Posts Tagged ‘waste’
Environment Victoria’s Flemington Green: Project Update
Posted in Movements, Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on January 19th, 2012
Photos from Flemington Green
From “Flemington women showing the way” from Environment Victoria:
Recruited by our Community Consultant, Iman Barabiaa, another group of Flemington residents have just completed their Flemington Green sustainable living training. The 16 women are from East African countries (Eritrea, Ethiopia and South Sudan), Turkey and Yemen and all reside on the Flemington public housing estate. The women have attended workshops on saving energy and saving water (with a guest presentation from City West Water), held by Environment Victoria at the Flemington Community Centre in November 2011. The group also visited SKM Recycling in Coolaroo to learn about waste and recycling – and we enjoyed a lunch of Turkish kebabs together in Broadmeadows.
They’ve told us they’ve learn a lot. Many participants, being new to Australia and having lived in countries where water and sanitation conditions are quite different, were very impressed to learn that Melbourne’s tap water does not have to be boiled before drinking, and said they’d keep that energy saving tip in mind. The visit to SKM showed the sheer scale of recycling that happens every day in Melbourne and the vast amounts of energy these processes require. Many participants said they’ll be talking to their friends about the need to recycle carefully and to reduce the amount of rubbish we throw away. Not all Flemington residents have the luxury of being able to recycle at home, but with the new recycling pilot program on the estate continuing to progress well, more and more will gain the opportunity.
After the energy saving workshop, each participant told us she went home and started taking action, such as switching off appliances at the wall; unplugging the mobile phone charger when it’s not being used (it still draws power even when it’s not charging); talking to her sister in her home about energy-guzzling down-lights and giving a presentation about ways to save energy in her English class.
New knowledge and motivation, and new environmental action – these Flemington women are showing the way for their community to take green action.
>> Find out more about Environment Victoria’s Flemington Green project.
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If it’s broke – Fix it!
Posted in Events, Movements, Seeking by ecoApril on January 17th, 2012
| 19 February , 2012 | ||
| 11:00 am | to | 3:00 pm |
Photo from the 2011 Repair Workshop by Fernando De Sousa
A free, friendly workshop to repair (or reimagine) broken household items will be staged for this year’s Sustainable Living Festival at Melbourne’s Federation Square.
Collaborative Fix it! repair sessions are hosted by community members who believe there are better options than sending broken objects on a one-way ticket to landfill. Fix it! was founded by locals April Seymore, Renae Crosthwaite and Chandra Sundareswaran with the support of Sustainability Victoria and Metropolitan Waste Management Group. The friends want to share skills and build public confidence for repairing items that otherwise literally go to waste.
“We hear so much about our current ‘throw away society’ and we want to change that thought process,” said April. “Part of the Fix it! philosophy is to inspire participants to host fixing get-togethers in future. So while we will repair items at the Festival at no charge, we will also demonstrate how repair is achievable, affordable and help everyone feel capable. Helping people hem their garment or gain the self-assurance to repair a basic electrical item could make a huge difference to the amount and types of things that are clogging up landfill, dumped on nature strips, or donated broken to Op Shops who don’t have repair capacity.”
Recent repair, creating and upcycling events in Melbourne have met with enormous success. Artists and technicians at the July 2011 Repair Workshops rescued 3 tonnes from landfill, and this year’s Mini Maker Faire® sold out tickets almost immediately. Repair novices and gurus alike are welcome to drop into the festival workshop to sample repair projects. To BYO project, register your lamp, clothing, or woodworking repair request via email. Or simply share your fixing photos or questions with the Fix it! team via Facebook (Fix It Community) or Twitter (@FixItMelbourne).
There will be three themed Fix it! areas: Stitches—focusing on textiles; Switches—examining electrical appliances; and Splinters—woodworking with hand tools.
Get Involved: Fix it! is looking for skilled volunteers (Fixers) to assist in each of the focus areas at the Sustainable Living Festival. If you can lend a hand in the stitches, switches or splinters areas contact the team at fixitmelbourne@gmail.com.
The Sustainable Living Festival runs from 11-26 February, with Fix it! held from 11.00 am – 3.00 pm on Sunday the 19th at Federation Square in the city.
For further information and photo opportunities email fixitmelbourne@gmail.com
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St Kilda Community Kitchen: Renovated and Reopened
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on November 2nd, 2011
Via Port Philip Urban Fresh Food Network (PPUFFN)
“The kitchen is back in operation after recent renovations and the room looks fantastic. It’s great to see delicious dishes, aromas, and laughter filling the kitchen once more.” PPUFFN October Newsletter
The St Kilda Community Kitchen is a community-run weekly activity that is based on the idea that we all get stuck on cooking the same recipes day in, day out. But, while those recipes might be tired and boring to one person, they’re completely new and exciting to others! Each week people from backgrounds come together to have fun socialising and cooking, all the while expanding their cooking repertoire. So if you’ve ever wanted to learn a few more cooking skills, this is a great and engaging way to do it!
With everybody pitching in their ideas and skills in this way, you don’t need to be an expert to join in the fun, since it’s really about enjoying the experience of cooking in a relaxed and friendly group setting. In this way, a fantastic group cohesion is created that strengthens the local St Kilda community on the journey to preparing a delicious feast!
WHEN: Every Monday from 6:30pm ’til around 8:30pm. Come and stay for as much or as little as you like!
WHERE: Corner of 114 Inkerman St & Bath St, St Kilda. Enter off Bath St and look for the signs pointing to the Community Room.
COST: FREE!! All you’ll need to prepare a delicious feast is provided, just be sure to bring your appetite!
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The St Kilda Community Kitchen uses food that is kindly provided by SecondBite. SecondBite is an innovate organisation dedicated to the redistribution of surplus fresh food from local food donors directly to local community groups. This sustainable and award winning program was created in 2009 to further SecondBite’s mission of making a positive difference to people by identifying sources of surplus fresh food that might otherwise go to waste. SecondBite is always looking to engage more volunteers. For more information on how you can be involved, go to secondbite.org.
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Buy Nothing New Month: October
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on September 22nd, 2011
Source: Ethical Consumer Group
Why Buy Nothing New? Buy Nothing New is not about going without, nor is it Buy Nothing New Never. It’s about taking October to reassess what we really need, think about where the stuff we buy comes from (finite resources), where it goes (landfill), and what our alternatives are. It is about conscientious consumption and by not spending on stuff we don’t need, increasing our savings for the things we do need.
Pledge to Buy Nothing New during October and challenge over-consumption. You’ll have more time on your hands and money in your pockets.
http://www.buynothingnew.com.au/
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Cloth Nappy Expo: Casey
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on September 16th, 2011
| 24 September , 2011 | ||
| 9:00 am | to | 3:00 pm |
http://www.facebook.com/CaseyLovesClothNappies
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Businesses Thinking Globally and Acting Locally on Waste
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on August 17th, 2011
| 25 August , 2011 | ||
| 8:30 am | to | 10:30 am |
Source: Metropolitan Waste Management Group
Photo courtesy 5 Gyres
Melbourne Waste Wise Network Event
Peter Hardy from GHD will present on his recent expedition on the 5 Gyres team aboard the Sea Dragon, sailing through remote oceanic areas to study plastic pollution; Elizabeth Kasell, Director of Development from Red Group Holdings will discuss plastic recycling; Tania Crosbie, Director of Sustainability at Work, will give an overview of a recent report on ‘Sustainability in the Workplace’ and; Emily Ballantyne-Brodie, Director of Urban Reforestation, will talk about the Target 3008 project.
To be held on Thursday 25 August, 8:30-10:30am
The Sustainable Living Centre, located on Merchant St, Docklands. Book Now!
Cost $100 for non-members and additional representatives from member organisations. RSVP ellen.regos@mwmg.vic.gov.au by 18/8/11
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Toaster Rescue: Repair Workshops in Review
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on August 15th, 2011
Source: InDesign Live
From “State of Good Repair” by Alice Blackwood :
There was a sense of excitement, and perhaps just a hint of exhaustion, at the launch and auctioning off of the many re-found and re-purposed treasures created during The Repair Workshops last week [end of July]. Held as part of the State of Design Festival, The Repair Workshops saw 3 tonnes of salvaged rubbish – bike frames, broken televisions, bed frames, soft toys, instruments and more – brought down into the long yellow-lit corridors of the basement at Donkey Wheel House. For 3 days (and probably nights!) a team of ingenious designers, artists, scientists and amazingly inventive creatives worked away, hobbling together everything from vegetable colanders to record player parts, fashioning real, live working objects: lights, talking television sets, motorbike helmet speaker systems, rejuvenated dining room chairs, cutlery sets… the list goes on. The auction event went off without a hitch, with enthusiastic participants vying for their own unique piece of trash-turned-treasure.
“We raised over $2,000 for Environment Victoria and saved hundreds of dollars in landfill fees for the Brotherhood and Vinnies,” reports Co-Organiser Leyla Acaroglu. Of the pieces hard won: “I bid fiercely for 2 restored chairs and I won! They are now sitting proudly at my dining table – a testament to repair and creativity!”
It was overall, a huge project, with the workshops opening to the public over the weekend just passed. “The response from the public was amazing!” says Leyla. “We had over 500 people come through and did over 75 repairs. “People would come in and tell us about their umbrella/hair straighter/ toaster/play station control/iPod/stereo, and how they didn’t want to have to throw it out.” In most cases they would leave with a fully repaired item. “Many people just came along to visit and asked if we would be there every week as they wanted to come back. In short, the project as both a new and educative venture was “a raving success”. “We engaged lots of people with repair and value in products and we saved lots of things from landfill.”
Check out all the photos online at The Repair Workshops blog and Facebook page.
Read the full article by Alice Blackwood on In Design Live
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Bicycle Swap Meet: August 13
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on August 12th, 2011
| 13 August , 2011 | ||
| 9:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
Via Broadsheet
www.fyxomatosis.com
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Local Harvest Website for Melbourne: Seeking Input
Posted in Models, Movements, Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on August 4th, 2011
Source: Ethical Consumer Group
Image: This Is A Wake Up Call via flickr CC
There is a growing need for easy-to-use information for sourcing food locally.
Local Harvest will be a website resource focusing on food relocalisation and the promotion of alternatives for food production in an urban setting. This includes a national directory for finding food co-ops, food swap meets, community gardens, farmers markets, box systems, ‘pick your own’ farms, farm-gate products, organic retailers, seed saver networks, free-range meats, and more. Users can find alternative local food sources based on their own locality by placing in a postcode.
A second component will be the promotion and exploration of do-it-yourself alternatives for food production and meeting essential needs, including resources for growing your own food, making your own produce, storing and preserving, low energy living.
We will largely be drawing from the many existing resources, and collating them into one place. This idea is based on the one existing for the USA found at www.localharvest.org.
- Core objectives of the project are to help people move away from dependence on the supermarket and industrial food system, and support local producers, reduce transport distance and associated energy and carbon impact, and build up connections between urban consumers and rural producers.
- The target audience is initially city dwellers who are looking to minimise their impact regarding food choices. Ultimately however, it will be a useful resource for everyone who eats and is concerned about making a difference with their everyday purchasing choices.
- Additional components such as a forum and blog by producers and/ or users may be included to enhance the ‘community’ and resource sharing aspect. A companion to the website resource will be an iPhone and smart-phone app using the same data.
- Local Harvest will be comprehensive and user-friendly, and an effective tool in encouraging behaviour change in food choices.
Involvement
Let us know if you’d like to be involved in this project. Here’s some ideas.
- be part of the organising team
- help with funding
- tidying up the content
- contributing content (resources you know of in your area)
www.ethical.org.au/local_harvest
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Urban Farmers: “Homegrown” Film Screening
Posted in Events, Models by Kate Archdeacon on July 13th, 2011
| 20 July , 2011 | ||
| 12:30 am | to | 9:30 pm |
Life Changing Docos and the Transition Decade Alliance proudly present HOMEGROWN, hosted by the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute
Join us for the last public screening of HOMEGROWN… it follows the Dervaes family who run a small organic farm in the heart of urban Pasadena, California. While “living off the grid”, they harvest over 6,000 pounds (2.7 Metric Tons) of produce on a fifth of an acre (800 square metres), make their own bio diesel, power their computers with the help of solar panels, and maintain a website that gets 4,000 hits a day. The film is an intimate human portrait of what it’s like to live like “Little House on the Prairie” in the 21st Century. After the screening the on-stage panel of experts will discuss the issues and solutions raised by the film, and field questions from the audience. Come along and meet the people that are an integral part of positive and sustainable solutions.
Wednesday, July 20 · 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Melbourne Law Building Theatrette
University of Melbourne
>>Bookings page (tickets are $20 on-line or $25 on the night)
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