Living for our Future

Find out more about the free Living for our Future sustainability workshops.

All workshops are free for Boroondara residents and are led by experienced presenters. They include practical tips, demonstrations and some involve hands-on activities. We also provides delicious organic refreshments and incentives or a door prize.

Staff from the Boroondara Library Service come to some workshops with a selection of relevant books so bring your library card.

Sustainable gardening feasts

Come along to a mini sustainable gardening workshop at the Ashburton Community Festival. Rolling presentations begin at 10am and our compact (20 minute) sessions include the basics of worm farming, natural pest control and productive plants in pots (creating a moveable feast in your garden). Look for the Living for our Future marquee on High Street. Registrations are not required.

When: Sunday 26 February
Time: 10am to 12 noon
Venue: Ashburton Community Festival, High Street, Ashburton (for those not wanting to drive, Ashburton Station is very close)
There is no need to register for this workshop

Solar electricity and hot water

Learn about solar energy, including solar hot water, heat pumps and rooftop solar PV systems, to gain confidence in engaging installers.

When: Saturday 17 March
Time: 2.00pm to 4.00pm
Venue: Boroondara Council Offices, 8 Inglesby Rd, Camberwell
RSVP: Register online or by phone 9278 4011

Getting your veggie patch ready for winter

At the end of summer, it's a good idea to overhaul your veggie garden and start thinking about winter crops. This workshops covers heaps of topics including: watering, mulching, feeding, green manure crops for tired soils, and selecting perfect plants for the cooler months! Presented by Sustainable Gardening Australia, this workshop is a 'must do' for the gardening enthusiast or beginner gardeners.

When: Saturday 31 March
Time: 10.30am to 12.30pm
Venue: Alamein Neighbourhood and Learning Centre, 49 Ashburn Grove, Ashburton
RSVP: Register online or by phone 9278 4011

Retrofit your home for winter

This is the winter version of our popular Create a Cool House for Summer workshop. Learn how to keep your house warm while saving money and being environmentally friendly.

When:Saturday 21 April
Time:2.00pm to 4.00pm
Venue: Surrey Hills Neighbourhood House
RSVP: Register online or by phone 9278 4011

Welcome to the world of backyard chooks!

Backyard chook expert Maria Ciavarella will guide you through all the essentials of keeping chickens at home. Discover the variety of chooks suitable for urban gardens and where to buy them, view a range of chicken coops, find out what to feed your chicken and find solutions to common issues (dogs, foxes, health problems and retiring your chooks).

Date: Saturday 12 May
Time: 2pm to 4.30pm
Venue: Kew Neighbourhood and Learning Centre, 2-12 Derby Street, Kew
RSVP: Register online or by phone 9278 4011

Making the most of your garden's best friends (worms)

Come along and learn how you can make fantastic garden fertiliser with your own worm farm. Learn how to look after your worms, what to feed them and how to correct common problems encountered when starting out. This informative and practical workshop shows you how make a simple worm farm from polystyrene boxes. This session also covers compost bins. Please arrive at 6.45pm for light refreshments.

Date: Wednesday 23 May
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Venue: Camberwell Community Centre, 33 Fairholm Grove, Camberwell
RSVP: Register online or by phone 9278 4011

We run about twenty workshops each year and often create new workshops or repeat popular topics based on community interest. Register for our mailing list to stay informed. Our range of previous and potential workshop topics include: