April 2012 Meeting Update

At this month's meeting, there was a good turnout of around 15 even with the recent wet weather.

There was limited produce to swap/share with most people's gardens washed out with the rain. However, the Milk & Honey Cafe in the main street of Palmwoods usually has a veggie swap on Tuesday mornings. 

Catriona brought along some Stevia

Fleur's Organic Co-op: Fleur will in future, be bringing only dried fruits and nuts to the meetings but she is able to fill orders via email to pick up at meetings. Contact Fleur at: nambourorganics@gmail.com.  

 

This month's presentation topic was: Making and Using a Cob Oven (and Tandoori Oven). 

Speakers were Roy Gasson & Diane Livingstone. Diane, apart from being an accomplished cob-oven maker, has also been a reflexologist, nurse and Permaculturist. Roy describes himself as a ‘gentleman’ and has been a bee-keeper, potter, did a PDC a few years ago, and is now a tandoori oven maker.

Diane had some great pictures of her experience with making the basic cob oven.

Roy went on to describe a more high-tech version that uses a hi-temp refractory material in place of cob (sand, clay, straw). The tandoori oven is yet a further advancement; it only takes about 20 minutes to heat up, is very wood efficient and, Roy claims is 10 times more useful than the old-fashioned cob oven.

There were lots of questions during the presentations as well as after. Great interaction between speakers and audience. Roy’s son is a Tandoori oven expert known as the ‘Mobile Pizza King’. Several people in the group seemed very keen to make an oven for themselves.

There was lots of conversation over a cuppa after the presentations and some delicious supper to share.

Next month: We are hoping to have Orion talking about bamboo – and perhaps some other interesting things as well.

Native Bees: Robert Raabe, a noted native beekeeper will be speaking at a date yet to be fixed (and perhaps at another venue during the daytime – rather than on a Tuesday evening).

Frogs & frog ponds: We are hoping to have Sean Morrow speak on this topic soon.

Next meeting is Tuesday 1 May - everyone is welcome to come along and join us.