This little column has been part of the Ethos Foundation’s eNews since it began in May 2006. And every single ‘note’ has been about the seasons and small delights of Binna Burra, the Foundation’s original homebase. In honour of the changes that are afoot within our organisation and the fantastic work of Ken McLeod in developing the coastal-based Climate Change Leaders Network, this Natures Note is written about the ocean and the beach. It’s late Easter Monday afternoon as I write and I’m sitting at Miami beach on the Gold Coast watching the swirling, treacherous, powerful Pacific. It’s been a holiday weekend with over 100 beach rescues across the Gold Coast – a compelling reminder of the power of the ocean. Here in Queensland we saw that power over Christmas 2007 when cyclones made our beaches utterly unsafe for locals and tourists alike. Then torrential rain swept soil and waste downstream from rural areas to create polluted brews across northern NSW beaches and no matter what the budgeted numbers of the tourism economy, our holiday season was literally washed away. I am completely bewitched by the ocean in any weather and these recent events have certainly reminded me of the power of our earth’s extraordinary cycles and interconnections.

April 26 2008

Internationally-acclaimed Permaculturalist and founder of the Seed Savers Network, Jude Fanton, will be visiting Beechmont on Saturday April 26 to run a one-day Seed Savers workshop with the Ethos Foundation.

Ms Fanton said, “keen gardeners, growers and farmers interested in preserving the genetic foundation of tomorrow’s food, should not miss this workshop!”

In May this year the Ethos Foundation will host a visit to Australia by Judy Wicks, co-founder and director of the US Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE).

Judy's itinerary will take her to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Lismore, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast.

A highlight of Judy's visit will be Going Local -- a three-day relocalisation convergence which Ethos will convene in Brisbane from 23rd-25th May in partnership with several other organisations including: Food Connect, SEED International, G-Whiz Car Share, Spiral Community Hub, Village Well, Local Power and the Sunshine Coast Energy Action Centre.