Looking for something to do during lockdown? Love your local environment and want to contribute? Across our councils there are plenty of environmental events and programs to choose from. And at Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries we have a wide range of books, films and eResources to help you discover your natural environment or plan your next sustainability project.
Nillumbik Council
Expert Eco Chats
Saturday, 18 September 2021 2:00pm to 4:00pm
RE-think ways to make your home more sustainable. Free, personalised advice from the experts in heating and cooling, energy and water efficiency, sustainable design and building materials and more.
Here’s your chance for free, personalised advice from the experts in home sustainability. Ask about windows, sustainable design and building materials, heating and cooling, solar, energy and water efficiency and more. Register your interest now.
Platypus Talk
Sunday, 19 September 2021 | 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
The platypus is one of the world's most amazing animals. This furry, warm-blooded mammal lays soft-shelled eggs like a lizard, uses its bill to navigate underwater, and sorts out arguments with the help of venomous spurs. The platypus is also among the most popular of Australia's animal icons - a great flagship species for freshwater conservation. But what about the platypus's own environmental needs? How is the species faring in the wild? And what needs to be done to ensure that population survives in Diamond Creek?
Nillumbik Shire and Melbourne Water have arranged for Geoff Williams from the Australian Platypus Conservancy to share his knowledge of this fascinating monotreme in an online information session.
Geoff will highlight the features that make the platypus so special, explain its conservation needs and how to go about helping these animals. He’ll then give some hints on how to spot platypus in the wild and outline the possibilities of becoming involved in ‘citizen science’ programs to monitor the population in Diamond Creek and other waterways in the Melbourne region.
For more details see https://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Living-in/Events-and-festivals/Events-calendar/Platypus-Talk-online
Carbon Farming 101
From Monday, 20 September 2021 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Agricultural Economist Louisa Kiely explains the science and methodologies behind carbon farming and trading.
Over four sessions (plus question time), Louisa will explore how you can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from your property and capture and hold carbon in your vegetation and soils, while generating income from carbon credits. This webinar series will also cover aggregations, where small landholders work together to undertake a carbon project over a larger area.
During these sessions, Louisa will discuss how carbon farming can help you with managing land, water, plants and animals to meet the triple challenge of landscape restoration, climate change and food security. Louisa will delve into the different types of carbon farming, ranging from planting native vegetation to modified grazing management.
If you have accessibility requirements please contact environment@nillumbik.vic.gov.au to discuss.
Aboriginal agriculture with Bruce Pascoe
Sunday, 26 September 2021 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Bruce Pascoe, author of Dark Emu , Loving Country, and other titles will share his knowledge and understanding of aboriginal agriculture, the range of produce and methods it involved, and what opportunities exist in Christmas Hills for reinstating aboriginal agriculture, including partnering with Wurundjeri.
In partnership with Nillumbik Shire Council, this event will now be held as a webinar.
Registrations close midnight on Wednesday 22nd September.
The webinar link will be emailed to all those who have registered, no later than Friday 24th September.
Book tickets via Eventbrite.
Residential Solar Q&A with Solar Savers
Tuesday, 05 October 2021 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Join us for the next Solar Savers webinar.
Hear from the Solar Savers team and a representative from trusted solar installer eko energy.
The hosts will be explaining how the program works and answering frequently asked questions.
There will be an opportunity to send through questions and have them answered live during the session.
For more information see https://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Living-in/Events-and-festivals/Events-calendar/Residential-Solar-QA-with-Solar-Savers-2021-online
All things reusable
Wednesday, 20 October 2021 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Reusable items beat compostable, biodegradable and recyclable in so many ways.
Elana from Cloth Nappy Workshops Melbourne will show you how to ditch the disposable items that we commonly use around the home, which will not only reduce your household waste but will save you money.
Elana will take you through the reusable alternatives to :
- disposable paper towel
- wipes
- nappies
- menstrual products
- make up wipes
- shopping and produce bags
- and more
She will also share home set-up ideas to help make the switch to re-usables super easy.
Proudly brought to you as part of Nillumbik Shire Council’s annual Spring Outdoors program in conjunction with Manningham and Banyule councils.
For more details visit https://www.edendale.vic.gov.au/Events-Activities-Workshops/All-things-reusable-Online
What goes where in your Nillumbik bins?
Thursday, 21 October 2021 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Are you not sure where you should put a single use coffee cup, a used tetra pack or a pizza box soaked with oil and cheese?
This workshop presented by Nillumbik Council staff will explain how to use your bins to ensure the waste streams stay clean and uncontaminated - in this way, we can reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and produce clean streams for recycling.
In his workshop we will (dumpster) dive into:
- Nillumbik’s goals and projects for reducing waste
- What should go into the Red (landfill), Yellow (recycling) and Green (organic) bins
- Most common contaminants in Nillumbik’s bins
- What happens to the contents of the Red, Yellow and Green bins when they are picked up from your kerb
- What we can do at home and when out in the community to help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill
There will also be time for Q&A so come along to get some answers to your burning questions.
For more details visit https://www.edendale.vic.gov.au/Events-Activities-Workshops/What-goes-where-in-your-Nillumbik-bins-Online
How to transition from gas to an all-electric home
Saturday, 13 November 2021 02:00pm to 03:30pm
As gas prices increase and more people are looking at ways to reduce their carbon footprint, the transition to an all-electric home is both financially appealing and a sure way to take action against climate change.
This information session will help you understand:
- The steps to creating an efficient, all-electric home
- The economic and environmental benefits of reducing your household gas consumption
- The best technologies for different areas of your home
For more information visit https://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Living-in/Events-and-festivals/Events-calendar/How-to-transition-from-gas-to-an-all-electric-home-online
Insects in the garden with Denis Crawford - Online
Thursday, 18 November 2021 07:00 PM to 08:30 PM
Insects play an extremely important role in maintaining the health of our environment, but how can you tell if an insect is beneficial or a pest, and how can we attract more beneficial insects to the garden?
This webinar with Denis Crawford is brought to you by Edendale and is part of the Home Harvest program. The webinar will cover:
- the importance of insects in gardens
- why do we have pests?
- how do you know if an insect is a pest, or beneficial or benign?
- attracting the beneficial insects & deterring the pests
- the decline of insects. What does it mean?
- creating habitats for insects in the garden
Proudly brought to you as part of Nillumbik Shire Council’s annual Spring Outdoors program in conjunction with Manningham and Banyule councils.
More information at https://www.edendale.vic.gov.au/Events-Activities-Workshops/Insects-in-the-garden-with-Denis-Crawford-Online
City of Whittlesea
A Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Chickens
Wednesday, 8 September 7:00pm — 8:30pm
Join us and learn all about the benefits of having your own chickens, as well as advice on housing, feeding and choosing the right hens for the suburbs.
Bookings essential on https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/arts-events-recreation/things-to-see-and-do/events/a-beginners-guide-to-backyard-chickens/
Beyond Bush Kinder and sustainability
Monday, 6 September 2021, 6:30pm — 8:30pm. Cost: $20
This session will provide insight into mindfully engaging in outdoor programs through an Aboriginal lens. It will embrace custodianship responsibilities as a deeper way of engaging with issues of environment and sustainability on Aboriginal land.
Bookings essential on https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=682977&
Detox Your Home
Saturday 25 September 2021, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Toxic household chemicals, such as cleaning products, pool chemicals, pesticides and weed killer, can be safely disposed of for free at Sustainability Victoria's Detox Your Home events. Collected items are recovered for reuse or safely disposed of.
Detox Your Home events are drive-through (no walk-ins) and contactless, supported by a COVIDSafe plan.
Bookings essential via https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/detox-your-home-epping-registration-160508052907
Online Gardening Classes
Join in online as Mernda Community House show you everything you need to know about starting out with gardening. Learn about soil preparation, weed management, pruning and so much more.
Contact 0475454133 or https://merndach.org.au/classes-programs-and-events
New Urban Landcare Group for Thomastown & Lalor
A new urban Landcare group to look after waterways in Thomastown and Lalor starting.
Contact the group if you’re interested in getting involved by emailing Malcom Wrest on malcolmwrest@yahoo.com
Food Waste Recycling Comes to Whittlesea
City of Whittlesea residents are now able to include food scraps in their fortnightly garden waste bin. Some common items include eggshells, vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, bread, cooked bones and more. When you recycle your food waste, Council collects it and sends it to our local composting facility where it is made into fresh, healthy compost. This is then used to improve soil in productive areas of your community, such as schools, farms, parks and community gardens.
To learn more about food waste recycling and to access resources in other languages go to
https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/waste-environment/bins-and-waste/food-waste-recycling/
Books and more from Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries
Did you know that Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries has a diverse collection on sustainability projects and recycling to help get you started. Here’s some of our favourites.
Filled with down-to-earth, common-sense advice, this absolute beginner's guide for first-time chicken keepers teaches you everything you want and need to know about raising a backyard flock.
The Chicken Whisperer's Guide to Zero-Waste Chicken Keeping is the first book designed to help chicken keepers keep chickens with limited resources and environmental impact. This essential guide collects the Chicken Whisperer's own personal tips, tricks, and suggestions for reducing waste, re-purposing materials, and recycling what can't be reused.
Garden birds of Australia by Peter Slater (2015)
Discover more about the birds in your local environment with this handy field guide. Whether you’re exploring the waterways of Whittlesea or just relaxing in your backyard, birdwatching will open up a whole new world outside your doorstep.
Practical self sufficiency : the complete guide to sustainable living by Dick Strawbridge (2010)
Want to save on your fuel bills, ready to grow your own, reduce your carbon footprint, and take the self-sufficient plunge? This book provides all the step-by-step advice you need for successful eco projects, large and small. Learn to grow your own fruit & veg, make a wormery, build a chicken ark, install solar panels and more. Each undertaking is realistic, achievable and sustainable.
Curing affluenza : how to buy less stuff and save the world by Richard Denniss (2017)
In this sparkling book of ideas, Richard Denniss shows we must distinguish between consumerism, the love of buying things, which is undeniably harmful to us and the planet, and materialism, the love of things, which can in fact be beneficial. We should cherish the things we own, preserve them, repair them, and then gift or sell them when we no longer need them. We must foster new ways of thinking and acting that do not squander limited resources, and which support the things we value most: vibrant communities and rich experiences.
Kanopy
Did you know that there are hundreds of films and documentaries available to stream through the Kanopy app or website? It’s free to all library members! Why not check out Intelligent Trees to learn what is going on in the roots under your feet? Or watch Our Power to discover the story of a Victorian community’s struggle to achieve a sustainable future free from fossil fuels.