You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...

Just a quick post to say I went to an info night at Maribyrnong Council last night about a solar panel group-buy proposal from Eco-Kinetics and I've registered my interest in getting a 1KW PV system! Fingers crossed we meet all the requirements for the system but I'm pretty sure we will.

If we do, that's what AA and I will be using our stimulus package for. To stimulate the economy and the planet!

I'm by no means an expert on this topic. I only happened to stumble across the info that the council were even having a talk when I saw it on the council homepage last week.

I read the FAQ and the Group Proposal documents and thought it sounded interesting. I had also heard people talking about it on RRR a few weeks back and had been meaning to look into it a bit more.

For those of you that don't know the Government are changing the current rebate system for solar panels as of July 1. And if you are able to claim the current rebate (it's means tested and you need a combined income of less than $100k/ py), the new system isn't going to be anywhere nearly as financially attractive to you.

So it's bit of a last chance to be able to claim the $8000 rebate under the current system. If our house and set up means we can have a standard installation for a double storey house, it will cost us about $300 for a monocrystalline system after the rebate or $2050 for an amorphous system (but the latter requires more roof space).

We have a double story house. We are eligible and come in under the means test and haven't claimed a rebate for this before etc. But now we have registered a site inspector will come out and give us a quote and see if ours will be a 'standard installation' which includes a number of things such as if we have 8m2 of north facing, non shaded roof space (I believe we do), roof pitch les than 25 degrees, tile or metal roof (no slate), existing switchboard wiring conforms to Australian standards and a few other things. Fingers crossed. If we have 12.5m2 of north facing, non shaded roof space (hm, don't think we do) we could go for the cheaper system.

Anyway if you live in Melbourne and this is something you want to look further into here are some links that could help. You need to get onto it pronto though. With Eco-Kinetics for example, registrations of interest need to be received by 15th May in order for the site inspections and quotes and paperwork to be done by June 30.

CHOICE article 'solar panels - counting the costs'
Maribyrnong Council:
Maribyrnong Council: Solar Panels Bulk Purchase Deal for Maribyrnong Residents
Solar Homes and Communities Plan Rebate
Eco-Kinetics
FAQs

If you don't live in Maribyrnong but are still interested in seeing if you're eligible, I suggest giving Eco-Kinetics a call and seeing if your council is involved coz they seem to be doing it for quite a number of councils across Melbourne. Or just call your council and ask if anyone is organising a group-buy of solar panels.

Eco-Kinetics - Nicole Hind (03) 9708 6714

www.eco-kinetics.com

There is a season - turn, turn, learn...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Under The Tree from flickr"][/caption]

The changing of the seasons is well underway in Melbourne. There are blushes of autumnal colour starting to peek through everywhere. I really think it's my favourite time of year in Melbourne. And it also seems like a good time to start getting that life/ work balance back in check.

I've signed up for a term of one yoga and one pilates class a week and I can start spending my weekends sewing and gardening again now that we have our wedding venues booked.

I have also noticed there's a bunch of classes, workshops and projects coming up that I thought you might be interested in if you are in Melbourne:

VEGIE GARDENING

PERMABLITZ have a bunch of classes coming up in May:

• Beginners Guide To Compost And Worms (Yarraville) $25


• Beginners Guide To Chickens (Fitzroy) $25


• Living Food: Wild Fermentation And Raw Foods For Your Health (Yarraville) $100


• The Backyard Ecosystem: Organic Pest Control And Adventures In The Microcosmos (Fitzroy) $25

SGA are running some Yummy Yard Autumn Workshops:

Ever wanted to grow your own edible produce at home, but don't know where to start? Never fear, the solution is here! Sustainable Gardening Australia is running a series of “Yummy Yards” courses in Victoria throughout May, to help you get going and keep on growing!

The autumn series of SGA's very popular Yummy Yards course are scheduled to run as follows:
Series 1. West Footscray Neighbourhood House, Footscray on Tuesdays, May 5th and 12th, 2009
Series 2. The Horticultural Centre, Forest Hill on Wednesdays, May 13th and 20th, 2009
Series 3. Sandybeach Centre, Sandringham on Thursdays May 7th and 14th, 2009

Workshops run from 6:30pm to 9:00pm each evening, and the cost for both evening workshops is just $135 (including GST).

BAAG (Bulleen Art & Garden) always have fantastic courses running if you live in the east. Currently they have these coming up for $25 per class:

• Backyard Chooks


• Permaculture in the 'Burbs Pt 2


• Preserving Olives - the Italian Way


• Produce In Pots


• Worm Farms From Scratch


• The Art Of Bonsai

AQUAPONICS

Neco are running a free half day seminar on Aquaponics on Mon 18th May:

In an Aquaponics system, nutrient rich water is seen as an asset instead of waste and is utilised to grow useful plants. Once the plants have used the nutrients the water is returned to the fish tank clean and ready to be recycled again. The plants help the fish and the fish help the plants.Aquaponics is the most water efficient agriculture known, and there are near zero environmental impacts.
Aquaponics is a high density organic food production system

You do need to book a place though. Details are here.

SEWING CLASSES AT THREAD DEN
Thread Den have their new sewing class schedule here.

• European Cushions $30


• Choose Your Own Kidswear $150


• Circular Skirt


• Winter Pinafore Dress $150


• Women's Waistcoat


• Street Satchel $93


• Feature Class: Patternmaking for Skirts $105

AND they are also bringing their Social Sewing Night. You'll be sure to catch me at a couple of these.

CLASSES ON EVERYTHING AT CAE

Seriously. Their course guide is here. I have my eye on a number of the cooking and dance classes, they are always fun.

CLASSES ON EVEN MORE AT WEA IN ADELAIDE

Oh man, looking at this course guide almost makes me want to move back to Adelaide. Look at all this stuff! And the classes are SO CHEAP! Must be government subsidised or something, they are about a third of the prices of courses at CAE in some cases.

CHECK IT OUT.

MOO IF YOU'RE ONE!

I do believe it's my Moo Day! My Moo-niversary.

I can't believe it's been a year since I've joined the blogger community! What a wonderful 12 months. I love getting comments and emails from readers around the world. It blows my mind that you have stumbled across my blog.

I do apologise for the lack of posts this year though, wedding planning and work haven't left me much energy left for gardening, sewing and blogging about it all but hopefully things are settling down.

Now that we've booked our venues for the wedding we will have a whole 12 months to do the fun crafty stuff of making things to make it all look pretty like. I also plan to make a dress for wedding as well as alter (possibly rather drastically) a vintage wedding dress I have picked up.

So onwards an upwards I say. Thank you all for blog-friendship and providing inspiration to keep growing and sewing.

xx Moo

planting seeds or planning a wedding? i know what i'd rather be doing

[vegetable garden baby originally uploaded on flickr - click image to link to source]

What a week! It's only Wednesday and I AM EXHAUSTED - physically, mentally, emotionally SPENT. Do I sound mildly overdramatic? Well, I have to tell you, our Bali June trip could not come quick enough.

So AA is on school holidays from this weekend. We have both been working around the clock and last week we agreed that we'd spend Saturday night doing a big wedding planning brainstorm because we've been meaning to for ages.

And then while looking at venues for the bazillionth time online last night, I saw that one of the places is open for inspecting couples this weekend so were planning a trip up to the ranges then.

But... then... I followed up with Permablitz about a compost bin/ worm farm I have to offer them and saw they have a fantastic sounding blitz going on this Sunday. I had SO MUCH fun at my first one and learnt oodles of useful information ... it really does sound like the kind of soul restoring activity that I could really do with. And... much more fun than looking at wedding venues after a super stressful week.

I mean sure, my garden could really do with some nurturing but... who can say no to this?:

All are welcome at this Permablitz to help transform the backyard of Steve and Emily. Steve has been to almost ans many blitzes in the last year as anyone, and Sunday is also his 30th birthday!

Please rsvp to permablitz@gmail.com if you'd like to come along.

NOTE: This permablitz is being filmed by an SBS television program. All are welcome, but if you do not wish to be filmed you may like to skip this event and come to the other upcoming permablitzes.

On the day you can learn on the job as we build vegie patches no-dig style using horse manure from the nearby racetrack, plant fruit trees and berries and install water catchment systems and add a worm farm. There will also be a range of free workshops - it's set to be a great blitz!

The blitz is at 38 Macgregor St, Malvern East. Close to the #3 tram, and a 10 minute walk from Carnegie station. (See map)

Lunch is provided, and you are encouraged to bring along something to share for morning and afternoon tea if you can. And if you have any spare seeds/seedlings please bring them along.

For more information contact paul@veryediblegardens.com

(Note: the North Fitzroy date which was also proposed for this date will be in late April)

I just think sometimes there's nothing like a good ole' community building activity where you get your hands in the dirt and help build a rad edible garden to nourish the soul... and planet. Do I sound convincing? What do you think? Should I go? Or am I just procrastinating on wedding stuff?