Sunday 31 May 2015

Garden Design and Construction

Untitled-2

25-30 years experience in garden design & construction.
 
Nature strips transformed.
Small handyman related garden work.
Courtyards or large gardens.
Design plans drawn for council submit or customer pre approval.

Contact Chris Hand (Lefty) for more information on 0416 199 225.



For Sale

Untitled-2

Hi all,

We are selling the internal sliding doors from our Red Brick Post War Home. 

I currently have an ad on Gumtree, details and link below....

2 doors - white painted frame and etched glass - leaf pattern.
2035mm high
1 x 890mm wide
1 x 895mm wide
Complete with fittings
Pick up in West Preston or we can deliver in the neighbourhood.
Negotiable at $225.00.

For Rent

Untitled-2


Hi Newlanders,

I have a huge double garage that I'd like to rent to someone requiring storage/workshop space. It is dry and there is lighting and a power supply. Rent would be $250 per month negotiable. Phone me on 0401 223 760 if you're interested.

Lisa.





Free

Untitled-2


Dear All,

We have a brown leather reclining armchair, it still reclines, and is comfortable. Underneath the fabric is torn, and it is coming un-sprung. We have had it in the family for years. It is too big for our house. It is yours if you want it. Would need two people to move it, depending on when it is picked up, someone could be here to help load it. It would need a trailer or a van to transport it. We have a trailer and could help out if necessary. Come and have a look if you like, or I can send photos.

Phone, or text 0431 609 586.

Friday 29 May 2015

World Environment Day

Untitled-2

Hello FoEC'ers and our friends,

Moreland City Council's World Environment Day planting event is happening this Sunday. The planting will be followed by free BBQ which (usually) includes vego options.

It runs from 10am to 12.30pm and will be held near the bridge behind the basketball stadium/athletics track.

FoEC is but one of the local community environmental groups that will be represented on the day. So come and meet some other local environmental volunteers and celebrate the great work we all do!

The web address for the event is: 

See you on the creek!

David.

Rug Sale/Rug Swap

Untitled-2
I have about 40 queen sized throw rugs from India left from an importing business. They are all new and in excellent condition. Perfect for a picnic blanket, makeshift cubby, table or bed cover etc
They are hand stamped and really good quality cotton.
I'll take either $10 a throw or offer me something you can swap, especially from your garden and I won't be able to refuse :-) 

Justine 0425 340 536.




Thursday 28 May 2015

House Sitter Wanted

Untitled-2

HOUSE SITTER WANTED
We are going away for 6 weeks in July/ August and need someone to house sit our North Coburg 3 bedroom house with bungalow.
For company you will have our cat and 2 guinea pigs. The house is warm and cosy and there will be heaps of produce in our veggie patches to harvest at that time. Contact us on 0438 043 166.

Food Swap

Untitled-2



Recommendation

Untitled-2

I would like to let everyone know that I used Simon Law, a local IT expert who advertised on this blog, and I highly recommend him. Simon helped me set up a webpage from scratch, explained clearly how to operate it and answered all of my questions. He was professional, very reasonably priced, prompt and reliable. His number is 0432 683 451, email info@simonlaw.com.au

Thanks Simon!

Expressions of Interest.......

Untitled-2

Moreland Council has committed to developing an 'Urban Agriculture & Food Production Strategy', in order to support the wonderful work of the community and Council in these areas.

We are currently seeking Expressions of Interest from community members and groups who are interested in being part of a Steering Committee, which will assist Council in the process of developing the strategy.

All details are available at http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/about-us/have-your-say/consultations/urban-agriculture-and-food-production-strategy/

Expressions of interest are due 5pm Thursday 4 June 2015. Enquiries can be directed to urbanagriculture@moreland.vic.gov.au or urbanagriculture@moreland.vic.gov.au

For Sale

Untitled-2

Hi there,
 
I am selling an original double chariot with all the parts to attach it to your bike and a spare wheel. It's about 8 years old and has been very well loved but still has a LOT of life left in it.
If you are interested in checking it out please call Justine on 0425 340 536.
Price is negotiable.




 

Wanted

Untitled-2

We're looking for a quality, fully functioning 24" mountain bike for an intrepid, stoic seven-year-old who needs to ride to school as well as spin about down the creek. Someone has one in their shed ... is it you? Waiting to pay for the right bike-
Contact Tahti 0430 127 204.

House for Sale

Untitled-2

1950's Eco House For Sale - Reservoir

Offered for private sale is this 1950's solid brick home that has been beautifully renovated to include energy saving and other sustainability features. The house is located within easy walking distance of Reservoir train station and has a wonderful established garden of food producing and native plants that gives it a country feel. The house has been a labour of love and offers a very special opportunity to someone seeking a sustainable lifestyle property in this location.




Property Location Features:

The house is a ten minute walk to Reservoir train station, IGA, the Maternal and Child Health Centre, the newly built Library (on Edwards Street) and Oakhill Medical Clinic and a 15 -20 min walk to cafes such as Lady Bower Kitchen Cafe, Off the Boat Cafe and Edwards Lake.

A new children's adventure park is underway at Wright Reserve (between Henty and Wright Street), a five minute walk from this Reservoir home. Darebin City Councils Public Realm Unit is available for more information on 8470 8888. 
Reservoir is a suburb of Darebin Council which has fantastic cultural and sustainability programs such as the Darebin Homemade Food and Wine Festival, the Sustainable Communities Program and the True North Festival.

Over the years we have opened our home to the public as part of the Sustainable Communities Program, the Darebin Backyard Harvest Festival and the Australian Open Garden Scheme (Now called Open Gardens Victoria).

Property Overview:

This home hosts 5 bedrooms. Three internal bedrooms (one is used as a study) and 2 bedrooms in a separate bungalow. One bathroom, 1 lounge, 1 open plan kitchen and dining, 1 north facing greenhouse, 1 bungalow, 1 bike room, 1 workshop/studio, 1 chook house and run, 1 garden cupboard, 11 raised garden beds "wicking"(water conservation beds), 1 X 9,000L rainwater tank with pump and irrigation system, one revegetated native nature strip, 1 productive fruit and vegetable garden, 1 native back garden with a well established acacia, 1 solar electricity system, 1 solar hot water system, 1 grey water diverter, 1 fold down attic ladder for large attic storage space, 1 cubby house, 1 monkey bar, various tree swings and grape vine swings.

The house has plenty of natural light. The bathroom is gloriously bright due to north facing clerestory windows and there is excellent cross ventilation throughout. The greenhouse buffers the home from winter cold and reduces electricity bills.
The house was re-stumped and re-wired by the previous owners in early 2000. All renovations carried out since 2003 by current owners have appropriate building permits and certificates. Planning permits were not required. The property has cable telecommunications and traditional phone connection. Off street parking is provided by a greened driveway. The front yard is fenced by a traditional woven wire fence.

Sustainability Features:

·         A north facing greenhouse: which doubles as either a plant propagation area or as a warm winter sun room and takes the chill out of the living room and north facing bedrooms.
·         Extensive roof insulation batts equivalent to R5 plus air cell under roof tiles.
·          One, 1Kw solar electricity system on a "Premium Feed in Tariff"(PFIT).

The PFIT is a minimum of 60 cents per kilowatt hour for excess electricity fed back into the grid, retailers then commonly add a further 8c to provide a net tariff of 68cents. Existing properties on a PFIT such as this Reservoir property, are eligible for the 60cent per Kw hour tariff rate until 2024 under Government legislation, regardless of which electricity retailer you connect with.

The PFIT is linked to the property where the solar panels are installed, so when moving house the PFIT stays with the property assigned to it. Any house signed up to the PFIT scheme will remain eligible until 2024, even if the house is sold and new residents move in.

We recommend
POWERSHOP. (You may need to press the Control button on your keyboard while hovering over the link to access the links).

Please see the following link on the Australian Government Energy and Resources Website for details.
Energy & Resources.

With energy efficient behaviour change practises we have not paid an electricity bill for five years. See our top five energy efficiency tips at the end of this sale notice (after the photos).

·             1 x 300lt gas boosted instantaneous Solar Hot Water System.
·             1 X 9,000 L water tank with pump connection to garden irrigation system and gravity feed in roof toilet system.
·             Double brick walls throughout the house (high thermal mass) and a great sound barrier.
·             High performance double glazed windows and French doors from Paarhammer also provide a highly secure multi-point locking arrangement.
·             Grey water diverter to subsurface infiltration trenches in the backyard.
·             Ceiling fans in living area and main bedroom.
·             A highly productive west facing grape vine which apart from the delicious fruit it gives provides an almost complete block out from the hot setting summer sun.
·             An extensive garden which creates a cooler summer microclimate and provides shade in outdoor recreational areas.

Garden features:

This home boasts a very productive fruit and vegetable garden: grapes, plums, apricots, boysenberries, raspberries, pepinos, quinces, persimmons, apples and almonds.
All of the raised garden beds are wicking beds. This simply means that they are all lined at the bottom, have drainage outlets and subsurface irrigation, to ensure minimum moisture loss. See Costas UTUBE film called Backyard Revolution - week 3 "The Garden Beds" for an excellent explanation of what we have done and or see our own documentation on our blog:
                                    For those who prefer a more ornamental floral garden then the wicking beds will ensure that your flowers and shrubs are the healthiest and lushest flowers to be found.

Workshop and Bungalow:

The back garden hosts a large workshop which has been used for wood working projects. It could also easily be transformed into a wonderful art studio, a clay potters workshop or as an extensive sewing and felting studio.
The bungalow was originally built to accommodate a large guest bedroom. It was later converted into two smaller rooms which are rented to international guests via two Hosting Agencies: WISH and Discover English.
The original larger north facing bedroom could easily be reinstated, as no building nor planning permits are required for the process to take place.
Please see photos below (it is really hard to capture the front of the house due to all the trees, so I have not provided a front of house photo, but have provided a view of the west entrance to our house as it appears in the summer months when the leaves return).

Please contact mararipani@optusnet.com.au or call 0425 749 300 (as there is no message bank, please follow up with a text with your full name and I will call you back.).

Open for Inspection Times:

Tuesday 16th June, 6pm to 6:45pm.
Saturday 20th June 3:30 to 4:30pm.

Offers above $795, 000 will be considered.