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Green Tea June 2015

This show broadcast June 2015. Click here to listen to the podcast: GREEN TEA June 2015 SoundCloud 

In this special feature program I interview Reuben Harcourt who is freshly returned from a short, yet incredibly intense stint in Nepal. Reuben travelled to the country just three weeks before the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit on 25 April. He was there volunteering at an orphanage when the devastating natural disaster changed everything. Rather than hightail it out of the country, Reuben says that evacuating never crossed his mind, and he quickly realised that he was in a privileged position to help those most in need. Click the podcast link above to hear his his awe-inspiring story, of being thrust into the impossible, of heart wrenching loss, grief, friendship, and rising to the challenge.

To read more about Reuben’s fundraiser, to donate, or contact him, here’s the link: REUBEN NEPAL Give a Little 

Reuben distributing sacks of rice - Nepal relief action in full swing.

Reuben & Vinod Sunchuary distributing sacks of rice – Nepal relief action in full swing.

 

House of rubble

House reduced to rubble

 

One of the tougher moments during the relief effort in Nepal

One of the toughest days during the relief effort, pulling the truck, meter by meter over several kilometers of badly damaged mountain pass. On the return trip it got much worse as the narrow and steep track was reduced to mud by heavy rain.

 

Reuben's team brought in the first aid many villagers had seen even 2 weeks after the earthquake

Two weeks after the earthquake, Reuben’s team brought in the first relief supplies these villagers had seen.

 

Relief in a sack

A sackful of relief. Much of the aid was distributed amongst the Pahari people who are considered ‘untouchable’ and subject to discrimination and poverty.

 

The most inspiring ragtag grassroots disaster response group that's ever sprung up out of nowhere!

“The most inspiring ragtag grassroots disaster response group that’s ever sprung up out of nowhere!”

 

The Avant-Gardener Hannah Zwartz gives us a lesson on mulching your winter garden. ‘Mulch mulch mulch’ she says!

 

Playist this month includes:

Jack Body ‘Ratschenita’ performed by the New Zealand String Quartet 2010

Loopcrew, ‘Nandor – One Inity’ from the 2005 album: The Green Room 004:Hope.

Title theme: Mardi Gras BB , ‘Down Down Down’.

Green Tea May 2015

This show broadcast on 5th May 2015. Click here to listen to the podcast: GREEN TEA May 2015 SoundCloud 

I visit the 3rd Paekakariki Women’s Clothing Swap  and speak to organisers Carmen Slater and Nicky Walker about the eithics that motivate them to continue putting this event on.

Rachel Benefield with a few scores at the 3rd Paekakariki Women's Clothing Swap

Rachel Benefield with a bag full of ‘new’ garments and shoes at the 3rd Paekakariki Women’s Clothing Swap.

The 'Gardening & Painting' clothing table at the Paekakariki Women's Clothing Swap. The event is put on in an effort to reduce wasteful consumption.

The ‘Gardening & Painting’ clothing table at the Paekakariki Women’s Clothing Swap. The event is put on in an effort to reduce wasteful consumption.

 

Junior reporter Milli Nixon interview’s Olive Stringfellow about the Paekakariki School Garden Club.

Paekakariki School has an expanding gardening program.

Paekakariki School has an expanding gardening program.

 

And I sit down to discuss the Living Wage Movement  with long time Paekakariki resident Lyndy McIntyre. As one of the people at the forefront of this new (to NZ) movement, I wanted to know what Lyndy’s hopes are for the future of wage earners in NZ.

 

Playist this month includes:

PJ Harvey, ‘Ballad of the Soldier’s Wife’ from the 1997 compilation: September Songs, the music of Kurt Weill.

Title theme: Mardi Gras BB , ‘Down Down Down’.

Green Tea April 2015

This show first broadcast on 31st March 2015. Click here to listen to the podcast: GREEN TEA April 2015 SoundCloud 

We visit the KCDC Sustainable Home & Garden Show and take a guided tour though the Paekakariki School exhibition at the show.

Students of Paekakariki School display a bug hotel they have made at the Sustainable Home & Garden Show.

Students of Paekakariki School display a bug hotel they have made at the Sustainable Home & Garden Show.

Visitor's to the Paekakariki School exhibition inspect the Archimedes Screw that students built.

Sustainable Home & Garden Show visitor’s at the Paekakariki School exhibition inspect the Archimedes Screw that students had built as part of their drought happy garden.

 

Members of the Paekakariki branch of the Kapiti Fresh Organic Co-op, Kirsty Anderson, Juanita Murray, and Vanessa Crowe, tell us about how the co-op started, how it’s run, and how you might join. For further enquiries, you can email them on [email protected]

Members of the Kapiti Fresh Co-op during a pack in Paekakariki

Members of the Kapiti Fresh Organic Co-op during a pack in Paekakariki

Bins packed with fresh organic produce for members to collect

Bins packed with fresh organic produce for members to collect

 

Roving reporters Russell and Dylan were at the anti-Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) protest march to Parliament in Wellington. This was part of a nationwide day of demonstrations that took place across 22 centers around the country. We hear about some of the concerns held by the demonstrators, and political speakers at this rally.

Midland Park in Wellington, the band plays signaling the huge crowd of protesters to begin their march during the nationwide Anti-TPPA demonstration day.

Midland Park in Wellington, the band plays signaling the huge crowd of protesters to begin their march towards Parliament during the nationwide Anti-TPPA demonstration day.

 

Avant Gardener Hannah Zwartz talks about April in the Paekakariki edible garden. It’s a great time of year to be gardening, it’s compost making weather! 

Playist this month includes:

Sex Pistols, ‘Lier’ from their 1977 debut album: Never Mind The Bollocks.

Title theme: Mardi Gras BB , ‘Down Down Down’.

Green Tea March 2015

This show first broadcast on 3rd March 2015. Click here to listen to the podcast: GREEN TEA MARCH 2015 SoundCloud

For my first feature this month I interview Sally Blackwell about her experiences as part of one of the member households in this year’s Greenest Neighbourhood season. We talk thermal envelope, pelmets, gardening and a developing sense of community in her neighbourhood.

Pelmet: A narrow border of cloth or wood, fitted across the top of a door or window to conceal the curtain fittings.

Pelmet: A narrow border of cloth or wood, fitted across the top of a door or window to conceal the curtain fittings.

 

For my second feature, I interview Steve Bright & Stacey Gasson. They talk about their ‘Edwards’ solar hot water system, the pros & cons (are there any?!), and what it has done to their power bill. An added point of interest is that this system is coupled with a wetback for winter heating.

Steve & Stacey's solar hot-water heater.

Steve & Stacey’s solar hot-water heater.

 

Avant Gardener Hannah Zwartz talks about preparing for the next round of planting. Winter crops are going in the ground, burn off any diseased plants, and prune fruit trees for shape, watering with rainwater. We hear about the Sustainable Home & Garden Show on 21st & 22nd March. Lots of great workshops on there – tune in for the low-down!

 

Playist this month includes:

Bjork, ‘Earth Intruders’ from her 2007 album Volta.

Beastie Boys, ‘It Takes Time To Build’ from their 2004 Album: To The Five Boroughs.

Title theme: Mardi Gras BB , ‘Down Down Down’.

Green Tea February 2015

This show broadcast on 3rd February 2015. Click here to listen to the podcast: GREEN TEA FEBRUARY 2015 SoundCloud

Welcome to the first show of 2015, this year I have Russell Thomas joining me behind the ‘Green Tea’ scenes, welcome Russell, great to have you in the mix!

Local ‘Bike-lady’ Jan Nisbet talks about the new cycle path that will soon be constructed from Raumati South to Paekakariki. This will be a huge asset to our local commuters. Jan also has some very creative ideas to make the ride itself a destination. For more info you can also check out their facebook page here: Friends of the Queen Elisabeth Park.

The proposed cycle route is still pretty wild!

The proposed cycle route is still pretty wild!

 

Ian Athfield Tribute. I play a street recording of ‘When The Saints Go Marching In’ played by friends and colleagues of the late architect Ian Athfield at his memorial service on 1st February in Civic Square in Wellington.

Ath

Avant Gardener Hannah Zwartz discusses watering (or not) in the heat of Summer. We talk of the horrid psyllid bug attacking tomatoes, and shield bugs, and white cabbage butterflies. How to use pest treatments such as diatomaceous earth or neem oil. Planting brassicas now for winter, summer pruning fruit trees to avoid getting silver-leaf, and the up-coming Sustainable Home & Garden Show on next month.

 

February playlist:

‘Wake Me’ by Mandolin Orange recorded live at the annual Pickathon Independent Music Festival in Oregon, USA.

Trinity Roots’ new single ‘Haiku’ off their brand new album called ‘Citizen’ which is about to be released.

Earth Amplified  song ‘Food Fight’ off their 2010 Earth Amplified album.

Title theme: Mardi Gras BB , ‘Down Down Down’.

Green Tea October 2014

This show broadcast on 7th October 2014. Click here to listen to the podcast: GREEN TEA OCTOBER 2014 SoundCloud

Friends of the Paekakariki Streams. I interview Rob Cross about the role of our streams in the Kapiti landscape, he talks about water, wetlands, and wildlife from a KCDC bio-diversity officer’s perspective.

Then Dr Mike Joy  tells me about whitebait and the importance of habitat. We discuss fish passage barriers, water flows, fish ‘apartment buildings’ and the problem of sedimentation.

This month I begin a series on the clothing industry. Local label ‘In Use Clothing’ owner Nina Preston talks to me about her ideas around sustainability, and consumerism, and the challenge of competing to stay in business in New Zealand. Check her website here: In Use Clothing 

The Avant Gardener Hannah Zwartz talks about Springtime. It’s October so we’re setting new goals in the garden. She’s building an asparagus bed! Prepping the beds for planting tomatoes and pumpkins later in the month. We go into detail about growing potatoes. Coming up on the gardener’s calendar, the Paekakariki School spring seedlings sale will be on Labour Weekend, and the Paekakariki Edible Gardens Trail  will be on 9th November.

PEGT poster

October Playlist includes:

Ladi6’s song ‘Like Water’

 

Title theme: Mardi Gras BB , ‘Down Down Down’.

Green Tea September 2014: The Protest Show!

This show broadcast on 2nd September 2014. Click here to listen to the podcast: GREEN TEA SEPTEMBER 2014 SoundCloud

Being election season in New Zealand, the show has a theme, and we’re talking about the art, history, and politics of Protest.

First up I speak to long time political activist, journalist, and current Paekakariki Community Board member Sam Buchanan about his experiences in numerous protest movements. I ask his opinions about what he sees protest actually achieving, and how it has influenced who we are today. Sam talks about participation, and how protest marches can involve vast numbers of people, drawing them in to become more literate about the issue of the day. We talk of political bias and protest songs including the satirical ‘Planet Key’ by Darren Watson.

Pondering lunch

Pondering lunch – with Sam Buchanan

10 year old Milli Nixon tells us about her experiences going to different protest actions in Wellington and Paekakariki.

At the Oil-Free-Seas protest action on Paekakariki beach in November 2013

At the Oil-Free-Seas protest action on Paekakariki beach in November 2013

 

My final feature interview is with life-long activist Fergus Wheeler who reckons protesting is vitally important, but really only just 1% of citizens duty on a democratic society. He also believes strongly in using humor provided it’s appropriate for the movement. Fergus says that once 15% of the population is talking about an issue with their families around the dinner table, it’s inevitable there will be change. He tells us about why the Anti-Nuclear campaign had such deep grass roots that it took a firm hold in this country, but less so in others. And Fergus reveals just how subversive J-Walking really is!

Avant Gardener Hannah Zwartz is back in the saddle after almost two months absence. Spring is warming up, so it’s a busy, and usually windy time in the edible garden. We talk about how to germinate seedlings early using cloches, and ‘under-floor’ heating. For those who don’t manage this, the Paekakariki School annual seedling sale is coming up in a few weeks. Plant your early spuds for Christmas, and watch your garden start to take off after the approaching equinox later in September.

 

This month’s playlist includes:

‘Planet Key’ the Darren Watson single released just this month.

Get up Stand Up was a project hoping to ignite those disengaged from politics to stand as one (Tūtahi). It brought together 22 of Aotearoa’s top musical talent including Rio Hunuki-Hemopo, Lisa Tomlins, Maisey Rika, CheFu, King Kapisi, Tiki Taane, Brad and Laughton Kora, Isaac Aesili, Warren Maxwell, and many more.

Title theme: Mardi Gras BB , ‘Down Down Down’.

Green Tea August 2014: Hannah in Cuba & Kapiti Seed Bank

This show first broadcast on 5th August 2014. Click here to listen to the podcast: GREEN TEA AUGUST 2014 SoundCloud

Avant Gardener Hannah Zwartz is our regular gardening expert on the show, but this month she takes front seat in my feature interview. Freshly returned from her 8 week trip to San Francisco, Cuba, and Mexico. Hannah started her tour attending a weeklong course in Berkeley at the Edible Schoolyard that was set up by Alice Waters, chef, author, and proprietor of the famous Chez Panisse. At the school Waters has instituted a one-acre garden, an adjacent kitchen-classroom, and an “eco-gastronomic” curriculum!

Hannah also travelled to Alemany Farm, a city funded, community run urban orchard, vineyard, and farm which was set up after the 1989 San Francisco earthquakes. From there she went on to see many smaller community garden plots, and another rooftop community garden in Tenderloin with beehives. And finally in Cuba, Hannah got immersed in the community gardening culture that permeates the streets of Havana and pops up in empty lots all around the city. She said the highlight of the whole trip was her visit to the Organoponico Vivero Alamar which sounds like an absolutely incredible experience, certainly their website is well worth a look at. Hannah is hoping to bring some of her newly inspired ideas to Paekakariki.

 

I have an interesting conversation with Anna Butterfield founder of Seedy Sundays, and Love Plant Life, about her latest endeavor; the Kapiti Seed Bank. Anna is both passionate and knowledgable about all things seeds and edible! We hear stories of seeds, growing stock, and a gifted trove of beans with more than just a tale of genetic heritage. The collection includes beans with such beautiful names as Tarahumara Dark Stars, Indian Hopi Beans, and Cherokee Trail of Tears which each come with incredible traditions and stories from the tribes whence they came.

A colourful selection of precious heirloom beans from the Kapiti Seed Bank.

A colourful selection of precious heirloom beans from the Kapiti Seed Bank.

 

Tina Pope is August’s organic gardening expert and talks compost-making in preparation for the coming spring. Time to copper-spray stonefruit trees, we hear of an upcoming fruit tree pruning workshop, early seed sowing, nasty psyilid bugs, frost protection, ‘hot lovers!’, companion plants, and more.

Brassicas and companion planting this month with gardening expert Tina Pope

Brassicas and companion planting this month with gardening expert Tina Pope

 

The August playlist includes: Joni Mitchell‘s Big Yellow Taxi from 1970.

Title theme: Mardi Gras BB , ‘Down Down Down’.

Green Tea July 2014: Recycling & Grow Paekakariki

This show first broadcast on 1st July 2014. Click here to listen to the podcast: GREEN TEA JULY 2014 SoundCloud

Junior reporter Milli Nixon interviews Eli Ward about his school ‘Waste Audit’ project he did in the village to find out if Paekakariki could benefit from installing recycling bins in public places. Eli calculated that at least 20,000 fully recyclable items could be prevented from being dumped each year if we had such bins.

Eli Ward & Milli Nxon survey villagers about whether they would support installing recycling bins in public places

Milli and Eli survey villagers about whether they would support installing recycling bins in public places

 

This month we have guest gardening expert Tina Pope talking Rhubarb crowns, garden landscape planning, tree planting, and mid-winter composting.

Tina Pope this month's gardening expert stands in her flowery pottager during the first Paekakariki Edible Garden Trail

Tina Pope this month’s gardening expert stands in her flowery pottager during last summer’s Paekakariki Edible Garden Trail

 

For this July’s feature interview I speak with local resident Paul Hughes about the Grow Paekakariki initiative. Paul explains in-depth how this plan came about, the various community groups and people who have contributed to it, Paekakariki Community Board & KCDC support, and what exactly is proposed. This includes planning for the community response to climate change and sea level rise, local walking, cycling and horse tracks, community gardens, recreation spaces, conservation and replanting areas, connecting the houses on State Highway 1 to the village with a railway crossing and track, and more. The land has high bio-diversity, and conservation values. Read further about the Grow Paekakariki Project here.

Grow Paekakariki. View of the village main street looking towards the scarp.

The Grow Paekakariki Project, proposes a community initiated plan for the future shape of the village. View of the main street looking towards the scarp.

 

At the end of the show you will hear about how to treat your winter chills and other ailments with vitamin C.

 

This month’s playlist includes ice music – the stunning original video clip can be viewed here: Baikal Story

4 year old Nikau sings his version of Twinkle Star!

And at the very end I play ‘Time’, by Kroke on their 1999 album Sounds of the Vanishing World

Title theme: Mardi Gras BB , ‘Down Down Down’.

Green Tea June 2014: Wind Energy & Rats!

This show first broadcast on 3rd June 2014. Click here to listen to the podcast: GREEN TEA JUNE 2014 SoundCloud

This month Geoff Osgood tells us about the Ratpack project. You can check out the Wellington Road North, Greenest Street blog with lots of great pictures here. Please contact them for more info on getting your own tunnel trap and keeping Paekakariki rat free!

Greenest Neighbourhood - Wellington Road North's Ratpack in action

Greenest Neighbourhood – Wellington Road North’s Ratpack in action

 

We have an extended feature interview where I speak to the visionary and utterly inspirational Scott Willis who is Project Manager at Blueskin Energy Ltd, a community wind farm project in Blueskin Bay, Dunedin, New Zealand. Scott is also manager of the Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust. This in-depth interview covers the history and scope of the Dunedin wind project, the current state of wind, renewables politics, and industry in New Zealand, challenges faced by community based projects such as this, the importance of meaningful community consultation & increasing energy literacy, other environmental considerations effecting wind projects, and his vision that goes way beyond mere clean energy production!

Blueskin Energy Project members (from left) Scott Willis, Chris Freear and Chris Le Breton (photo ODT)

Blueskin Energy Project members Scott Willis, Chris Freear and Chris Le Breton    (photo ODT)

 

The Avant Gardener Hannah Zwart talks us through her best advice on winter in the Paekakariki edible garden, and gives us a preview of her upcoming trip to California, Cuba & Mexico to visit community gardens. Click here to check Hannah’s KCDC Green Gardener page.

This month’s playlist includes Deep Down & Dirty by Stereo MC’s. This song is dedicated to the incredible Greenpeace activists aboard Esperanza who are currently out protesting at the Statoil drilling rig in the Hoop Oil Fields in Norway. Read their blog here – it’s quite breathtaking!

Title theme: Mardi Gras BB , ‘Down Down Down’.