SomerVille Scoop Issue 15 August 2007

This is a brief note to advise you of some developments that will be taking place on the SomerVille land in the coming weeks. There are two plans (one with the aerial photo and one without) that illustrate the main points discussed.
These plans can be downloaded from the Members Only section of the website located under 'All SomerVille Information'.

In preparing for the construction of ecovillage infrastructure, we will need to restrict access to the areas within the planned ring road. The first stage involves the creation of a new unsealed road (substantially along existing tracks and firebreaks) to connect Coothallie Road to "the Jarrahs" and "the Jarrahs" to:

- the emergency egress through State Forest,
- the orchard,
- Charcoal Cottage and the Site Office (temporarily),
- the sea-container storage area,
- the new location for the yellow shed (with toilets, water
supply, kitchen, etc); and,
- the firebreak on our northern boundary, to Ash
Road.

It is intended that access from Ash Road via our eastern boundary (i.e. the boundary shared with former owners Jack and Nancy Cable) will not be used during the summer when roads are dry as dust can cause a nuisance for our neighbours.
In addition to the road works, a contractor will begin undertaking substantial repairs to the fence that marks the border between our land and State Forest.
This, of course, will mean that there may be equipment operating along this boundary and, in the establishment of the statutory 6m wide firebreak, some small trees may need to be cleared.

Please be alert to the possibility of encountering equipment on these roads over the coming weeks, and please ensure that your family and any visitors are made aware of this.
Note that there will continue to be access on the existing internal roads until you are advised of their closure. Appropriate signage will be erected before this happens.

Photos

As a community service photographs of events will be published by us from time to time, and these photos may identify individuals. Please contact us if you object to any or all photographs containing your image being published and we will ensure that these wishes are respected. If such a photograph has already been posted we will remove it where possible at the earliest opportunity.

Submit an Article for the SomerVille Scoop

The Newsletter team is putting out a request for articles, points of interest, recipes , jokes etc. Have your say and share your knowledge.

If you are interested in making a contribution please email your submission to newsletter@sev.net.au by the 20^th of each second month.

If you have any queries about the structure or content please visit www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/newsletters and read the Newsletter Structure, Content and Submission Guidelines.

Additionally if you know of any coming events that you believe other members of the community may be interested in please email the details through to newsletter@sev.net.au.

Great Books and Great Courses! What do you recommend?

You know when you find that book that just changes your thought patterns, inspires or motivates you? The one that you always recommend to your friends or work colleges as the best book of all time?

Or perhaps you've been on a course that has had the same effect, that inspired and changed you or helped you achieve things in new and interesting ways?

In the creation of the Greenedge MEH (Making Ecovillages Happen) Model we would like to come up with a list of courses or recommended reading materials that really help those interested in creating an ecovillage. This will also be available on the SomerVille Members Only web site for all SomerVillians to benefit from.

So if there is a book or course that you would recommend to others in your shoes then please let us know. It may have impacted your understanding of ecovillages in a particularly profound way, it may have helped you understand sustainability and the triple bottom line more clearly, or it simply may have improved your ability to be involved in the SomerVille Ecovillage project.

If there is just one (or two, or ten) books or courses that you found valuable and you can provide a single paragraph description of why it was so valuable, then please forward that the information to kara@greenedge.org so that others may get the benefits you did!

We would also really like to see a rating of your chosen text or course with a mark out of 5 indicating how valuable you think it is, 5 being 'Really Spectacular'!

SPECIAL-T
(SomerVille Project Environment & Construction Implementation And Liaison Team)

LSIP

We're now two and a half months into 2008 and have had progress on most of the approvals that we need to move the project forward. However, the progress on most items has been disappointingly slow. Our Local Subdivision and Infrastructure Plan (LSIP) has been forwarded by the WAPC to the State Planning Committee who will meet on 25 March 2008. It is our understanding that the WAPC will recommend the project be approved.

Subdivision

Our Subdivision submission has stalled at the Shire of Mundaring and, whilst we understand that they have now contracted a previous employee to assist in its review, we are seeking alternative avenues to expedite final determination.

Community Centre

A design review of our Community Centre has meant that we haven't yet submitted a building application as intended. Useful feedback from a focus group consisting of community members and our consultants has helped in finalising design details. The possibility of incorporating a cellar in the design is still being evaluated. A similar focus group will also assist with refinement of the village centre plans.

Building guidelines

The Building Guidelines, which have been awaiting shire review since November, have also been contracted to a previous employee. Preparation of our non-residential building guidelines is underway and should be complete by mid April.

SomerVille Organic Farm

To matters agricultural - our focus in coming weeks will be to decide what planting and land improvement strategy to adopt for 2008. Our agriculture consultants (ERA) continue to support us in these endeavours.

Meeting Space

The recently dismantled grey shed has been re-erected to the north of the “site office” during January and will continue to be used for storage purposes. The "Yellow Shed" has been moved to a position a few metres away from it. We will be relocating the outdoor “Rob's Kitchen” between these two sheds. The 120kL rainwater tank will be sited to collect water from both shed roofs.

Water Management

A exploration program that ran during March has identified suitable sites for the infiltration galleries that will be supplying SomerVille over the years ahead. Drilling to locate sources in the deeper, more brackish, aquifer will begin in April. Additional test pits have confirmed the existence of sufficient gravel on SomerVille land for our construction needs.

Infrastructure

Repairs to the 3.2km of fencing that separates the south of SomerVille land from State Forest will start in the next few weeks.

Detailed design for the village infrastructure is complete and we are ready to call tenders as soon as the remaining approvals are received. Needless to say, we are campaigning hard to get these under our belt.

Timeline

The following dates are our best estimates of when key milestones in the establishment of SomerVille will occur:

MILESTONE	DATE
LSIP Final Approval	Mar'08
Subdivision Final Approval	Apr'08
Tender Infrastructure Works	Apr'08
Infrastructure completion	Sep'08
Lodgement of Deposited Strata Plans	Oct'08
First Titles Issued	Nov'08

SEED
(SomerVille Ecovillage Enterprise Development)
Update provided by Rob Hendry

Hello all, my first time doing this. My name (as you can see) is Rob Hendry. I have recently been employed as the Enterprise Development Manager to oversee the Enterprise and Economics area of SomerVille. One of the things I was encouraged to do when I commenced here at Greenedge Projects was to make up my own title! Now, I am not very creative, but my fiancé took this to heart and she has given me the title of “The busy Green B.E.E. – Business Enterprise Engineer” – her thinking was that it was my job to “drive” the Enterprise and Economics area of this project!!!!

I have been working in the Retirement Village Industry for the last 7 years as Senior Manager. This was in a Charitable Not for Profit organization, heavily involved in Development. The previous 9 years I was self employed, running my own Heavy Transport Business. So, I have long experience in Business Management and Business Development as well as Community Development.

One of my first tasks has been to get my head around what we are actually trying to achieve here. To facilitate this, we have recently begun having regular SEED team meetings with some of the Enterprise Champions. SEED stands for “Somerville Enterprise and Economics Development” Team. In the last newsletter, Alex let you know that we were really under resourced for some of the Enterprises that we have planned in Somerville. In an effort to overcome this, my role is largely to facilitate the Enterprise Champions and build the necessary framework to fully plan a strategic and operational plan so that each of the potential enterprises for Somerville is planned for, and more importantly, built for!

Over the next few months I will be updating you regularly on how the designs and plans are going for the various enterprises for Somerville. In May, our SEED team meeting will be a Pillar meeting, held during the evening. This meeting will be open for any of you who would like to come along and actually see and hear how we are going in our planning and discussions. We will be letting you know the details of that Pillar meeting for any of you who would like to attend.

CUPID
(Community Unifies People in Diversity)

Hello SomerVille! The year has got off to a flying start with the first SomerVille Sunday of the year held on 3 February. The community together created a series of goals to achieve in 2008, all looking to be very achievable this year. Some of the ideas included:

All this creative thinking was followed by a fantastic Water Fight! Everyone got involved and very inventive!

Significant progress was made towards the completion of the SomerVille governance and by-law documents. Draft versions were made available to members for discussion on the March SomerVille Sunday which produced some good feedback that will be incorporated into the final copies. We also sent the documents out to key members of the wider ecovillage community including; Max Lindegger from Crystal Waters, Stephen Poole from Aldinga Arts Ecovillage, David Wyatt from Currumbin Ecovillage and Kay Kay from Findhorn. A final version of the governance and by-law documents are due to be completed by the end of March. If you haven't yet had the chance to read the current drafts please have a look in the Members Only section of the website under 'Key Documents'.

We have also been focussing our attention towards creating and sustaining opportunities for community get togethers in 2008. This included the continuation of our much loved SomerVille Sundays, now to be held at the new location near the Ash Road entrance. The Yellow Shed has been relocated and a new storage shed constructed next door so as to create more room for our meetings to grow as more lots are sold. We will be moving Rob's kitchen on the 30th of May so everyone is welcome to attend and help out.

The Coffee Shop has been moved to Mundaring at a beautiful location called Harmony Hall. This is located behind Varissima House at 16 Craig Street. The next Coffee Shop, at time of writing, will be on Thursday the 27th at 6.30pm.

We have also created a new opportunity for community involvement known as monthly Pillar Meetings. Pillar Meetings involve representatives from each of the SEV core areas scheduling a meeting, once every three months, in a central location. The first Pillar meeting was held on the 11^th of March at the Woodbridge Tavern where the CUPID (Social/Cultural) team were able to order a tasty meal and a couple of wines to assist with the evenings discussion. The next Pillar Meeting is to be SPECIAL-T (Environment/Place) on the 15th of April, 7pm at the Woodbridge Tavern, East Street in Guildford. Come along and join in a meal with the SPECIAL-T team and see exactly what happens at one of their meetings!

We have also created the role of Weaver as a first point of call for any questions, feedback or information you may have. As there are now a variety of groups and people it may be confusing exactly who it is you need to speak too, the Weaver is perfect for those situations. The Weaver will be able to direct you to the right person or find out the information you need and get back to you. The current Weaver is Fuchsia who can be contacted at the Greenedge Office, Monday to Friday, on 9572 3672. She is ready and waiting for your call (or email – fuchsia@greenedge.org)!

There is a lot happening as we move closer and closer to the infrastructure starting at SomerVille. A lot of events and community gatherings will be happening to help keep us on the right track and make all new members feel welcome and a part of SomerVille.

Everyone is welcome to join in SomerVille activities so please feel welcome to contact Fuchsia or Kara at the Greenedge office should you have any questions about how you can get involved.

Editors Note: Please be aware that I will only advertise events that community members have made me aware of, or that I am aware of, so if you know of any events coming up that other community members might be interested in please email the details to newsletter@sev.net.au.

General Events

Festival of the Trees

Saturday 29th March - 10am to 4pm, St Barbe Grove, Lot 2 Stirling Crescent (Cnr. of Amherst Rd) Hazelmere.

As you may know, "Earth Hour" is run by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), a conservation organization, and is a global climate change initiative which is calling upon individuals and businesses around the world, to turn off their lights for one hour on Saturday, 29 March 2008 between 8 pm and 9pm. The aim of the campaign is to demonstrate that individual action on a mass scale can help change our planet for the better.

To participate in this interesting initiative visit http://www.earthhour.org/sign-up where you can sign up. Once registered, you will receive useful tools and tips on how to reduce our CO2 emissions and contribute to improving our living environment. Participation in this endeavour is a personal decision but we thought that you might be interested to hear about Earth Hour

Sketchup: an introduction to CADD
Saturday 17th May & Sunday 18th May - 9am to 4pm.
Cost $335 (special offer 5 people for cost of 4) UWA Extension - The University of Western Australia, M432 - 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA

As many of you may be aware, Google Sketchup is a free 3D Modelling software tool, that can help you with your House designs. You can download a copy of Google Sketchup from http://sketchup.google.com/

Shire of Mundaring Meetings

This is a new section in the scoop (please read more about this in the Articles section), but in short one way we can show support as a part of the Chidlow community is to attend the Shire of Mundaring Meetings. The important meetings to attend are the Council meetings (the last Tuesday of the month) and the Development Approvals Committee (“DAC”) meetings (a fortnight before the Council meetings).

Tuesday 8 April 2008

Tuesday 22 April 2008

Tuesday 13 May 2008

Tuesday 27 May 2008

SomerVille Calendar of Events

NOTE: We will endeavour to keep our events to the schedule below however, due to unforeseen circumstances some may be changed or cancelled.

If you are a member of SE Inc we will email you in advance of events or if an event is cancelled. The locations are not all specified here, they will be advertised closer to the events via email.

Saturday 29 March 2008

Sunday 30 March 2008

Friday 4 April 2008

Sunday 13 April 2008

Thursday 15 April 2008

Thursday 17 April 2008

Sunday 4 May 2008

Tuesday 13 May 2008

Thursday 15 May 2008

Sunday 8 June 2008

My Story

My Story of Somerville

I first heard of a project in Chidlow, of a self sustainable community, by my parents who heard about it through Dom. I wasn’t overly environmentally conscious, or at least no where near as much as I am now, but I saw that it was a fantastic idea. I thought it would be a great to come together as a community and work on this project for the future. Ever since I heard of it I always envisioned this shining light that others can light their candle in and start to shine just as bright and some even brighter than our community.

I’ve had a blessed up-bringing. My parents have taught me many things that I hope to bring to the village. Humility is one thing, and with that respect and caring for the world we live in. I am now working for the Wilderness Society, in the fight against injustice against the environment and the world we live in. I am also studying herbology under Dipaunka Macrides http://www.theherbalist.com.au/. He uses his knowledge to help and heal the beings we are with plant medicine and shares his knowledge. In time I hope to do the same.

I am also a very spiritual person. When I was 16 I had a raven follow me home from school. He hopped from tree to tree keeping a fixed eye on me. He is still with me today and lives in the tree behind my house. I can tell him apart from all the other ravens because he had one white feather on his left wing. This was quite auspicious so I looked up the ravens' meaning, and it was all about magic and exploring the dark or unseen areas in my life. And it has led me on a path of shamanism and magic that guides and protects me and fills my life with beauty, love, fun and healing through trial and acceptance. I hope that I can share my spiritual flame with any that burn with the same fuel that keeps my light burning bright.

I feel the village will be a place to love, share and be who I want to be without judgement or disillusionment. A village built to explore the boundaries of humanity and beyond. To provide a place for others to come and experience a loving community with strength, light and vision.

Caption Competition

Unfortunatly I have not recived one caption for this competition, so I guess the caption competition has not be too successful, oh well it was worth a try.

The First Engagement on the Land

Michael & I got engaged on our block on 14th February 2008. After sharing the news with everyone over the next few days we were informed that we were the first to get engaged on the land. Not only is it a fabulous time for us, but also it is the start of our new journey in life together which includes making our dream of living at Somerville come true. I proposed to him over yummy champagne and prawns while we lay under the stars. We both have a real sense of being at home and calm come to us when we are on our land. As no doubt we all do, so it was very appropriate that it should happen there where we were home relaxing together. I’m excited because this year is the number 1 of new beginnings. The construction and infrastructure stage begins this year; Mick and I start our new stage in life together as a family. Hopefully we will be able to have our wedding ceremony on the land somewhere. We look forward to what lies ahead for all of us at Somerville.

Limoncello

We are always stopping in at the orchard to pick the lemons and fight for the mandarins when in season! They are a necessity in any household. They are used not only in cooking, cordial, cleaning and cups of teas but they have an amazing feng shui quality when they are in the fruit bowl. It is the true sense of country living for me. After I’ve used them for everything at home and shared with the low land dwellers who are so grateful for them as you’ve all seen the price per kilo and not only are ours free but organic! I still always have an abundance of them left in the fruit bowl. So I googled for Limoncello, an old favourite from working in Italian restaurants way back when. It is a lemon flavoured after dinner liquor served chilled. I got so excited not only did I find the recipe easily but also the first 5 recipes only differed minimally. It was that simple. We made it just in time for Christmas, bottled and labelled it and gave it to family accompanied with almond bread and a magnet with a picture of our girls. I thought it was a fabulous idea and a great way to slow the consumerism in our lives. Obviously it wasn’t perfect the first time but still loved by all! Here is a brief idea of the recipe and how simple, otherwise google it.

80 – 100 lemons skin peeled try not to get the white bits as it makes it bitter.

Becoming a part of the Chidlow Community, Chidlow Progress Association and the Shire of Mundaring.

Given we are now certain of the imminent subdivision approval I felt it was time that SomerVille raised its profile at the Chidlow Progress Association (“CPA”). I attended the CPA meeting on 5 March and was warmly welcomed as a future resident of SomerVille. I got the distinct impression that the CPA are hungry for new blood (in a nice way!) and would encourage attendance at the AGM on Wednesday 7 May at 7.30pm. Membership only costs $10. I am considering being joint secretary with Jo Hallam from Parkview Real Estate. The position of treasurer is also coming up for re-election; you may like to consider volunteering for this.

There was a lot of discussion around the future of the Chidlow Hall at the meeting. The Shire of Mundaring are currently reviewing the viability of all community facilities, including the Chidlow Hall. A sub-committee of the CPA has been formed – the Friends of the Hall. And there is a newly formed focus organisation, the Chidlow Hall and Heritage Group. Both of these groups are seeking input and creative ideas for keeping and enhancing the use of the Chidlow Hall. If you have any brilliant ideas please contact Kara on kara@greenedge.org to let her know. The next community workshop will be held on Wednesday 2 April from 6pm to 9pm at the Mundaring Pavilion, Mundaring Weir Road should you wish to attend. The Friends of the Hall will also have information available at the Chidlow Markets on Sunday 6 April.

The CPA Chidlow Show sub-committee have approached SomerVille and Greenedge Projects to assist with the organisation of the Chidlow Show. Initial discussions are underway so watch this space for how you can be involved!

Another way we can show support as a part of the Chidlow community is to attend the Shire of Mundaring Meetings. The important meetings to attend are the Council meetings (the last Tuesday of the month) and the Development Approvals Committee (“DAC”) meetings (a fortnight before the Council meetings). Please refer to the meeting dates outline in the Calender Section or the full meeting calendar can be found at http://www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/council/about_councilmeetings.asp

Straw balers unite

In November 2007 five of us met for lunch to discuss our common interest in building a straw bale home at SomerVille. We shared resources and ideas, but most of all the conviction to support each other in the learning, planning and creation process. Our first task set was to visit some strawbale homes – get a feel for what they were like, different approaches, great ideas, etc.

In January we visited two local owner-built strawbale homes. John and Emmanuel Daw have built their home using recycled materials most of the way. Its design reflects the Indian ‘Feng Shui’, its walls have been painstakingly rendered by hand using a mixture of straw and mud collected from a friends dam. The interior walls were built with half bales filling in a

wooden frame – giving a tudor look. They are breathtaking with their oxide coloured bas reliefs. The floor was recently tiled by a Woofer from Italy who had trained with the masters! An oiled, natural terracotta tile, it lives and breathes beneath your feet, dashing my reticence to use tiles for their cold and hardness. Emmanuel bid us farewell with a file detailing their house plans and methods. I have spares if anyone would like one. She has also put out the invitation for interested people to visit again.

Frank and Kirby’s home was very different, yet equally as breathtaking when one arrived. A massive, Australian Colonial design with wide verandahs all around, it has been rendered with a cement/lime/sand mixture which gives it a crisp white colour. The white aluminium windows blended into the walls allowing the light and view to take centre stage. Interior walls were built with brick but rendered and corners rounded to look like they were strawbale. The deep window sills were just above knee height and just begged to be covered in cushions, a good book – and myself! They had been reinforced with concrete to allow such punishment. We all had different ideas on how we would use the awesome mezzanine floor space – hobbies or master bedroom/retreat…?!

What was striking about both families and homes was the immense time, commitment and love poured in over a solid 5 years… and their journey continues! It was truly a great day. So inspiring to see how two families had created homes so unique to themselves; great fun to have shared the day with builders and our own aspiring builders; a little overwhelming with the many ideas and options made evident in the two homes.

Myob Accounting

MYOB Accounting for starting businesses.
Using MYOB in our own manufacturing business.

Gabi Hilz
Phone: 08 9299 6524
Mobile: 0412 412 098
Email: hilz@iinet.net.au

Tread Gently

Flower Essence Consults

Stress and Pain Treatments with West Australian Flower Essences
Using acupionts on the ears, sprays and foot baths Flower Essences can help lower your stress levels and reduce pain in your body. Flower essences have a powerful healing effect on our body and mind and treatments will help you manage your pain and stress better.

Thermomix

Thermomix consultant: smallest and smartest kitchen in the world.

Gabi Hilz
Phone: 08 9299 6524
Mobile: 0412 412 098
Email: hilz@iinet.net.au

Xooma Worldwide

Xtreme X2O is the premium fuel for the body's daily needs.
Take advantage of the low cost starter pack!

Different rates apply for monthly, weekly and daily workspace hire. For more information please contact Karen or the next time you are at the Chidlow Shops please pop into Shop 2 to say 'hello.

Karen Moore
Mobile: 0412 244 359
Email: karen@greenedge.org

Nexus Car Share

Nexus allows households to get rid of a car and use a Nexus car for those trips that can't easily be taken by other forms of transport.

Members get access to cars when they need them with out the hassles or costs of car ownership.

There are huge cost benefits: no insurance, no rego, no car! Health and social benefits: people more often walk, ride or take the bus and get to meet their neighbourhood while keeping the streets safer - safe streets have lots of people walking or riding on them, not just cars whizzing by. And of course there are less greenhouse emissions and you never have to worry about paying the rego again.

A design and drafting service focussing on sustainable building and design. Aaron is evolving his business through not only work on SomerVille and other Greenedge Projects but through other clients in related areas.

Temporary Access During Subdivision

Photos

Submit an Article for the SomerVille Scoop

Great Books and Great Courses! What do you recommend?

SPECIAL-T (SomerVille Project Environment & Construction Implementation And Liaison Team)

LSIP

Subdivision

Community Centre

Building guidelines

SomerVille Organic Farm

Meeting Space

Water Management

Infrastructure

Timeline

SEED (SomerVille Ecovillage Enterprise Development) Update provided by Rob Hendry

CUPID (Community Unifies People in Diversity)

General Events

Festival of the Trees

Shire of Mundaring Meetings

Tuesday 8 April 2008

Tuesday 22 April 2008

Tuesday 13 May 2008

Tuesday 27 May 2008

SomerVille Calendar of Events

Saturday 29 March 2008

Sunday 30 March 2008

Friday 4 April 2008

Sunday 13 April 2008

Thursday 15 April 2008

7pm to 9pm.

Thursday 17 April 2008

Sunday 4 May 2008

Tuesday 13 May 2008

Thursday 15 May 2008

Sunday 8 June 2008

My Story

My Story of Somerville

Caption Competition

The First Engagement on the Land

Limoncello

Becoming a part of the Chidlow Community, Chidlow Progress Association and the Shire of Mundaring.

Straw balers unite

Myob Accounting

Flower Essence Consults

Thermomix

Thermomix consultant: smallest and smartest kitchen in the world.

Xooma Worldwide

SPECIAL-T
(SomerVille Project Environment & Construction Implementation And Liaison Team)

SEED
(SomerVille Ecovillage Enterprise Development)
Update provided by Rob Hendry

CUPID
(Community Unifies People in Diversity)