Saltgrass

S6E04 Invertebrates

Thu, 28 May 2026 12:03:53 +1000

Meet the invertebrate team as we peel back bark, turn over rocks and shine lights on sheets to catch insects and arachnids out in the Australian desert. One of the smallest teams on Desert Discovery they were looking at the some of the smallest critters, but they had their eyes open to all levels of life.

Transcript and show notes available on the Saltgrass Website.

S7 E02 - What are the possibilities for FO and GO?

Mon, 18 May 2026 16:55:10 +1000

In the last episode we had a chat with Mayor Toby Heydon and YIMBY co-founder Lucy Young to explore the impacts of the rolling out a Food Organics / Garden Organics (FOGO) kerbside waste service in the shire.

It seemed clear there was a lot more to say!

So this episode we are joined once more by Lucy and also by Anthony Jansen who runs Greenaway, a garden organics waste service. Together we talk about what we might be able to imagine for the shire if we choose not to run with FOGO bins, but rather manage the FO (food organics) and GO (garden organics) in creative and practical ways.

S7E01 Should We 'Go Slow on FOGO'?

Mon, 04 May 2026 17:52:33 +1000

This episode was recorded from a live show on MainFM on 4th of May 2026.

The Mount Alexander Shire Council is soon to vote on whether our shire should have FOGO bin, that is, a Food Organics / Garden Organics kerbside waste service.

Saltgrass host Allie was joined in the studio my Mayor Toby Heydon and YIMBY co-founder Lucy Young to discuss the proposed service and why it may or may not be the best option for our shire.

S6E03 Citizen Science

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:33:13 +1000

Citizen science is a bit of a buzz word, but what is it really all about?

Desert Discovery did not start out as a citizen science group, at first it was a group of nature lovers having adventures together. Over time the group's focus has shifted more and more towards citizen science.

So, in this episode, we unpack what citizen science is and also how Desert Discovery became a citizen science group.

S6E02 Botany

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:40:18 +1100

Join us on the first full day of the Desert Discovery Yeo Lake Project. Allie hitches a ride with the Botany Team to find out what a day of data collection looks like for them. We hear team leader Alan Bedggood talk about how it all works and share in the enthusiasm of the participants.

Links and transcript at saltgrasspodcast.com

S6E01 The Largest Biome

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +1100

Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth. The majority of people live in the major cities that hug the coast line, and as much as Australia is famous for the 'red centre', many Australians have never been.

This season Allie, Saltgrass' host, will take listeners on an adventure to a remote desert location in Western Australia with citizen science group Desert Discovery. This first episode is just the beginning, setting the scene, and introducing you to the first of many colourful characters.

Saltgrass Season 6 Trailer

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:05:00 +1100

A little window into what is coming!

S6E00 Preseason Update

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +1100

A quick update before we launch into season 6!

Allie talks about why it's been a while between seasons and what has changed since last time you heard from Saltgrass.

Season 6 is coming really soon... for reals!

S5 E23 Popcorn Activism

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 16:10:57 +1000

Handing out popcorn can get you arrested these days, especially if you do it in a bank.

In this episode I chat with three activists who did just that over a year ago. Then, earlier this year they went to court to argue that they had to do it to prevent great harm from happening, that is to prevent the bank's connection to future fossil fuel extraction.

Activists often get represented as ratbags or trouble makers, disrupting things just for the sake of it, but what you will hear today is much more in alignment with the vast majority of my experience of activists – which is people who have deeply considered what they are doing and why and feel that taking action is one of the only avenues left open to them to effect change.

Guests: Bernard Tonkin, Laura Levetan and Dean Bridgefoot

Go to saltgrasspodcast.com for links related to this episode.

S5 E22 The Housing Crisis - Creative Solutions

Sat, 18 May 2024 14:31:39 +1000

This is the final episode of the three about the housing crisis and what my local community is doing about it. In this episode we hear about some of the creative solutions including community groups building housing specific for their needs, Council utilising existing sites to build affordable housing, adjusting council laws to allow more flexibility for tiny homes on wheels, working out how to use existing houses and how to keep people in their homes in ways that work for everyone.

For links go to the Saltgrass website.

S5 E21 The Housing Crisis - Building Together

Mon, 06 May 2024 13:52:51 +1000

In these three episodes we will explore how housing is a key climate issue and we’ll look at how the housing crisis is impacting where I live, in regional Victoria.

In this second episode we are looking at what deliberative development is and how co-housing and community building can be a part of our housing solutions.

In the next episodes we’ll explore what the local community is already doing about housing and at some innovative solutions that may be helpful.

For links go to the Saltgrass website.

S5 E20 The Housing Crisis - What's the problem?

Mon, 06 May 2024 09:31:08 +1000

How is the housing crisis linked to sustainability?

In the next three episodes we will explore how housing is a key climate issue and we'll look at how the housing crisis is impacting where I live, in regional Victoria.

In this episode we will look at how the land lies, what is the problem?

In the two following episodes we'll explore what the local community is already doing about it and also at some other innovative solutions that may be helpful.

For links go to the Saltgrass website

April 2024 Update

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:53:34 +1000

I know it has been a while since there was anything new on Saltgrass, so here is a quick (6 min) update for you.

In summary:

There will be 5 new episodes coming out soon which will wrap up season 5 of Saltgrass and then we will get stuck into season 6.

Also, Saltgrass won some cool awards :) Yay!

S5 E19 Bonus: Connecting Country live event

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:14:41 +1100

This is the full audio from the Connecting Country event called ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’

The event featured presentations from Sasha Jellinek from the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water, Oli Moraes - Project Manager at Djaara and Tess Greives from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA)

S5 E18 Connecting Country

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 22:02:08 +1100

Connecting Country is a not for profit organisation which works closely with landcare groups and others in restoring neglected and damaged ecosystems. Hadley Cole and Bonnie Humphries from Connecting Country join Allie to discuss how landcare groups contribute to various restoration efforts, and how the unprecedented nature of climate change and its impact on existing ecosystems makes the task complex and unpredictable. Various strategies are being tried, including mixing plant provenances to achieve a higher genetic diversity and boost ecosystem resilience.

In this episode are excerpts from an event called 'Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate' featuring Sasha Jellinek from the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water, Oli Moraes from DJAARA and Tess Greives from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA),

The full recording of the event will be shared in upcoming weeks.

Guests:

Bonnie Humphries – Connecting Country – Landscape Restoration Specialist

Hadley Cole – Connecting Country – Landcare Facilitator

Sasha Jellinek - the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water

Oli Moraes - Djaara

Tess Greives - North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA)

Summary:

00:00 Introduction

02:28 Acknowledgement of Country

03:22 Hadley Cole and Bonnie Humphries in conversation about Connecting Country and Landcare

17:30 Excerpts from event: ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’

17:53 Sascha Jellinik – climate impact and importance of genetic diversity

21:14 Oli Moraes - The Role of Djaara in landscape restoration and climate strategies

25:36 Tess Greives – Climate ready Reveg projects

28:07 Bonnie and Hadley on the Importance of Genetic Diversity in Ecosystems

31:35 The Role of Climate Future Plots in Ecosystem Restoration

43:09 The Importance of Community Involvement in Ecosystem Restoration

46:03 Conclusion and Final Remarks

LINKS:

Connecting Country

Djaara’s Healing Country Plan

Related Episodes:

Wilderhoods

Walking Together

Caring For Country

S5 E17 Village Dreaming

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 17:15:40 +1100

Today we are going to Village Dreaming Farm and Orto cooking school. Mara and Ralf live on about 15 acres just outside of Daylesford – about a 30min drive south of where I am in Castlemaine. They have been there since 2015 and in that time have transformed the empty paddocks of former grazing land into a small farm that follows regenerative and permaculture principles, with a kitchen garden, orchards and wetlands.

Links:

Village Dreaming

Ceres - environmental park in Melbourne

Natural Tucker - sourdough bakery

Damian Cook - who Ralf worked for for many years

Critical Mass - cycling protest

Related Episodes:

Youth are Rising

Redbeard Bakery

Ilka White on her art practice and Ethical Apparel

S5 E16 Compost!? Yes, In My Back Yard

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 07:22:37 +1100

Are you good at composting? I certainly haven't been in the past. But with the help of a community composting group called YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) I have become a kitchen scrap saviour, a leaf collecting ninja and I make steaming hot compost.

In today's episode I talk to Lucy Young, Joel Meadows, Mikaela Beckley and Claudia Lang about what this group is all about and why they are passionate about compost. (Spoiler: reducing greenhouse gasses, connecting community, building beautiful soil)

S5 E15 Salad with Soul

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 06:09:17 +1000

Recent episodes have been looking at the farmers out at the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative. We've been out there to explore how farming and agriculture might be done in a way that is earth, biodiversity and humanity friendly.

Each and every one of the farmers talked about how important the support of the local community has been, and how much enthusiasm they have received from people who get what they are trying to do, even if it costs a bit more and is not as convenient as shopping at the supermarkets.

But it isn’t just individuals buying for their families that support these farmers and so this week we're looking at small businesses who prioritise locally produced food, these are people who go to the extra effort and often spend extra time working with the farmers through the ups and downs, wins and losses of seasons and years and changing weather.

This episode features:

Mel from Gung Hoe Growers

Alex Perry from Bar Midland

Paul and Patricia from Sprout Bakery

Sas Allardice - co-founder of Gung Hoe Growers

Links:

Gung Hoe Growers

HOFC – Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative

Sprout Bakery and their Instagram

Bar Midland

Other Related Episodes:

S4 E17 Djakitj Larr – Eating Country Healthy part 1

S4 E17 Djakitj Larr – Eating Country Healthy part 2

S5 E11 An Incredible Octopus – with Katie Finlay

S5 E12 The Orchard Keepers

S5 E13 Micro Dairy

S5 E14 Love and Garlic

S1 E06 Gung Hoe Growers with Sas and Mel

S1 E05 Mount Alexander Fruit Garden

S2 E13 Food Security and Farm ers Markets

S5 E07 Root to Tip with Duang

S5 E14 Love and Garlic - Gung Hoe Growers

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 09:25:38 +1000

It has been almost a decade of effort and love and garlic from Gung Hoe Growers – supplying our local community through the local farmers market, selling to cafes and restaurants and providing boxes of veg to seasonal and annual subscribers.

Many have felt sadness on hearing that Gung Hoe will not be renewing their lease out at the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative.

This episode is a big chat with Mel about how and why this has happened and how this reflects on our farming and food production systems.

Listen back to the start of the Gung Hoe story:

Saltgrass Season 1 Gung Hoe Growers with Sas and Mel

Links:

Gung Hoe Growers

HOFC – Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative

S5 E13 Micro Dairy with Tess Sellar

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 22:12:25 +1000

We are heading back out to the Harcourt Farming Cooperative – this time to talk to Tess Sellar who runs a herd of 10 or so dairy cows and supplies organic milk and yoghurt to our local community.

Tess uses regenerative farming practices, re-usable glass containers and does countless other things to make her micro-dairy as low impact as possible.

Trigger Warning:

Please note that this episode contains conversation about suicide. If you feel vulnerable or at risk please reach out for help.

If you are in Australia you can go to Lifeline or call 13 11 14

Resources and Links:

Sellar Dairy

Harcourt Organic Farming Co-operative

Food Not Bombs

Holy Goat Cheese

S5 E12 The Orchard Keepers

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 10:48:34 +1000

Following on from the last episode about the Harcourt Farming Cooperative, today we are looking at The Orchard Keepers. They are part of the grand experiment of this farming cooperative, having taken over the orchard management a couple of years ago.

They are using organic and regenerative practices and they are not just farmers, but they are visionaries and committed activists through the work they do on and in the soil.

Listen as we discuss the challenges and joys of taking on a mature orchard and trying to make a go of farming with young kids and extreme weather.

The Orchard Keepers are:

Ingrid Phyland
Alex Kelly Yoann Le Guen Megan Roberts Brian Morris Rachael Cilantro

Resources and Links

The Orchard Keepers

Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative

World Wildlife Fund – Innovate to Regenerate fund

Related Episodes:

S5 E11 An Incredible Octopus - with Katie Finlay

S1 E05 Mount Alexander Fruit Garden

S1 E06 Gung Hoe Growers

S2 E13 Food Security and Farmers Markets

S5 E11 An Incredible Octopus with Katie Finlay

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 11:07:53 +1000

This is the first of four episodes that will be released about the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative.

Long term listeners may remember two episodes from season one that captured conversations with farmers from the cooperative as it was just beginning back in 2018.

I’ve been following the process of this cooperative with interest since it began because it is a fascinating case study of alternative farming... that is, an alternative to large scale, monocultural farming which contributes to climate change rather than helping mitigate it.

Listen to Katie talking about what it has been like to open her family farm up to young farmers and the co-op - what she affectionately describes as an incredible octopus!

Links:

Project Drawdown on climate and farming

Indigenous native food – Murrnong Mummas

The Orchard Keepers

World Wildlife Fund – Innovate to Regenerate fund

AFSA – Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance

Farming on other people’s land - FOOPL

Grounded – community land trust

Farmer Incubator

This Farm Needs a Farmer (Facebook link)

Growing Farmers

Related episodes:

Saltgrass Season 1 Katie and Ant

Saltgrass Season 1 Gung Hoe Growers with Sas and Mel

Saltgrass Season 2 Regenerative Farming

S5 E10 Plastic Free July with Rebecca Prince-Ruiz

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 10:06:52 +1000

Plastic Free July had humble beginnings in back in 2011 when Rebecca Prince-Ruiz had the idea of refusing to buy or accept single use plastics for the month of July, just to see if she could. She asked people around her if they wanted to do it too and now it is a global movement with an estimated 140 million people from 195 countries participating in 2022.

I wanted to Talk to Rebecca, not only because she is amazing, but also, Plastic Free July is truly a grassroots movement that has made a global impact. And I was so curious to hear how it started and how it grew. Rebecca is also overflowing with stories of people making change at all levels of society and business and she happily delves into discussions about balancing personal responsibility with demanding action from corporations and governments and we also had some great questions from the audience as well.

Links:

Plastic Free July

Book: Plastic Free

By Rebecca Prince-Ruiz and Joanna Atherford Finn

(Published 2020)

Global plastics treaty

Zero Waste Victoria

BYO Containers

Some other plastic education media pieces:

Climate Town: Plastic Recycling is a scam

DW Planet A: Recycling Myth

The Story of Plastic

S5 E09 Walking Together

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 20:07:10 +1000

How can local councils and Traditional Owners work collaboratively towards climate and environmental goals?

Today's episode explores one way to get things going.

Back in November 2022 Djaara – the Traditional Owners in Central Victoria where Saltgrass is made – invited representatives from local councils to gather on Country and workshop how Djaara and councils can co-design climate strategies and manage environmental issues together.

Along with the audio from the workshop there is an extended interview with the organisers of that event that includes Oli Moraes from Djaara, Melanie Marshall, Climate Change Coordinator at Mount Alexander Shire Council – my local council and Dr Alexander Saeri – or Zan – from Monash University and Behaviour Works Australia.

Resources and Links

About Djaara:

Djaara

Djaara’s settlement agreement

Djaara’s Healing Country Plan

Waa

Guests:

Oli Moraes from Djaara

Dr Alexander Saeri from Behaviour Works Australia

Melanie Marshall from Mount Alexander Shire

Mount Alexander Shire Climate Change Strategy

S5 E08 Living Democracy with Tim Hollo

Tue, 23 May 2023 07:51:08 +1000

Tim Hollo is many things, musician, politician, anarchist and the author of Living Democracy – An ecological manifesto for the end of the world as we know it. He was in conversation at the Taproom in Castlemaine with Jim Buckell and introduced by Alex Kelly with an extended Q&A with the audience.

Links:

Living Democracy Book

There is no time left not to do everything – an article and now a chapter in the book

The Green Institute

Green Music Australia

Fourplay

Jim Buckell

Democracy for Dinner

Democracy for Dinner Substack

Tim Low’s book ‘Where Song Began’

Half of our body is not human

Nobel Prize winning economist Eleanor Ostrum ‘Defender of the commons’

Philosopher Hannah Arendt who escaped Nazi Germany and dedicated her academic life to exploring totalitarianism and the nature of power

Fearless Cities as exampled by Barcelona

Murray Bookchin

Democratic confederalism as seen in Kurdish communities

Related Episodes:

Democracy for Dinner

Futures

S5 E07 Root to Tip with Duang

Mon, 08 May 2023 08:21:51 +1000

Duang moved to Castlemaine just a few years ago, but is already an integral part of the fabric of our community.

She sells delicious Thai cooking at the weekly farmers market and came here, as you will hear, in part because she knew about the Harcourt Farming Cooperative and the community supported agriculture (CSA) method that they employ.

Duang was so keen to support the farmers that she offered a free zero waste cooking class to CSA members at her own home – a way to offer more value to those who subscribed. It was a fun class with Duang peppering the cooking advice with stories of her life. We made pesto out of carrot tops and talked about what makes a good life. Allie then went back later to have a longer chat with Duang.

Links:

SBS episode about Duang's life

Duang’s cooking school

Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative

Related Episodes:

Gung Hoe Growers

Mount Alexander Fruit Garden

Food Security and Farmers Markets

S5 E06 Talking About Money

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 08:12:36 +1000

Following on from the last episode about the Castlemaine Currency Project, this episode shares audio from a panel discussion that was part of the original exhibition and social experiment.

Featuring:

Warwick Smith, Castlemaine Institute

Karl Fitzgerald, Prosper Australia

Merryn Tinkler, Mount Alexander Shire - Manager of Economy and Culture

Anitra Nelson, University of Melbourne

S5 E05 The Castlemaine Currency Project

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 21:45:15 +1000

Local currencies and alternative money systems... what is that all about? Is it really a helpful thing to be thinking about in the middle of the climate crisis?

A group of artists in Castlemaine have created an art project and social experiment in the form of a local currency they called The Silver Wattle to explore just these questions.

The audio in this episode was recorded at a live event that was held as part of the Castlemaine fringe arts festival – one year after the Castlemaine Currency Project was launched back in May 2022

LINKS:

About the Castlemaine Currency Project:

Castlemaine Currency Website
Castlemaine Currency Facebook
Film “Conversations from the Castlemaine Currency Project“ by Lisa Mills at Storyland
ABC article from time of exhibition
Article in garland magazine

About the Artists:

Jodi Newcomb
- Carbon Arts
- The Castlemaine Institute
Dale Cox
Ann Ferguson

S5 E04 The Salvage Yard

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 22:13:19 +1100

Anna and Matt run the Salvage Yard in Castlemaine. They rescue building materials that would otherwise go to landfill, clean it up and sell it on. It isn't hoarding if you turn it into a business is it?

This episode is exploring waste again, but this time we are looking at the building industry and how we can construct and dismantle buildings better. Another example of how 'Reduce, Re-use and Recycle' can be applied to almost anything!

Go to saltgrasspodcast.com to see more about this episode, including a full transcript.

S5 E03 The Good Op Shop

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 22:31:18 +1100

Tiffany Inglis started an op shop (AKA opportunity shop - known as a thrift store in the USA) and all she wants to do is save the world one pair of very cheap second hand jeans at a time.

Not only is the Good Op shop keeping A LOT of stuff out of landfill, but money raised there is then given to worthy environmental causes. If that is not enough to convince you it is a 'good' op shop - then wait til you hear about the educational programs and recycling initiatives they have started.

Good Op Shop (Facebook)

Good Op Shop (Instagram)

The Salvage Yard

Wettenhall Environment Trust

Muckleford Catchment Landcare Group

Castlemaine Landcare Group

Robyn Annear book on op shops

La Loba – Meri (Instagram)

Fundraiser for the machines (funding goal achieved!!!)

No such thing as a Hero article: https://lithub.com/rebecca-solnit-when-the-hero-is-the-problem/

S5 E02 Wilderhoods

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +1100

Cassia Read and Ada Nano are both ecologists who have been working within a local climate focussed hub called The Castlemaine Institute. They have been developing a program called “Wilderhoods” that helps neighbours come together, learn about the land they are on and how to turn their nature strips and yards into places that birds, bees and lizards would want to hang out in. This is all while connecting with neighbours and creating climate resilient spaces that work for humans, plants and animals.

S5 E01 Wheelie Bins with Gemma

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 09:00:00 +1100

Are you worried about waste?

If so, join us on an epic adventure of plastic reduction, waste management and letting your wheelie bin get dusty from neglect!

In this episode you can hear all about one inspiring local who has tackled this challenge head on. Gemma has set herself the incredible challenge of putting her landfill wheelie bin out just once per year! Hear all about how she managed to reduce her waste through making different shopping decisions and lifestyle changes.

What can and can’t be recycled is in constant flux and local landfill is a big pain in the council’s arse. It is becoming clearer and clearer that when we want to throw things away, there is actually no such magical place as ‘away’… it is just ‘over there’.

Inspired by Gemma, Allie is up for this challenge and her first goal is to reduce the frequency of putting her bin out to once every 3 months. Follow her journey with this across this new season of Saltgrass and how she reduces what needs to go to landfill.

We are inviting you to join us and challenge yourself to reduce your waste and measure this by how many times you put out your kerbside bin.

If you normally put it out every week, see if you can put it out once a month.

If you put it out once a month, see if you can put it out every three or six months.

Join us to swap notes, resources and tips and ideas.

Find out more https://saltgrasspodcast.com/wheelie-bin-challenge/

Zoe Scoglio and the Castlemaine Commons Collective: Episode 4

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +1100

Back in March 2022 Zoe Scoglio joined Allie live on MAINfm and shared some interviews she had collected for a Castlemaine Commons Collective project. Beautiful conversations about community, connectedness and resilience.

Episode 4 includes interviews with:

Allison Nye from Country Womens Association (CWA)

Carolyn Neilson about the Murnong Community

Zoe Scoglio and the Castlemaine Commons Collective: Episode 3

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 03:00:00 +1000

Episode 3 includes interviews with:

Madz from Community Lunch and Growing Abundance and
Lorraine from MASDAG

Zoe Scoglio and the Castlemaine Commons Collective: Episode 2

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 17:27:59 +1000

Episode Two includes interviews Zoe did with two locals; author Robyn Annear and ecologist Karl Just.

Song referenced: Sunset Village by Beverly Glenn-Copeland

(Sound quality starts out with some interference, but improves through the episode)

Zoe Scoglio and the Castlemaine Commons Collective: Episode 1

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +1000

This is the first of four episodes created in collaboration with The Castlemaine Commons Collective and artist Zoe Scoglio. They were recorded live at MAINfm in March 2022.

Zoe had been collecting local stories of community organising and collective care. Each episode in this series includes short edited excerpts from some of the conversations held by Zoe. We hope this can inspire further conversations, and so we can learn from each other about how to navigate these increasingly precarious times together brought on by the pandemic and climate crisis.

Bonus: NonfictioNow Panel Discussion - part 2

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +1000

Allie and some other podcasters got together last year at the NonfictioNow Conference and had a long chat about what it is to make media and try to communicate about climate change. In this second part of the discussion we explore why we make our shows and the various problems we grapple with as we try to make the complexities of the climate crisis accessible.

Featuring:

Allie - Saltgrass

Jess and Ash - Heaps Better

Tessa - The Nature Between Us

Mark - Climactic

Bonus: NonfictioNow Panel Discussion - part 1

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 21:18:32 +1000

Allie and some other podcasters got together last year at the NonfictioNow Conference and had a long chat about what it is to make media and try to communicate about climate change. In this first part of the discussion we interview each other about our shows - what our shows are, how they came about and what we hope to achieve with it.

Featuring:

Allie - Saltgrass

Jess and Ash - Heaps Better

Tessa - The Nature Between Us

Mark - Climactic

End Season 4 - short message

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 20:09:49 +1000

A short message from Saltgrass host and producer Allie to close season four including some clues about what is coming soon.

S4 E18 Djakitj Larr - part 2

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 21:16:11 +1000

This is part two on Djakitj Larr - Eating Country Healthy.

Please listen to the previous episode first to hear the full story.

In 2019 Bendigo was designated a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy.

In early 2021 about 100 people gathered at a winery just outside of Harcourt. Djakitj Larr was an afternoon of food, performance and creative conversation that allowed people to connect and reflect, and generate ideas for building sustainable food systems on Djaara Country.

In this two part podcast Allie shares audio from the day and also an interview with the creators.

Djakitj Larr creative team:

Jodi Newcombe, executive producer and director
Sam Thomas, creative development, sound design, stage manager: animate objects
Will Tait, co-producer, performer and MC
Rebecca Phillips, creative development, performer, advisor on Djaara knowledge
Charlie Ahrens, creative development, stage manager: inanimate objects
Anna Knight, Bendigo City Council
Alex Perry, Situate Dining
Ira Barker, Murnong Mummas
Mitch Boney, sound scape in performance

S4 E17 Djakitj Larr - Eating Country Healthy

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 01:12:33 +1000

In 2019 Bendigo was designated a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy.

In this episode we discuss what that means and also deep dive into an event called Djakitj Larr which explores all the reasons why our region was chosen for this.

In this two part podcast Allie shares audio from the day and also an interview with the creators.

Djakitj Larr creative team:

Jodi Newcombe, executive producer and director
Sam Thomas, creative development, sound design, stage manager: animate objects
Will Tait, co-producer, performer and MC
Rebecca Phillips, creative development, performer, advisor on Djaara knowledge
Charlie Ahrens, creative development, stage manager: inanimate objects
Anna Knight, Bendigo City Council
Alex Perry, Situate Dining
Ira Barker, Murnong Mummas
Mitch Boney, sound scape in performance

S4E16 The Youth Are Rising

Tue, 17 May 2022 22:11:15 +1000

Today I’ll be taking you along for the ride as my 14 year old Nephew Oliver and I head into Melbourne and take part in the student strike for climate that happened on the 25th of March. It was a global day of action so there were similar events not just around Australia, but around the world. We joined a huge crowd in the city and marched several city blocks, we disrupted traffic and made a lot of noise. I chatted to some of the young people there to hear what made them want to join the march.

Then later in the episode you will hear from another student strike, this one happened just this week in Castlemaine. The student strike movement in Australia was rallying again as they wanted to make sure that climate is an election issue, with just days to go before our federal election. So again strikes were organised right across the country.

S4 E15 Democracy For Dinner

Wed, 11 May 2022 07:04:40 +1000

Today we are going to be chatting with Castlemaine local Bryn Davies and a group he has been a part of called Democracy for Dinner. I thought it was a very pleasant sounding enterprise and an example of how we can, where ever we are, get together in a grassroots kind of way and start to take it upon ourselves to understand all of the above mentioned complexities and opportunities. Because, just like with climate change, it is easy to feel like it is way bigger than us and way beyond our control.

Links coming soon

S4 E14 A Library of Seeds

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 21:00:54 +1000

The Castlemaine Seed Library has been running for over five years with people 'borrowing' seeds to plant and grow food, and then 'returning' seeds once the plants have run their course. In this episode Seed Library founder Grace McCaughy and coordinator Eliza-Jane Gilchrist talk about the value of seeds and all that we can learn from them.

We discuss how the seed library began and how it works as well as big ideas like the value of local seed banks in a changing climate, multinational seed trade, the resonances between seed collecting and art, and how we can foster a love of gardening and appreciation of all the cycles of nature in the next generation.

Resources and Links

The Castlemaine Seed Library

Eliza-Jane Gilchrist – artist

Castlemaine Library

The Hub Foundation

Castlemaine Community House Community garden

Growing Abundance

International peasants movement

Useful seeds Bendigo

CSIRO soil science book for children

Entangled Life – book

Lost Seeds NSW seed company

Scale Free Network

S4E13 Futures with Alex Kelly and John Wiseman

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 17:49:00 +1000

I was lucky enough to have a wonderful conversation about possible climate futures, not through a lens of disaster and doom but gritty possibility, radical hope and extraordinary courage.

Alex Kelly and John Wiseman joined me recently to talk about their futuring practices. John has just published a book called Hope and Courage in the Climate Crisis and Alex is a co-creator of The Things We Did Next.

Links:

The Planting
The Things We Did Next
West End Resilience Group
The Orchard Keepers
In My Blood It Runs
The Next Economy
This Changes Everything
The Laboratory of Insurrectionary Imagination
and their book
Tim Hollo essay “There’s no time left not to do everything”
Jennifer Mills -Dyschronia
Nancy McDinny - digging up parliament house Darwin
Victor Steffenson
N.K. Jemison - The Broken Earth Trilogy
Kim Stanley Robinson - Ministry for the Future
Refuge
Robin Wall Kimmerer - Braiding Sweetgrass
Rebecca Solnit - A Paradise Built in Hell
“Hope with teeth” China Miéville
“New stories” George Monbiot
Claire G Coleman
Occupy Sandy
Station 11

Podcast listeners, I haven’t forgotten you!

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 22:33:27 +1100

Hello podcast crew, I haven't forgotten you even though there has been a bit of radio or podcast silence over the last month. This very short message is just to explain what has been going on and what is coming up soon. Hope all is well in your world! Allie

S4E12 Water with Steven Healy from Coliban Water

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:26:07 +1100

Steve Healy is Executive General Manager of Climate and Population Adaptation at Coliban Water.

Climate change predictions for our region point to hotter and drier weather patterns and when it rains it is going to be more extreme, big dump kind of events. So water is on a lot of people’s minds when they think about how we might be able to keep living here through climate change.

We discuss how water works in our region, in the past, in the present and into the future.

S4E11 Getting to Know You with Kathryn Coff

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 20:26:37 +1100

Kathryn Coff is a committed community leader and she joins us to discuss race, privilege and power, which are themes that she lives with and grapples with every day of her life. She shares a beautiful way of getting to know people that opens us up so much more than 'and what do you do?'

Links:

Kathryn's speech at the Black Live's Matter rally in 2020

Kathryn is the CEO of Nalderun

Introduction method was borrowed from the work of Mishel McMahon and Leroy Little Bear

S4E10 Mildura Part 2: the Eco Village

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 20:44:14 +1100

Today’s episode is a series of interviews collected in Mildura at the local eco village. We had heard they were having a working bee and thought we might get a sense of the site and what goes on there. Interestingly the site is managed by council, so I wasn’t sure how community driven it was. However, as you will hear, every person there that day was volunteering their time to help out, and also involved in other local action groups.

Links:

Organisations and groups mentioned with no links available:

Sunraysia Sustainability Network

REPEAT: Adani Coal Mine

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 11:12:29 +1100

This episode was recorded and first released in May 2020.

This is an updated version with a new intro. The interview remains exactly the same.

In this episode we speak with a family of activists and we take a closer look at what is going on with the Adani Coal mine. A hotly contested mine that is still in construction in Queensland.

Long term residents of Castlemaine Ben and Jacinta have spent a lifetime living with the earth in mind, from building a sustainable house to participating in protests and activism.

Ben travelled on the Adani convoy a couple of years ago, as lead by renowned greens leader and activist, Bob Brown. Ben is a visual artist and is known locally as something of an agitator, often providing cheeky and provocative takes on the current political issues.

Jacinta has studied a masters in social ecology, trained in facilitation and participated in the transition towns movement.

At the time of recording Rilka, their daughter, was heavily involved in the activist groups trying to disrupt the Adani coal mine from going ahead.

The reason I have chosen this one to replay right now is that Jacinta has, in the last week, moved from being the proud parent of an activist to taking action herself.

LINKS:

The Traditional Owners in the Galillee Basin where the Adani mine is happening and what they have been doing to stop the mine.

Protest groups mentioned in the show:

S4E09 COP26 with Cam Walker

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 15:19:53 +1100

The climate related news media has been saturated over the last few weeks in reactions, reflections and commentary about COP26.

For a show about grassroots climate action it has been hard to know what to say about it all.

Enter Cam Walker, who you might remember from a past episode about Friends of the Earth, he has just released an article with reflections about COP26 and what it means for Australia.

So I popped over to his place to have a chat about what the hell it's all about.

Links:

This is the article Cam wrote that inspired this episode
The COP26 website
Info about COP26 from Australia's Climate Council
Australia wins ‘colossal fossil’ award
Info about Aussie political donations and the fossil fuel industry and the Big Deal series on ABC

S4E08 Mildura Part 1: The Mallee, the Murray and the Mayor

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 15:23:14 +1100

Following on from our last episode with Rob Law we head up to Mildura, over 400km to the north of Castlemaine.

My interest in Mildura has been growing lately. It is a regional city sitting right on the mighty Murray River, and at the heart of a region called the Mallee.

I have been up to Mildura twice this year and have collected interviews each time.

Why Mildura?

According to climate projections my town may have a climate more like Mildura’s within decades.

I’d also heard about the huge solar farms going in up there and was curious about these developments.

This interview was conducted in March 2021, with Mildura’s mayor, Jason Modica and councillor for environment and sustainability Jodi Reynolds. We talk about the environmental and social issues specific to the region, with water and solar power obviously up the top of the list.

Find links and more at saltgrasspodcast.com

S4 E07 Charging the Regions with Rob Law

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 15:36:22 +1100

Rob Law, Executive Officer of the CVGA – or the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance – joins us to talk about alliances and collaborations between local councils, its not as boring as it sounds, I promise.

After years of careful and persistent efforts the CVGA has been instrumental in helping numerous councils in Victoria come together and commit to 10 years worth of renewable energy AND install electric vehicle charging stations to connect small towns to the ever increasing cohort of EV drivers.

Find out more at saltgrasspodcast.com

S4 E06 Healthy Soil with Dr Jess Drake

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 15:59:23 +1100

'Don't treat your soil like dirt' is a motto today's guest Dr Jess Drake lives by. Soil scientist and science educator Jess tells us how soil plays a vital part in healthy ecosystems, carbon sequestration and life itself.

S4 E05 Cycling Together

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 21:09:15 +1000

Recorded at a live, online book launch of Trace Balla’s latest creation Cycling Together.

Trace is a multi award winning author, illustrator and creates the most beautiful graphic novellas, including Rivertime, Rockhopping and the Thank you Dish.

This is a beautiful book with a very important message. Trace has created this book to support the work her brother Mark Balla is doing in India to help girls stay in school with his charity Operation Toilets. We are joined today by both Trace and Mark. We are also joined by Jane Bennett, menstrual educator and agent of cultural change around how women and girls think and feel about their monthly cycle.

The event happened on Sat 18th September 2021.

LINKS:

How to get the book: https://traceballa.com/cyclingtogether

Trace Balla website: https://traceballa.com

Mark Balla:

TED talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3xr13xFfto

Toilet Warrior: https://www.toiletwarrior.net/

Operation Toilets: https://www.operationtoilets.org.au/

Jane Bennett:

Chalice Foundation: https://chalicefoundation.org/

Celebration Day For Girls: https://celebrationdayforgirls.com/

Topics we’ve discussed:

Drawdown – educating girls: https://drawdown.org/solutions/health-and-education

United Nations goals: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/

S4 E04 The Bioenergy Debate - Part 2 - Questions and Answers

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 18:13:50 +1000

Recorded at a recent town meeting this episode shares the Q&A session that followed the presentation by Deane Belfield of MASG This is our second episode looking at the contentious bioenergy plant proposed for Castlemaine. (hear the presentation in our last episode)

For many who are worried about climate change this kind of renewable energy project seems like a great idea, but those living at its doorstep have some serious reservations.

Find out more about the proposed project at bioenergy.net.au

S4 E03 The Bioenergy Debate - Part 1 - The Presentation

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 03:45:34 +1000

This episode is the first of two that looks at a contentious issue in Castlemaine at the moment, the proposed bioenergy plant. For many who are worried about climate change this kind of renewable energy project seems like a great idea, but those living at its doorstep have some serious reservations.

Allie starts the episode by providing a bit of context and then we hear a presentation given by Deane Belfield at a town meeting. Deane explains as much as he can about the proposed bioenergy facility.

Next week we will hear the Q&A session that happened after Deane's presentation and also hear from people as they left the hall to see what they thought about it all.

Find out more about the proposed project at bioenergy.net.au

S4 E02 Human Health and Climate

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 05:15:00 +1000

This episode looks at the implications for human health as the climate changes.

Vanora Mulvenna joins us from the DHHS (the Victorian State government's Department of Health and Human Services) to discuss how our state government is already planning for the possible health impacts of climate change.

Before the interview Allie takes some time to reflect on the latest IPCC report and celebrates Saltgrass being a finalist in the Jackson Wild Awards. Fellow finalists are The Hopecast, by Jane Goodall and a National geographic project called The Guardians of the River.

S4 E01 What is Saltgrass?

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 16:04:23 +1000

What is saltgrass? This show was named after a real plant and we wanted to know more about it... but it actually isn't very well known. In this episode we chat with Karl Just, local ecologist, who is one of the few people we were able to find who knows about the plant. We discuss its properties, both biological and metaphorical.

We also discuss a rare species he has been involved in monitoring and protecting for some time now, the Eltham Copper Butterfly, as mention in our episode Caring for Country

S3 E23 School Strikes: Fund our Future

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 15:18:25 +1000

The final episode for Season 3 has a plethora of voices all asking for the same thing: fund our future, not gas.

The Australian School Strike for Climate crew have struck again. Just before our state was locked down due to another covid outbreak thousands of students walked out of school and gathered in major cities and country towns. Allie went to the train station early in the morning to chat with some of those travelling into Melbourne for the strike and also recorded the support rally that happened in Castlemaine later that day.

For links and more information click here

S3 E22 Full Circle with Scott Ludlam and Alex Kelly

Tue, 18 May 2021 19:16:24 +1000

Alex Kelly interviews Scott Ludlam about his new book 'Full Circle - a search for the world that comes next'

For full episode details and links click here

S3 E21 Hear Here

Thu, 06 May 2021 12:55:45 +1000

Hear Here is a sound art project that featured in the recent Castlemaine State Festival. In this episode we speak with the two artists who created Hear Here - Dan Koop and Daniele Constance.

Read full episode notes and find links to things discussed here.

S3 E20 GrAiNZ

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 22:14:47 +1000

This episode continues on the theme of bread! We hear from bakers from across Australia who have joined the GrAiNZ movement, a loose collection of sourdough bakers who want to create a new, more sustainable grains economy.

See full episode description at saltgrasspodcast.com

S3 E19 Redbeard Bakery with John Reid

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 15:16:52 +1000

This episode takes a look at a local bakery and how it can be an example of everything we want to achieve in terms of community building, supporting local food systems and taking care of the planet.

Find out more at https://saltgrasspodcast.com/2021/04/06/s3-e19-redbeard-bakery-with-john-reid/

S3 E18 Cape Grim with Jessie Boylan

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 14:52:30 +1100

Jessie Boylan is a PhD candidate at RMIT's School of Art. She has work in the upcoming Castlemaine State Festival called The Smallest Measure. Her thesis and upcoming art instillation has taken her out to the wilds of a remote outpost at the edge of Tasmania... to a place called Cape Grim where there is a science lab that tests the air coming in off the ocean there. Without land or human habitation for hundreds of kilometres, the air blowing in off the ocean to cape grim is considered the best air in the world to get base measurements of our atmosphere, including carbon and other green house gasses. This data is vital in our understanding of global warming. How does an artist depict the science of climate change? Listen to this episode to find out.

See Saltgrasspodcast.com for more information.

S3 E17 Repair

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 10:20:42 +1100

In this episode we re-visit Chris Hooper, who has been running the Castlemaine Repair Cafe for over four years. We also chat with Lucy Armstrong about the joy and meaning of repairing clothes.

https://saltgrasspodcast.com/2021/03/02/s3-e17-repair-with-chris-hooper-and-lucy-armstrong/

S3 E16 Degrowth

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 12:28:26 +1100

In this episode we explore the alternative economic concept of Degrowth with Anitra Nelson and Terry Leahy. It is a growing movement across the world and has at it's heart sustainability and ways we can live in balance with the planet.

Find out more and see the links and resources at saltgrasspodcast.com

S3 E15 Second Hand Electric Vehicles with Anton Vikstrom

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 20:56:56 +1100

In today’s episode we are talking with Anton Vikstrom co-founder of the Good Car Company. These guys are helping the electric car (or EV) transition happen in Australia by facilitating bulk buy purchases of second hand vehicles from Japan. Find out why getting a second hand EV makes good sense for the environment and for you!

Read full episode description at saltgrasspodcast.com

S3 E14 Endgame

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 07:36:42 +1100

In today’s episode we hear from a couple of fellow sound producers who are making a podcast called Endgame. They too are exploring the journey this local community is undertaking towards a more sustainable future – with a focus on the transition to zero net emissions – or the local z-net movement. Kyla Brettle, Rob Law and I are all involved in that process, in various ways – which has been going on for over a year. It is wonderful to hear another approach to this topic, and Kyla and Rob artfully weave together lovely moments and insightful conversations to tell the story of this process.

A (cautious) 2021 New Years message

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 07:30:10 +1100

A quick little message from Allie for the New Year.

Some reflections on the year that has been and some thoughts and ideas for Saltgrass in 2021.

We've been going since this time last year and look forward to another year of sharing our community's climate journey with you. Stay tuned....

S3 E13 Ecology and the Economy with Warwick Smith

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 15:09:38 +1100

In this episode we hear from Warwick Smith, a Castlemaine Local, about his dual careers as an ecologist and an economist. (You might remember him from the Student Strike Episode earlier this season) He is fascinating to talk to, I think, because so often we are presented with the idea that these two things are in competition with each other. According to Warwick this does not have to be the case. Today we are exploring how Warwick came to be both an ecologist and an economist, we also delve into how the economy came to be the way it is now and how that relates to our way of living and our way of treating our environment, our planet.

Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Links: The piece by Warwick has contributed to our local Zero Net Emissions Transition Movement about how our community could utilise alternative economics. The Price of Capitalism paper Warwaick did with GetUp! There are more publications and videos by Warwick linked through his LinkedIn profile. He is on Twitter as @RecoEco He is a founding member of The Castlemaine Institute

S3 E12 Talking About Climate with Rebecca Huntley

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 19:46:02 +1100

If you find talking about climate change difficult, you are not alone! A complex and contentious topic that often makes people anxious and overwhelmed… of course it is hard to talk about. Yet that is exactly what we must do if we are going to make sure everyone is paying attention to this critical issue. In this episode we talk with Rebecca Huntley about her new book ‘How to Talk About Climate Change in a way that makes a difference’. We explore why talking about climate change can be so difficult and what we can do to navigate it.

Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.

S3 E11 Djab Wurrung Allies and Supporters

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 08:47:07 +1100

In this episode I have two interviews for you. One with Gabe Lillington, the young man who was up the tree when the last show was recorded. He spent two nights and three days up in what is called the grandfather tree to successfully halt works until legal processes mandated a stop work reprise – until the 19th of November – which is this week. The other interview is with a woman who goes by the name of Spring Blossom. Both are Castlemaine residents and both have been visiting and living at the Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy camp on and off over the last few years. We discuss what the action a couple of weeks ago was like for them and what it means to them to be an indigenous ally in times like this.

Though we are discussing action happening on Djab Wurrung land, both of these interviews were recoded back on Jarra country. I would like to pay respects to elders past, present and emerging as the struggles of being a traditional custodian of these occupied lands has not gone away.

Photo used in this image is by Warepul.

S3 E10 Djab Wurrung Sacred Trees

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 10:42:58 +1100

This week we chat to the people who have been protesting the controversial Western Highway upgrade near Ararat. The Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy has been existing amongst the contested trees for three years and this week one of the significant trees was cut down and others were at great risk. Protesters scrambled into action – some scaled trees and tied themselves in and others supported from the ground and started legal processes. In this episode we speak with the leader of the protest movement Zellanach Djab Mara and others who have been involved in the protest.

This episode of Saltgrass was recorded on Djab Wurrung country and produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Links:

The Djab Wurrung Facebook group

Go to this facebook group to join in on the benefit gig on the 7th of November.

News related to this weeks action:

ABC coverage

SMH coverage

Alternate perspective from Ruben Berg

Illustration for this episode by Trace Balla

S3E9 Solar Bulk Buys

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 11:58:50 +1100

In this episode we chat with Jo Kaptein, manager of MASH (More Australian Solar Homes) They are a not for profit project that is organising bulks buys of solar panels right through central and northern Victoria. We discuss why rooftop solar is so important, the history of the project and what gets in the way of people getting solar on their roof.

Links:

MASH

CVGA - MASH's parent organisation

The HUB Foundation - MASH's initiators

Victorian Solar Rebates

Australian Solar Rebates

S3 E8 Zero Waste Food with Madeline Hudson

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:40:14 +1000

Today we chat with Madeline Hudson about waste free cooking. She is about to run a zero waste cooking course through the Castlemaine Community House and has been running the community lunch for four years. Those locals to Castlemaine may have seen her performing as Lilly Pilly Green in the Zucchini Clan… But people may not know that she comes from a background of frontline direct action and forest blockades. Madz talks about it all today, with a few songs thrown in for fun!

Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Links:

Madz spent her 20s protesting deforestation in Gippsland with a group called Geco

She then moved on to work with Friends of the Earth Melbourne with ACE and did a radio show called Radio Active at 3CR

The music in this episode is all by the Zucchini Clan

We played the songs 'seasons' and 'water'.

S3 E7 Student Strikers and Gas

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 12:30:55 +1000

Today's episode is all about the proposed gas lead recovery for Australia and what our young people are doing to try and stop it.

Firstly we will hear from Warwick Smith, an ecologist and economist, who lays out exactly why the gas lead recovery is a nonsense.

Then we have two young people who have been involved in the school strike for climate movement. They have created an event for Castlemaine that is in coordination with actions across Australia to protest the gas lead recovery. I talk to them about activism, and how the school strike movement has changed their lives.

Then we throw back to an interview I did last season with Cam Walker. He works at environmental organisation Friends of the Earth and I thought what he said in that interview back in May is pertinent right now, on this issue.

Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Links and resources:

Student strike for Climate

The Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC)

References made in Student Striker interview:

The One Straw Revolution

Effective altruism

Cohen spoke about being involved in the local Z-net effort which Saltgrass covered in Season 2 Episode 21.

If you want to get active and contact your Australian government representatives here are some starting points:

Current Australian Ministry List

If you want to focus on the Labour party

This is the Labour members of parliament

Cam Walker works at Friends of the Earth (FoE)

This link is if you wand to listen to the whole episode with Cam.

S3 E6 Making Change with Natalie Moxham

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 17:00:00 +1000

In this episode we speak with Natalie Moxham, a Castlemaine resident of over 10 years. She was a driving force in the Castlemaine Commons you tube series, which was created recently to look at how our community was managing the various factors playing out in this time of pandemic.

She has traveled the world and worked in many vulnerable communities, helping people create change… which is what we all know is needed, but can be so hard to make happen. She calls herself a change maker and movement builder, listen to find out what she has to say about how communities can change.

Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Links:

Natalie's website: Leanganook Yarn

Check out the You Tube series Castlemaine Commons

Mentions in the show:

Find out more about the Mabo case here

Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth

I couldn't find the exact you tube clip we discussed but George Monbiot is a great thinker and worth checking out.

S3 E5 Caring for Country

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +1000

In this episode I speak with two Dja Dja Wurrung men about what they are doing to connect people to country and in doing that help protect it.

Harley Douglas is project manager on a project called Walking Together. It is a four year project looking at two sites. They are doing surveys of the flora and fauna in the parks, introducing cultural learning points and also asking for community input about these two parks.

Uncle Rick Nelson has been taking high school boys out bush to connect to them and strengthen community and also strengthen their understanding of this place and the culture that connects them to it.

Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Links:

Some information about the Walking Together project:

From Connecting Country

From Parks Victoria

Djandak

Dja Dja Wurrung clans aboriginal corporation

About the Eltham Copper Butterfly

https://connectingcountry.org.au/education-resources/eltham-copper-butterfly-in-central-victoria/

Friends of Kalimna Park

About the Pink Tailed Worm Lizard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink-tailed_worm-lizard

Nalderun

Bendigo District Aboriginal Co-operative

Uncle Rick and the first coronavirus rap

Uncle Rick and the most recent corona virus rap

The episode mentioned with Aunty Julie McHale from earlier this season

The first episode of the Dja Dja Wurrung Radio series I did with Uncle Rick in 2016... the rest of the episodes follow on from this one. There are seven episodes.

S3 E4 Ethical Apparel with Ilka White

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode I am speaking with Ilka White, an artist and textiles worker who has been investigating ways to make wearing clothing more sustainable. We talk about fast fashion and its antidote - the fibreshed movement - and everything in between. Basically, what considerations come into play when you want to choose clothing ethically.

Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Djaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Resources and links:

Ilka White's homepage for her art, classes and textiles projects

Fibreshed movement's home in California

Fibreshed Melbourne

Look for a Fibreshed group near you, they are all over the world!

Have a listen to a previous episode about conscious clothing with Wonderpants maker Kathryn McAllister and textiles up-cycler Linnet Good.

Hear Ilka talk about her art practice in this episode about art and sustainability.

S3 E3 Pandemics and permaculture

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 10:15:00 +1000

In this episode we are talking about masks, refugees and permaculture…. How are those things related? Well, in several ways it turns out.

We have three guests: Ginny Thomas has been working with refugee and immigrant women through an organisation called Sisterworks and they have been making washable, re-usable, cloth masks. Virginia Solomon has also been making masks, but this time as a fundraiser for Permaculture Australia, she talks to us about masks, waste and permaculture. Then finally Ian Lillington has been a leader in and educator of permaculture here in Central Victoria for over a decade and he talks to us about how the permaculture movement has had an impact in our region and also finds ways that masks and mask wearing in times of pandemic are related to the principles of permaculture.

Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Resources and Links:

Masks as pollution:

More masks than Jellyfish?

PPE pollution in the UK

Some notes on masks and coronavirus:

Some videos about mask wearing from the World Health Organisation

"A dual-layered cloth mask is sufficient to protect people in public settings. It’s unlikely you’ll be infected in public by airborne viral particles. The real threat is touching an infected surface and then putting your hand to your face: Frequent hand-washing is a sure way to avoid COVID-19." Source

Research into the best fabrics to make masks out of

The three C’s Ian spoke of in terms of situations that put you most at risk.

The Department of Health and Human Services’s (DHHS) advice on wearing masks

The DHHS’s mask design

From Ginny's interview:

Sisterworks

Two refugee assistance orgs Ginny volunteered with before working at Sisterworks:

https://www.asrc.org.au/

https://lcms.org.au/

From Virginia's interview:

Permaculture Australia

Permaculture's Guiding Principles

Virginia’s website with masks for sale

S3 E2 E-bikes with Sue Tomkinson

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 08:00:00 +1000

In this episode we explore e-bikes. What are they? What are they like to ride? What are some of the drawbacks? And why you should give them a go before you buy one. Allie chats with Sue Tomkinson, who has toured the would on bike and has transitioned to e-bikes in the last few years. She has run classes on e-bikes to help people understand all of the above. We also hear from Lucy Young and Euan Williamson who are e-bike users, about their experience.

Saltgrass is produced in Castlemaine, on Jaara country, home of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Links:

Sue's website for Victorian trails:

Some points on the environmental impact of e-bikes

Note: As long as you recycle the battery at the end of it’s life, it is one of the cleanest, least damaging ways to move around.

S3 E1 Aunty Julie McHale

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 14:47:07 +1000

The is the first episode of season 3 of Saltgrass: Turning the Goldfields Green.

In this episode Allie speaks with local aboriginal Elder Aunty Julie McHale. They discuss her life and what it is about an aboriginal perspective that changes everything about how you treat the environment. A fundamental shift in perspective that may be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Links:

Castlemaine's aboriginal cultural centre, Nalderun:

https://nalderun.net.au/

Murnong Mummas catering service

https://nalderun.net.au/murnong-mammas-2/

Milpirri - Winds of Change, as mentioned by Aunty Julie

http://peoplepictures.com.au/

S2 E31 Dja Dja Wurrung Radio - Gold Rush times with Vic Say

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 13:34:53 +1000

This episode is a collection of interviews with Uncle Rick and Vic Say about the gold rush era and what was really happening with the Dja Dja Wurrung at that time. Stories of human connection and mutual respect and help shine a different light on a time that has been characterised as one of greed and destruction on so many levels.

This is part 7 of a series called Dja Dja Wurrung Radio made by Uncle Rick Nelson and Alison Hanly. It was made possible by a community grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Council and was created for MAINfm to be aired as short 5-10 minute segments in 2015 and 2016. For ease of listening we have edited them together and have linked episodes by theme rather than representing the order they were originally broadcast in.