Wai Not Go Green?

For Wairarapa Folks Passionate About Cleaning Up This Earth

Mailer 04

 WaiNot? Feb 2010
In Issue #7
-Belated Happy New Year
-Featured Website
-Upcoming Events
Apologies....
Hi everyone and a belated Happy New Year to you. Apologies also from WaiNotGoGreen about the lack of news since Xmas. Life has taken over somewhat in the last couple of months and the newsletter sadly dropped lower and lower down the to do list.
 
2010 finds Sam and I still in the UK, but with tickets booked to return to Masterton in June. We have a had wonderful news on two counts. The first that Sam has been accepted for a sculpture exhibition in London before we leave the UK (on Pall Mall no less!) and the second that we are adding to our number with a baby due in August, so home we come with a few adventures along the way!
 
I will endevour to keep folks up to date as events and news comes through my inbox over the next couple of months and I look forward to meeting some of you in person very soon. 
 
Low Impact Woodland Home
Local WaiNot member Su Wilks recently sent through the link to this inspirational website which shares the story of this low impact build. Click here to find out more.
 
 

 
Upcoming Events
EcoShow Courses
Check out the EcoShow website for a list of their upcoming workshops including:
Earth Sheltered Houses (March 1st) A one-off event hosted by representatives from the Earthwood Building School in New York.
EarthBag Dome Building (March 12th-24th) Using simple, inexpensive materials to build structures
 

The WaiNotGoGreen Website   

If you are not already a member, please become a part of our community by subscribing to the site here:

 
Please feel free to 'pay it forward' and distribute this newsletter to others
 
 
    Transform the Way You Work and Lead    

The WaiNotGoGreen? website is maintained by Janine Ogg of Holistica Consulting. Holistica specialises in holistic leadership development and organisational effectiveness & health. Environmental activism is one of Holistica's core values. Visit the Holistica website to find out more or email Janine at janineogg@clear.net.nz.
 
Want to find out more? Become a fan of Holistica on Facebook!


 

  Mailer 04

   WaiNot? Xmas 2009 
In Issue #6
-Ethical Gift Giving
-WaiNot Member Takes Action!
-Upcoming Events
-New Members & Contributors
Jingle Bells....
 
 
The Xmas madness is about to descend upon us again. Can you believe it? Time to resurrect the WaiNot? Xmas Gift Guide full of ideas fr a stress free, ethical and GREEN xmas in 2009.
Visit the WaiNot? Xmas Gift Guide to find out more.....

 
 
WaiNot? Member James Bellamy Protests Against NZ Palm Oil Imports
Lower Hutt Green activist and eco-builder James Bellamy has provided us with some more food for thought this month with an article about his involvement in a Greenpeace action to halt the importation of unsustainably produced palm oil by Fonterra, who use it for feed on NZ dairy farms.
 
Rainforests are destroyed to make the palm oil and I was shocked to read that last year NZ imported one quarter of the world's total palm kernel extract. 
 
You can read James' article and see the photos by clicking here
 
If you are concerned about sustainable timber use in NZ, check out this e-card campaign currently underway by the Green Party.

Upcoming Events
Climate Camp Aotearoa/NZ
 
 
 
 
Don't miss out on this exciting new event in December. It's the first climate camp to be held in NZ and is a continuation of a grass-roots climate change movement that is spreading across the globe.
 
Visit the WaiNot? events calendar for more info.
 
Seeking Volunteers
Do you have some spare time? Climate Camp are looking for Wairarapa folk to represent our region over the hill. Please contact WaiNotGoGreen if you are keen to be involved in this event. 
 
Free Earthscan Webcast with Author Tim Jackson
 
Each month Earthscan is offering a free one-hour webcast on a different topic giving viewers the opportunity to learn from, and interact with, leading authorities from a range of different fields. Earthscan are a leading publisher on climate change, sustainable development and environmental technology
 
This month's Earthcast is on the 25th November with Tim Jackson, the author of 'Prosperity without Growth: Economies for a Finite Planet' . The title is "An Economy Fit for a Low Carbon World" and the following questions will be discussed:

Can economies be redesigned for a low-carbon future?

What opportunities does the financial crisis present?

Is constructive agreement likely at Copenhagen?
  
 

WaiNotGoGreen Members & Contributors  

A big welcome to this month's new members: Eric Turner; Su and Marc Wilks; Michele Stokes; Rose Jean Hala; Deran Mansbridge; Wade Wright; Lynn Ebert; Monica; Mark Varcoe; J Hollows and local artist and permaculturist David. Plus there's been a few whose names I wasn't so sure on due to incomplete profiles -sorry if I have missed you out. If you visit the site and fill out your profiles I will endevour to include you in the next newsletter! .
 
A reminder that unless you fill in your profile you will not appear on the site as a member. Currently we have 47 displayed members and over 30 more who are not displayed. That's a total of over 80 members! If you haven't already, please go online and fill out your profile sometime. 

If you are not already a member, please become a part of our community by subscribing to the site here:

 
Please feel free to 'pay it forward' and distribute this newsletter to others
 
 
    Transform the Way You Work and Lead    

The WaiNotGoGreen? website is maintained by Janine Ogg of Holistica Consulting. Holistica specialises in holistic leadership development and organisational effectiveness & health. Environmental activism is one of Holistica's core values. Visit the Holistica website to find out more or email Janine at janineogg@clear.net.nz.
 
Want to find out more? Become a fan of Holistica on Facebook!


  Mailer 04

   WaiNot? Winter 2009 
In Issue #5
- Many Many Hours on Trains!
- Feature: Conservation Week in the Wai
- News In Brief 
- New Members & Contributors
Getting There the Green Way

My European travels are over and I can happily reflect back and say I now have over 35 hours worth of European train travel under my belt - and that's from just one trip!  Fortunately it was spread out - 3 journeys over 2 1/2 months so it wasn't too bad, in fact it was rather enjoyable. Sam and I are back in the UK now after some wonderful experiences, including finding the best mediation spot ever in the French alps!  
 
It's back to miserable UK weather now. It feels as if winter is on its way already.....the tide is turning as you all head into Spring. Enjoy!
News in Brief
  • The Wairarapa Farmer's Market has a new manager, John Hart, and is running a monthly comp to win a $50 market food hamper
  • After much success in the UK and around the world, Aotearoa is hosting its very own CLIMATE CAMP in Wellington later this year   
  • The Makoura Stream Restoration Project is going well with plenty of opportunities to get involved and a newletter with more info about their progress
  • Lower Hutt local James Bellamy sent us some pics of his eco-building project in South Africa to check out

Visit the WaiNot? BLOG to read more.....

Feature: Conservation Week in the Wai
 
 
 
There is loads of stuff happening
in your local area during Conservation Week this year (Sept 13-20).
 
  
Click here to read the blog entry and find out more about what's on.
 

 
Upcoming Local Events
  • The Green Party is holding it's North Island Women's Hui
  • Conservation Week 13-20th September
Visit the WaiNot? events calendar for more info on these events
 
If you are involved in any of these events and would like to share photos or info on how they went, please send me an email and I'll post it to the site. 

New WaiNotGoGreen Members & Contributors  

Welcome to John Hart (Farmer's Market), Nic Ramsden (ex-Wairarapian pining for home!) and Randal Cornish all new members this month. If you haven't already, please go online and fill out your profile sometime - it's great to learn more about our members and create a sense of community via the web. Join WaiNotGoGreen? Now!   

You have received this newsletter because you have expressed an interest in Wairarapa environment issues or you are a member of our site. If you are not already a member, please become a part of our community by subscribing to the site here:

 
Please feel free to 'pay it forward' and distribute this newsletter to others
 
 
    Transform the Way You Work and Lead    
The WaiNotGoGreen? website is maintained by Janine Ogg of Holistica. Holistica specialises in holistic leadership development and organisational effectiveness & health. Environmental activism is one of Holistica's core values. Visit www.holistica.co.nz to find out more or email Janine at janineogg@clear.net.nz

Become a Fan of Holistica on Facebook


Mailer 04

May'09 Newsletter

WaiNotGoGreen?
In Issue #4
- News: Travelling Green to Italy!
- Feature: Plastic Oceans 
- Local Events & News
- Video: Cows with Guns
- New Members & Contributors
Getting There the Green Way
I'm lucky enough to be heading off to Italy again this year to work on a youth leadership programme for a couple of months. Sam and I are holidaying in France on the way and it has been quite a challenge trying to figure how to go GREEN to get there. It's more expensive and it's going to take us a lot longer. Despite our best intentions, we both still balked at what it was going to cost us. 
 
The trouble is, jumping in a plane and flying somewhere is still the norm for most people and it is still cheapest and easiest way most of the time. As a society, we refuse to acknowledge the real cost of travel to our environment and economy. And until we change the price of air-travel to reflect its true cost, it seems as if little is going to change. 
 
So what can we do? As individuals we can start rethinking when, how and why we travel. Travel less often, using eco-friendly means. When we take a holiday, go somewhere closer to home and stay away for longer. And for those situations where we really can't avoid air-travel, use one of the many schemes out there to offset our carbon footprint. 
 
It could be argued that these types of schemes offer a way for us to ignore the crux of the matter - that is, that we need to stop flying so much - but hey it's a start and its better than doing nothing. 
 
We'll let you know how the trip goes. I suspect the bottle of vino and scenic view on the French leg of the train trip may just tip the balance and make the extra cost worthwhile! 
 
Looking to offset your carbon footprint? Try the CarboNZero Travel & Tourism Calculator
Feature: Oceans of Plastic Bottles
Check out this disturbing powerpoint and blog entry on the impact that plastic bottles are having on our health and our environment. A must read.
Click here to view.
Upcoming Local Events
  • Arbor Day Weed Swap 6th June
  • Eckhart Tolle Bookclub (weekly on Mondays)
  • A Fair Trade Film Evening was held on 14th May, sorry a bit late!

Visit the WaiNot? events calendar for more info on any of these events.

News in Brief

  • Some great photos of Seaweek have been posted to the site
  • Congratulations  to WaiNot? members Hella and Joep Coenen who recently purchased that dream piece of land they were searching for!
  • Looks like there is going to be a positive outcome regarding the Manuka Street Reserve Management Plan - over 100 submission were made. We'll keep you posted.
If you are involved in any of these events and would like to share photos or info on how they went, please send me an email and I'll post it to the site. 
Featured Video 
An epic bovine journey - cow's finally get their revenge! Despite its sobering message this video is rather hilarious and very clever. And you'll be humming the tune all day. Watch it now and pass it on.
 
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What is the true cost of eating factory-farmed meat? 
New WaiNotGoGreen Members & Contributors  
Lots of new members this month! Welcome to Jim Flack, Liz Waddington, Amanda Cosgrove, Marion Thomson, the Dugan family (the first WaiNot? family!) and finally to Vetty (last name unknown). It's great to have you all onboard. Please go online and fill out your profile sometime - it's great to learn more about our members and create a sense of community via the web.
 
New Contributor   
A big thanks to Amanda Cosgrove for offering to help out with the WaiNotGoGreen? site.  Amanda works for DOC as a Community Relations Programme Manager organising projects like the upcoming Arbor Day event and Conservation Week. Click here to view her profile. 
 
Join WaiNotGoGreen? Now!   
You have received this newsletter because you have expressed an interest in Wairarapa environment issues or you are a member of our site. If you are not already a member, please become a part of our community by subscribing to the site here:
 
 
Please feel free to 'pay it forward' and distribute this newsletter to others
 
 
    Transform the Way You Work and Lead    
The WaiNotGoGreen? website is maintained by Janine Ogg of Holistica. Holistica specialises in holistic leadership development and organisational effectiveness & health. Environmental activism is one of Holistica's core values. Visit www.holistica.co.nz to find out more or email Janine at janineogg@clear.net.nz

Become a Fan of Holistica on Facebook




Mailer 04

 WaiNotGoGreen? 
Newsletter April '09                                             Issue #2
In This Issue
- News: Janine and Sam's EcoRetreat adventures
- Upcoming Events
- Featured Video: The Story of Stuff
- The Green Fingers Planting Guide 
- New Members and Sign-Up 
 
Retreating in a Welsh Yurt
Its a hard life but somebodies gotta do it! Sam and I recently headed to Machynlleth in the heart of the Welsh mountains to experience and learn about managing a yurt and tipi eco retreat. Last time we were in Wales visiting CAT (the Centre for Alternative Technology) we popped into see the owners, Michael and Chanan, to chat about their business and what its like to stay or live in a yurt or tipi. To our delight they invited us to return to help set up their ecoretreat for the coming season... with a few nights accommodation in the yurt as an added bonus.
 
  
 
Learning to put the tipis and yurts up was grand fun and we also got to check out their simple and effective eco-friendly way of doing things. Everything at the retreat considers the impact on the local (and wider) environment, as well as fair trade and working conditions. The composting toilets were great (sad, but I am kind of obsessed with composting toilets) and the cold showers are all part of the experience. I could hear Sam's screams from down the valley.....April still a little early perhaps!     
 
All in all it was a great experience. We fell in love with the yurt and will be putting in an order for our very own later in the year. We'll also be looking at using some of their eco-friendly ideas on the family land. If you are interested in finding out more about them visit the website EcoRetreats Wales. I'll also post some more pics on the WaiNotGoGreen site so keep an eye-out for our visual diary of how to put up a tipi!
 
Upcoming Local Events
  • The 1st ever Featherston Walkways & Reserves Trust meeting (28th April) - come along if you are intersted in running, walking or cycling, restoring native reserves or creating links into Tararua Forest Park tracks and huts.
  • Green Party AGM Tuesday (May 12th)
  • Wairarapa Organics Harvest Day (17th May) - celebrate the end of the harvest and meet other organic growers. Take part in the Organic Grower's Cookbook Project, the organic buy/sell/trade and the communal pot-lunch
Visit the WaiNotGoGreen events calendar for more info on any of these events.
 
Important Events I missed last month - sorry folks!
  • The Transition Towns movement recently held their first evening 'Cafe Forum' style get together at the Taste Cafe. The subject up for discussion was "Sustaining and Sustainable Food". If you are interested in finding out more about the Transition Towns movement visit the website
  • Sustainable Wairarapa's held a meeting on April 1st to discuss the GWRC (Great Wellington Regional Council) draft 10 year plan and proposed regional policy statement, the Makoura Stream Restoration Project, and various other issues.
  • Brian Easton's gave a lecture 'The Age of Financial Turmoil' discussing the causes of the present global financial crisis and how it will affect NZ. The lecture was aimed at raising the level of debate around the what and how to achieve change.
  • The Transition Towns Garden Group had their first event with members visiting each others gardens on Sat 21st March. The purpose of the group is for members to support and inspire each other in learning more about gardening. Next meeting to include Alpaca poo, mushrooms and other delights! Contact WaiNotGoGreen member Karyn Burgess if you would like to join the group -karynburgess@slingshot.co.nz
If you were involved in any of these events and would like to share photos or info on how they went, please drop me a line and I'll post it on the WaiNotGoGreen site.
 
Featured Video 

Brian's Easton's thoughts on the financial crisis provide a great subject for discussion. Good economic practice is fundamental to a just and eco-friendly society and we need more debate about how we can achieve this. On that note, the Story of Stuff is a 20 minute, fast-paced and fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. Leave a comment telling us what you think! Click on the link below to view. 
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What do you do daily to reduce how much you consume?

 
 
The Green Fingers Guide
April Equinox Focus: The autumn leaves are falling and its time to give the soil and earth in your garden or orchard the love they deserve! Are soil conditions right for your plants? Visit the Koanga website for great ideas on how to improve the health of your soil.
Plant this Month:If you're quick you can still get in some winter veges - carrots, parsnips, turnip, celery, beets, and brassicas. And some flowers too - calendula and chamomile.
Fill your empty beds with carbon crops like grain, corn, broadbeans & lupins. You can use it in the Spring to make compost.
Plant subtropicals like lemons, oranges and kiwifruit in the orchard and spend time enriching the soil.  
Preserve this Month:Seeds! Dry and freeze the last of the year's seeds. Don't save seeds from poorly looking plants.
View the Koanga Gardens Month by Month Guide for more info and great tips

 
  Koanga garden heritage seeds are available at the Simply Living store in Greytown
Join WaiNotGoGreen? Now!
You have received this newsletter because you have expressed an interest in Wairarapa environmental issues or you are a member of our site. If you are not already a member, please become a part of our community by subscribing to the site here:
 
 
The site now has 58 members in total - we are growing slowly but surely. You are not visible on the site as a member unless you fill out some info on your profile so please take some time to do this - its great for others to be able to connect with like-minded people via the site.
 
A big welcome to this months new members - Ann and John Heaps, our first from the UK!
 
THANKS AND SEE YOU NEXT TIME! 
 
  


    Transform the Way You Work and Lead  
This site is maintained by Janine Ogg of Holistica. You can find out more about Holistica's work in holistic leadership development and organisational effectiveness and health at                  www.holistica.co.nz or by emailing Janine at janineogg@clear.net.nz 
 
Environmental activism is one of Holistica's core values - this website was created as a means for connecting Wairarapa people passionate about actively contributing to the preservation of Aotearoa for future generations.



  

WaiNotGoGreen? New & Improved!
Welcome to the Feb '09 Newsletter
I was getting bored of writing emails and thought a proper newsletter might be in order...so here we are! Hope you like the new format and if you have any ideas on useful info to include, please drop me a line.
February finds Sam and I still struggling through the UK winter looking as  pasty as ever, much to our horror. There's definitely an upside though, the snow in London served to make people stop, chat and even smile at each other and I found myself walking through the streets of central London to an eerie silence - no traffic! Not many people will have experienced that I expect!
 
We are gutted to be missing the NZ summer but are consoling ourselves by visiting lots of the great Green stuff going on over here . In December we visited the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales and this month we have seen two amazing Cornwall Gardens - The Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Halligan. Click here to see photos on the website

Scroll down the page to read about Green events, local initiatives, new members and much more!
 
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WAINOTGOGREEN? NEWS - Click on the links or visit the website to find out more
GREEN EVENTS

LOCAL PROJECTS & INITIATIVES

THE GREEN DIRECTORY 

Conveniently a friend Belinda (WaiNotGoGreen member & ex-Wairarapian) is working in Sydney setting up a similar directory for her area. She is putting together criteria and info for 'green' businesses and has offered to share her work with us. Again, please make contact if you know of a great eco-friendly business or service in our area. 
 
THE ECO-HUB IN GREYTOWN
 
The challenging economic enviroment has led Sonia Corbett of the Eco-hub  store in Greytown to take her Wairarapa Organic produce, Eco-Hub and Koanga Gardens products to the weekend markets in Wellington. The venture has started off very successfully at the Willis Street market, where her fresh, locally-grown organic produe is attracting regular customers already. Within the next few months they'll be adding energy saving and kitchen items and expanding to other markets. 

Great news for Eco-Hub but don't get too comfortable over there Sonia! 

Please support the ECO-HUB store by shopping locally - make a difference to local GREEN initiatives
 
FEATURED VIDEO
Vist the videos page on the website to find out more about the Honda FXC Hydrogen Powered Car that recently featured on Top Gear
 
If you would like to promote your GREEN group or organisation on WAINOTGOGREEN? contact Janine anytime.

To find out more about any or all of the above, visit the WaiNotGoGreen website:

Cheers,
Janine @ WaiNotGoGreen?
ps Pay It Forward and tell 3 other people about the site this week!
 
 
 
  

ABOUT
 
The WaiNot? website has been set up as a way for Wairarapa folks  to connect and keep informed about all things Green. Contact me if you'd like to be involved help always needed!  Cheers, Janine
 
 
NEW MEMBERS
A big welcome to this months new members. We certainly have an interesting bunch of people getting involved with site. Click on the name to read member profiles.
Helen is the host of the ThistleDew Open Days which have been a great success. Visit her profile to find hear what she has to say about how the Open Days are going.  
Hella and Joep are looking for a fertile block of land in the Wai - can you help? 
Gail has a great GREEN business 'Pots & Potions' producing natural, handmade herbal products 
Karyn Burgess
Karyn has no profile yet but I hope she won't mind me sharing that she is part of the wonderful EnviroSchools program in the Wairarapa, working with our young people to promote eco-friendly living. 
 
Attention Steve Oates or anyone who may know Steve! I accidently deleted you from the members list OOPS! I hope somebody will kindly forward this newsletter to you. Please visit the site and resubscribe we'd hate to lose you . Apologies! 
 

Green Fingers Guide

February Focus:
Harvesting and preserving, planting the Winter Garden
Plant this Month
Brocolli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, winter lettuce, beetroot, fennel, peas, broad beans, swedes, parsley, carrots, daikon 
Harvest this Month 
apples, pears, plums, blackberries, elderberries, summer veges - tomatoes, basil, lettuce, peppers etc 
Preserving Ideas
Bottle up tomato puree and salsa, dry tomatoes, basil and hot peppers, make pesto, bottle pickled or roasted peppers, freeze peppers for winter casseroles, free packets of corn off the cob
 
Visit the Koanga Garden's website for more fantastic tips and information

p.s Koanga garden heritage seeds are now available at the Simply Living store in Greytown!
 


{Site maintained by Janine Ogg of Holistica Coaching & Faciltiation: janine@holistica.co.nz}



 

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Upcoming Events

Saturday, Mar 13 at 8:30 am
Sunday, Mar 14 at 8:00 am
Saturday, Mar 20 at 8:30 am
Sunday, Mar 21 at 8:00 am

Visit the LINKS PAGE for websites of events, businesses and organisations doing great GREEN stuff

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