This website provides useful information on Cairns and Tropical Gardening by Rob Pyne.
Cairns and Tropical Gardening
We focus on our twin passions of Tropical Gardening (growing plants and food at home) and our tropical home city of Cairns.
Rob Pyne of Cairns is a former MP, Councillor and author of Struggle and Resistance in the Far North.
A quadriplegic since December 1991, Rob is seeks to inspire others to join the struggle, learn and grow!
Cairns
Maintaining a worldview is important to us. However, Cairns is an interesting place and a wonderful base for our operations. Consequently, many of our articles relate to this city, known by the traditional owners as Gimuy.
On this website you will find old pictures of Cairns and interesting articles of the city’s past and present. However, these are all provided from the perspective of the underdog, who struggles against authority on behalf of the disadvantaged.
We have divided up Cairns into four parts. They are South, West, North and Central Cairns. There are a number of suburbs within these areas and we have attempted to cover them all.
Tropical Gardening
Our passion for urban food growing is reflected in our many and varied posts about growing tropical fruit, vegetables and herbs. Likewise, from our base in Far North Queensland we produce material about our region that we hope will be of interest both here and abroad.
People from other climates often move to the tropics and battle against the conditions. They want to grow all the food they are familiar with. However, it is better to grow fruit and vegetables that thrive naturally in the tropics. This website provides a variety of tropical fruits, vegetables and herbs to choose from.
We are fond of indoor plants. They are great for air-quality and offer other health benefits as well. As a result, we have a passion to persuade people to grow indoor plants.
Who is Rob Pyne?
My name is Rob Pyne and I am a local. I worked at the Public Trustee until breaking my neck in an accident in 1991. I then completing a BA in History and Politics and a Law Degree.
After this I worked at JCU from 2000 – 2007, resigning to campaign full-time for Council. I was successful and worked full time as the Division 3 Councillor on Cairns Regional Council.
I have served for ten years on council and one term as the local MP.
Rob Pyne and Climate Change
Rob has focussed on climate change from as early as the 1990’s. Consequently, as eco-socialists our perspective is always based on science. Our deepest concern is the impact of climate change on ordinary people and the most disadvantaged among us.
Global warming is directly resulting in rising sea-levels. This is due to the increasing amount of meltwater from glaciers and ice sheets, and the thermal expansion of seawater as it warms.
Around 40 per cent of the world’s population lives in densely inhabited coastal zones. In these areas, sea level is playing an increasing role in flooding, shoreline erosion, and hazards from storms. These problems are exacerbated during king tides and storm surge.
Our tropical location is reflected in much of our content. It influences the food we grow and how we struggle to survive in a time of climate change.
Climate Change and Food Shortage
Climate change is increasingly recognised as a significant factor contributing to food shortages around the world. The changing climate affects agriculture in various ways, from altering growing conditions to exacerbating extreme weather events. Here’s an in-depth look at how climate change impacts food security and leads to food shortages:
How Climate Change Affects Food Production
Higher temperatures can stress crops and reduce yields. Many staple crops, such as wheat, rice, and maize, have optimal growing temperatures, and deviations from these can hinder their growth and productivity.
Here at Cairns and Tropical Gardening we know warmer temperatures can accelerate the lifecycle of pests and diseases, leading to more significant infestations and crop damage.
In addition, altered rainfall patterns, including prolonged droughts and heavy rains, affect soil moisture levels, impacting crop growth. Droughts reduce water availability for irrigation, stressing water-dependent crops. Excessive rainfall and flooding can lead to soil erosion, nutrient leaching, and crop losses.
Rising sea levels can inundate coastal agricultural lands, leading to salinization of soils and freshwater resources, making them unsuitable for crop cultivation.
Extreme weather events can disrupt transportation and logistics, hindering the distribution of food from production areas to markets. Reduced supply and increased demand drive up food prices, making it difficult for vulnerable populations to afford essential food items.
Climate change poses a significant threat to global food security by affecting crop yields, food prices, and the overall stability of food systems. Adaptation and mitigation strategies are essential to ensure a resilient and sustainable food supply. Efforts must focus on developing climate-resilient crops, improving agricultural practices, and fostering international cooperation to combat the adverse effects of climate change on food security.
Climate, Cairns and Tropical Gardening
There is no single solution as to how to survive and prosper in a time of climate change. Indeed, we have written a whole website dedicated to how to survive climate change. However while there is no single solution, one thing that can help during food shortages is your capacity to grow your own food,
We hope this website helps those are who are aware of the challenges we are facing and are keen to take positive steps to improve life for themselves and their community.
