EV NTS
SECOND AUSTRALIAN NATIVE
BEE CONFERENCE
Native bees are a valuable but under-utilised
natural resource, a situation this conference aims
to change. Organisers expect several hundred
beekeepers, farmers, enthusiasts, industry leaders,
educators and researchers to attend. The first
conference, held in July 2018 attracted over 200
delegates. This year’s event will have a three-day
program, including international guest speakers,
recent innovations and more.
WHERE: St Leo’s College, College Road,
Saint Lucia, QLD
WHEN: December 5-
COST: Full registration: $275; Concession: $145;
Full registration for members: $220; Single day
registration: $
DETAILS: australiannativebee.org.auSTATE ROSE & GARDEN SHOW
Victoria’s State Rose Garden, in t
grounds of the historic Werribee
Mansion, is considered to
be among Australia’s best.
Only a 30-minute drive
from Melbourne’s CBD, the
State Rose & Garden Show
offers plenty for all levels
of gardener – whether a
novice or a green thumb – and
entertainment the whole family
will enjoy. Picnics welcome.
WHERE: Werribee Park, K Road,
Werribee South, Vic
WHEN: November 9-10, 10am-4pm
COST: Gold coin donations to support garden
volunteer work
DETAILS: stateroseandgardenshow.com.auorganicgardener.com.au^11
PHOTOS: VEGETABALES:
ISTOCK/BEE: TIM HEARD. ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK.
Protecting organic
consumers
A new non-profit organisation has been formed
to campaign for strict organic standards and
protection of the interests of organic consumers.
The Organic Consumers Association of
Australia (OCAA) says it will work in the areas
of organic standards, certification, promoting
organic food to consumers and encouraging more
conversion to organic growing.
The association’s founder, Tim Marshall,
is an author, trainer and consultant who has
been involved in organic certification and
the setting of organic standards for more
than 30 years. He previously worked for the
International Federation of Organic Agriculture
Movements and has been a contributor to
Organic Gardener magazine. “This is the first time
there’s been an agency whose main goal is to
protectorganicstandards,”hesays.
TheOCAAwantstoencourage:
Governmentpolicythatsupportstransitionto
regenerativeandorganicagriculturalpractices.
FairTradeandeconomicjusticepoliciesto
protectworkers.
Aglobalmoratoriumongeneticallymodifiedcrops.
Corporateaccountabilityinfoodproduction.
The phase-out of factory farms, toxic pesticides
and genetically modified organisms.
The OCAA also supports participatory
guarantee systems – self-run certification groups
that can be economical for small growers and
a stepping stone to third-party certification.
For more information: organic-consumers.com.au