Member Function Ideas
Step1:
Brain Storm List of ideas for consideration (quarterly presentations, talks, walks etc)
- Bee Keeping
An introduction to bee keeping, ½ to 1 day session covering the ins and outs of bee keeping, the challenges, DIY hives, PPE equipment, different hive styles, pollination benefits, honey harvesting. - Animal and bird pest management - Deer, Rabbits, Myna birds, foxes, cats including lethal and trapping options
- Indian Myna Control Workshop: Past Event: Dixons Creek Reserve. The first hour will be spent hearing about the behavior and characteristics of this invasive species. Guests will then have the opportunity to make their own traps using the materials provided for $20. Alternatively, guests can take home a trap already made for $45. More than 40 people attended, with 33 traps made or sold on the day. The workshop provided information about a serious environmental pests moving into the Steels Creek area. The Yarra Indian Myna Action Group gave a talk about the challenges in halting the invasion of these birds which take over the habitat of our native birds. Sightings have been seen the length of SC road in increasing numbers. Thanks to Northern Yarra Landcare Network for the generous subsidy given to Landcare members buying traps and kits. To buy a trap or kit to make, please contact YIMAG at http://www.yimag.org.au/
- Rabbit Control Workshop Past Event: Dixons Creek Reserve. You will be able to get expert advice and ask questions about the best techniques for rabbit control. We also plan to discuss ideas for a regional approach to rabbit control in the fire-affected area. e. Our 32 guests received expert advice and asked questions about the best techniques for rabbit control. The first step will be an information session in December to outline the extent of the rabbit problem and how we can best deal with it. The second step will be to have a number of you committed people join us to coordinate the action in your local area. We will meet in January to assist co-ordinators to put a process in place. Working together, we can reduce rabbit numbers in each area and collectively, across the valley. The last step will involve February being the rabbit busting month. We will run a practical workshop or field day to demonstrate the various rabbit reduction measures - baiting, harbor clearing and warren destruction, trapping and more.
- Weed problems and treatment advice - chemical and non chemical options, planning for the best timing for specific weed type, weeds we commonly have - Blackberries (rob.F had a 96 page control manual...somewhere. Would be good to condense into a single page doco), Watsonia, Gorse, cape weed, Thistles. Outcome to create a web page with applicable information for specific weed types
- Whole farm plans
- Fire and emergencies.
- Chemical Users Coarse: 2011 past event: The Northern Yarra Landcare Network offered free courses in the use of farm chemicals such as those that are most effective against blackberry. These courses were available free to property owners in the fire-affected area. Completion of a Chemical Users Course will mean you can… Qualify for the Agricultural Chemical Users Permit (ACUP) from the Department of Primary Industries. Learn about spray equipment and how to calibrate it correctly. Understand how to interpret labels and use the right techniques. Improve your preparation, storage and cleanup of chemicals. Know the safety issues around the use of herbicides so you, your property, your neighbor's and local wildlife will be safer. Two courses were offered. Each course is run over 2 days.
- Erosion Information Night - 2011 past event: We all have it, so how can we fix it? Steels Creek Landcare Group, with the support of PP&W Catchment Management Authority and Melbourne Water has planned an Information Session aimed at exploring the issues around this question. When: Wednesday 2 May at 7.30 - 9.30pm Where: Steels Creek Community Centre Topics include: - Identifying types of erosion and what causes them - Solutions for current erosion problems - Understand the big picture and what to do in your own place - Melbourne Water will outline some of their programs and background information on Steels Creek’s land types
- Native Grasses Information Night: 2011 past event: at the Dixons Creek Reserve, with 45 people there to hear Dr Ian Chivers from NativeSeeds talk about the practicalities and benefits of native grasses for pasture, lawns, landscaping erosion control and inter-row planting in vineyards.
- Microbats Guest speaker Tony Fitzgerald (Parks Vic) and Rob Gration (Microbat Specialist)
- Sustainable Garden workshops 2011 Past event: being held through Dixons Creek Landcare (which has been a very informative program and given much 'food for thought' to participants
- Raising chooks for eggs and or meat
- Healthy dams - Creating habitat for fish etc. in dams
- Colin Carter, from Trufficulture, will be giving a talk on Growing Truffles - AGM dinner guest speaker
- Pasture Improvement 2011 past event: Steels Creek Community Centre, had a workshop and information session on pasture improvement for small properties including the use of rural animals. Aimed at properties 10-20 acres (4 to 8 hectares) there was information on how to maximize your pasture, minimize your weeds and improve your soils. The cost will be only a $2 coin donation to the SCCC
- Planning Calendar - when to set up wasp traps, rabbit control, specific weed control/method according to the time of year etc etc. Tie this in with email promotion of the task to perform
- Home grown vegi & fruit - planning, issues/pests, maint, espalier, options such as wicking garden beds, raised beds,
- Fencing - install, maint different options for post, wire, electric
- Planting & rubbish removal days
- Web Page Info and session on options available to source reveg plants such as Ribbons Of Green, Tree Project, Melb Water, ....
- Resilience - https://www.realliferesilience.com.au/about As life on the land, we all endure trials, tribulations and tragedies to varying degrees. These guy's have really great reviews and could be a great broader community event.
- Solar & batteries - talk on pro's cons of solar/batteries, grants, solar credits and sizing of systems
- Chooks - someone to present on what's involved in raising chooks - eggs or meat, issues, pen options, other uses (compost, dig up spent vegi plots,
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Step2:
Short List Of Ideas |
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Step3:
Development/Planning/Scheduling of ideas - which quarter, who is responsible |
