EarthChat

This week on Earth Chat we discuss all the ways to minimise our prolific and destructive use of plastics in our lives. Can we eliminate the use of single use plastics?

What if regional communities owned their own power instead of multinationals? What if that power came from reliable renewables, instead of fossil fuels controlled by foreign powers and at risk to global geopolitics? What if locals got the dividends instead of big companies?

Ruth Yeatman invites Phil Bourne and Russell Fisher to join her to reflect on the interconnected crises threatening humanity and the planet today, primarily driven by climate change, extreme poverty, and geopolitical conflict.

The reason for discussing this topic is that national and global demand for flowers is increasing due to a number of factors such as: increasing urbanisation and reduced opportunities to garden; a desire to bring “nature inside” for beauty and well-being, at home and in business and event settings.

SHOW NOTES

Sustainable Floristry Network,  www.sustainablefloristry.org

Grown not Flown (currently on pause)

Victorian flower farmer invents award-winning app encouraging people to buy local - ABC News

Sustainability in Floristry: Eco-Friendly Practices and Tech

Essential Sustainable Practices Shaping Floriculture

Www.sustainablefloristry.org

Flowers 2030 is an industry education program for florists committed to transforming their practice for a sustainable future

Floriculture Sustainability Initiative  https://wwwfsi2030.com

Sustainability Planning Templates | Sustainabloom

Helix Australia www.helixaustralia.com.au

This company specialises in breeding, licensing and marketing of new and improved varieties of Waxflower and Boronia for both cut flower and landscape sectors. These flowers thrive in drier climates and require less water in cultivation and can be grown in poorer soils so less fertiliser is required and their flowers support pollinators and other aspects of local ecosystems to promote biodiversity.

Climate Hero www.climatehero.org.au

Reducing emissions and ecological footprint through a Carbon Calculator and other educational materials to assist businesses and individuals to take action on their resource usage and day to day practices.

River Gum Florist, 32 McIntyre Street, Seymour

www.rivergumflorist.com.au

This business sources local flowers wherever possible, seeks to reduce plastic whenever they can and their floral waste is used by a local goat farm so there is good recycling of nutrients.

Marie chats with Michael Watson from the upper Plenty  Merri Creek Landcare Group about the enormous diversity across Mitchell Shire. We look at the various different environments that are represented across the Shire.

There are particular issues affecting the  areas from the high level of development in much of the south to the need to protect organisms in the forests and farmlands. They also discuss the issues that Council will be examining in their biodiversity plan.

There are also plans for recreational tracks and parks in the Shire, including the wallan wallan and Bald Hill to Merri Creek parklands.

Seymour Vet, Andrew Hogan, and wildlife rescuer and carer, Jenny Oakley, join Ruth to discuss the impact of the recent fires that caused tragic losses of livestock and native wildlife, not to mention the cruel experience of being burnt alive. As well, we’ll hear how we (humans) are generally managing our duty of care for wildlife, farm, and domestic animals.

Wildcare Victoria (Tarcombe/Seymour Area): 03 5790 4193 (All wildlife, specializes in adult macropods).

Trawool Wildlife Shelter (Seymour): 0429 268 680 (All wildlife, specialises in reptiles).

LnLz Wildlife Care & Rescue (Strath Creek): 0407 063 331 (Bushfire relief and rescue).

To find out if you identified the birds sounds you heard at the end of Segment One, click here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhlE13EqjJk

What do you do when you see someone’s house being stolen or confiscated, their olive trees chopped down, their ground water diverted. What do you do when you see someone’s child stopped at a military checkpoint and harassed by soldiers who won’t let them get to school? What do you do when all these crimes are excused or ignored or the victims blamed?

Act for Peace https://actforpeace.org.au/

A recent article from The Guardian on settler violence: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/22/israeli-settlers-carry-out-series-of-west-bank-attacks-as-security-forces-stand-by

Our guest this week is local environmental legend Jacqui Fulton. Mark Lyons talks to Jacqui Fulton from Broadford about her connection to various conservation groups. Her work on various aspects of Biolinks and biodiversity recovery is a fascinating topic and of interest to local and other listeners.

Our guest this week is Dr Christlina Zdeneck from birdlife Australia. We discuss the major problem caused by the poisons commonly used to kill rodent pests. These poisons are readily available and widely used. The problem is that they are slow acting and when birds of prey kill the poisoned rodents the poisons accumulate in their bodies over time and sicken them. The birds then become ill and are often killed on the roads. There is plenty of evidence that this is a widespread local problem.

Sign the petition to protect owls from rat poison:

Imagine 3,000ha of beautiful wetlands linking Merri Creek and the Southern reaches of Mitchell Shire. Imagine a space to be used by 200,000 people that would preserve natural beauty forever, maintain wetlands and habitat for all kinds of species. This proposed parkland, extending north from the existing marram baba Upper Merri Creek Parklands, would protect a significant green corridor – comprising both environmental refuges and outdoor recreation areas – within Melbourne’s rapidly expanding northern growth corridor.

Rob Eldridge, local campaigning champion and former Mitchell Shire Councillor is a key member of the wallan wallan Regional Parkland Alliance, a local group (which includes BEAM) campaigning hard for this park to be established. See their website and petition here.   Rob has been advocating for the park’s establishment since 2010. Through his work with the Wallan Environment Group, and long-term commitment to the local region he has contributed to a vision for the parkland aiming to balance conservation, recreation, and cultural heritage.