Grey Lynn 2030 Transition Community

August 2010
In this issue
Grey Lynn 2030 Monthly Community Meeting
Grey Lynn Farmers Market
Waste Away news
Putting the Local into Local Government
Wilton Street Community Garden
Green Screen
Local news
Happening Locally

We are all about a positive vision and practical action

In the last month we’ve hosted a meeting to kick-off a Grey Lynn Business Association with a vision aligned to Grey Lynn 2030 ; hosted, with EcoMatters Trust, the kick-off to the Global Climate Working Bee on 10 October this year; secured support from the Western Bays Community Board for a water refill station in the West Lynn shopping area; started the planting at Wilton Street Community Garden with funding from the Board and made a proposal for a Community Orchard on Francis Street Reserve.

Plus every Sunday you can find the Grey Lynn 2030 Waste Away group at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market giving advice on waste minimisation and selling Boukashi buckets.

This month you can take part in the Tree planting at Wellpark Reserve (more details here), come along to Garbage Warrior playing for Green Screen and help us welcome founding member Gary Marshall  & Finn MacKesy back for the August meeting. Details below

Grey Lynn 2030 Monthly Community Meeting

Wednesday 11th August
7.30pm – 9.30pm
Grey Lynn Community Centre

Integrated Solutions for Grey Lynn

Two of the founding members of Grey Lynn 2030, Gary Marshall and Finn Mackesy, together with Rilke de Vos are guest speakers at this month’s GL2030 public meeting.

Together Gary, Finn and Rilke form the core team of Auckland Permaculture Workshop. Auckland Permaculture Workshop (APW) is a community education initiative dedicated to developing and progressing permaculture solutions for the Auckland bioregion. Gary is a landscape architect working at Jasmax, Finn is a free lance educator, facilitator and community development worker and Rilke is an energy engineer for NIWA.

At the meeting APW will ask those present to share the concerns, ideas and interests they have about their community.  APW will use these issues as a basis to facilitate a collaborative workshop that explores a range of practical and visionary responses which seek to create integrated solutions for Grey Lynn.

Grey Lynn Farmers Market

Sunday 9 – 12.30pm
In less than a year the GLFM has become a lively community asset. It is a great place to meet up on a Sunday morning, bump into neighbours and share news. Every week there are more reasons to visit – in addition to the abundance of good value seasonal produce (you will find the quality and price is better than the supermarket) .

Tumeke Bike Space volunteers are at the market on the 1st and 3rd Sunday providing bike check ups and advice.  It is great to see so many bikes parked outside even in the middle of winter.

Funky Nana has also recently joined the market selling yummy organic pies and home baking proving-  another reason to make the market your Sunday morning destination.

The connection to Grey Lynn 2030 is maintained every market day with the Waste Away group providing advice on composting and selling boukashi buckets. Take your old batteries to the stall for recycling too.

Waste Away News

Battery Collection

Locals are positive about keeping household batteries out of landfill!
So far 2.6 kg of batteries have been collected at the Waste Away table at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market.
It’s a great start and the WA group, to help make it convenient for you to drop them off on your day-to-day travels, are in the process of setting up other collection buckets in the local area.
Watch this space to see where & when!

The Hazmobile free collection is at Three Kings Saturday 14th August, to drop of your hazardous household waste. www.hazmobile.govt.nz

Food Waste Diversion
Thanks to all the people who have taken to Worm Farming and Bokashi composting.
The response by people in the community over the last year has been really encouraging; that so many people want to keep organics out of landfill, and hence reduce detrimental environmental effects. Also to have the added bonus of producing by-products for their gardens which create healthier soils and plants.

If you are interested and want to find out more about Worm Farming, Bokashi Composting and what the group is doing, visit the Wasters at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market, email the group, or check out the GL2030 Waste Away webpage, under Focus Groups here. email: greylynn2030wasteaway@gmail.com

Putting the Local into Local Government – Waitemata Local Board

Less than 40% voted in the last local government elections. This time there is far more at stake as a new Auckland Council is established representing 1.4 million people, with $29 billion of assets and $3.2 billion in revenue.

Strong Local Boards  will be crucial to the effective governance of the new “super city”. The Waitemata Local Board covers all the inner city suburbs and the CBD. Check what Local Board and Council Ward you are in here.

Make sure you have a voice at the election.  Make sure you are enrolled to vote. Check by calling 0800 367 656 or visit www.elections.org.nz. Voting papers will be posted from 17 September 2010.  You need to be enrolled by 20 August to receive your voting papers in the post. After that day you can only vote by special vote up until the last day of voting on 8 October .

Our Steering Committee member Pippa Coom is standing with City Vision for the Waitemata Local Board.  She hopes to bring the vision of Grey Lynn 2030 to local government (contact: pippacoom@gmail.com)

Wilton Street Community Garden

The funding of $2000 from the Western Bays Community Board has now come through and Sally and I had a lovely time on Saturday afternoon at the gorgeous Oratia Native Plant Nursery shopping for plants!  We wanted native plants for the weta/bush area in the back and also for our new lizard garden.   After losing several hours at Oratia, we departed with our car absolutely chock-full of plants thanks to the nursery giving us a good discount.

Sunday morning a few new people turned up and we planted the bush area, which is now pretty much complete.  Before we got rained off we also managed to lay out the design for the lizard garden which was fun.

We are thrilled with the response to the community compost bins, they are working well with lots of people using them.  We have already turned out the first barrow loads of compost for this seasons planting.  Unfortunately,  over the weekend someone has dumped a large pile of garden waste on the site including palm spikes and large branches.  We don’t want these as they cannot be composted and are just a disposal problem for us.   So if it is yours please collect it!   Other than this, things are running smoothly so BIG thanks to everyone who is bring in their waste and making it work.

Just a gentle reminder, if you are using the composting bins  - no woody prunings, branches, meat, oil or fish.

ROADSIDE BERM PLANTING for birds and bees…
This is the time to plant roadside berms if you are wanting to do so, with the soil easy to dig and plenty of rain to settle the plants in before summer.  GL203O have money set aside to assist with this, $50 each towards plants for the first 10 doable proposals.  Be in quick to take advantage of this generous offer.

Contact  Mandy for planting advice if you require it or Pippa Coom for $50.00! (email greylynn2030@gmail.com)

Green Screen

Our July Green Screen was a wonderful New Zealand film, Restoring the Mauri of Lake Omapere
.
Thank you to Director Simon Marler for coming along to talk to us about his film

We are excited to announce that we’ll be screening Garbage Warrior (running time 86 mins) for the August Green Screen.

An energetic crew of people explore off-the-grid sustainable building in the New Mexico Desert, and after the county shuts down one community development, the founder goes on a quest to get the state to pass a law for a Sustainable Buildings Testing Facility

Come and join us for a drink on a cosy winter evening.  Looking forward to seeing you there!
Saturday 28 August 7pm Grey Lynn Community Centre. $2 entry.

Local News

Grey Lynn School Cycle Trail
The successful Hawkes Bay initiative, Bikes in Schools to get kids cycling is coming to Auckland starting at Grey Lynn School.

Principal Bill Barker has enthusiastically got behind the idea of a cycle track around the perimeter of the school that will make the most of the School’s  ”forest” of beautiful native bush tucked in along Great North Rd and can incorporate a fitness and walking trail. The School is looking for donations of funds and resources to build the track. You can donate direct to the school or via Give a Little. Nikki Kaye MP has a target to raise $5000 by running the Auckland Marathon.
Grey Lynn School Tel:  (09) 376 3255 www.greylynn.school.nz

Local Happenings

Check out the calendar of events for all the local happenings.

Tumeke Cycle Space is a new group looking to set up a community bike workshop in Auckland. We had our first ever public workshop on Sunday the 11th at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market, Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road, from 9am-12.30pm.

Tumeke Cycle Space is a non-profit, community-run bicycle workshop in Auckland. It’s a place where people can fix, build and learn about bikes in a safe and inclusive environment. We provide tools, knowledge and training, with a focus on teaching people how to fix their own bikes. In this way we aim to empower people, encourage skill sharing, and promote cycling, an affordable, social form of transport that encourages a healthy lifestyle and environment.

We are hoping to make this a regular event until we secure our own venue (which is looking promising)

Thanks
Claire and the Tumeke Cycle Space crew

Join the group on Facebook

9 July 2010
In This Issue:

Grey Lynn 2030 Monthly Community Meeting
Grey Lynn Farmers Market
Waste Away news & Green Screen
Putting the Local into Local Government
Wilton Street Community Garden
Western Bays Community Board – thank you
Local news from the City Fringe
Happening Locally at the Grey Lynn RSC

Under a full moon and a clear matariki filled sky, Grey Lynn celebrated the winter solstice at a family – orientated event at St Columba Church on Saturday 26th June. Vicar Susan Adams and celebrant Keith King started the evening with readings, poetry, a circle dance and song. The labyrinth was lit with lanterns where Susan explained the significance of the winter solstice and Matariki, the Maori New Year. Entertainment was provided by Soul Samba Circus, Sam Benge, the Ukeladies, Capeiora dancers and drummers.

We are fortunate to have so much talent in our community who are willing to give their time and get us all dancing! Well done to Caroline Banks, Kathryn Goodman and Sam Benson and the organising team who made the evening such a success.

Talent and creativity was also in abundance at the Grey lynn 2030 June Meeting - The Art of Grey Lynn.
You can see photos from the meeting and details about all the artists here.  A few of the hidden art secrets of Grey Lynn were revealed.

Grey Lynn Business Association Kick-off

Grey Lynn 2030 are looking to establish a Grey Lynn Business Association. We want to hear your ideas on how this could best work for local business people. Come along for an evening of networking and to share ideas plus updates from our focus groups.

Wednesday 14th July
7.30pm – 9.30pm
Grey Lynn Community Centre

Grey Lynn Farmers Market

The Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market is starting an exciting promotion on Sunday: crack the code and win $5000, plus market hampers and more! Buy something from any of the stalls or become a member for your chance to win.

Luckily we are inside so despite the often beastly weather, the winter months have seen the market continue to gain some great new stalls such as Turkish Foods and EVO’s olive oil. Now, regular stall holders like Ooooby and Blackwood’s Gourmet Bread have been joined by Nicola Leone’s ‘Home Made Italian Deserts’ featuring Italian cookies and biscotti. Yum!

Another new feature is the bike workshop run by a group in the process of creating a non-profit community bike workshop. Their long-term goal is to have a permanent space where tools, advice and donated/reused parts are freely available to help people to repair, maintain and build bikes. At the GLFM they will be mainly teaching basic repair skills, making tools available, fundraising and simply talking to people about the project.

Phineas Phrog’s story telling shows are still on every Sunday at 10.30am in the Oval Room, and offer fun and entertainment for the kids on a rainy winter day.

How to Grow Microgreens – a new book by Fionna Hill

Congratulations to Grey Lynner and Grey Lynn 2030 supporter Fionna Hill who’s latest book How to Grow Microgreens, Nature’s Own Superfood is being released in six countries with a New Zealand launch in August.

Fionna is also the author of A Green Granny’s Garden – a year of the good life in Grey Lynn learning her gardening skills at the Grey Lynn Community Garden. It’s due for release in September. You can often find Fionna at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market where Ooooby sells microgreens and surplus veggies from her plot, and more recently promoting her new books. She’s a GLFM committee member.

To buy a signed copy of How to Grow Microgreens and receive a complimentary gift of ‘Fionna’s Blend’ Kings microgreen seeds please email your details to  fionna@fionnahill.com.  Fionna will contact you as soon as the book is available. www.fionnahill.com

Waste Away news

GOT A DRAWER FULL OF DEAD BATTERIES? NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH THEM?There is now a Used Battery Collection Box at Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market

LETS REDUCE TOXIC WASTE IN OUR LANDFILL!Why is, how we dispose of batteries important?  Most batteries we use contain heavy metals and therefore should not be casually disposed of into our landfill.   In our landfill, the battery will erode and many toxic materials will eventually find their way into the water and soil environment.

For those of you who attended the Grey Lynn 2030 community meeting in May, the Waste Away group spoke about the different types of batteries, correct disposal and recycling, making use of the local HazMobile collection, and what we can do as a community to reduce battery waste in our landfill.  If you missed this May meeting, you can see our battery flyer.

One action discussed was to set up a battery collection box at our stall at the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market.  And we now have one (see photo below), ready and waiting for some batteries!  We can only accept household batteries (no wet cell/lead acid batteries!), and from here, batteries will be either sent off to be recycled for their metals, or if they are unable to be recycled, encased in concrete so that leaching in our landfill is minimal.

Better still is changing to rechargable batteries as they last considerably longer than single-use batteries, so using them will mean less batteries going to our landfill. http://www.ecobatteries.co.nz/

So, please bring your used batteries along to the Waste Away stall at the Farmers Market (every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month), and feel free to come and have a chat with us about batteries!

Green Screen
Green Screen is back to the last Saturday of the Month:
This month: Saturday 31st July 7pm (film yet to be confirmed).

Apologies for any confusion over our last green screen (held on 3rd July with a screening of the “Yes Men Fix the World” to make up for missing out on June).
We are now back to the last Saturday of each month.
We are enjoying having cosy community movie nights, a great thing for the middle of winter!
Looking forward to seeing you there.

-The Green Screen Team

To receive Green Screen notices email greylynn2030@gmail and ask to be put on the Green Screen contact list

Putting the Local into Local Government  : Supercity elections  - Waitemata Local Board

We are really thrilled to be able to announce that Steering Committee member Pippa Coom has been selected to stand with City Vision for the Waitemata Local Board. She joins City Vision as a community independent with the support of Grey Lynn 2030. Also on the ticket is local Jesse Chalmers (who’s parents started Harvest), Christopher Dempsey, current chair of the Albert-Eden Community Board, Bruce Kilmister, current Chair of the Western Bays Community Board, Shale Chambers, Ponsonby commercial lawyer & company director, Tricia Reade, Chair of Ponsonby Community Centre and City Fringe Inc and current Western Bays board member Kate Stanton.

Pippa is passionate about creating the kind of community we want to live in that is safe, lively, healthy and sustainable. She hopes to bring the vision of Grey Lynn 2030 to local government (contact: pippacoom@gmail.com)

Not sure you are enrolled to vote? Check by calling 0800 307 656 or go to www.elections.org.nz. Voting papers for the first supercity elections will be posted on 17 September.

Wilton Street Community Garden

In June the WSCG applied to the Western Bays Community Board for $2000.00 of discretionary funding to complete the Community Garden. We are thrilled that the Board approved our application and we now have the money.  The next step is to ensure that it is carefully spent to achieve the greatest possible benefit for the garden and the community, including the native flora and fauna who inhabited the site before us.

Specific projects that we have earmarked the money for are:

• Native plants to complete the bush habitat in the back plus weta boxes,
• A Lizard Garden and lizard house on the stoney southern end of the site,
• Furniture ie a table and seating under the gum trees so we will have somewhere to sit when we meet, and
• Fruit and vegetable plants.

On another note, the new community compost bins appear to be working well, lots of vegetable scraps and green waste is being dropped off and the bins are filling up.  Thanks to all who are using them – keep it coming!.

The members of the WSCG would like to thank the Western Bays Community Board for their support.

Grey Lynn Community Garden – find out more details here. ‘Growing Together’ every Sunday afternoon 4pm~6pm.

Western Bays Community Board – thank you

1989 – 2010
With the changes to Auckland’s governance the WBCB ceases to exist in October. We would like to thank all the members of the Community Board who have supported Grey Lynn 2030 so enthusiastically: Cr Greg Moyle, Cr Graeme Easte, Chair Bruce Kilmister with Board Members Kate Stanton, Jo Robinson, Paul Stevenson and Leigh Kennaway.

In the last 18 months we have received:

• Funding for the Grey Lynn Farmers Market
• Funding for the Grey Lynn 2030 banner and logo
• $2000 for the Wilton Street Community Garden
• Support for Traffic Calming initiatives through West Lynn shopping area

Over the next couple of month we will be seeking support for:

• Community Orchard in Francis Street Reserve (SLIPS application sponsored by Paul Stephenson)
• Installation of a water fountain (SLIPS application)
• Funding to set up the GL Business Association
• Funding for the West Lynn Street Party and community market; and
• Funding to continue the restoration of Edgars Creek

City Fringe Inc  and Soho Square

Many residents will know that the receiver is appealing the decision of Auckland City Council not to grant consent for building mass and heights over an above what already was granted in 2008.
City Fringe is a lobby group which wants to see Soho Square developed but not the particular design put forward. Nor do we wish for development at any cost just because Soho is an eyesore. We are also concerned about the amount of traffic it encourage in the area.

More information on what is happening can be obtained from cityfringeinc@gmail.com now and City Fringe’s  website will be up and running by 15 July at www.cityfringe.org.nz

Grey Lynn RSC – happening locally

We welcome visitors and new members: This month apart from our members nights on a Wednesday night – we have 7 day a week faclilties-we have no cover charge for entertainment:

Friday 9 July 8pm band “Peta & the Pois” playing pop/jazz and blues
Friday 16 July 8pm band “The Alibis” playing jumpswing and rhythm and blues
Friday 23 July 8pm band “McSweeney Brothers with Marion Burns” on fiddle- Irish band
Friday 30 July 8pm band “The Gunsmiths” playing hard rock and blues, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Hendrix and more

We also have the rugby and league games on our big screens during our opening hours. Our function room upstairs is available for hire for your special functions.

We have large dance floor, kitchen, seated dining area, bar and restroom facilities, the best kept secret in Grey Lynn.

Enquiries greylynnrsc@hotmail.co.nz

Update on the Ooooby Berm Bomb on Richmond Road

July 2010

Grey Lynn 2030 June meeting was a celebration of the artistic talent in our community. A big thank you to all the artists and members of the art community who participated.

Art in the Dark

Celia, Kat and Adelle gave us a presentation on the inaugural Art in the Dark event exploring and exploding the ideas of ‘Community, Environment and Utopias’.
Under the cover of darkness, artists will address these core values while exploring the implications of mobility, night, sky and light. Art in the Dark is a collaboration between artists, businesses and community initiatives in the Grey Lynn and Ponsonby area to celebrate and foster community.
Contact:  Celia Harrison, Creative Director  celia@artinthedark.co.nz www.artinthedark.co.nz

Louise Rive and Chuck Joseph – Edge City

Edge City
8 Garnet Road
Westmere
www.edgecity.co.nz
Studio open: Thursday & Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm, & by appointment.
ph, 09 3763692 m.0212088583

When the circus left town, we had a parade,

the band played on and floats were made.

I looked sideways as they passed,

these bits and pieces, they were the last.

We beat our chests

and cried out loud,

the Tui’s head looked dead, not proud.

“After the goldrush” Oil painting and words – Chuck Joseph 2010

Toi Ora

Bernadette Brewer and Erwin van Asbeck gave a presentation on what is happening at Toi Ora the live art trust

Currently there is a Drawing exhibition held at the Toi Ora Gallery space at 6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn

Open Mon-Fri. from 9am-4pm for viewing.

Toi Ora are currently looking for Board members and artist who would like to mentor members.

Hanne Vibeke- rug maker

stripeworks@xtra.co.nz

Isla Osborne, Jeweller (with Tilda)  – more details about Isla’s I heart Grey Lynn project here

Jude Graveson

Peter Viesnik – Viz Glass

36a Monmouth Street, Grey Lynn

Tel:  09 360 0689
www.viesnik.com

And a special thanks to Jan-Claire Hughes for her enthusiastic support of the Grey Lynn art community.

Come and celebrate!
Saturday June 26
5.30pm to approx 9pm
St Columba.
92 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn (we will begin in the hall).

A time to recognise that we have passed the shortest day and are now turning toward the light and waiting expectantly for the lengthening of the days.

We will acknowledge the rise of Matariki in our southern skies signalling the New Year and the time for planting.

This is a community event – children are welcome

• Acknowledging the seasons
• Making and lighting lanterns
• Music from local bands and musicians, including Sam Benge, Ukuladies and Batucada.
• DJ and dancing
• Pot luck dinner – bring food to share. Homemade soup, salads and bread provided, plus tea and coffee

For any enquiries please contact Caroline Banks: 360 1528, 021 203 2835, carolinebanks@xtra.co.nz

4 June 2010
In This Issue:

Grey Lynn 2030 Monthly Community Meeting – The Art of Grey Lynn
Grey Lynn Farmers Market – On this Weekend
Waste Away and other Focus Group updates
Winter Solstice and Matariki Celebration
Wilton Street Community Garden
Green Screen is Back!
Entertainment happening locally – supporting  the Grey Lynn RSC
Our Community – Chickens at home course

Highlights from our June issue – to receive the full version please email us at greylynn2030@gmail.com

A fresh new look for Grey Lynn 2030

Over the last month we have quietly started using our new banner and logo (you may have noticed the change to our Facebook profile)

It has taken a lot of time and talent from many people to finally reach an image which we think reflects our vision and our community.

We would like to thank the many people involved right from the beginning almost 2 years ago.

Grey Lynn 2030 Monthly Community Gathering

The Art of Grey Lynn

Come along to an evening in celebration of our local artists. A chance to mingle with the artistic talent of Grey Lynn & Westmere and find out what inspires them about their local community.

With updates on planned art events and projects – share your ideas too.

Guest speaker Bernadette Brewer from Toi Ora: Live Art Trust

With many of our local artists including Louise Rive and Chuck Joseph from Edge City (the final guest list will be on our website)

Entry by Koha. Drinks and nibbles provided

Grey Lynn Farmers Market

Sunday 9 – 12.30pm

The Grey Lynn Farmer’s Market is on this Queen’s birthday weekend! (and every Sunday except the last of the month when the Market makes way for Kraftbomb)

Waste Away

On Wednesday 19 May we teamed up with Garnet Station Café and took our passion for food waste reduction to the “street”.

With a small information stand in front of the café right next to the bus stop and with beautiful weather to support us, we spend our day talking to lots of interested passers by about home composting, worm farming and the bokashi system.

Winter Solstice and Matariki Celebration

Come and celebrate
June 26, 5.30pm
St Columba Church Hall, 92 Surrey Cres. Grey Lynn

Wilton Street Community Garden

We are looking for Volunteers to help with the garden – why not just pop in on Sunday at 10am or contact Mandy

Here is a photo of Maia taking her compost to the new Community Composting Facility located in the garden.

Green Screen is back!

Thank you to all of you who made it to see the movie ‘Dirt’ for our re-launch; it was the biggest Green Screen audience yet!. With nearly 60 people we completely filled the garden room, making it a true cosy community movie evening.

Dirt  ( http://www.dirtthemovie.org ) was a thought provoking and inspiring film highlighting the importance of restoring health to damaged soil around the world, and maintaining the areas which are still full of life. We were urged to each ”do the best we can”. This can start in our own back yards with growing some of our own food, or planting native plants. Dirt (Soil) is the ultimate natural resource for life on earth and needs our respect and care.

We welcome visitors and new members: This month apart from our members nights on a Wednesday night – we have 7 day a week faclilties-we have no cover charge for entertainment:

Entertainment Happening Locally

• Friday 4 June 8pm – band ” Easy” local lads playing reggae ska and dub
• Sunday 6 June Queens Birthday weekend 4pm band “Kiwi Express” country rock n roll  and old favourites
• Friday 11 June 8pm band “Peta & the Pois” playing pop/jazz and blues
• Friday 18 June 8pm band “The Alibis” playing jump swing and rhythm and blues
• Sunday 20 June 4pm mid winter Christmas party with band Robbie Maxwell & Dave Curltis -bring a $5 wrapped pressie and Santa will give you a pressie back- note this is R18 and for members and visitors
• Friday 25 June 8pm band “Rebel Without Applause”- rock/pop and 80′s and 90′s favourites

Enquiries greylynnrsc@hotmail.co.nz