from here

Canterbury & South Island news:

CCC committee axes massive housing development. (8 August, The Press/Stuff).

Power price increases excessive, review finds. Householders may be compensated when they face power shortages. (12 August, Stuff/The Press).

Turbines fail to meet key standard. NZ Windfarms is considering whether to seek redress from former parent Windflow Technology. (12 August, The Press/Stuff).

Consent granted for Waimakariri flood protection project. 10 years, $34 million. (11 August, ECan).

Pedestrian friendly re-design proposed for Hereford St. - wide footpaths, street trees, a slow road and outdoor dining. (11 August, CCC).

Papanui Road bus lane implementation to begin. Seven stages. (12 August, CCC).

Heritage Awards entries now open for Shirley/Papanui area. The theme: Nga tapuwae o matou tupuna…Footsteps of our ancestors. Close Friday, 28 August. (12 August, CCC).

Le Bons Bay: Pests reduced, penguins thrive. (12 August, Stuff/The Press).

Marlborough: Regional ecology solution. Ecological field work spanning nine years and covering a million hectares across 260 properties. Mayor very proud. (10 August, Stuff/The Marlborough Express).

Nelson: Adult education "much more than hobbies" for thousands. Editorial, (11 August, Nelson Mail/Stuff).

Mapua: Toxic soil to stay put. Too contaminated and costly to shift, says District Council manager. Residents horrified. (11 August, Nelson Mail/Stuff).

High-country rulings a boost for farmers. Three judicial hearings and one independent review have all gone in their favour. (10 August, Otago Daily Times).

Lake Tekapo: Forest & Bird releases 44 rare black stilts. (13 August, Otago Daily Times).

Otago: Some regret swapping log burners for heat pumps. (11 August, Otago Daily Times).

Otago: Most farms obeying water rules. (13 August, Otago Daily Times).

Catlins grower continues to promote hemp. (7 August, Otago Daily Times).

Fiordland National Park: Waitutu forest under serious threat from possums. (10 August, DOC).

North Island & national:

Parties joust over climate targets. Govt has deliberately overstated the costs to households of cutting emissions, Labour says. (12 August, Stuff/The Press).

2020 carbon emissions target: Emissions cost all smoke and mirrors. Brian Fallow. (13 August, NZ Herald).

Ifs and buts in NZ's emissions targets. Govt has afforded itself ample wriggle room. (11 August, NZ Herald).

AgResearch proposals tantamount to economic suicide. NZ stands to lose its billion-dollar reputation as clean, green and GM-free from such ventures. John Carapiet. (6 August, NZ Herald).

Power companies exaggerated power crisis. Meridian Energy's dominance in the South Island likely to be curtailed after fresh findings that big energy retailers have been gouging their customers. (13 August, Stuff/The Press).

Independence demanded for electricity commission. (13 August, Stuff/The Press).

Meridian, Electricity Commission, biggest losers in energy review. (12 August, NZ Herald).

Key orders enquiry to see whether heating and insulation companies are hiking prices to take advantage of a Government scheme. (11 August, Stuff/The Press).

Parliament's environmental watchdog calls for smarter use of electricity meters. (6 August, Otago Daily Times).

Heritage policy only skin deep, say critics. "Facadism" one of the consequences. (12 August, NZ Herald).

In celebration of intellect-intensive agriculture. Simon Upton. (11 August, Stuff/The Dominion Post).

North Shore, Auckland: Environmental courses growing on locals. About one in five of the North Shore’s population has taken part in a council-supported environmental programme during the past year. (11 August, Noth Shore Times/Stuff).

Auckland: Record numbers using trains, buses. Nearly 57 million trips in the region last year. (13 August, Manukau Courier/Stuff).

Mahia: DOC advises women of Moko the dolphin risk - urged to be careful as the teenager takes a growing fancy to the fairer sex. (11 August, Gisborne Herald/Stuff).

Rotorua: Designer cloak may help stranded whales. (12 August, Rotorua Daily Post).

Tarawera River, Kawerau: 'Black Drain' a threat to food and exports. (12 August, NZ Herald).

Boobies found to be still bobbing. Thought to be extinct. (13 August, NZ Herald).

iPod going bush with kokako flock. (10 August, NZ Herald).

White-baiting season starts August 15. (10 August, DOC).

Re-linked awards, submissions, consultations etc:

• Invitation to schools: Environmental Monitoring and Action Project (EMAP) is setting up a Nationwide Rainfall Investigation Campaign to run in September 2009. They want a network of schools around the country simultaneously collecting rainfall data and loading it onto the international website www.globe.gov. EMAP will lend rain gauges to participating schools and provide an information pack including data sheet, instructions on how to monitor rainfall, and curriculum links & activities tied to the mathematics, statistics and science sections of the curriculum.
  To register interest contact: Rebecca Goffin, EMAP National Coordinator:
  rebecca.goffin@royalsociety.org.nz or 04 470 5772.

• Canterbury DOC digital photo competition: Postcards from a Park - to celebrate and highlight the different ways people use parks and reserves in Canterbury. Two categories: Open for amateur photographers & Junior (under 12 years). Entry forms, conditions, prizes & more info: ww.doc.govt.nz/canterburypostcards or here (flickr). Entries close 31 August. A selection of entries will go on show at Our City O-Tautahi from 7 September.

• Submissions wanted: Sustainable Biofuel bill, NZ Parliament. By Sept 11.
  

• Global Day of Action, 24 October, 2009: to pressure politicians around the world to act decisively at the Copenhagen Climate Change summit in December. Christchurch is planning a climate action festival – including a 350 strong massed choir. Come & raise your voice in harmony with 349 others at 12.30 pm in the Square on Oct 24. We will sing a set of songs - all easy to learn - with an opportunity to practice before going 'live'. Contact Jocelyn jyc497@gmail.com so you can be kept informed of arrangements. Background info, see: www.350.org. & www.350.org.nz.
  
  
• Enviroschools/Good magazine offer: Good magazine will feature Enviroschools in August issue in its regular 8 page feature Good Cause. And publisher HB Media will donate 20% of all subscriptions sold between August and October to the Enviroschools Foundation. A 12 month subscription (6 copies) is $45 – ie $9 will go to Enviroschools.
  
  
• DOC wants feedback on St James Conservation Area discussion paper. By 14 September. Also on draft guidelines for aircraft access in the Canterbury Conservancy. (29 July, DOC).
  
  
• LEARNZ: curriculum related online virtual field trips for all teachers (and their students) in New Zealand. Some trips for the new term:
  Tongariro Volcanoes 29-31 July - More
  Waikato Coal Mining 05-07 August - More
  Southern Wind and Water Power 12-14 August - More
  Waikato Dairy Farming 26-28 August - More
  Kakapo 16-18 September - More
  
  

• Public comment wanted on new DOC Wild Animal Recovery Operation (WARO) concession permit. By 19 August. (21 July, DOC).

• Submissions wanted: Marine Protection West Coast, South Island. A series of seven ‘underwater national parks’ or marine reserves have been proposed. Your opportunity to protect some of the West Coast’s most prized marine areas and the threatened species that call it home, such as endangered hectors dolphin. More here. (Forest & Bird). Submissions due by Friday 21 August.
  

• Submissions wanted: on draft Kahurangi National Park management proposals. Including, for e.g., proposals to trial mountain bikes on the Heaphy Track. By 1 September. More here including public meetings. (DOC).
  
  
• Have your say on the Brooklands Lagoon area parks plans. Consultation closes 31 August.
  
  
• ECan's Environment Enhancement Fund open: 1 June - 31 August. Anyone can apply for up to $5000 for projects that benefit the health of ecosystems in the region. More info/applications: www.ecan.govt.nz/eef.
  
  
• The Outlook for Someday: A challenge to young New Zealanders (up to age 24) to make a short film interpreting the term ‘sustainability’. For more, see: www.theoutlookforsomeday.net. Closes 18 September.
  

& from there

• UN: UN Chief warns of "incalculable" human suffering if world fails to reach a deal at crucial climate change talks this December. (10 August, Yahoo! news).
  
  
• UN climate pact seen hinging on deeper CO2 cuts - deal due in December will be a flop unless industrialized nations sharply increase promised cuts in greenhouse gas emissions for 2020. (12 August, Reuters).
  
  
• Climate change: What should we be asking world leaders to agree on in Copenhagen? A chart showing the demands NGOs and charities are making. (6 August, The Guardian).
  
  
• UK: Modesty stalks climate process ...evidence is gathering that an ambitious deal looks unlikely. Richard Black. (11 August, Earthwatch, BBC News).
  
  
• Germany: Global C02 emissions rose 2 per cent in 2008. (10 August, Reuters).
  
  
• US: Psychological factors help explain slow reaction to global warming. (10 August, Science Daily).
  
  
• US: Are there bright spots amid the global recession? A snapshot of the world's better performing economies. Nouriel (Dr Doom) Roubini. (6 August, Forbes.com).
  
  
• US: The fog of numbers.  America will never be able to cover its current outstanding debt.  We're effectively finished at all three levels: household, corporate, and government ... get ready for a much lower standard of living and much different daily living arrangements. James Kunstler. (10 August, Clusterfuck Nation).
  
  
• France: Salmon return to Paris. “This year the numbers have exceeded anything we could have imagined.” (12 August, Times Online).
  
  
• India: IT industry tackles e-waste. (11 August, ecogeek).
  
  
• Australia: Too many camels in the outback. There are now about a million and the population doubles every nine years. (10 August, ecoWorldly).
  
  
• UK: Interivew with James Lovelock, 90 year old father of Gaia, preparing to blast off into space. He stops short of saying, categorically, that we have passed the tipping point, but it is clear that this is his private belief. (9 August, The Guardian).
  
  
• US books review: Jane Jacobs' legacy. An influential countermodernist movement known as the New Urbanism, both an academic school and the guiding light for real-world commercial projects, is the professional fulfillment of the Jacobs vision. (31 July, City Journal.org).
  
  
• UN's World Food Programme says: one billion people go hungry - food, funds in short supply. (31 July, Environment News Service).
  
  
• Japanese urged to take blue-fin off the menu. (11 August, Times Online).
  
  
• UK: Beetroot juice boosts stamina. (7 August, The Daily Mail).
  
  
• UK: Little Bo Peep bride: marries in dress made from wool from her own flock. (8 August, The Daily Mail).
  
  Technology:
  
• China's super ambitious high speed rail plans. e.g., 16,000 miles of new track by 2020.
  
  
• US: GM puts electric car's city mileage in triple digits. Nissan's Leaf to be around 50% better. Re-charging the batteries a likely problem for big-city dwellers however. (11 August, New York Times).
  
  
• Urine: the latest renewable energy source. (date?, Power & energy).
  
  
• UK: 'Artificial leaf' project: Scientists explore how the humble leaf could power the planet (by mimicking photosynthesis). (11 August, The Guardian).
  
  
• UK: Carbon-eating 'green' cement. (6 August, Reuters).
  
  Natural world:
  
• Phillipines: Giant rat-eating plant discovered. (11 August, Treehugger).
  
  
• Northern France: Lethal algae take over beaches. (10 August, The Guardian).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Using ecoNet

Is easy. Just send in to the editor information about an event, activity or submission you want to share and it will go in ecoNet....as long as it's appropriate of course.

ecoNet is put out (Fridays) by Christchurch Branch of NZAEE (NZ Association for Environmental Education), a non-profit, national organisation of people working to promote and support environmental education, lifelong learning and sustainable behaviour throughout New Zealand/Aotearoa.

How do I contribute?

Use the links below to:

• forward ecoNet address to others you think may like to receive it - it's free
  
• become a subscriber
  
• send us information for the weekly diary.
• contact us

• Photography competition: Postcards from a park.

  Sponsored by Canterbury conservancy, Dept of Conservation (DOC). Closes 31 August. Details under relinked awards, submissions etc.
  
  

• Talk: University of Otago Christchurch's mid-winter dialogues series, 2009.

  Speaker: Wayne Mapp, Minister of Research, Science & Technology.
  When: 12.30 - 1.30 pm, Friday, 14 August.
  Where: Rolleston Lecture Theatre, ground floor, Christchurch Hospital.
  Contact: 364 1199.
  
  

• Workday: Travis Wetland.

  When: 9.00 - c12.00 pm Saturday, 15 Aug. (3rd Sat each month).
  Where: Meet at carpark, end of Beach Rd.
  More info/contact: www.traviswetland.org.nz.
  Organisers: Travis Wetland Trust.
  
  

• One day course: Work in the 21st Century.

  A look at the situation of working and workers globally, drawing on books such as Paul Mason's Live Working or Die Fighting, Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine and Karl Marx's Capital.
  Tutor: Dr Philip Ferguson, PhD (history), Canterbury University.
  When: 10.00 - 4.00 pm Saturday, 15 August.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Cost: $18.
  Contact/register: 366 0285 or cwea.org.nz.
  
  

• Workshop: Heritage in St Albans.

  Led by: Anna Crighton, NZ Historic Places Trust National Council, & Bill Demeter, St Albans Residents' Association. 
  When: 1.00 - 3.30 pm Saturday, 15 Aug.
  Where: St Albans Community Centre, 1047 Colombo St.
  Contact: Christoph 374 2465 or christoph@stalbans.gen.nz.
  Organised by Transition Initiative St Albans.
  
  

• Workshop: Cultivating Sustainability - Psychology for Sustainability Advocates.

  A workshop to support those who seek to promote sustainable behaviour - and to provide skills & tools for facilitating behaviour change.
  Presenter: Tim Cotter, Awake, registered psychologist.
  When: 9.30am - 4.30 pm Monday, 17 Aug.
  Where: Travis Wetlands, Beach Rd.
  Registration & more info: www.awake.com.au.
  or timc@awake.com.au or ph. (+61 3) 9387 1181.
  (Dates for other NZ Awake workshops: Dunedin, Tue 18 August; Wellington, Wed 19 Aug; Hastings, Fri 21 Aug; Hamilton, Mon 24 Aug; Auckland, Tue 25 Aug).
  
  

• Presentation: Why do we need "No Take" fishing zones in New Zealand?

  For divers, fishers, environmentalists, scientists, marine studies students,...
  Guest speaker: (at 7.00 pm) Dr Roger Grace, QSM, marine biologist, photographer, marine reserve campaigner. More here.
  When: 6.00 - 9.30 pm Monday, 17 August.
  Where: Hotel Grand Chancellor, 161 Cashel St.
  Cost: Suggested donation of $10 for Westpac Air Rescue Trust.
  Contact: Brian 379 5804. (Dive HQ & Ski World).
  Sponsored by: Dive HQ, Christchurch; NZ Underwater.
  
  

• Workshop: How to make liquid fertilisers.

  When: 2.00 - 4.00 pm Wednesdays. (each Wed in August). Also: 1st Wed each month: pizza oven firing - byo pizza topping.
  Where: New Brighton Community Gardens, 136 Shaw Ave.
  Cost: $2 donation.
  www.nbgardens.co.nz.
  
  

• Talk: Wednesday nights at the WEA.

  Film: Wild Cat, 1981; by Rod Prosser, Russell Campbell and Alister Barry, Vnagurd Films. A documentary about North Island timberworkers' struggle in the 1970s for democracy in their union.
  When: 5.30 pm Wednesday, 19 August for tea, coffee, soup. Screening at 6.30 pm.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Cost: Gold coin.
  Register/contact/info: cwea@xtra.co.nz or 366 0285.
  
  

• Talk: Galileo Lecture: Comets and Asteroids.

  Clues to our origin and threats to our survival.
  Speaker: Prof Jack Baggaley, FRAS, FRSNZ, University of Canterbury.
  When: 7.30 - 8.30 pm Wednesday, 19 Aug.
  Where: Lecture theatre E1, School of Engineering, University of Canterbury.
  Cost: Free, all welcome.
  More info: here. (www.royalsociety.org.nz).
  Organisers: Royal Society of NZ (RSNZ) & Radio NZ - to mark 2009 International Year of Astronomy (400 years since Galileo took to the universe with a telescope).
  
  

• Event: Launch of 350 Christchurch.

  Come & help form a human 350 shape outside the Cathedral, filmed from above for the media!
  When: 4.00 - 5.00 pm Thursday, 20 Aug.
  Where: Cathedral Square.
  Wear: Blue, if possible.
  Aaron from 350 Aotearoa will be there, as well as Ecan and CCC councillors.
  Contact/more info: Rik Tindall 332-1069 or rik@infohelp.co.nz.
  Txt your friends, be there!
  
  

• Film: The Age of Stupid.

  Award winning docu-drama. Pete Postlethwaite looks back on our times from 2055.
  When: 6.30 pm Thursday, 20 August.
  Where: Hoyts Riccarton, Westfield Mall, Rotherham St.
  Contact: Rhys anneandrhys@clear.net.nz or 960-2656.
  See also:   www.ageofstupid.net/screenings/cinemas/651
  Spread the word (there's no advertising budget).
  Supported by 350.org & other climate action groups.
  
  

• Talk: UC Climate Change series: social and political consequences of climate change:

  Transition engineering - applying scientific knowledge and new measurements about the state of environmental systems to re-develop what was built last century for added resilience, risk mangement, impact mitigation, and to reflect a social paradigm shift & new economic thinking.
  Speaker: Dr Susan Krumdieck, Assoc. Professor, School of Engineering, University of Canterbury.
  When: 7.00 - 8.30 pm Thursday, 20 August.
  Where: on registration. (University campus).
  Cost: $15.00, students free.
  More info: Here.
  Organisers: Continuing Education, University of Canterbury.
  
  

• Celebrity debate for a good cause: Too many broths spoil the cook.

  Chair: John Gadsby.
  Ayes: Pinky Agnew, Lianne Dalziel, Michele A’Court.
  Nayes: Jim Hopkins, Aaron Gilmore, Gary McCormick.
  When: 7.00 pm Saturday, 22 August.
  Where: Christchurch Girls High, Matipo St.
  Cost: $25.
  Info/contact: 388 6415.
  Organisers: Christchurch Supergrans - building home skills, helping you grow.
  

• EARTHWISE, Plains FM 96.9

  Each Monday & Wednesday at 9.00 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  This week: Bill McKibben, US climate change campaigner, updates the 350.org campaign to pressure politicians to commit to big GHG emission reductions in Copenhagen in December.
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths.
  NB: Listen again to Earthwise programmes on archive.

Coming up:

• Talk: What if the New Zealand Electricity Market were done right?

  Striking a balance between public good and private profit.
  Speaker: Dr Susan Krumdieck, Assoc Professor, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury.
  When: 7.00 pm Wednesday, 25 August.
  Where: Lecture Rm 1, School of Engineering, University of Canterbury. (The Mushroom).
  All wlecome.
  Organisers: ESR (Engineers for Social Responsibility).
  
  

• Seminar: Working together for sector well-being.

  Ideas for coping during the recession. A tangata whenua, community & voluntary sector seminar.
  Opening speaker: Dr Paul Dalziel, Professor of Economics, Lincoln University, on 'The Financial Crisis: What Happens Next?'.
  When: 12.30 - 4.30 pm Thursday, 27 Aug.
  Where: Oxford Tce Baptist Church Lounge.
  BYO lunch, Trade Aid tea & coffee provided.
  RSVP: to COSS, ccoss@ihug.co.nz, 366 2050.
  
  

• Invitation: NZ launch of the Global Poverty Project.

  The Global Poverty Project aims to catalyse the end of extreme poverty by communicating the issues surrounding poverty. 90 minute presentation '1.4billion reasons' shows how by making simple changes everyone can be a part of the solution.
  When: 7.00 pm Thursday, 27 August. Where: Majestic Theatre, cnr Manchester & Lichfield St.
  All welcome, free admission.
  RSVP: rsvp.christchurch@globalpovertyproject.com
  More info: www.globalpovertyproject.com.
  Supported by the UN Millennium Campaign and Google.
  
  

• Green Drinks: a chance to catch up with environment professionals, activists, thinkers.

  When: 5.30 pm Thursday, 27 August.
  Where: upstairs at Fat Eddys, in SOL Square.
  
  

• Course: Sustainable Living.

  A two afternoon quick summary of the full 'practical action at home' community education course.
  Presenter: Rhys Taylor.
  When: 1.00 - 4.00 pm Sat & Sun, 29 & 30 August.
  Where: Lyttelton Community Garden, Oxford St. (behind the swimming pool).
  Cost: $30.
  Contact/register: Roz 328 8552.
  
  

• NZAEE event/seminar: Building community resilience as we 'power down' in the face of climate change & peak oil.

  MC: Bill Simpson, Community Resilience team leader, ECan.
  Speakers: Carl Pickens, landscape architect & organic gardener; Christoph Hensch, manager St Albans Community Centre & Transition community activist.
  When: 5.00 - 7.00 pm Wednesday, 2 Sept.
  Where: Waiau Theatrette, Environment Canterbury, 58 Kilmore St.
  More info contact: Jocelyn jyc@caverock.net.nz.
  
  

• World Car-free day.

  When: 22 September.
  
  

• September concert: Earthdance.

  When: 12.00 pm till sunset Sunday, 27 September.
  Where: Manaia Native Habitat, Okuti Valley, Little River. (The old Birdland's Sanctuary).
  Cost: $10 - proceeds to Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust.
  Also to mark the re-opening of the Little River campground.
  Participation from environmental groups, stall holders, etc, welcome.
  Contact: Marcus, Little River campground, 021 611820 or marcus@cpsa.org.nz
  More info: www.earthdance.org.
  
  

• Volunteers wanted: Mackenzie Basin - weed control.

  Help protect the biodiversity of this striking landscape together with rangers from the Department of Conservation (DOC).
  When: 23 - 27 November.
  More info: Here (www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/...).
  NB: Tends to be popular, it pays to book ahead.
  
  

• Event: Oxfam Trailwalker, 10 - 11 April 2010.

  Four people one goal: 100 km in 36 hours.
  More info & registration: here. (Oxfam Trailwalker NZ).
  Funds raised support Oxfam New Zealand's humanitarian, development and advocacy work to lift some of the world's poorest people out of poverty. Oxfam Trailwalker won Best Environmentally Sustainable Event at the 2009 Event Industry Awards.
  

Conferences:

• Two day course: Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

  LCA is an analytical tool for the systematic
  evaluation of the environmental impacts of a product or service system through all
  stages of its life. Full explanation & more info here. (Incl. venues, registration, cost etc).
  When: 13, 14 August, Auckland, & 17, 18 September, Christchurch.
  Organised by NZSSES. (NZ Society for Sustainability Engineering and Science).
  
  

• RSNZ workshop: Ocean acidification

  - the science behind it, its relevance to NZ's marine ecosystems, fisheries and aquaculture, & needs and research priorities for the future.
  Primarily for government and private sector agencies with an interest in climate change, the marine environment, fisheries and aquaculture. Intended as a two-way dialogue: to inform agencies of key scientific and technical issues, and to inform the scientific community of the most important priorities for filling knowledge gaps and hence future research.
  When: 9.00 - 4.30 Wed, 9 September.
  Where: Science house, Turnbull St, Wellington.
  Registration/info: www.royalsociety.org.nz.
  Organised by: RSNZ.
  
  

• October Conference, Northland: National Marine and Freshwater Wananga.

  For all those involved or interested in freshwater & marine conservation, education and community engagement.
  Theme: Mountains to Sea - Engaging communities in marine and freshwater
  conservation.
  When: Wednesday 7th - Friday 9th October, 2009.
  Where: Whakapaumahara Marae, Whananaki, Northland.
  More info: www.emr.org.nz
  

Reminders:

• Art Exhibition: Second Life.

  Bringing refuse back to intelligent life. (Works from recycled materials supplied by the Super Shed).
  Top entries from '09 Super Shed schools recycling competition, for Canterbury school children, years 4 - 10.
  When: 11 - 28 August.
  Where: Top Floor, CocA, 66 Gloucester St.
  Also: Recycled/found faces: a workshop for school children, primary/intermediate (year 1 - 8): here. (workshop #2). Background info here(school workshops).
  Contact/info: 366 7261, www.coca.org.nz
  or Nikki topfloor@coca.org.nz.
  Supported by Ministry of Education.
  

• Free home composting workshops:

  Hot composting of kitchen scraps & garden waste, Bokashi and worm farms. All methods demonstrated.
  At several sites:
  1. Seven Oaks Education Centre, 35 Hassals Lane. 1.00 - 2.30 pm each Saturday.
  2. Okeover Community Garden - University of Canterbury, Engineering Road. (Map here). 12.00 - 1.30 pm each Wednesday.
  3. Lyttelton Community Garden, 54A Oxford Street, 10.30 – 12.00 pm each Saturday.
  More info/contact: Annmarie 021 190 4559 or 942 7190 (evenings).
  Supported by CCC.
  
  

• Gardening courses: starting a garden, seed saving, composting, pickling & preserving, etc.

  Where: Strickland Street Community Garden, 188 Strickland Street, Spreydon. 
  When: for times & dates see their website www.sscommunitygarden.net.nz.
  Further info/contact: 942 6630.
  Supported by CCC.