Sustainable Living Workshop Series

Mount Alexander Shire Council

Free Community Events2014

Join Bridget Gardner to learn how quick and easy it is to clean your home without harmful chemicals. This workshop will be informative, a little thought provoking, and lots of fun!Ray Bradfield Room. Between Victory Park and the IGA car park, Forest Street, Castlemaine. Presented by Bridget Gardner.Booking details over page.

Saturday 23 Aug 10.30am-12.30pm

Green Cleaning the Easy Way

Do you enjoy fresh eggs and the company of hens? Home chicken husbandry is making a global resurgence as people see the benefit of cheaper eggs, greater soil fertility and the companionship that comes from the having these vivacious ladies around the garden. Learn what you need to get started, how to care for chickens and how to integrate them into highly productive backyard food systems for mutual benefits for your chickens and plants. A great chance to further your eggucation.The Hub Plot. 233 Barker Street, Castlemaine. Enter via green gates in Templeton Street.(Event may be cancelled due to bad weather. Child friendly).Presented by Very Edible Gardens.Booking details over page.

Saturday 27 Sept10.30am-12.30pm

Keeping Chooks

Need a ‘helping hand’ when pedalling around the Shire? Better batteries mean electric bicycles are now a viable commuter option to replace short car trips. Electric bikes have empowered many people to return to cycling in a serious way or tackle bigger hills and distances with benefits to health, wellbeing and the environment. Come along and learn about the e-bike revolution.Ray Bradfield Room. Between Victory Park and the IGA car park, Forest Street, Castlemaine. Presented by Peter Grant from the Bike Vault.Booking details over page.

Saturday 25 Oct10.30am-12.30pm

Electric Bikes and Conversions

Want to know about the bushlands surrounding Castlemaine? Come for a walk on the wild side of the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens. An informal walk for you and your family, where you will be able spend time with an ecologist and learn some interesting facts along the way. Some paths are hilly and a little rocky so dress appropriately and wear walking shoes.West side of Castlemaine Botanical Gardens - meet at the Barkers Creek footbridge near the Botanic Gardens Tea Rooms. Presenter to be confirmed.Booking details over page.

Saturday 22 Nov10.30am-12.30pm

Bushlands of the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens

The Sustainable Living Workshop Series was developed to help local residents and farmers live and work more sustainably as part of Council’s commitment to building environmentally responsible, livable communities across Mount Alexander Shire.

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Love berries and want to learn to grow your own? Join Justin Calverley from Sensory Gardens in a berry growing crash course. The event will teach you about popular berry varieties, site selection and preparation, watering, feeding, pruning and trellising.Car Park Kitchen Garden. Rear of Castlemaine Continuing Education, Templeton Street Castlemaine.Presented by Justin Calverley.Booking details below.

Saturday 22 Feb 10.30am-12.30pm

Berry Growing Crash Course

Come for a walk and talk along Council’s walking and cycling path as it passes through our local bushlands and along meandering urban waterways. Spot a native bird, or learn some interesting facts about our local flora with ecologist Garry Cheers. Take home an indigenous plant for your garden.Meet at the end of Honeycomb Drive, Campbells Creek. (Event may be cancelled due to bad weather. Child friendly).Presented by Garry Cheers.Booking details below.

Saturday 22 March 10.30am-12.30pm

Our Urban Bushlands

Have you recently purchased rural land in the Mount Alexander Shire? Use an aerial photo to plan your vision and take the aerial photo home with you. Take this opportunity to develop networks and discover what resources are available to assist you in creating your dream property.Ray Bradfield Room. Between Victory Park and the IGA car park, Forest Street, Castlemaine. Presented by Ian Higgins.Booking details below.

Saturday 26 Apr 10.30am-12.30pm

Rural Property Planning and Management

Interested in having a healthy garden with little effort? Learn the art and science of how to team with worms and microbes to turn waste into rich organic topsoil - the cornerstone of organic gardening and ultimately human health. The session includes all the theory you need to deal with the most common problems, and includes hands-on demonstrations on compost making, and how to set up and maintain a worm farm.Car Park Kitchen Garden. Rear of Continuing Education, Templeton Street, Castlemaine. (Event may be cancelled due to bad weather. Child friendly).Presented by Very Edible Gardens.Booking details below.

Saturday 24 May 10.30am-12.30pm

Beginners Guide to Composting and Worms

Bookings Required. Contact Dallas Giles, Healthy Environments Administration Officer: 03 5471 1768 d.giles@mountalexander.vic.gov.au www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/sustainableliving

Good wollens are an investment worth making. Make your favourite merino, alpaca, and other woollens go further by learning the basics of mending and darning with the ladies from the Country Women’s Association.Ray Bradfield Room. Between Victory Park and the IGA car park, Forest Street, Castlemaine.Presented by the Country Women’s Association.Booking details below.

Saturday 28 June 10.30am-12.30pm

Mending and Darning Woollens: Socks and Sweaters

Passionate and friendly local ranger Miles Geldard will share great tips and advice on how to create an urban and rural garden that native wildlife and birds will love. You will discover the benefits of having these little creatures in your own patch and be able to look at a variety of nest boxes that they love to inhabit.Ray Bradfield Room. Between Victory Park and the IGA car park, Forest Street, Castlemaine.Presented by Miles Geldard.Booking details below.

Saturday 26 July 10.30am-12.30pm

Attracting Local Birds and Wildlife to your Garden

Photo Robyn McKay, North Central CMA