Secrets of the ancient Wollemi

 PHOTOS THANKS TO: Ivo Antušek and  www.biolib.cz.

Wollemi Pine is a genus of coniferous tree in the family Araucariaceae. 

It has an amazing story. It is one of the world's oldest plants and was around at the time of the dinosaurs. It is one of the worlds rarest plants as it was only thought to exist in fossil records and then in 1994 it was discovered in Australia. The  species found is named Wollemia nobilis.

There are less than 100 adult trees known to exist in the wild, so research is being done to safeguard its survival. We can assist in the conservation effort by growing our own Wollemi Pine and becoming part of one of the most dramatic comebacks in natural history, helping to preserve this wonderful species for the future. It is the ultimate survivor plant, making is easy to grow and maintain. (Which is important for a "brown thumb" like me.) There are 4 ways you can get your own relic of the dinosaur times. Find out here.

Kew Gardens Wollemi Pine

This post is linked up at Communal Global a group of photographers from around the world.
 

Earthbag dome in Australia

An Australia a team of happy young builders raised an earthbag dome from the soil of Milkwood Organic Farm in the hills near Mudgee, Australia. A structurally strong house was created from a bunch of bags, earth, stones, clay and lime. They held a EarthBag Building Workshop to show hands on how a low-impact natural building technique, utilising resources from nature, could be made with minimal costs.

Axel 'tamping' down the newly laid course of bags at Milkwood.

See more photos of earthbag workshop.



Earthbag construction is suited to sites where an ideal soil mix is not present for rammed earth building.  Basically it consists of filling of bags with soil, which is then compressed with hand tools. The moisture content of the soil is important. Barbed wire is included between each row to hold the bags in place and provide extra wall strength.

Milkwood is a small organic farm being created from scratch by

Kirsten and Nick.  In April they are holding a comprehensive Natural Building course with Sam Vivas of Viva Eco Homes. The course, designed for the home builder, covers light earth, cobb, load-bearing straw bale, mud rendering techniques and reciprocal roofs. They are rather passionate about natural building, and the empowerment that comes from having the skills to build non-toxic, living homes from natural materials.

OTHER RELATED LINKS:
Permaculture Research Institute of Australia
Photoset of our 2010 EarthBag Workshop at Milkwood Farm
How to make an earthbag dome – pdf by the Permaforest Trust

Where in the world is Horseshoe Bend?

Horseshoe Bend is the name for a horseshoe-shaped section of the Colorado River in Arizona, in the United States.
The locals call it King Bend.
It can be viewed from a steep cliff above. According to Google terrain maps, the overlook is 4,200 feet above sea level and the Colorado River is at 3,200 feet above sea level making it a breathtaking 1,000 foot drop.

There is also a Horseshoe Bend in New South Wales Australia.

Vivid Colour and Movement

The Rocks in Sydney on 2nd June 2011

The Vivid festival sadly finishes tonight and we must say goodbye, for another year, to the lights that have lit up the city of Sydney in amazing ways. Australia's major international lighting festival had

over 40 brilliant light installations in a free outdoor exhibition where children and adults were encouraged to climb on interactive sculptures such as the giant laser pencil which drew on a wall and the Moore Park stairs where you created your own rainbow by playing hopscotch up and down.

Vivid made Sydney seem extra special for a little while, in the middle of winter, and brought thousands of people to the city at night that would normally be staying at home.

Thank you Vivid.

Interactive painting on MCA exterior interprets your body movements to create colourful splashes and drips made by you. Interactive Paint Projection by Spinifex Group.

Positive Attracts by Edwin Cheong

Life size statues of rainbow light have Infra Red sensors to detect when you are in close range and trigger their LED lighting effect.

The Vivid Light, Music and Ideas Festival for 2013 is 24th May to 10th June.

THE UNDERGROUND MOTEL

When visiting White Cliffs in NSW Australia you can stay at the Underground Motel with it's 3 star AAA rating, swimming pool, great restaurant, bar and conference rooms.

This part of north eastern New South Wales is unique not only for opal mining but as 150 of it's residents live under the ground where it stays around 22 celsius all year round, day and night.  

White Cliffs Motel. Photo thanks to Trip Advisor

Summer temperatures in Australia’s outback can be in the 50s (Celsius). The outback has many areas of opal mining, such as that of Coober Pedy and White Cliffs. Because of the mining, people live in this intense environment underground.
In fact, many old opal mines were converted into dugout homes, those of which maintain a cool and comfortable temperature year round. Continue


An opal mine in Coober Pedy outback NSW

What can you do when visiting the area: "Travel back in time and discover the secrets and history of this unique town. Fossick for the elusive opal, inspect the solar power station, sleep above or underground, visit the showrooms and galleries, be inspired by the sunsets and night sky." White Cliffs Opal Field