Are you new to composting, or an experienced composter ready to level up your composting efforts?

Join us this International Compost Awareness Week for a free composting workshop by the experts at Compost Community. 

The session will cover: 

• choosing the system that best suits your lifestyle
• adding organics
• speeding up your compost
• troubleshooting common issues
• harvesting and using the finished compost.

Registration is essential and spots are limited.

Home Harvest Manningham is a monthly home gardening seminar series that will teach you how to grow your own delicious fresh food at home.

Want to be able to garden without spending a fortune? Maria Ciavarella from My Green Garden will show you how to utilise things you already have to garden and save money.

During this seminar you will discover innovative ways to create a sustainable garden without breaking the bank. Maria will share tips and tricks to help you save money while still achieving a beautiful and eco-friendly garden.

This session will cover how to:

• repurpose everyday items
• recycle organic waste
• make the most of your garden space.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to embrace sustainable practices and save money in the process.

As a special treat, all attendees will participate in a tomato seeding activity with a heritage or heirloom seed variety from the Bulleen Art and Garden range.

The community food, seed and garden swap takes place at 6.45pm, 15 minutes before each session.

Registration is recommended but not required.

This event is part of our Inspired Living Series. This series showcases an exciting range of fun and sustainable activities and events for all ages, supporting sustainability at home, in the community and at work.

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Precious Plastics was started by Dave Hakkens in 2012 as part of his studies to develop machines, techniques, and strategies to tackle plastic waste.

Precious Plastic Monash are a group of students from Monash University and part of the worldwide Precious Plastic community their goal is to tackle and provide solutions to the ever-growing presence of plastic pollution.

Our primary focus areas are education, community, and design. We achieve this goal through our machines, products, and events.

Come and hear about their journey, what they are developing and the technology they are using to further develop this global alternative recycling system.

We can all participate in the movement to minimise waste.

To celebrate Plastic Free July, we'll be popping up at our local activity centres to chat with visitors about how we can all continue reducing our waste and in particular, single-use plastics.

Come along and say hello!

Ready to level up your composting effort? Come along and learn from the experts at Compost Community.

They will show you how to advance your composting journey, including:

• speed up your compost
• trouble shoot issues
• harvest and use your compost.

Learn some tips and tricks to help you push the envelope and recycle more organics at home.

Join a free tour to explore the Bio Gro organics facility.

Discover where Manningham’s food and garden waste is transformed into compost as part of our Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service.

You can see first-hand how your food and garden waste is processed with the chance to ask questions along the way.

Important information:

• Closed-toe shoes must worn on the day.
• Participants must be 18 years or older.
• Please note that there are stairs leading to the decontamination line, which may not be suitable for individuals with limited mobility.

Where to meet:

The tour includes bus transport to and from the Bio Gro organics facility in Dandenong South.

The tour will depart and return to the Manningham Civic Centre at 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster 3108.

Registration is essential as spots are limited. 

As part of the Inspired Living Series, Hannah Maloney and Adam Grubb will discuss permaculture and waterwise gardens at the Manningham Function Centre.

Hannah Moloney

Hannah Moloney is best known for her work in permaculture and as a presenter on ABC’s Gardening Australia. Her first book The Good Life: How To Grow A Better World explores ways to counter the climate emergency individually and collectively. Hannah will discuss founding Good Life Permaculture in Tasmania, Home Harvest an annual edible garden tour and why she is known as the 'compost queen'.

Adam Grubb

Adam Grubb runs Very Edible Gardens, who have been designing and creating edible home and community gardens in Melbourne for the last 15 years. He's also co-authored several books, including The Art of Frugal Hedonism and The Weed Forager's Handbook. He got into edible gardening (and co-founded the Permablitz movement of volunteer backyard makeovers) in the mid 2000's in the heart of the millenium drought. Adam will take some lessons learnt then and since to share ways that we can create lush and productive oases with a minimum of water use including wicking beds, passive water capture with micro earthworks, tanks, greywater and more. 
 

Inspired Living Series - keynote speaker events

The Inspired Living Series - keynote speaker events showcases five insightful, not-to-be-missed evenings at the iconic Manningham Function Centre.

The series will introduce you to a diverse line-up of local and international keynote speakers offering unique insights on how we can all shift to a greener future.

Topics range from permaculture to sustainable fashion. Each speaker will inspire and motivate simple, positive lifestyle choices, connection to nature and growing a thriving community in the midst dynamic change.

The Clothing Exchange believes that looking good shouldn’t cost the earth.

Swapping is a clever and thrifty way to update your wardrobe without hitting the shops. It saves you pennies and the planet too!

Eligibility
To participate you must drop clothes off. For each item you drop off you will receive a token which can then be used to select another item. A maximum of eight items per person will be accepted.

Please note: the clothes drop off starts at 12.00pm and the clothes swap exchange starts at 1.00pm.

What we accept

We will only accept items that are:

• clean, folded or pressed
• good quality with a long potential lifespan
• free of faults or with minor faults that are easy to repair (for example, a missing button)

The best items to swap are good quality garments that you once loved but are no longer your favourites or perhaps no longer fit you perfectly. This way, you’re giving them a second life with someone new who will treasure them.

Whatever you swap, please make sure you are emotionally detached from the item, as once it has been swapped you cannot change your mind.

What we don't accept

We will not accept:

• anything pilled, smelly or too far from perfect
• undergarments
• swimwear
• tracksuits

Please note: we have quality screening processes at our events.

Any items left over after the event finishes are donated to a local charity.

Participants will learn how to make and maintain beeswax wraps for keeping food fresh and hygienic without the use of single-use plastics such as cling-wrap.

Come along and learn how to compost, worm farm and bokashi to make a meaningful difference to the planet and help reduce food waste.

Learn some science behind composting, fun facts about worms and become an expert at indoor composting.

Meet some real live worms and learn some tips to boost their breeding and appetite!

Who is it for?

The workshop is aimed at primary and secondary school aged children.

We can all participate in the movement to minimise waste.

To celebrate Plastic Free July, we'll be popping up at our local activity centres to chat with visitors about how we can all continue reducing our waste and in particular, single-use plastics.

Come along and say hello!

We can all participate in the movement to minimise waste.

To celebrate Plastic Free July, we'll be popping up at our local markets to chat with visitors about how we can all continue reducing our waste and in particular, single-use plastics.

Come along and say hello!

We can all participate in the movement to minimise waste.

To celebrate Plastic Free July, we'll be popping up at our local markets to chat with visitors about how we can all continue reducing our waste and in particular, single-use plastics.

Come along and say hello!

We can all participate in the movement to minimise waste.

To celebrate Plastic Free July, we'll be popping up at our local activity centres to chat with visitors about how we can all continue reducing our waste and in particular, single-use plastics.

Come along and say hello!

We can all participate in the movement to minimise waste.

To celebrate Plastic Free July, we'll be popping up at our local activity centres to chat with visitors about how we can all continue reducing our waste and in particular, single-use plastics.

Come along and say hello!

We all love food. As a society, we devour countless cooking shows, culinary magazines and foodie blogs. So how could we possibly be throwing nearly 50 per cent of it in the trash? 

This documentary film looks at our systemic obsession with expiry dates, perfect produce and portion sizes, and reveals the core of this seemingly insignificant issue that is having devastating consequences around the globe. 

Just Eat It brings farmers, retailers, inspiring organisations, and consumers to the table in a cinematic story that is equal parts education and delicious entertainment. With its mix of humour and eye-opening moments, it encourages viewers of all ages to rethink their food habits and make more sustainable choices.

Bring your own drink and receive a free bag of popcorn! 

Registration is required. 

Home Harvest Manningham is a monthly home gardening seminar series that will teach you how to grow your own delicious fresh food at home.

Karen Sutherland from Edible Eden Design will talk about the best way to maintain and prune your fruit trees during winter for long lasting thriving fruit trees. 

Food swap from 6.45pm, session starts at 7.00pm.

Registration is recommended but not required.

This event is part of our Inspired Living Series. This series showcases an exciting range of fun and sustainable activities and events for all ages, supporting sustainability at home, in the community and at work.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

Subscribe now