The first Bellingen Food Exchange on 27 October 2011

Bellingen Food Exchange - photographs

Roberto Perez at No 5 Church Street on Sunday 4 November 2012

“The Power of community” 

Roberto Perez and international permaculturist from Cuba is visiting Bellingen on the weekend of the River Festival.  He works as a environmental educator for the Foundation for Nature and Humanity, Cuba's major environment organization based in Havana. 

His visit to Bellingen will provide a rare opportunity to hear about the Cuba experience first hand and engage in dialogue and discussion on practical ways we can meet the challenges of climate change and making the transition to a low energy society.

Living Planet Sustainability Index

Roberto Perez is familiar to many Australians as the dynamic permaculturist featured in the DVD documentary "The Power of Community", which has inspired a diverse audience throughout Australia, including schools, universities, climate action groups, relocalisation groups, community gardeners, church groups, and countless public and private screenings.

The new wave of change firing the Australian public signals a readiness to re-examine our society and explore sustainable solutions to embrace the challenges of a low-carbon future.  We have much to learn from the Cuba experience, particularly in the areas of urban agriculture, food security, building community and living a low-impact lifestyle.

The 2007 Living Planet Report recently released by the World Wildlife Fund claims that the only truly sustainable country in the world is Cuba--Sustainable development being defined as a commitment to "improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems". 

The two key parameters employed by WWF for measuring sustainable development were the United Nations Development Program's (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI) as the indicator of human wellbeing --calculated from life expectancy, literacy and education, and per capita GDP; and Ecological Footprint calculated at 1.8 global hectares per person to measure the demand on the biosphere.

Cuba was the ONLY country on earth to achieve both criteria for sustainable development.

In terms of ecological footprint, Australia rates as the 6th highest nation on earth.  If everyone lived like the average Australian we'd need almost 4 planets to support the earth's current population.

The report naturally does not imply that everything in Cuba is perfect, it still faces challenges in terms of environmental degradation and living within the limits of the USA trade embargo, yet this externally imposed restraint is perhaps the key factor resulting in the Cuban population living within it's global footprint. The report is definitely a wake-up call that the affluent lifestyle enjoyed in Australia is clearly not sustainable and we need to live more like Cubans in terms of simplicity and frugality, we need to dramatically reduce our consumption and become more resourceful with less.

 Roberto's visit will provide a unique opportunity to learn more about how a society can survive with serious resource constraints and attain a high degree of self-reliance. Documentary will be presented by Roberto Perez at 5 Church St Cafe Sunday night 4^th Nov at 6pm.  

Grow more presentation and workshops August 2012

Grow more presentation and workshops August

to see photographs of the evening at No 5 Church Street click on photos

Healing Garden

Healing Garden

Next Meeting

Hi All,
What a beautiful afternoon in the new Medicinal Garden, in future to be known as the 'Promised Land Medicinal Garden'. Another good response to our call for fellow carers of health in body, mind and soul.

This week we established a garden bed for the coughs, colds and flu victims. It is a border garden of Peppermint, Yarrow, and Elderberry Herbs with an attractive edging of Comfrey.

The chook tractor was also moved to create another garden bed for us to develop in the future and the move created a large garden bed to be developed at the next meeting.

The meetings will be on the last Sunday of the month.

Next meeting is 24th June at 1pm at the Promised Land site.
Any queries call Dave on 66550949.
Or our email on   bellingenhg@gmail.com

Medicinal Garden date change

This Sunday's meeting has to be postponed for 2 weeks.
Our next meeting will be on the 27th of May 1pm, at the Promised Land.
The gathering will still be about your favourite herb and it's qualities.

Any queries please email;  bellingenhg@gmail.com

Next Meeting

Our second gathering for the Healing Garden will again be at The Promised Land on 13th May at 1 pm.

Please bring along your favourite healing herb and some tips on how we can use it.
If you have some spare plants maybe we could get them started in their new home.

Happy gardening.

Any queries please email   bellingenhg@gmail.com

Update on Healing Garden

Community members exploring David Pepper's fantastic garden.

This afternoon was a great chance to meet a great group of enthusiastic people who were very keen to share their ideas of a Healing Garden for Bellingen.
Today we looked at the site and discussed our concepts for the garden and brainstormed designs.

The date and time for the next meeting will be posted on this site and will aim to confirm the first plants to be put in the garden.

If you are interested in the garden, then please email bellingenhg@gmail.com

What is a Healing Garden? - 15 April 2012

Healing Garden at the Promised Land on 15 April at 1pm

ring David P on 6655 0949 or email sonyaom@hotmail.com for directions

Bellingen Local Food Exchange fortnightly on Thursday 10.30am to 12.30pm

The  Food Exchange will be held fortnightly on Thursdays outside Kombu in Church Street Bellingen 10.30am to 12.30pm


we exchange produce for all kinds of things and we also have a donation box.  

Wadzy at Thora - 23/24 March 2012

Wadzy at Thora 23/24 March 2012

Equinox celebration on 20 March 2012 at the Promised Land

Equinox celebration at the Promised Land