Reuse Advertising

You guys know the spiel, The Bower is an independent environmental charity co-operative. We survive predominantly on funds raised through the sale of goods, and are beholden only to our members, having no parental or auspicing body.

That said, Marrickville council have been one of our most staunch supporters since our founding days.
 They strongly believe in our aims and objectives here at The Bower. Through word of mouth and contributions to our Reuse Referral Service they've helped us greatly increase the amount of waste we can divert from landfill - often without even seeing it come in to the store!

When we approached Marrickville council for a grant to update our signage last year we did so because we wanted new signs that were highly visible, that mentioned some of our more recent initiatives, like our Eco-Library. Mostly we wanted some giant signs for our 'new'(reused) truck.  We're super excited and grateful that Marrickville shared our vision and funded this project, and we look forward to an increase in waste diverted from landfill through The Bower as a result of our raised profile in the area.

What we hadn't considered, probably because it's second nature for us, is just how great an example of reuse the project would turn out to be.

To practice what we preach, we agreed to sand down our old hand painted boards, and cut new sheets for A-frames without boards from donated metal. When the donated metal ran out, we found the back of some metal shelving that was missing other parts, and put it to new (re)use by cutting it down to size with an angle grinder. Some A-frames were re-glued, re-hinged or de-rusted during this process as well.

We also limited the number of signs/A-frames required by making them dual purpose. we have 'Open' on one side and 'closed' on the other of a single Aframe for example, and our direction boards for throughout the Addison Road Centre double as signage for markets and festivals.

To reduce embedded energy (from transport) and costs we opted to go with a local business who understood our reuse & repair ethos and were willing to work with us on our old boards and signs. Sign Kiosk have been fantastic, accommodating us at every turn, and double checking everything to ensure we wouldn't be wasting money on typos or size errors. If they could stop the rain to get to our truck signs applied sooner, I'm sure they would!

Bowerography

For a long time now we've been wanting to harness the knowledge and expertise of our friends, family and Bower regulars and share our collective knowledge.
It's finally happening!

This June, The Bower presents Bowerography in the Eco-Library
A weekly talk on issues of sustainability, local living and much more.

Each Tuesday we'll meet at 6pm for a 6:30 start and enjoy a talk from somebody passionate about ethical food purchasing, Coal Seam Mining in metropolitan areas, 3 fold social order or social enterprise. (See below for full details)





Presentations will be followed by Q&A, and knowing us, some lively debate and tea, coffee and sweeties.

Places are limited (if you've ever been up to the Eco-library you'll know why!) so please check out the synopsis below and call to reserve your seat(s) for the talks that interest you.
 

BOWEROGRAPHY EVENTS for June 2011

BOWEROGRAPHY EVENTS are aim to give people the opportunity to engage with socially & environmentally inclined groups, individuals & organisations through a series of lectures, forums, debates, panelled discussions, screenings or workshops held at The Bower Co-op. All events are open to the general public & co-op members.

Where:  The Eco-Library, Building 34, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville, NSW, 2204

                Phone 02 95686280 email info@bower.com.au

Why: To raise awareness on social & environmental issues in an accessible & laid back setting and also to establish & maintain strong active membership & community ties. As all environmental & social issues are also political & economic ones too, a wide perspective is needed & we are acting as a facilitator, platform & venue for this idea.

When:  All events are held on Tuesday evenings, 6pm for 6:30 start- 8:30pm. Light refreshments served. By gold coin donation.

Please check our website or FACEBOOK page for more info, directions and bus & train access to the centre.

Below is the schedule of winter events for June/ July 2011. Please call to reserve your places as spaces are limited.

“THE NEW WORLD ORDER, WIKILEAKS & THE 3FOLD SOCIAL ORDER”

Tues 7th June-  Karla Cryer

 

Where is globalization taking us? What is the current global power structure & what are its outcomes? What is the intention? 

Why are we constantly at war?  Are there alternatives? How do we achieve them?

 

Karla Cryer, psychologist, college teacher & writer tackles these questions & provides some intriguing answers. She introduces a 3 Fold Social order based on the teachings of the initiator of biodynamic farming, Steiner schools & anthroposophical medicines. This lecture will highlight an effective alternative economic & political philosophy that could benefit the whole of society and not just a privileged few.

“AGRIBUSINESS AND HOW WE ARE LITERALLY DEVOURING THIS PLANET”

Tues 14th June- Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor, Coordinator of Alfalfa House Community Food CO-OP in Enmore, will be discussing issues relating to human consumption and some of the destructive consequences for our Earth. The session will tie together issues of factory farming vs. local & organic growers, GMO crops, product packaging, deforestation & the plastic islands floating in the oceans.  

Adam has been active in food justice around the world and his talk will be full of positives to counter the negatives & he will be taking a solutions based approach to these issues.

“FRACKING- WHY IT’S WORSE THAN IT ACTUALLY SOUNDS”

Tues 21st June- nogasmininginsydney.com

St. Peters in the inner-west is being proposed as a coal seam site. In the race to meet our insatiable energy needs, the chemicals and by-products injected into and produced by the “Fracking” process is causing damage to aquifers and the disposal of extracted salt water are concerns for residents, farmers and rural towns and the general public.

Come to a free screening and watch this edited version of the award winning GASLAND (2009) and witness the long term impact of this industry to communities, their health, the atmosphere and our water sources. Truly shocking.

“PROFIT’ IS NOT A DIRTY WORD: REINVENTING THE NOT FOR PROFIT SECTOR”

Tues 28th June- Lisa Sampson

What is social enterprise?  What does it mean for Co-op’s like The Bower?  Where could it take the organisation in 10, 20, 50 years?  What does it mean for the re-use and recycling industry?  How do we create partnerships with government, not for profit and commercial entities that ethically further a social purpose?  How does social enterprise interact with modern consumer society within the context of the welfare economy and some of our basic drivers as human beings, such as the struggle for recognition?  

Join writer, producer and social systems architect Lisa Sampson for a robust discussion about the state of play and the possibilities.

 

May News

Food Connect - Coming soon to the Eco-Library

Last week we met the lovely Julian of Food Connect, who stopped by to talk to us about his social enterprise. Here's what he had to say;

"Food Connect Sydney aims to make ethically grown food from local farmers accessible to any household in Sydney. Food Connect Sydney buys direct from local organic and chemical free farmers and packs it into three sized boxes — $35–$65. 

These are then delivered to a local host or "City Cousin" where subscribers come once a week to pick up their pre-paid box.

Fruit and Veg from Food Connect supports farming and local communities as it is:

Fair : 40c in every dollar goes back to the farmer
Organic : 100% of the produce is certified organic or chemical free
Local : average food miles of around 250km
Direct : over 90% of the produce is bought direct from the farmer
Community driven : Local communities come together at their City Cousin

Food Connect Sydney is based on award winning Food Connect Brisbane who have been trading for over six years. Food Connect Sydney’s Enterprise Coordinator was recently recognised as the Sydney Social Entrepreneur of the Year. "



Food Connect Sydney also offers a wholesale service, and supply our good friends over at Alfalfa House. Alfalfa are as excited as we are for The Bower to be extending the number of resources and services available to residents interested in living locally and minimising their environmental impact.

Starting Wednesday 11th May 1-7pm, you'll be able to pick up your pre-paid boxes of produce from our Eco-Library.

Alfalfa House recently loaned their collection of cookbooks to the Eco-Library, so you'll find a host of convenient references to help you decide on tasty recipes for your fresh produce each week. Before long you'll find our Eco-Library has a wealth of information on related topics, including living locally, organic and chemical free gardening and much, much more.

Our hope is that before long, you won't just drop in to pick up your vegies, but stay for a cuppa and a chat with some of the other like minded subscribers.

SO! Checkout  http://www.foodconnect.com.au to find the answers to any lingering questions, sign up to test out the service and organise your subscription payment.

Reuse Repair and Recycle Furniture Course

Workshops, workshops workshops!

We've been hard at work trying to figure out how we can give you what you want!
The second part of the solution involves cloning ourselves, so we'll leave that (and the ethics discussion) for another post, but the first part of the solution is Bower staff getting skilled up in timber repair and finishing ourselves!

To achieve that, and meet some of our other objectives including community education of reuse and repair, we've buddied up with our new best friends - TAFE Outreach.

Outreach at ultimo are dedicated to tailoring courses specifically to meet community needs, providing pathways into social enterprises for people from all walks of life. They're also working with PLACE, a 2 year program concerned with people learning skills towards social enterprises - giving people pathways to employment and financial independence as well as opportunities to socialise and learn new skills.

Over the coming weeks, The Bower staff will be working with TAFE and a TAFE appointed tutor, learning new skills and working with other participants, learning about teaching, mentoring and community engagement.

The aim is for participants to have a taste of furniture restoration and timber work, and for the group to produce a number of pieces that exhibit their new skills, their creativity and passion - all through items donated by The Bower. We hope that some student will discover a true passion for furniture restoration, and that our staff will discover a passion for teaching!

We can't wait for class to resume after the easter holidays, and to show you some of our work in progress.

Once we're skilled up we'll be able to increase the range of workshops we offer to you!

The Bower Upcycle Challenge

We're full of secret plans and clever tricks here at The Bower, and we know you are too. We're putting out the call to handy, arty crafty farty types to show Sydney what you've got.

We're asking you to upcycle found, preloved, salvaged goods into new and exciting things of a totally different function. Show us the hidden potential in items and materials that seem like rubbish at first glance.

We want your washing machines turned into barbecues, your barbecues turned planting trollies and your kayak coffee table. We want something great made out of a toaster, a TV, a stack of CDs.

The winner will be determined by popular vote and will receive a $100 Bower store voucher and a 12 month subscription to Renew, G or Green Magazine.

Not 'handy'? Come on down during the exhibition period (30th April - 8th May), vote for your favourite and get inspired to try your hand at something new.


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Download the entry form, terms and conditions
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The low down  (terms & conditions);

Entries Must;
    1.    Feature goods & materials that have been reclaimed/reused/repurposed for a new function
We'll host a refurbishment challenge another time, but this challenge is all about finding the potential in pre-loved goods and materials.
Think turning bike wheels into a coffee table, or a fridge into a book case... visit our Reuse Gallery in the Eco-Library for more inspiration.

    2.    Be the unique work of the entrant
There are plenty of original ideas out there, and plenty of ways to spin an old one, this challenge is all about getting creative and inspiring other to see the potential in salvaged goods

    3.    Limit 1 entry per participant.

    4.    Staff are encouraged to display items but are not eligible to win prizes.

Safety
    1.    Item must be safe
    •    No broken glass, sharp edges, super pointy protrusions etc.
    •    No toxic or hazardous materials.

    2.    Electrical items must be tagged and tested by a qualified person to be displayed 'in action'.
    •    The Bower electrician may provide this service at a fee of $5/item no later than Wednesday 27th  April 2011.
    •    The Bower takes no responsibility for electrical goods found to be unsafe and these items will not be displayed 'in action'

Size
    1.    The entry MUST fit inside a hypothetical box measuring 100cmx100cmx150cm high.

Or, if the item is too large/unmovable/precious,

    2.    Pictures, explanation and diagrams of the project must fit on one a2 board or the equivalent (2xA3 or 4X A4)
    •    Items need to be mounted on card or similar (check out Reverse Garbage for reuse options) for proper display.

Voting
    1.    All visitors to The Bower during the display period will be encouraged to vote.
    2.  Paper and pens for voting will be provided at the sales counter.
    2.    Votes will be added to the ballot box behind the counter by Bower Staff and tallied at the end of the display period.

Due Date
    1.    Entry Forms are due before midnight on Sunday the 25th of April to secure your position in the display (download the form at the bottom of this post or pick one up in store)

    2.    Actual item/presentation to be delivered 29th-30th April
    •    10am-5pm or Saturday 9-11am.

Reasons to get in on the action;
    1.    Sharing your reuse ideas is an awesome way to get others excited about reuse and repair

    2.    You might get famous - select items will be featured on The Bower website, blog and facebook and emailed (with your permission) to a number of local media sources.

    3.    You stand to win $100 Bower Voucher and a 12 month subscription to a magazine of your choice (choose from G magazine, Renew or Green)
    •    Entries will be displayed 30th April - 8th May in The Bower to delight and inspire our members and customers.

April News

Hi All!
This month we're asking you to get involved! Donate, upcycle, email, chat to us in store tell us about your sustainable achievements and goals.
Members, we're asking even more of you - we would love for you to take 5 minutes and answer 10 questions to help us serve you, the community and the environment better. So please click here to complete the member survey- we'll be your best friends...