Welcome to all our subscribers and we hope you enjoy what's on the menu in our bi-monthly newsletter.

As our subtropical weather is starting to cool down a little now we're in Autumn, with the benefit of sun and rain, many of you will be enjoying getting into your gardens to grow some of our cooler season crops. April and May are wonderful months to grow so many edibles in our climate so get planting! If you need a little help, check out the workshops and courses on offer and the many events on our calendar.

You'll find some tips on what to plant during April/May, along with other sustainable and healthy living resources in our Recommended Articles.

Between newsletters, our guest bloggers post many great articles and we've shared some of them to catch up on if you missed reading them. 

Highlights this month:

• NEW! Inspiring Story - Our latest story shares Jean Burke's joys and challenges creating an edible allotment in a suburban community garden. As a balcony gardener originally from the UK, Jean had to start from scratch in her rented patch learning and overcoming many challenges gardening in the subtropics. She now inspires others to start an allotment of their own. Please share a comment with your thoughts at the end of the story.

• NEW! The Green Blog - We hope you enjoy reading our most recent posts:
  
  • Cat Green shares how consumers can benefit from local bulk buying food groups and ways you can get involved in her post Consumer Choice ... Coming to a home near you. 
  • Chloe Marchment explores some of the benefits of electric vs petrol cars in The Benefits of Owning an Electric Car. 
  • Zaia Kendall shares her tips on extending your harvest to get an abundance of lettuce and other salad greens to grow in your garden in Picking from the Outside In.
  • In the Large Swale in Action video, Tom Kendall shows how a large swale works after heavy rainfall at the Permaculture Research Institute Sunshine Coast.
  • In Goodlife Food Co-operative: a thriving local community addresses food security, Mick Dan, founder of the Coast's Goodlife Food Co-op, reflects on the building of a community that addresses food security issues.
  • In her Plant Profile: Salad Mallow, Alison Green shares a fascinating insight into how to grow and use this hardy little herb and ways it can benefit your health.
  • Zaia Kendall explains in Biogas project at the Permaculture Research Institute Sunshine Coast, how biogas is created and how a bio-digester works to reduce waste and produce energy in an efficient closed cycle process.
  • If you've passed the old nut factory at the Big Pineapple and wonder what changes are going on at the new Centre for Growing Sustainability, check out the post on New Growth at the Old Nut Factory and pop in for a visit on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
  • We'd love your feedback so please leave a comment. Remember to subscribe to new posts while you're there!

• NEW! What's On Calendar - Check out the latest events including workshops, talks, movie screenings, Expos, Permaculture and environment activities + much more. Visit often - new events are added regularly. Here are just a few:
  • 6 Apr: Guided tour Yandina Community Gardens
  • 7 Apr: Eudlo Seed Savers Group 
  • 11 Apr: Permaculture Noosa Seed Savers Group
  • 27-28 Apr: 3 Creative Open Gardens in Kin Kin
  • 4-5 May: Conscious Life Festival
  • 12 May: Herb Awareness 2013
  • 18 May: Centre for Growing Sustainability Open Day & Expo

• Latest News 
  • Living Smart Glossies - time to nominate for this year's awards.
  • Ecoflicks Entries - 2 weeks to go! Get your short film entries in by 16 April.
  • Centre for Growing Sustainability - check out this new hub of education with regular volunteer and social activities and soon, new living classrooms and extensive garden areas for the public to experience growing crops in a sustainable manner. 
• Gifts - Visit our online shop for educational gifts for your friends and family. Thanks - your support helps us be sustainable too! 
• Check out our Home Page where you'll find a selection of articles and news on our website + links to loads of free resources.

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Facebook Update!

Like us on Facebook and join our growing community of followers, where we share latest news, updates on upcoming workshops and events, interesting articles, links and more.  

Recommended Articles ... a little food for thought!

• What to Plant Now in the Sub-tropics - a list of edibles to sow/plant during April/May.

• New GM Crops Approved without Testing for Possible Damage to Human Genes.

• A Small Acreage Permaculture Makeover.

• Easy Guide to Growing Microgreens.

• Healthy Homes Checklist: A practical checklist produced by the Environmental Working Group to help you identify common toxic chemicals and safer alternatives for less toxic living.

• How to Grow Beetroot - in the subtropics we can plant all year round! 

• Fostering Sustainability in the Kitchen: A guide to conscious communal eating - food (organics, purchasing, preservation, local food systems and growing your own); using appliances in the home; waste and recycling.

• Selecting Fruit Trees for the Home Garden: A brief outline of fruit tree selection, pollination, pruning and general care by Tim Parker.

• How to Store Seeds Correctly.

Please continue to support our local educators, farmers, school and community gardeners, markets and organisations who work hard to share knowledge and produce from their own green journeys.

Enjoy this issue!

The Green Journey Team