Assignment 3 - Part TWO: Website Feature Portfolio

These two articles would be written for a special environment/'farming in the city' issue for Frankie Magazine online.

Article 3 : This article would be in the ‘all sorts’ section.

CERES: A MOVE FORWARD IN CITY FARMING

Ever wandered past disused blocks of land and thought ‘why aren’t they being used for something constructive’? Well CERES (Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies) is doing just that, finally!

*Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/2470210649/in/photostream/

The name CERES says it all, The Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies. If you live in or around Brunswick in Melbourne then you’d surely be familiar with its presence and if not then CERES is definitely worth checking out. CERES is located on the corner of Robert and Stewart Streets, just off Nicholson Street in Brunswick East.

It resides on 10 acres of land by the Merri. In its space are several different areas. They have a very successful market with all their own organic produce and a shop, a farm, education centre, café, nursery, community gardens and best of all a bike centre which fixes reuses old bikes to make and fix others (cheaply!).

*Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/2470219833/

They are also hosts to several local festivals and events. CERES relies on grants from the government as well as philanthropic support. Over 470,000 people each year visit CERES and are known for being the most visit community environmental centre in Australia.

This year CERES worked in partnership with the highly successful Brisbane group called Food Connect, and proposed a new vision of demountable farming on disused blocks around the city.

They were successful in receiving a government grant of $800,000 (some from philanthropic support too). This money will be used to make several farms, starting with one being established at the start of 2010 in Brunswick.

They are going to be building many of these in the future. What a fantastic way of using land just sitting there. This is apparently the first of its kind in the world. They are seeking to provide food to buying groups in workplaces in Melbourne and be an education and training source for children and adults.

They call them “urban organic farming hubs”, which are built out of different reused materials such as shipping containers. The demountable aspect means they can set up a farm for around 3 years and then completely disappear leaving no traces behind, on land for example waiting be built upon.

If the hundreds of proposed farms are built on disused blocks of land this could mean a farming education for city folks, on organic produce, sustainable farming, and training thousands of urban farmers without any travel involved. This will further build on the CERES name, already internationally recognised and their food-co op ventures.

Food Connect in Brisbane supplies local, sustainable produced food to their community, and builds a new, equitable way of distributing local produce is a socially responsible way.

How you can get involved: CERES has a large market or a cup of organic coffee and support in that way.

CERES is main gates are open 9am- 5pm everyday and the Cafe is open Monday-Saturday, 8.30-5pm and Sunday 9.30-5pm.

The CERES Market is on every Wednesday and Saturday 9am-1pm.

For more information visit the CERES Website.

References:

CERES Food Connect Position Description, 2009, ‘CERES Food Connect Administration Coordinator’, My Career’, accessed 9 November 2009, from, http://mycareer.com.au/jobs/brunswick-east-3057-vic/administration-office-support/administration/7256836+ceres+food+connect+administration+coordinator.aspx?s=777.

CERES Food Connect Position Description, 2009, CERES Food Connect Floor Coordinator’, My Career, accessed 9 November 2009, from, http://mycareer.com.au/jobs/brunswick-east-3057-vic/logistics-transport-supply/logistics-management/7256937+ceres+food+connect+floor+coordinator.aspx?s=777.

CERES Website, 2009, accessed 4 November 2009, from, http://www.ceres.org.au/

Food Connect Website, 2009, ‘About Us’, accessed 8 November 2009, from, http://www.foodconnect.com.au/about-us/.

Hoffman, T, 13 October 2009, ‘Brunswick mini-farms mark world first’, Moreland Leader, accessed 4 November 2009, from, http://moreland-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/brunswick-mini-farms-mark-world-first/.

Article 4: This article would be in the ‘what’s on’ section

FARMERS MARKETS MELBOURNE

Farmers Markets across Melbourne are really taking off. There are so many on different Saturdays in different weeks, in different months. Confused? Let us help clarify. Here are the main farmers markets in Melbourne’s inner. They boast beautiful, fresh, seasonal food straight from the growers in a festival atmosphere. What more could you ask for?

*Photo authors own

The Victorian Farmers' Markets Association’s accreditation program launched this month, bringing a new reassurance in the produce we are purchasing from farmers markets across Melbourne.

In the past people have been known to pose as farmers selling their own produce, however they had actually bought the produce wholesale and resold with the farmers market image to unsuspecting customers. Bad Form. So now the Victorian Farmers' Markets Association have managed to develop ways of ensuring this never happens again.

The association has employs a team of ‘Farmers Market Police’ to visit farms and stall holders to accredit them under the associations guidelines. This association has funding from the Victorian State Government.

Each of the below markets are under the Melbourne Community Farmers' Markets umbrella and are run by a market co-ordinator.

However each individual organisation profits from their particular market. Every market provides fresh produce sold directly from its grower, and manufacturers who grow their own ingredients! There are all sorts of unusual fruit and vegies, meats and cheeses that you can directly ask the grower about. An education, recipe tips and a whole heap of fun.

Here are the four main farmers markets in Melbourne’s inner suburbs. They provide an amazing atmosphere and experience which is hard to find in the city. Around 60 stall holders come from around Victoria each Saturday.

A big tip for all of these is to get in early, get in quick and bring your own carry bags!

Veg Out, St Kilda:


When: 1st Saturday every month
Location: Chaucer Street, St Kilda
Time: 8.30am – 1.00pm
Cost: FREE
Supporting who? Veg Out (community gardens in St Kilda)

*Photo authors own

This market is fantastically located near the iconic Luna Park, it is definitely not the largest space wise, but is very busy and bustling.

Market Tip: The parking inspectors are tough and frequent! And unfortunately most car parks cost.

Collingwood Children’s Farm:

When: 2nd Saturday every month
Location: St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
Time: 8.00 am – 1.00 pm
Entry: $2 per person
Supporting who? The Collingwood Children’s Farm profit from this market.

*Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/2691873827/in/set-72157606283796125/

This is the biggest and possibly the best farmers' market of them all. The setting is beautiful, feeling like you have driven hours out of Melbourne, hay stacks lay about for people sit, and stalls line the entire outer of the large field. This one attracts hundreds and hundreds of people who wait at the gate at 8am sharp to get the produce that sells out fast. You can borrow a wheelbarrow which is a great idea at this market, also useful for carrying tired shoppers.

Market Tip: This one is a MUST to arrive early at and wear gumboots if wet! and have another $2 handy for parking.

Gasworks, Albert Park:


When: 3rd Saturday every month
Location: Gasworks Arts Park, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park
Time: 8.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: FREE
Supporting who? Gasworks, a not-for-profit community arts centre
*Photo authors own

This market is definitely the quietest and most peaceful market experience which can be a great thing. You can turn up late to this market and still bag yourself some popular items.

Market Tip: Sleep in, don't rush.

Slow Foods Melbourne, Abbotsford Convent:

When: 4th Saturday every month
Location: Abbotsford Convent, St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
Time: 8am-1pm
Entry: $2
Supporting who? Slow Foods Melbourne.

*Photo authors own

Slow foods market is unique because this market is strictly only slow food. Slow Foods in political movement started in Italy in 1986. It is now worldwide.

“Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.”

(From http://www.slowfood.com/about_us/eng/philosophy.lasso )

The Convent market is in the most amazing setting of all, the historic Abbotsford Convent was once used as a home for wayward girls, but is now a function venue, café, an artist studios and houses the junior part of a Steiner School.

Market Tip: The bacon and egg rolls from the Steiner mums are delicious and keep to the coffee from the market.

All four farmers markets focus on seasonal education and local produce, meaning be very suspicious of anyone selling pineapples!!

More information on other accredited farmers markets visit the Melbourne Community Farmers' Markets Website and the Victorian Farmers' Market Association.

References:

Thanks to my Aunty, Leonie Bessant, an organic farmer and part of the ‘Farmers Market Police’.

Abbotsford Convent Website, 2009, accessed 4 November 2009, from, http://www.abbotsfordconvent.com.au/.

AVLXYZ Photostream, Flickr, accessed 9 November 2009, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/

Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets Website, 2009 accessed 4 November 2009, from http://www.mfm.com.au/.

Slow Food Website, 2009 ‘Our Philosophy’, accessed 4 November 2009, from http://www.slowfood.com/about_us/eng/philosophy.lasso.

Victorian Farmers’ Markets Association Website, 2009, accessed 4 November 2009, from, http://www.vicfarmersmarkets.org.au/.

Victorian Farmers’ Market Association, 2009, ‘Slow Food Melbourne’ accessed 4 November 2009, from, http://www.vicfarmersmarkets.org.au/market/slow-food-melbourne-farmers-market.

I heart New Zealand

...And finally i just wanted to share some of my very wet, very green, very beautiful family trip to New Zealand in late september...

Here is a map of our driving trip


View Larger Map

We hired a great, cheap, bit rough but still good car from Ace Rentals, $200AUD for 9 days!!

We started in Auckland - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington - Whakapapa Village (aka MORDOR) then back to Auckland. We usually drove for 4+ hours at a time.

Things I noticed:

-How it would have been a lot handier to have a car with a bigger engine that could drive up mountains faster that 15km per hour!

-How great their coffee was (!!), and how they ALWAYS put in 2 shots of coffee as the norm.

-That having soy milk in your coffee was not frowned upon, but embraced in small towns.

-That everything was SO CHEAP (i like this one a lot).

-How green everything was - it was rather overwhelming, my eyes were struggling to recognise every different shade of it.

-Instead of a million red light cameras they have a million police cars waiting by the side of the freeway.

-A freeway is not a freeway, its a motorway.

-That not everyone wore black and that people actually smile...

-That it rains...A LOT, no really A LOT!

A few pretty photos to snoop at:


Lake Rotorua - Misty morning


Rotorua Museum - An old bath house


Napier -Art Deco town


Wellington houses


Whakapapa Village


Snow on a volcano


And Auckland

I did really like New Zealand, and would love to see the south island next time!!

*All photos are authors own

Blueprint failure

I recently read about the Blueprint Music Festival which has been declared a complete and utter failure with the founders now being hounded for thousands of unpaid dollars. I thought this was a really good example of when things turn bad in arts organisations and could hear all the recent lectures in my head.

So, the website seems promising and professional, the founders on the ball enough, good bands, good idea. "Trying to start a new trend in Australian music festivals!" I say fair enough, yes i am sick of the overpriced, over crowded, toilet overflowing festivals too.

Here is an article on loudnlocal promising an amazing experience.

And here is their MySpace page, again full of promises...

The Blueprint Festival was developed by two young brothers, Tristan, 23, and Aaron, 20 Gray of Mitcham. And after reading several articles about what went wrong and why, I do honestly feel for these guys. I think they genuinely wanted to do something different, fun and amazing.

However , as one of the brothers stated:

'I've got nothing, I've got no job, I've got nowhere to live. My life is ruined,'' To those he has left owing money, he said: ''I'm sorry … I never thought it would turn out like this.''

(From The Age article)

I feel really bad for these guys!!!

Some further reading includes:

-The Age "An unintended blueprint for a festival fiasco"

-The Courier "Blueprint Music Festival organisers fail to pay Ballarat bands"

and written a couple of days later,

- The Courier "Blueprint Music Festival organisers pay some bands"

From my understanding the brothers are now in hiding as they owe many people a lot of money and have no assets and no money to pay people back.

So i wonder what went so badly wrong??

They must have been really unprepared for this sort of thing, or naive, or...stupid? thats mean but something did go terribly wrong, something that all the sponsors, bands and patrons did not see coming.

I put it down to an unclear Vision and Mission statement and not enough Gant Charts (hehe for all you Masters in Arts Management students...)

Assignment 3 - Part One: Website Feature Portfolio

The website I have chosen to develop articles for is Frankie Magazine Online. As the website suggests, Frankie is "aimed at women (and men) looking for a magazine that’s as smart, funny, sarcastic, friendly, cute, rude, arty, curious and caring as they are”.

However because of this website not containing full-length articles, the website I will be writing for is Frankie, if Frankie was solely an online publication rather than a print one. The statement above sums up the audience completely.

All articles are written in a blog style.

Article 1: This article would be in the ‘All Sorts’ section and would be the start of a series of entries on the same topic.

BATH-RUMINATIONS

*Photo courtesy of jennifersprintables.com

Ever wondered what lurks behind the bathroom doors in some of Melbourne’s most popular dining and entertainment venues? Come and learn a new way of rating, not by food or customer service but by the ply of the toilet paper.

Is it just me, or do we rate the places we are eating or drinking at by the state of the bathroom? I’ve been constantly disappointed by bad design, uncleanliness not compensated by creativity and downright ugliness. Restaurant and bar owners listen up: your bathroom is as important as your food, drinks, lighting and mood!
I am not talking exclusively about the supply of toilet paper, locks on the doors and a clean seat (if there is a seat at all), yes, yes all toilets must have these, but more importantly, does the bathroom as a whole compliment the atmosphere of the place, or hinder it? Is it an interesting and creative space with flowers or pot-puree? Environmental tendencies? Does it provoke conversation?

I have been rating Melbourne's bathrooms, and the criteria is strict and the standards high. Read on for one of the best spots to place your bum, and one to avoid at all costs.

Boire, 92 Smith Street, Collingwood:

*Photo courtesy of Boire
Boire is a new French restaurant that boasts old-fashioned French food and wine, with the choice of only 2 mains and two desserts. I think it is lovely and easy. The bathroom in this restaurant was charming, clean and spacious and had all the accessories needed, paper towels, hooks on the door.

The aspect that makes this bathroom stand out to me was the chalkboard walls, from floor to ceiling. There is chalk provided and you are encouraged to graffiti the walls in any way you like. A new spin on the old ‘graffiti the bathroom’ wall trick. When I walked in there were poems and pretty pictures from people who have dined there, reviews of the food and praise for the cook. This is obviously a lot nicer to read than the usual bathroom wall rubbish.

The East Brunswick Club, 280 Lygon Street, East Brunswick:

The East is well known for its great gigs and cheap meal nights, but word is also spreading about their terrible bathrooms. The worst so far! However one thing is for sure this bathroom has consistency, EVERY time I have braved entering this facility I am faced with either vomit in the bin or someone doing the same in the toilet, and of course usually in the one where the old sliding door barely closes exposing your bum to the waiting patrons outside.

The smell is constantly putrid to the point where, yes a few times I have gone into the men's because it smells better, a horrible indication of the standard of a bathroom when the men’s toilet (notoriously weird smelling) smells far better.

Okay, okay it’s a pub you say, get over it?! Well I can give
a little, but EVERYTIME? They need to have someone checking on it more regularly, with or without a flamethrower.

So maybe now you’ll look more carefully at the bathrooms you enter and think about what it offers you, and what it does for the associated venue. How much do they truly love their business and you as the paying customer? A bathroom experience can certainly either make or break a place.

Article 2: This article would be under the ‘Travel’ section.

ART DECO HAVEN IN THE HEART OF NZ

New Zealand is famous for all sorts of things, Lord of the Rings, sheep.... but it also has one of the world’s best-preserved selection of Art Deco buildings in the one place, Napier. Watch-out all you Art Deco lovers, this town is one of a kind.

Napier, New Zealand, 320 kms (by road) north-east of the capital, Wellington.

Standing on a top of a high hill looking towards the ocean with the entire town is a great way to get to know a place.

While visiting Napier in September this year a tsunami warning was issued, quite an unsettling experience but not lacking in excitement. The main road, Marine Parade on the foreshore was blocked off, and the townsfolk were told to head for high ground, just in case. Shops and schools were closed and there was an exodus to the few high points in the town. A bonus of this situation was one, it wasn’t raining and two there was an amazing view from on top of the hill.

There was no panic, just people, including me gazing at the water far below, although nothing was seemingly happening. There were no officials telling us what was going on, so an hour later people started to retreat from the hill and brave the traffic jam back down. The water hadn’t appeared to change and there was no freak wave apparent.

By the time we got back down the hill the roadblocks had been removed and police had vanished. So we presumed the threat was gone, thank God, as it would be a great shame for this beautiful town and the people within it to again be put under threat.


On the 3rd of February 1931 an earthquake devastated Napier, killing 157 and destroying the whole commercial part of the town. As a result the entire town was rebuilt in the 1930s, exclusively in the Art Deco style including stripped classical and Spanish mission. Walking through the town you are graced with a feeling of calm, nostalgia and that maybe you’ve managed to turn back time 70 plus years. Every single building in the centre of town is an art deco original. The town is just amazing, overwhelming, bright and beautiful. It is enough to make you want to buy a flapper dress, headpiece and go dancing in the street.

A key piece in the area is on the shore front, called the New Napier Arch, it beautifully frames the ocean beyond and provides an entertainment area with an old fashioned cone/shell shaped stage.

Oh, and seriously don’t forget your wallets as there are some amazing antique, vintage stores and op shops just waiting to be rummaged through, and the people in Napier really know their stuff.

If you are an art deco fan this is one town to not drive past, unique and out of the ordinary smack bang between Auckland and Wellington.

All I can say is amazing, amazing, amazing and the most amazing thing is that the sun shone the whole time we were there, lovely.

So for all you lovers of everything Art Deco and a sucker for the accompanying merchandise (found at The Art Deco Trust), a Napier visit is a must.
*All unlabeled photos are authors own

References:

Art Deco Trust, 2009 http://www.artdeconapier.com/ accessed 10 October 2009.

Boire, 2009 http://www.boire.com.au/home accessed 10 October 2009.

The East Brunswick Club, 2009 http://www.eastbrunswickclub.com/ accessed 10 October 2009.

Frankie Website, 2009 www.frankie.com.au accessed 8 October 2009.

Jennifer's Free Printable Doll House & Miniature Bathroom Tiles, 2009, http://www.jennifersprintables.com/bathroomsamples.html accessed 10 October 2009.

Napier City Council, 2009 http://www.napier.govt.nz/ accessed 10 October 2009.

This has got to be the worst thing I have ever ever seen!!

Oh my, I can't even believe I am going donate ANY time at all to this but its just so ridiculously bad.

I think the only thing this proves is that maybe, just maybe she doesn't have ANY talent at all, but hopefully you knew that already.

Hmmm any thoughts on this??... for I am lost for words.

I can't believe I got to this video from the front page of The Age (shaking my head as I write).

I couldn't get through to the end, I didn't want to vomit over my beloved Mac.

enjoy! (or not...)



(p.s this post is for last week ☺ )

I did some volunteer work at the Melbourne International Animation Festival earlier this year.

I worked with one of people who runs it, she was a great insight into the inner-workings of a great festival. She did inform me that it was pretty much solely run, developed etc by 2, yes 2 (!!) people. It made me very tired just thinking about how they did it all! The great thing about the volunteering was that I saw nearly the entire program for FREE.

I've noticed as well that some of them are on youtube, so I thought I would share some of my favourites with you.

So probably my favourite funny one is called Fantasie in Bubble Wrap by Arthur Metcalf, USA in 2007.

(***oh and there is swearing in this film***)



I think its generally cute and clever while being rather shocking and sad, oh so sad, but funny.

Another funny one that i really liked was Rex The Dog 'Bubblicious' by Geoffroy De Crecy, France, 2008



Again very clever and the bad 80s music makes it :) Its interesting to see how they develop that kind of animation too.

ok now on a more serious note the next animation stuck with me.

Hungu by Nicolas Brault, Canada, 2008.



Hungu was made out of sand! I really loved the sounds in this film, the great imagery and the pace of it. Such an emotive, moving film I thought.

This next one I had seen before the film festival but it was even better on the big screen. I'm sure some of you would have seen/heard about it. It's seriously amazing! Take some time to watch this if you haven't already...

MUTO Blu Italy, 2007



Click here for the Blu website.

I wonder how long that took!...

Stalkbook

I read an article titled "Robbed by Facebook's enemy in the camp", and okay, so this definitely scared me. I know thats what they want you to feel, but it did. You, well I forget how much private information is going on Facebook, in 'private' messages, on walls, photo albums etc etc.

I am probably one of the more aware ones, I do think hard about the photos going on Facebook. But I don't think a lot of people do. And people trust Facebook, the messages being sent and such. Think of all the private information of all those thousands and thousands of people from all around the world on there!! It's also weird/interesting how so many of the people on Facebook are not really 'friends' just randoms. It creeps me out the most when someone who you went to high school with and haven't seen since, comments on a picture of yours or a status. What are they doing snooping like that!? Oh and I love it how in the article Facebook wiped their hands clean of it.

By the way yes...I have thought a lot about deleting my Facebook account but it is weird how much on my life does rely on it now! much to my disgust.

I found another recent article also where it happened again "US woman loses $A4,840 in Facebook scam".

and I'm sure if I looked more I would find more.