burwell
  • Room T7 - Establishing an Organic Kitchen Garden & Composting - Lila Smith
  • Outside - Chook dome tractor house - Dee Turner
3pm
  • Room T1 - Transition Towns: How communities in NZ and around the world are preparing for climate change and peak oil - Stuart Bramhall
  • Room T2 - DVD
  • Room T3 - Waste Minimisation - James Bellamy
  • Room T7 - Establishing an Organic Kitchen Garden & Composting - Lila Smith
  • Outside - Making a Worm Farm - Paul Cooke

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Stalls and Displays 2009

EcoInnovation - Renewable Energy Systems
EcoSolar - Solar Water Heating
The Green Party - Policies and merchandise
Ha-Ra NZ - Complete Microfibre Cleaning System
North Taranaki Cycling Advocates - A community group working towards improving the facilities for everyday cyclists in North Taranaki
Taranaki Environment Centre - A local trust promoting permaculture through education and example

Organic Matters - Organic food, environmentally-friendly household products, seeds and seedlings
Plant Song - Organic herbal tea blends, chai spice and BodyTalk health clinic
Transition Towns - Ho
w we and our communities can respond to the twin challenges of climate change and peak oil, using innovative solutions to re-localise our communities, making them vibrant, resilient and truly sustainable. Join your local group New Plymouth, Inglewood.
Miessence - Certified organic body care and household products and cosmetics
Ecoflame Soy Wax Candles - Natural soy candles
Soil & Health Association- Organic NZ magazine
OrganicFarmNZ - Low cost organic certification scheme
Entuition Ltd/Intelivent - A true heat recovery ventilation system
New Plymouth District Council - Information on sustainable living from the council and government
Pyroclassic Fires - NZ's cleanest and most efficient woodburner
Eco School - Soapnuts, natural alternative to washing detergents
Ebode Truly Sustainable Homes - Sustainable Homes from Design to Construction
Trade Aid - Building just and sustainable communities through fair trade
zazen Living Water Systems - Healthy water that is well filtered and mineralised
Nell's Health and Healing Centre - Natural healing and health
Pure One NZ - Alkaline mineral water from New Plymouth
Bumble Enterprises - Health and wellbeing products including reusable menstrual cups
Bioboost - Garden fertiliser
Taranaki Environment and Sustainability Network - Local networking group & website
Good Magazine - NZ Guide to Sustainable Living magazine
rivet - Climate by Design - Solar Water Heating
Avonstour Rare Breeds Farm - Meat from rare breed animals
Taranaki LETS/Green Dollars - Local exchange and trading system
The Shiatsu Clinic - Shiatsu and Massage Therapy
Electric Bikes NZ - Electric bikes and bike tours
Prometheus - Sustainable and Socially Responsible Finance
Shower Dome - Goes on top of your shower to eliminate steam from the bathroom
de Florum - Natural products focused on nature's true lilies
Inca-Fe - Love.Coffee - Fair Trade Organic Coffee
Asian Food House - Lunch Food and Snacks
MaliniBindu Patel - Food and Packaging
La Leche League - Support and information for breastfeeding
Solar Corp NZ Ltd - Solar Water Heating


Sponsors for 2009

Thanks to:

Transfield Worley Services
who are sponsoring the children's activity area this year

and

NZ Positive Futures Trust

Taranaki Sustainable Living Fair 2008

Everyone had a great time at the Fair on Saturday 5 April 2008 at Inglewood High School.
The weather was perfect - a warm, fine day with a gentle wind for a while to get the school's turbine going.

More than 3000 people attended of all ages and there was plenty going on all day, with the stalls both inside and outside busy the whole time and the speakers and workshops popular.



The children enjoyed arts and crafts, facepainting, flax weaving, unicycles and juggling (and some adults too!)


Saturday, January 19, 2008

Stalls and Displays 2008

EcoInnovation - Renewable Energy Systems
Ecosolar - Solar water heating, Energy Conscious Design
Freecycle - A nonprofit organisation and a movement of people interested in keeping good stuff out of landfills
The Green Party - Policies and merchandise
Ha-Ra NZ - Complete Microfibre Cleaning System
Living Economies - Complementary currencies that support local communities
North Taranaki Cycling Advocates - A community group working towards improving the facilities for everyday cyclists in North Taranaki
Taranaki Environment Centre - A local trust promoting permaculture through education and example, with Enviroschools and Better Homes

WebsWork - Sustainable Bike Tours that support and work in partnership with sustainable enterprises in the community
Organic Matters - Organic food and environmentally-friendly household products
Plant Song - Organic herbal tea blends, chai spice and BodyTalk health clinic
Transition Towns - Ho
w we and our communities can respond to the twin challenges of climate change and peak oil, using innovative solutions to re-localise our communities, making them vibrant, resilient and truly sustainable.
Miessence - Certified organic body care and household products and cosmetics
Anastasia - Ringing Cedars series of books by Vladimir Megre about a Russian woman's brilliant vision for the future of this planet, one full of hope and possibility
Enlighten Soy Candles - natural soy candles
Agriculture NZ - Local training courses for people interested in organics and horticulture for home gardens and small blocks
Karangaora - Demonstrations and use of maori medicines and ointments
Environmental Monitoring and Action Project (EMAP) - An overview of environmental education activities bringing schools, local authorities, research institutions and others together to allow students to carry out monitoring of their local region
BioSoils and Organic Aotearoa NZ - Organic advisory and education display
Soil & Health Association- Organic NZ magazine
OrganicFarmNZ - Low cost organic certification scheme
Moturoa School - What this local school is doing on their EnviroSchools programme
Taranaki Kiwi Trust - Promoting sustainable kiwi populations in Taranaki
Entuition/Intelivent - A true heat recovery ventilation system
Elemental Energy - Renewable energy, mobile power, energy efficiency for home & business
Banaban Virgin Coconut Oil - Grown by the Banaban people, the "Forgotten People of the Pacific", who live on Rabi Island, Fiji because their own island, Banaba, has suffered from great ecological and environmental disaster
New Plymouth District Council - Information on sustainable living from the council and government


2008 Other Things to See and Do

Electric Vehicle Conversion - See the car that local New Plymouth man, Gavin Shoebridge converted from petrol to electric.
Electric Bikes on display.
Have a go at:
  • Flax Weaving
  • Juggling
  • Unicycling
Prizes and Raffles to be won:
  • including $1000 of Environmental Choice Paints from Resene

-Find out more from the Displays and Information by other groups and organisations.
Young children can enjoy the Playcentre Childrens Arts & Crafts area.
-La Leche mothering through breastfeeding information.
Experience the Energy Trailer from EcoInnovation.
-Have a cup of fair trade coffee or tea and a snack.
Yummy lunch food available from local food vendors.
-DVD's on topics related to sustainable living.

Fair t-shirts available here

We are now selling Taranaki Sustainable Living t-shirts. These are are black with the Taranaki Sustainable Living logo on the front.

Our t-shirts are:
  • Fair Trade
  • Organic cotton

All sizes sell for $30.00

Available in:
  • Unisex ( a traditional t-shirt with round neck) - small to XXL
  • Female ( a smaller fit with round or v neck) - small to XXL

You can order t-shirts here

Friday, January 18, 2008

How to support the Fair

Be there!

Be a Stallholder
If your business or group has a sustainable focus, we invite you to expand your market, reach potential new customers and promote your products and/or services by having a stall or advertising at the Fair. We want lots of options to present to the public about how to live more sustainably.
  • renewable energy and improved energy conservation and efficiency
  • reduction of greenhouse gases
  • recycling and improved waste management
  • alternative transportation strategies
  • biointensive agriculture and organic farming
  • water management
  • building and construction materials and methods
  • sustainable design of houses, properties and communities
  • finance/money
  • packaging
  • cleaning
  • food & clothing
  • ..... and anything else sustainable!
Be a Sponsor
Sponsorship money is needed to help cover the costs of the Fair, so it can be a fun, free event, accessible to everyone. We also welcome sponsorship of relevant items and services.

Be a workshop facilitator
The Fair has opportunities for workshops which demonstrate sustainable living ideas.

Be a speaker
If you or anyone you know would be interested in sharing expertise in any areas related to sustainable living let us know.

Be an entertainer
If you have resources or skills in sustainable games and entertainment we would love to hear from you. We are looking for acrobats, jugglers, clowns, unicyclists, musicians, and more.

Be a volunteer helper
We need volunteers to support stalls, look after speakers and speaker areas, assist with workshops, and be on hand to help out where needed.
If you have a commitment to sustainability, can work in a team, are prepared to be flexible and help where needed and like helping in the community, then we welcome your friendly smile to the Fair volunteers team.

Be a supporter
We welcome all donations to help towards the cost of the Fair. These will be acknowledged at the Fair.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Aim / Vision

To increase public awareness of the options for extending environmental and economic sustainability of our lives and businesses in Taranaki and New Zealand.