Building community during difficult times

Vicky

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
280
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
I posed the question here not long ago, what has changed for you in the past few weeks with all the changes regarding the virus, I really hope that was not considered insensitive or anything - I apologize if I offended any with that question. I didn't get much of a response but thinking about it, I wouldn't really expect much from everyone here because you are all probably growing lots and heading towards self sufficiency and as such will not be greatly affected by any restrictions :) Anyway, I did get talking to others in my community and I think that the ones most affected would be working parents with children. I was also thinking of households who have gone into isolation for whatever reason and that has got to be hard, especially if you don't have an interest in gardening/cooking/preserving already.
The idea came up that we may be able to reach out to anyone we know in isolation, via post. There is currently a Seed Share Station in our nearest town, packets of seeds have been donated and are re packaged with basic instructions for planting, there may only be a dozen or so of each seed in the packet but they are available for free to members of the public. So, if one of us knows of any in isolation, they could get a few packets of seed and post them (or do a distance drop off? in the letter box and leave?). Instructions could be put on the envelope about putting the envelope in direct sunlight for 10minutes per side to destroy any germs and then the same could be done with the contents of the envelope? Also washing hands after handling the envelope initially? It would be up to whoever sent the envelope to decide, based on how well they know the people they are sending/giving it to.
The seed packets are currently made with donated scrapbooking papers, they are very colorful and pretty and appealing :) and we think that children would love them. The next stage, when the papers run out would be old magazines - preferably gardening ones - the template is basic and you can see in the picture to the left of the magazine is one already made and the pretty flowers on the left page have a template drawn and ready to be cut out. Fold the sides and glue together with a glu stick. Labels are kept small with basic planting details as per the second picture and attached with sticky tape on the front of the envelope. With all the older expiry dated seed packets, some of the seeds were tested to make sure they were still viable but the name of the original company and expiry date have been included anyway.
It is still in the progress of going from a thought to action here at the moment but I thought someone here might be able to reach out to someone they know would appreciate the gesture? I'll certainly let you know what kind of response we get in this part of the world :)
 

Attachments

  • 2020-04-03 001 001.jpg
    2020-04-03 001 001.jpg
    226.7 KB · Views: 440
  • 069.jpg
    069.jpg
    211 KB · Views: 319

Vicky

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
280
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
I found a-nother hobby....
2020-04-03 002 001.jpg
making seed packets out of unwanted magazines :chuffed:The girly girl in me is saying "sooooo pretty" and the practicing minimalist in me is saying "fill em, label em and give em away!" and then, with my newfound extra time - I'm thinking "I could make a few more seed packets". Everyone is happy ;)
 

ClissAT

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Sep 27, 2015
Messages
1,842
Location
Pomona, Qld
Climate
Sub-Tropical
I missed your post, Vicky. I'll go back and read it later tonight if I have internet. This has been my biggest problem, loss of internet which is hard to understand since I am on NBN.
Anyway I'll come back here because there are a few things I would like to add.
 

Vicky

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
280
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
I missed your post, Vicky. I'll go back and read it later tonight if I have internet. This has been my biggest problem, loss of internet which is hard to understand since I am on NBN.
Anyway I'll come back here because there are a few things I would like to add.

NBN was not all that the Government hoped it would be!!
 

Cheryl Smyth

Active Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Jan 17, 2020
Messages
68
Climate
Sub-Tropical
What has changed: washing hands more!!! Keeping distance from others! Smiling more to add a peace/ attitude! Encourage others to do the same when appropriate! Evaluating my intentions of myself!
Be safe
Composting is the heartbeat of organic gardening!
 

Vicky

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
280
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
What has changed: washing hands more!!! Keeping distance from others! Smiling more to add a peace/ attitude! Encourage others to do the same when appropriate! Evaluating my intentions of myself!
Be safe
Composting is the heartbeat of organic gardening!

I have actually noticed the few times that I have needed to be in a public place, distance is a big thing but it seems that more people are talking to each other, just little conversations while in line or moving at a safe distance around someone :)
 

Ray Speed

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Aug 28, 2018
Messages
350
Climate
Sub-Tropical
not a great deal, going to work every day, coming home doing whatever feels right at the time, the big thing we MISS is eating out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
apart from that looking after mum and all systems go
 

Vicky

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
280
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
not a great deal, going to work every day, coming home doing whatever feels right at the time, the big thing we MISS is eating out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
apart from that looking after mum and all systems go

:) Getting take away just isn't the same is it?! We miss garage sales and I miss op shops :) I don't mind the extra time at home, I take Mum where she needs to go but for the rest of the time, I'm at home :)
 

Mac McDermott

Member
Premium Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2020
Messages
5
Location
Laidley Heights
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
Hello All,

I believe in community. It was impressed on me from an early age to be a part of the neighbourhood. I can offer many examples but let’s talk about where I live. I’ve lived in Coorparoo for 29 years. I say hello to about 90% of people as I walk around the neighbourhood. Not a lot of acknowledgements.

In the last few weeks the number of people saying ‘G’day’’ or ‘mornin’ or ‘arvo’ has tripled.

Today I went shopping at 7.30 Am and four of the six people I walked past in the 450 metres to the shops said ‘hi’ to me first.

It’s only a small thing but really made my day.

Cheers,
-Mac
 

Vicky

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
280
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
Hello All,

I believe in community. It was impressed on me from an early age to be a part of the neighbourhood. I can offer many examples but let’s talk about where I live. I’ve lived in Coorparoo for 29 years. I say hello to about 90% of people as I walk around the neighbourhood. Not a lot of acknowledgements.

In the last few weeks the number of people saying ‘G’day’’ or ‘mornin’ or ‘arvo’ has tripled.

Today I went shopping at 7.30 Am and four of the six people I walked past in the 450 metres to the shops said ‘hi’ to me first.

It’s only a small thing but really made my day.

Cheers,
-Mac

I guess if nothing else, something positive has come out of this situation, I hope that a lot of good things will happen :)
 

ClissAT

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Sep 27, 2015
Messages
1,842
Location
Pomona, Qld
Climate
Sub-Tropical
As it stands, once I whinged about the lack of internet to my ISP, it was fixed within a day. So it all seems to be good again in that regard.
My internet usage is quite traditional via a standard computer and a tablet, so it's been a massive learning curve going online for dating along with the rest of the world.
So I'm probably not alone in that regard.
 

GKW

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Dec 22, 2019
Messages
317
Location
Sydney
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
NBN was not all that the Government hoped it would be!!

The only god news to come out of this diabolical state of affairs is that NBN Co has effectively ceased rolling out the NBN and whilst in my street, have suspended indefinitely the date by which they will turn off the copper wire / land thus leaving my in peace for the time being with my very functional and effective ADSL2....now that is good.
 

Vicky

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
280
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
As it stands, once I whinged about the lack of internet to my ISP, it was fixed within a day. So it all seems to be good again in that regard.
My internet usage is quite traditional via a standard computer and a tablet, so it's been a massive learning curve going online for dating along with the rest of the world.
So I'm probably not alone in that regard.

that is the biggest thing, everyone is heading online now, children for school, people for work, my Mum is turning on her computer for skype contact every day so all her children have a way of seeing her as well as talking to her. So far though, we haven't had any more interruptions or worse connections because of it in our 'fringe' area and that surprised me - because we can lose contact if it is cloudy, blowy, drizzly, heck, it wouldn't surprise me if they said it was too sunny to get a good connection :ROFL:
 

Vicky

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
280
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
The only god news to come out of this diabolical state of affairs is that NBN Co has effectively ceased rolling out the NBN and whilst in my street, have suspended indefinitely the date by which they will turn off the copper wire / land thus leaving my in peace for the time being with my very functional and effective ADSL2....now that is good.

surprising that you are still on ADSL, enjoy :) although, you may need to watch the street, a lot of cable has been 'stolen' for the copper!!
 

GKW

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Dec 22, 2019
Messages
317
Location
Sydney
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
surprising that you are still on ADSL, enjoy :) although, you may need to watch the street, a lot of cable has been 'stolen' for the copper!!

My ADSL2 has been FAB with great download speeds / min to no buffering....I don't need anything else, so why pay for a service that will be a PITA to install and set-up, pay more for less and many have ongoing issues with NBN reliability? Better the devil I know :)
 

ClissAT

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Sep 27, 2015
Messages
1,842
Location
Pomona, Qld
Climate
Sub-Tropical
My neighbours have decided to stay on their ADSL2 until they get cut off.
Like me they have very limited mobile reception so their landline phone is invaluable.
 

grace parsons

Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2020
Messages
3
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
I posed the question here not long ago, what has changed for you in the past few weeks with all the changes regarding the virus, I really hope that was not considered insensitive or anything - I apologize if I offended any with that question. I didn't get much of a response but thinking about it, I wouldn't really expect much from everyone here because you are all probably growing lots and heading towards self sufficiency and as such will not be greatly affected by any restrictions :) Anyway, I did get talking to others in my community and I think that the ones most affected would be working parents with children. I was also thinking of households who have gone into isolation for whatever reason and that has got to be hard, especially if you don't have an interest in gardening/cooking/preserving already.
The idea came up that we may be able to reach out to anyone we know in isolation, via post. There is currently a Seed Share Station in our nearest town, packets of seeds have been donated and are re packaged with basic instructions for planting, there may only be a dozen or so of each seed in the packet but they are available for free to members of the public. So, if one of us knows of any in isolation, they could get a few packets of seed and post them (or do a distance drop off? in the letter box and leave?). Instructions could be put on the envelope about putting the envelope in direct sunlight for 10minutes per side to destroy any germs and then the same could be done with the contents of the envelope? Also washing hands after handling the envelope initially? It would be up to whoever sent the envelope to decide, based on how well they know the people they are sending/giving it to.
The seed packets are currently made with donated scrapbooking papers, they are very colorful and pretty and appealing :) and we think that children would love them. The next stage, when the papers run out would be old magazines - preferably gardening ones - the template is basic and you can see in the picture to the left of the magazine is one already made and the pretty flowers on the left page have a template drawn and ready to be cut out. Fold the sides and glue together with a glu stick. Labels are kept small with basic planting details as per the second picture and attached with sticky tape on the front of the envelope. With all the older expiry dated seed packets, some of the seeds were tested to make sure they were still viable but the name of the original company and expiry date have been included anyway.
It is still in the progress of going from a thought to action here at the moment but I thought someone here might be able to reach out to someone they know would appreciate the gesture? I'll certainly let you know what kind of response we get in this part of the world :)
Great post. Now is the time to get into gardening whilst in isolation. Haha.
 

Cheryl Smyth

Active Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Jan 17, 2020
Messages
68
Climate
Sub-Tropical
This isolation is something! I am single living by myself. Yes isolated. Before I could get out or visit my mother in nursing home. But so so much has changed. I am a nurse so job also has changed!
My most smoothing moments are outside gardening! So glad I have enjoyed gardening before all this started because I am not sure my attitude would be different then what it is.
God bless and be safe
Composting is the heartbeat of organic gardening!
 

Cheryl Smyth

Active Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Jan 17, 2020
Messages
68
Climate
Sub-Tropical
I want to add a thank you to all :
self sufficient culture especially
Mr self sufficient Mark
You help keep me grounded !
 

Vicky

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
280
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
This isolation is something! I am single living by myself. Yes isolated. Before I could get out or visit my mother in nursing home. But so so much has changed. I am a nurse so job also has changed!
My most smoothing moments are outside gardening! So glad I have enjoyed gardening before all this started because I am not sure my attitude would be different then what it is.
God bless and be safe
Composting is the heartbeat of organic gardening!

it surely is good to have something constant to help us get through difficult times, isn't it Cheryl. That's why I like places like this, you can come on anytime and join in a conversation or contribute if you care to OR just read other people's stories. All very worthwhile distractions :) from circumstances we may not be enjoying so much.
 
Top Bottom