Food

We will….

Purchase local organic whole foods where possible.

Food will be purchased in unpackaged and unprocessed forms where possible.

All food scraps and compostable items will be composted on site.

All plates, cups and cutlery used will be conventional home-ware, ie. Porcelain, glass or metal.

Napkins will be provided, but we ask people to use them sparingly and compost them after use.

At the end of the Convergence all food leftovers will be used by the chef’s to create the last dinner on Monday, and final breakfast on Tuesday to reduce food waste.



You can help us by….

If you are bringing your own food (not recommended) please don’t bring over packaged or over processed food onto the site.

Water

We will….

Ask all participants to bring along their own water bottle, and we will provide labels and a marker to label individual bottles.

Provide a recycled glass water bottle, collected by Permaculture Cairns members, also with label and pen to those who need a water bottle.

Minimise water wastage e.g. water used for catering processes, dishwashing, and Steiner School toilets will be treated by the school sewage system and recycled.

Showers will be limited to 4 minutes.


You can help us by….

Bring your own water bottle and using the filtered water available.

Limiting your shower to the shortest time possible.

Camping

We will….

Provide solar lighting at the toilets and showers.

Provide showers heated by compost.

Provide environmentally sound soap for use in showers.

Provide an information package to campers outlining how they can help us achieve our zero waste goals and minimise our impact on the site.


You can help us by….

Bringing your own flashlight with rechargeable batteries.

Battery recharge stations will be available.

If you are going to bring your own shampoo or soap ensure that it is environmentally sound.

Bring a long sleeve shirt, hat and appropriate sun protection to use instead of sunscreen.

Energy

We will….

Use minimal lighting and fans during the event.

Provide a battery recharge station.

Monitor electricity meters and carbon offset the electricity used during the event by sponsoring the Grow Project.


You can help us by….

Using minimal lighting and fans during the event.

Bringing your rechargeable batteries and labelled charger.

Transport

We will….

Provide a regular bus service to and from Cairns and Kuranda.

Provide a forum on the APC10 website for people to car pool.

Collect sponsorship for our local carbon offset mechanism the Grow Project for those who fly or drive long distances.


You can help us by….

Use our bus or car-pooling systems.

By using our carbon offset program – the Grow Project.

Or planting trees at home or with your local land-care group.

Other 'Stuff'

We will….

Keep packaging and unnecessary items to a minimum.

Use recycled or borrowed materials for infrastructure.

Run a paperless office.


You can help us by….

Not bringing anything with you that you will not take back home or give to someone else.

Don’t bring any unnecessary packaging and items.

If you don’t have rechargeable batteries, please take your batteries home and dispose of them properly.

What is the Grow Project?

The Grow Project is a local tree planting scheme. We ask APC10 guests to sponsor trees and together we will buy enough to help make APC10 carbon neutral. It is only $4 per tree and to give them the best fighting chance, Permaculture Cairns members will volunteer to plant the trees during our next wet season at Warril Creek - home to two endangered frogs (Myola frog only in the Myola drainage basin, and the common mist frog, not now common) and the Myola palm, only stand in the wild. In this way, Permaculture Cairns commits to taking responsibility for the trees we are sponsoring.

Check out their website. http://www.envirocare.org.au/growproject/index.html

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