OTHER GROUPS

There are many other environmental groups in South Australia that share common interests and goals with the Permaculture Association. Below is a selection of such groups with links to their websites where possible.

Friends of the Earth, Adelaide

http://www.adelaide.foe.org.au/

As one of South Australia’s foremost community campaign organisations, Friends of the Earth Adelaide works to address social and environmental justice issues through community action. In addition to campaigners working with on earth jurisprudence, climate justice and urban issues, Friends of the Earth Adelaide has two primary campaign collectives – the Clean Futures Collective, and Reclaim the Food Chain, that welcome your involvement!

Rare Fruit Society of South Australia

http://www.rarefruit-sa.org.au/

■  We grow fruits and food plants from the four corners of the globe. They originate from
cool-temperate, temperate, subtropical and elevated tropical regions. Records are kept of
our successes and failures.

■  We listen to top Guest Speakers at most of our meetings and are presented with the best
local knowledge from our more experienced members.

■  We learn to graft, bud and propagate at our workshop sessions and from our library and
locally produced fact sheets.

■  We receive a newsletter at each meeting containing articles and experiences supplied by
other members. It usually contains an outline of the presentation by the previous guest
speaker or a description of a prior field trip or seminar.

■  We participate in field trips to established fruit properties, research stations and other
member’s orchards. A sampling of the produce is usually enjoyed.

■  We set up a trading table at nearly every meeting where members may purchase fruit
trees, rootstocks, budwood, grafting material and unusual plants, at a modest price.

■  We have a large collection of rare and heritage variety fruit trees grown by our members.
Recently we have established a fruit tree orchard at Kangarilla which will provide
propagating material for both common and scarce fruit cultivars.

■  During July, we have three deciduous fruit grafting sessions. Rootstocks and budwood
will be available for purchase. Members will have priority over visitors. Grafting
techniques will be demonstrated. Fig and grape cuttings are also available. Full details of
times and venues will be available on our web site in the Meetings area prior to July.

Sustainable Communities SA

http://sustainablecommunitiessa.wordpress.com/

Sustainable Communities SA is a community based organisation working in a number of local government areas in South Australia. Our aim is to work together to reduce our use of the earth’s resources and to live differently and cooperatively. We invite people to join and make a commitment to reducing their ecological footprint and building resilient communities.

Objectives:

  • To support community groups that are working to reduce their use of the earth’s resources.
  • To provide practical information about sustainable living regarding energy, food, economics, transport, waste and water.
  • To initiate community-based activity to achieve reduction in use of the earth’s resources and measure changes by calculation of individual and regional ecological footprints.
  • To initiate and foster social networks that support people taking these actions.
  • To work with other organisations with similar objectives, and also with local, state and federal government, schools, clubs, churches and businesses.
  • To monitor the impact of these activities on the carbon and ecological footprint of the area.
  • To keep the community informed of our progress.

Aldinga Arts-Eco Village

https://www.facebook.com/groups/aldingaartsecovillage/

The Aldinga Arts EcoVillage is a sustainable housing development located in Aldinga, a suburb south of Adelaide, South Australia.

The Village is an intentional community based around the principles of permaculture, with a focus on the arts and the environment.

The village community consists of 169 residential and commercial lots (with 155 completed builds as of July 2020), a community hall, communal neighbourhood orchards, eight stormwater collection ponds, and an amphitheatre for outdoor performance events and gatherings.

The site also incorporates a small farm that has been developed to enhance food sustainability with orchards, the small business Village Greens of Willunga Creek, chicken and goat co-ops. The farm also has a natural burial ground and a small-scale wastewater treatment plant that is biologically based and chlorine free, which directs treated sewage effluent from the Village to agricultural use on fruit trees.

Please visit the web address above for more details.

Seed Savers

http://hillsandplainsseedsavers.blogspot.com/

The Seed Savers group is a special interest group whose primary focus is in preserving the biodiversity of vegetables, herbs, flowers, and small fruits, both annual and perennial and including rare varieties.

In October 2002 the group hosted, with support of The Soil Association and The Rare Fruit Society, the very successful 15th Annual Seed Savers Conference in Adelaide.
The conference brought together seed savers, organic gardeners, progressive thinkers, people concerned about maintaining our biodiversity of food, for two days of hands-on workshops, forums, discussions and key note guest speakers.
A highlight of the conference was the presence and participation for the whole of the weekend of Michel and Jude Fanton, Founders of The Seed Savers Network.

The group started up in February 2000 and meets approximately every two months in various locations in Adelaide and surrounding areas.
The group organises practical activities such as workshops, garden tours and talks on issues such as correct seed storage techniques, record keeping, how to raise healthy seedlings.

Seeds and plant material are exchanged at meetings as well we share our growing experiences and discuss seed saving related issues such as G.E. Our members range from beginners to experienced growers and seed savers, and with properties that range in size from home units to acreages.

To become involved in preserving the biodiversity of the edible plant species contact
Allison Miller on 8359 6781
or e-mail jamiller@airnet.com.au

Some Seed Saving links:
SEED SAVERS NETWORK – AUSTRALIA

Slow Food South Australia

https://www.slowfoodsouthaustralia.com.au

SLOW Food is an international not-for-profit organisation founded in 1986 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions, people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world – people, communities, animals, plants and the environment. Slow Food is based in Bra, Italy. It has more than 100,000 members in 132 countries. Slow Food in Australia has 38 convivia, or branches. All of our activities are co-ordinated by volunteers.

Our convivia are at the heart of what we do. Across South Australia, we foster community awareness and celebrate and champion food that is good, clean and fair. We work with artisan producers to market their foods, help school communities to develop kitchen gardens, promote food traditions and knowledge, and organise tasting workshops and events through which we learn about the source of food, farming methods, and the importance of food sustainability for ourselves and the planet. Slow Food in Australia has also developed national projects to support local convivia activities and events.

Contact Slow Food South Australia through our form for more details and any question 

Beekeepers’ Society of South Australia

The Beekeepers’ Society of South Australia is located in Adelaide, South Australia.

We are a friendly group of people who are interested in all aspects of beekeeping.

Meetings are held regularly for members to exchange ideas and to learn from a variety of speakers on different topics.

The BUZZWORD newsletter is produced to inform members & advise them of coming club activities.

The club welcomes new members and has a range of programs, including field days, to help them learn about beekeeping and the successful management of their hives.

Some of the benefits of membership:

  • friendly, entertaining monthly meetings
  • discussion with other beekeepers
  • informed and interesting speakers
  • a library of books, tapes and videos
  • field days and first hand experiences
  • free use of extracting equipment

Visit www.bees.org.au or contact office@bees.org.au, Ph. 0412 405 448

Horticultural Therapy South Australia

The Horticultural Therapy South Australia (HTSA) was established in 2005 and today HTSA has grown to include people from many sectors such as mental health, disabilities, education, landscape architecture and garden lovers interested in the therapeutic benefits of gardens.

The purpose of the Horticultural Therapy SA is:

  • To raise the profile of horticultural therapy and its benefits in the community
  • To increase the support of horticultural therapy in SA
  • To provide opportunities for building knowledge and sharing skills amongst those using horticultural therapy and garden related activites
  • To establish links with similar organisations around Australia and overseas

Contact Glenda Williams, HTSA Secretary on horticultural.therapy.sa@gmail.com for more information

“We have the world to live in on the condition that we will take good care of it. And to take good care of it, we have to know it. And to know it and to be willing to take care of it, we have to love it” 
― Wendell Berry