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Week 10 Bulletin

Mon, 06/10/2008 - 18:44 — Andrew
My fresh spring greens,

(Who's terrified that it's week 10?  This girl!)

Since I'm waist-deep in research, I read a lot.  These days (aside from the scary US election news) it's philosophy and economics, the discourse of domination and the marketing of nature.  To my mind, there's simply something nefarious about breaking nature down into commodities and selling it off--for protection or destruction, depending on who bids highest. 

Nature--natures even--are complex, made up of relationships and interdependencies (much like human communities, eh?).  You can't break ecosystems into bits & expect to retain ecological integrity; the system--which keeps us all alive--breaks down without all of its components intact.  So why do we do it?  What's keeping us from looking past the bulge of our wallets to the muddy-beautiful hands of our children & theirs?

Thoughts?  Perhaps something to ponder as you read the good word:


News
Brought to you as always by our lovely & talented Angela
Performance Night and AGM
In celebration of our AGM (annual general meeting) Thoughtful Foods will have a Performance Night. The finances are being audited over the next couple of weeks and will be ready to be signed off by our directors by mid-November. The details of the event are yet to be finalised but pencil in the 13th of November into your diary. Registration for the performance night is now open. So get on your dancing shoes, shine your musical instrument, get out your costume and start visioning and practising. Email the name of your act and performers to angela.johnstone@gmail.com before 31st of October.

General Meeting
New Time 2pm to 3pm Tuesday 7th October

Agenda Items
* Performance Night planning
Please help organise this wonderful event. There are heaps of things to organise, time, date, themes, venue and catering. Woohoo! Imagine!
* Summer Working Bee and summer operation
If you would like to be involved in the co-op over the summer please come along to this meeting and let us know your availability.

Proposals
* To supply the organic fruit and vegetables for the Green Awards event
* To have a summer planning dinner to discuss how Thoughtful Foods will operate over the summer


Bulletin
If you have anything to add to the bulletin, please let me know at meghan@thoughtfulfoods.org.au.  You really need to remind me by Friday every week or your post won't make it in.  My memory isn't that good.
Cheers!


Eggs
To order, email angela.johnstone@gmail.com before Monday.  In store drop your name card with number of eggs into the bag before noon on Tuesday.
(Ange, I would like one dozen, please!)


Veggies
They are so, so, so delicious.  I love my life well spinached, full of young eggplant and the occasional delicious banana (always in season in Oz, I notice).  Remember that your paid-in-full order must be under the door before 10am Wednesday if you want veggies Thursday. 
Sorry loves, no exceptions.  Get your order in today!


Community
2008 Wallace Wurth Memorial Lecture with Dr Rajendra Pachauri (IPCC Chair!)
Thursday 23 October at 7:30 pm in Leighton Hall, Scientia Building (doors open at 6:00pm)

Renowned environmental scientist, Nobel prize winner, and head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra Pachauri will speak to a (I guarantee) packed house on Thursday 23 October.  I saw Dr. Pachauri speak last year in this same location--he did not just regurgitate the UN's minimalist climate change line.  He spoke very openly about his concerns and the politics of the IPCC report, making it clear that we're in a lot more trouble than even that document lets on. 
Oh, he also recommended decreasing meat consumption as a crucial component of combating climate change and environmental degradation in general.
Seriously.

Don't miss out.  RSVP today.  (Seats are not reserved for this lecture.  Do not be late!)

Yoga in YOUR Life
"Tyler Pike, the manager of the Yoga in Daily Life Kensington centre on 117 Anzac Parade, offers 1 hour free yoga classes at Thoughtful Foods Co-op Thursdays 2pm.  No need to bring anything – just come in loose-fitting clothing.  Don't eat a big lunch beforehand.

"Come have a go – its free, and one of the many reasons the co-op is a real community - more than just a place to get veggies.  Yoga in Daily Life is an 8 Level system of postures, relaxation and breathing practices and meditation.  The Thursday class at the co-op is a Level 1 class focused on improving core strength, basic flexibility, breathing and feeling good.  Yoga at the co-op is a relaxing experience with a diverse group of yogis – some experienced some beginners.  If you have any questions about attending yoga, you can ring Tyler on 0410819996 or email him on Kensington@yogaindailylife.org.au

"For those of you interested in attending yoga classes at the Kensington centre, the new spring term begins 13 Oct. By enrolling in a term you can commit to progressing through the Yoga in Daily Life system at a dedicated yoga centre, which is a real sanctuary near the Uni.  More information about classes at the Kensington centre and about the Yoga in Daily Life system can be found at www.yogaindailylife.org.au."

Guerrilla the Verge?
The Forsyth Street crew are putting feelers out for some plants, mulch, and contacts with regard to reinventing (via sneak-attack permaculture) the garden beds around their (okay, our) house. 
If you have access to fruit trees, and/or native trees and shrubs, mulch, organic fertilizer and/or manure, please contact James, Tonia, Alice, or Meghan.  We're in the planning stages, but are definitely looking to get in touch with people now about puttin' stuff in the ground. 
Thanks!


What's in Season
Recipes courtesy Melissa
Roasted Salad
Heat the oven to 230 Celsius
Coarsely chop one sweet potato, one capsicum (no seeds!), one large beetroot (you can leave the skins on to avoid dying your hands), and medium red onion.
Finely chop 2-3 cloves of garlic.
Lay on baking sheet or broiler pan.
Cover veggies with olive oil and use brush of back of spoon to evenly cover each veg.
Top with coarse black pepper and any dried herbs you like (I like to use rosemary, basil or oregano).
Cook veggies until evenly browned-- about 20 minutes.  You may want to toss the veggies halfway through.

Serve with sliced apple on the side for a nice accent! Serves 2-3.  (This is really nice with a green salad and veggie burger)
 
Spring Citrus Cooler
Peel a couple of oranges and one small grapefruit (or half of large one).
Cut fruit into quarters and try to remove seeds.
Throw in blender with a small handful of ice and enough filtered water for it to blend smoothly. 
Put the lid on and blend until frothy and smooth! Feel free to add water until reached desired consistency!
 
This is a nice refreshing drink.  The pulp helps your body break down the sugars better!  Enjoy!
~ Melissa


Bedtime chimes
I've noticed that I make more sense in the small exhausted pockets of night (or amidst jet lag fatigue).  It's at these times that the thoughts seem to flow, the ideas connect, when no artifice of logic blocks original thinking and the thoughts linger instead of evaporating with the light of day.
Who says sleep deprivation doesn't have perks?

Anyhoo!  When I ask for your thoughts, I really want them.  Shoot me an email if you have a comment/insight.   These discussions--about defining sustainability & living the life less stuff-tastic--are ones we must be having.  Dialogue, my darlings; it gets the party started.  At least that's this girl's opinion. 

Hope to catch you for lively discussions and delicious food this week at the co-op. 
Oh, and have a happy Monday holiday!

With love and low-slung clouds,

~ Meghan