I write this now as the deadline to submit an appeal against the proposed highway is this Wednesday 19th May. All too often, we have good intentions and then time flies by and nothing is done. If you would like to voice an appeal, there is a petition. But I think an official appeal will be more effective and I have collected the necessary documents for download here. Please find an official appeal form (I have filled in the details that I will submit) and a generic appeal motivation outlining the reasons for my appeal. You can use these as your own and change where you feel necessary. All documents must then be faxed to Minister of Environmental Affairs (Fax: 012 320 7561) by Wednesday 19th May.

I don’t want to force anyone into anything but consideration of local communities’ opinions and the environment are something I feel strongly about. Here are some tools and information for us as citizens to participate in public deliberation. Hopefully it will be worthwhile to use them.

Still and nursery in Hogsback

As many of you know, I keep returning to Hogsback, and Essential Amathole is one of the reasons. This initiative follows an incredible approach to sustainable rural economic development in 4 ways. Firstly, it is based on a public-private-community partnership. Participation in this manner allows for equitable, responsible and sustainable development, and is a model that can (and should) be replicated as a priority for any development. Secondly, there are both direct and indirect beneficiaries. Not only is the project addressing severe unemployment in the region, but it has established a community trust that holds 24.8% of the profits, the proceeds of which go into a wide range of community-based organisations and initiatives. Thirdly, the business itself is based on environmentally sustainable methods. All farming is organic and focused primarily on indigenous plants endemic to the Eastern Cape. Finally, it is essential oils so it smells absolutely wonderful!

Here are some pictures I took of the nursery in Hogsback:

Nursery

Rose geranium nursery

Here are some close ups of the crops:

Rose geranium

Lavendar

Lemon balm

The project is still in its second phase of implementation so there are a lot more exciting possibilities emerging daily. I would highly recommend a visit if you are anywhere near those parts. It is a great example of an environmentally sustainable economic development model. And all the sites smell fantastic!

This has never been more essential than it is now as parts of our country are still struggling to recover from drought and water shortage. You can reduce your water usage by 75 percent or more, depending on the type of irrigation you use.

Sprinkler systems are used most commonly in South African gardens. While these are easy to install and operate they result in substantial loss of water as they irrigate onto the surface of a garden, resulting in evaporation.

Drip irrigation is 90 percent more efficient than traditional sprinkler systems. Also called micro or trickle irrigation, drip irrigation facilitates the slow and direct application of water directly to the roots of plants, through flexible plastic pipes. The pipes, which can be placed above or below the soil, are perforated at intervals and are perfect for watering vegetables, flower beds or any other plants in a row formation.

Drip Irrigation. Picture by photofarmer on Flickr.

The system is usually less expensive to install than other types of irrigation and allows for even and focused distribution of water, drastically decreasing evaporation and runoff.

Aquatraps disc liners are another effective way of saving water when taking care of your garden. These are circular rubber discs made from recycled car tires and tubes, which are installed 250 to 300 millimeters beneath your soil. This creates a false water table, preventing water as well as nutrients and compost from draining away.

Aquatrap.

Aquatraps work particularly well in sandy soil which struggles to retain anything because it is so soft. Installing an aquatrap improves the growth rate of plants or vegetables, and also means that they require up to 50 percent less water.

A sizable flower bed would require around 6 aquatrap rubber disc liners, but they are highly affordable at only R18 each.

These and other water saving products for your garden are available online. Make your garden even greener and save money for yourself, and water and energy for the planet!

Author Bio
Environmentally-minded copywriter Catherine Sackville-Scott produced this piece for Sustainable.co.za, South Africa’s oldest online eco-store, founded in 2002.

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 14, 2009 — United by their common goal of reducing the impact of lawns on the environment and human and animal health, nine of the leading horticultural communicators in the United States announced the formation of the Lawn Reform Coalition, a media campaign that will provide up-to-date information for home and business owners across the country.

“With lawns covering as much as 50 million acres of our nation, requiring copious amounts of water, fertilizer, pesticides and fossil fuels to maintain, they have become a drain on precious resources that we can no longer afford to waste,” said filmmaker and author Paul Tukey from Maine. “At their worst, lawns are toxic blankets that aren’t even safe for our children and pets.”

Using the website LawnReform.org, social networking groups and downloadable materials, the members will focus their message on regionally appropriate lawn species, eco-friendly care for all lawns, and ways to reduce or replace lawns, including by growing food.

“If your lawn serves a useful purpose, like playing ball with your up-and-coming Cy Young Award winner, how about downsizing to the minimum necessary size, managing your water wisely, going fossil-free, and giving the chemicals a rest?” said Billy Goodnick, a California landscape architect, writer and television host.

“People need practical ideas for managing their yards in eco-friendly ways,” said Susan Harris of Washington, D.C., cofounder of the Garden Rant blog. “The good news is we’re starting to see better lawn types on the market, and more lawns – even golf courses – being cared for organically.”

Just as several Florida counties, Washington, D.C., and numerous other American municipalities consider restrictions on certain lawn and garden pesticides and fertilizers, the Lawn Reform Coalition stated several goals of its campaign, including: 1) Reduced fertilizer and pesticide runoff in waterways; 2) reduction of the use of potable water supplies for irrigation; 3) widespread education about lawn alternatives; and 4) reduction of the use of gasoline-powered mowers, trimmers and blowers, which account for 5 to 10 percent of air pollution in summer.

“My personal goal is to share design ideas to help you think outside the lawn!” said Shirley Bovshow, a landscape designer and television host from California.

Other members of the coalition include: Tom Christopher, a New York author; Tom Engelman, a California conservationist and founder of the Grass Roots Program; Evelyn Hadden, a Minnesota-based public speaker and founder of the website LessLawn.com; Susan Morrison, a northern California Master Gardener, designer and speaker; and Ginny Stibolt, a newspaper columnist and author based in Florida.

“As a garden designer, I’ve seen first-hand how willing people are to choose eco-friendly alternatives to lawns once they have the right information,” said Morrison. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the Lawn Reform Coalition’s mission to spread the word.”

For more information, visit www.LawnReform.org

The global climate crisis informs five documentaries in this year’s festival. The Foster Brothers’ epistemologically revolutionary The Nature Of Life addresses climate change from a unique African perspective and showcases innovative local solutions. H20IL examines the massive oil sands extraction project in Canada and the destructive effect it has on water resources. Water,or the lack of it, also informs The Lake That Was, which traces Iran’s Lake Urmia from its heyday as a tourist destination to it’s present demise. Poison Fire is an indictment of almost fifty years of oil exploitation and environmental destruction in the Niger Delta. The other Foster Brothers’ film in the festival, Ice Man,  documents the extraordinary physiological and psychological journey of Lewis Pugh’s record-breaking long distance swims in the freezing waters of both the south and  north poles, the epicentres of the destructive effects of climate change. Its Up 2 U is a critical look at the profiteering Western agrarian industry. A must see is the multiple-award winning Saving Luna, about a baby killer whale who, separated from his family, seeks human social interaction  – much to the Canadian government’s disapproval. An insightful and moving look at the ethical dilemmas of bridging the gap between species.

Programme at www.cca.ukzn.ac.za.

Durban International Film Festival

• Always water your plants during the early morning hours or in the evening. Between 10:00 and 15:00 you can lose up to 90% of water to evaporation.
• Focus on indigenous and non–invasive alien plants with low water demands.
• Roof water can also be profitably stored in tanks for watering gardens.
• Use “grey water” from baths, washing mashines and other safe sources to water your garden.

Or better yet, let the rain do your watering (pic from www.sxc.hu).

They then distribute it to recycling centres saving you the time and effort. They also collect old cooking oil which is converted to biodiesel by Ecologic.

Website: www.earthgreen.co.za

And I’ve got it in my garden.  I currently have five plants, all grown from one cutting I took from my friend Em’s house in Salt Rock.  So, if anyone wants some (and lives in Durban), let me know and you can come and break off a branch.

Read up about it at the Mail & Guardian and Urban Sprout.

Update: Sasol may turn to Spekboom to capture carbon

Spekboom soaks up the CO2.