Fair Harvest Sustainability Festival and Charlie Mgee Sundowner 

 

2018 theme is……Catch and Store Energy

Sunday November 25th 2018

“By developing systems that collect resources when they are abundant, we can use them in times of need.” David Holmgren

Play the song here

 

Then come and see Charlie playing at the Festival!

Here’s what else is happening in the day……. (it’s not too late to jump in if you think you have something appropriate email [email protected]

• Jeff Nugent ….. Author of a number of books on Permaculture Plants (especially those suitable to the South West) here with knowledge, books and information.
• Fair Harvest…. Compost driven Hot Water System and Biochar cone.
• Claire Coleman……Seed saving hands on workshops and demonstrations (suitable for kids). What amazing stored energy seeds are!
• Eat Your Greens group…….demonstrating food drying, fermenting and storage.

• Jeff Pow  from Southampton Homestead well known for healthy happy pasture raised poultry will talk at 11 am about grazing animals as pasture improvement. Storing energy in the soil.
• Anthony Smith from Eco Wastewater Solutions showing off and discussing our new compost toilets and grey water systems Talk at 12 midday
• Bee Winfield ……from Merri Bee Organic Farm talk on Biogass. talk at 1pm
• Louise Edmunds form Intuit Earth talking on soil health and compost Talk 1.45 -2.30

• Permaculture West…..farm design, permaculture design,  Weed walk with Charles Otway, Glockermans Pump, solar oven
• Kids activity…build your own Solar Oven
• Jamie Moir….harnessing flower power with bees
• Rod Dilkes from EV Power …..Solar powered coffee and electric cars
• Charlie Mgee and friends….. with their amazing veggie oil powered vehicles
• James Franks…… veg oil retrofits on diesel engines
• Quentin Bligh from The Natural Grid solar display
• Electric Bikes Margaret River
• Energise Margaret River….Billy boil thermal cooker, Energy monitor, Energy efficiency thermometers, Raffle for the three above prizes, Pedal power interactive – powering up various appliances, Speed-date experts eg architects on retrofitting, solar panel providers on home solar and batteries,Manufacturers demonstrations eg equipment for retrofitting for energy efficiency
• W.A. Forest Alliance …… Forests for life
• Johannes Madele woodwork
• David Morgan….design /build energy efficient system  “Iron Matrix”  Talk at 2.30pm
• Comfortably Lost – Designing and building DIY tiny homes on wheels (motorhomes / campervans)
• Relax in the Yoga Barn while listening to the energy from Sound Bowls with Ute Coleman
• Crystals Margaret River….get connected, stay connected
• Environmental art with Elaine Clotcherty
• Afternoon music by Arcana Rose

• THEN …….Charlie Mgee and the Formidable Vegetable sound system!

Entry $20 adults, $15 unwaged, $5 kids,  free under 5s

Great food available or bring a picnic

BYO for sundowner at the end of the day

 

Last year we used another principle, “Produce No Waste” and it was the most amazing day, check it out here to see all of the innovative,and creative ways that people found to reduce, reuse, recycle and generally reinvent the whole idea of waste.

Catch and store Energy is one of my favourite principles because the more I think about it the bigger it gets.

When asked about how they catch and store energy people’s first response is  “with solar panels on my roof” and yes this is a great answer, but this is just the very tip of the iceberg.

With all that energy flowing down from the sun, the greatest catchers of all of course are the plants that surround us, catching solar power and photosynthesising it into food that makes us grow, and other animals grow who turn it into more products that help us grow. All that plant energy also turns into fibres that clothe us, fuels that heat us and structures that protect us.  Every time we store our seeds, ferment our veggies, stack pile our fire wood we are catching and storing energy.

 

By designing our gardens, farms and building we can catch and store energy in the landscape, in the soil and in our homes. Using both old ideas and new technologies there is an abundance ways we can catch and store today’s energy without having to dig into the precious stores of the past.

A few Catch and Store Energy ideas you’ll find at Fair Harvest

The Compost Shower;

A large anaerobic compost heap catching and storing the heat energy made from decomposing plant material and using it to provide hot water for our shower. This system stays hot for around 12 months and provides hot water at 45 – 50 degrees ..read more here.

 

The tree plantation;

A 30 year old eucalyptus plantation that is catching vast amounts of solar energy in its trees every day and storing it for future use. We are now using the trees in buildings as well as fuelling our winter fires and providing mulch for our gardens. As a bonus, the plantation is now home to a new business Woodsmiths Margaret River ….check them out here

 

Solar panels on the roof;

A fairly self explanatory but important part of our life, providing energy to power our everyday needs.

 

Storing, drying and fermenting food;

Drying excess food for laterDuring the summer months our orchard is producing far more than we can eat, luckily its also the time we have excess solar energy to use so our drier is going flat our catching and storing energy for the winter months.

 

The principle of Catch and Store Energy can be used in the landscape such as the design of your gardens to maximise carbon and water store. It can be used in the design of the built environment such as solar passive housing and active solar photovoltaics and solar water heating. It can be used in the home preserving fruit and bread, making wine and cheese and saving seed.

Humans are also a great source of stored energy, using our energy to power bikes, hand tools, great ideas and good music!  So, if that doesn’t inspire you to think of a way you can catch and store energy, think again.

As with all of our previous festivals there are a few guidelines;

• We aim for a maximum of interactive ideas and displays (this doesn’t mean you can’t sell anything but please try and think of how you can demonstrate to or involve others)
• It costs you nothing to have a stall here and we don’t pay anybody to attend
• It is a family friendly festival so think of how kids can get involved
• There will be a small charge at the gate to help us cover costs
• Food will be available for sale or bring a picnic (but please don’t bring any single use plastic)

For a quick look at our past festivals –

2012 Festival of Forgotten Skills

2013 Bee Fair

2014 Festival of Forgotten Skills

2015 Beanie Festival

2016 Festival of Fibre

2017 Festival of No Waste

Please feel free to contact us with your ideas using the form below