Adopt a beauty spot
So what are we going to do about Grahamstown? More people are stepping forward and tackling a problem somewhere in Grahamstown, even if it’s merely stopping to pick up a piece of litter or pulling up an invasive alien plant. School pupils at St Andrews College and the Diocesan School for Girls are showing the way by adopting Grey Dam as a project to keep clean. Their action won’t just clean one site, it’s already sparking conversations elsewhere – what little bit of Grahamstown can I, or my group, or my business, or my school, or my church enhance? Grahamstown could break out in spots. Beauty Spots!
Permaculture
One person - whom you haven’t heard of yet - Edward Gaybba, is showing total confidence in Grahamstown. He is on track to sink his life savings and work into our city, having bought a local farm to set up Redbeard Permaculture. At the moment, he’s finalising his commitments in Jo’burg and plans to get started fulltime here in December. Having trained under one of the world’s foremost permaculturalists, Geoff Lawton, he is very ambitious to make his farm a ‘demonstration site.’ From there, he aims to link with others across town who share his passion and to offer permaculture education through practical training. He will have a lot more to say to us once he’s up and running.
In the meantime, you can catch up with him at https:// www.facebook.com/redbeard. permaculture
and he welcomes enquiries call 074 744 7000.
For a comprehensive guide to permaculture see https:// treeyopermacultureedu.wordpress.com/
Most of us are aware that the excellent work by Working for Water removing invasive alien plants has improved water flow because these plants take up so much water. Edward Gaybba sees opportuni- ties to recycle the biomass of the felled and uprooted plants to enrich soil. Such thinking is key to the ideas behind permaculture, whereby a waste biodegradable product is used, “to improve soil quality by storing slow-releasing carbon, creating a home for microorganisms and reduce acidity levels”. At his farm he will be making two large contour swales, connected to earthen ponds, to create a droughtresistant irrigation system. These will be vital to sustain a selection of small-scale food production gardens. Among his other ideas, he intends to build a ‘walipini’ (a sunken greenhouse).
Buy Back Centres
Photo: Supplied
Mark Price of Integrated Waste and Recycling Services (IWARS) presented his plans for Makana at the latest Makana Environmental Forum. Following a substantial grant from DTI covering 6 municipalities, IWARS will be introducing ‘ Buy Back Centres’ to Grahamstown in January 2016.
The Centres are specially designed structures, which will be placed at strategic locations such as Sugar Loaf Hill, Carlisle Street and near the municipal landfill site to receive recyclable waste.
The aim is to increase the volumes of waste being collected for recycling by making the collection points more accessible and to increase the range of matter that is collected.
It is hoped that the introduction of these facilities will be integrated with better management of all waste being deposited at these sites. Other locations will also be decided, including buy back centres at Riebeeck East and Alicedale.
Adopt A River
Last week around 50 people from the Lavender Valley (northern) side of Grahamstown received 5 days training on Health and Safety and First Aid. This is the beginning of a new environmental project funded via the Department of Water and Sanitation that aims to employ a holistic approach to river (catchment) management, improving the surrounding environment by working with all sectors of the community, including voluntary groups and educational establishments. The project is currently funded to March 2016, but is expected to continue until June 2017.
Wessa (Grahamstown)
aMan Bloom of Grahamstown’s Wessa Committee is launching a new energy and conservation project and is asking for volunteers to contact him. The project will provide instruction and activities aimed at increasing awareness with the aim of increasing local capacity for: improvement of living conditions; self-sufficiency, empowerment and solidarity; awareness and participation in environmental protection and enhancement. To get involved and find out more please email aman- Find us Online: www.grocotts.
co.za/environews
Contacts for Makana Enviro-News:
Nikki Köhly:
046 603 7205 | Jenny Gon:
046 622 5822 | Nick James:
082 575 9781 | Philip Machanick:
046 603 8635 | Tim Bull:
076 289 5122; Rod Amner
046 603 7123.