Navigation
User login
Partners
Random image
New forum topics
FERN Leaps into the future with the announcement of our Two-Year Strategic Plan
Site Development:
- Incorporation of sustainable energy technologies into the site’s daily operations to showcase these technologies to the general public
- Straw Bale Wall and Artistic Entrance along North and West property boundaries to reduce road noise and enhance the Montreal Street Sites appeal to the general-public. FERN will be seeking Lotterywest funding for the cost of materials and supervision in the construction of this wall – the bulk of labour requirements will be sourced from community volunteers through a workshop-type setting (estimated to cost $15,000.00), FERN will conduct this project as a combined community education and arts project.
- Establish a customised wood-fired pizza oven on-site for use by the community to conduct community meals and workshops. This is to be funded by Lotterywest (estimated installation cost $6,000.00) and will principally be used by FILEF as a hub for community engagement at the Montreal Street. This facility will help us expand our new food service initiative that follows-on from the successes of FERN’s 2006-2007 ‘Magik Bean Stalk’ community evenings.
- Conduct energy efficiency, wise water and other sustainable living workshops and home energy audits
- Provide a venue for community arts
- Welcome in Work for the Dole programmes
- Further engagement with like-minded community organisations and NFPs to strengthen FERN’s role as a resource for a wide array of community purposes
- Edible Gardens – Engaging with local schools
- Community Gardens – Garden space for community members to lease lots through which they practice and share local food production skills
- A monthly Italian Fiesta as mentioned above
- Expand FERN’s relationship with SMYL in offering educational opportunities in social and environmental sustainability to youth
- Cottage Industry Development - Development of a Cottage Industry/NFP workshop sector to further demonstrate sustainable livelihoods that is also passive solar and uses the latest ecological building technologies
- Purchase a commercial grade composting equipment to convert organic waste into a viable FERN commodity
- FERN is also seeking assistance with the cost of retrofitting the main building at the Montreal Street site to demonstrate sustainable building techniques and technologies. FERN will apply to Lotterywest for a matching grant (discussions in progress) to the equivalent of the $70,000 of City funds budgeted for this project making $140,000.00 available for the renovation of an existing City managed asset. These matching funds would be used in FERN’s Stage 2 [2009] strategic plans, the initial $70,000.00 of City funds to be spent on the refurbishment and retrofitting of the exterior of the building with sustainable technologies.
- Organisational Management Development:
- Continue to open the site to the wider community
- Include broad ethnic representation in FERN’s management (esp. local Indigenous and Italian leadership)
- Pursue financial sustainability through entrepreneurial endeavours, partnerships and grants
- Create tangible incentives for members to contribute fees and donations (including establishing retail opportunities and charitable status)
- Streamline governance
- Conduct risk assessments and install liability safeguards
- Conduct a Business Survey and create a Five Year Business Plan (site tenure dependent)
[Year 2: 2009]
Site Development:
- Market the FERN site as a venue for community arts
- Establish a retail outlet in the Montreal Street site main building that retails sustainable items such as low flow water equipment for the home and garden, books on various sustainability themes, and an Organic Café
- Establish Community Weekend Markets for local artisan’s wares and fresh produce
- Open the site to community gardens where lots are subleased for personal tending
- Conduct workshops on growing food locally
- Conduct energy efficiency workshops for domestic applications
- Establish a propagation area to supply seedlings for the site gardens and for members at discounted rates
- Secure a educational scale Biodiesel production plant for alternative energy education as well as a source of revenue for FERN by making the fuel available to the community in exchange for a donation
Community Engagement:
- Engage the broader Italian community to establish and maintain a fruit orchard
- Engage GreenSkills, as well as expand SMYL and Work for the Dole programmes to assist with expanding needs for site management as Stage 1 imperatives are secured and increase traffic to the FERN site
- Further engagement with like-minded community organisations and NFPs to strengthen FERN’s role as a resource for a wide array of community purposes
- Edible Gardens – Engaging with local schools
- Further develop the Community Gardens – Garden space for community members
- Expand the Community Markets
- Infrastructure Development:
- Extend FERN’s water wise subterranean irrigation system throughout the Montreal Street site
- Add to the community recycling shed for community members to acquire useable items for nominal donation
- Construct an open-air learning centre in the Western sector of the site for use as an outdoor classroom. This structure will also double as a shelter for some vendors during the community markets or when the weather is inclement.
- Refurbish the pond system to demonstrate productive aquaculture
- Disperse the potential Lotterywest grant on interior technologies and interpretive signage that completes the project of making the main building at the FERN site a viable interior and exterior demonstration of a sustainable dwelling
- Develop the Western sector of the site to accommodate schools groups for Edible Garden participation and Outdoor Education
- Expand Business Plan
- Strengthen synergies between FERN, the City of Fremantle, the State Government and our corporate sponsors