Want to live a more sustainable lifestyle but not sure where to start? These Ecofest West 2020 events will give you the knowledge, ideas and inspiration to get going!
Update Friday 20 March: As Auckland Council libraries, recreation centres and pools are closed for two weeks from Saturday 21 March, the T-Shirt Bags (Sunday 22 March) and Beeswax Wraps (Wednesday 25 March) are now cancelled.
Update: An earlier version of this blog post included the EcoHub Market Day, but that event has now been postponed due to the current situation with COVID-19.
1. Green Family
Families come in all shapes and sizes, and so do the footprints we leave on our planet. Join us to learn and share tips and tricks for a more sustainable household. Brought to you by SunnySunday.
Green Family
Sunday 5 April, 11am-1pm
SunnySunday, 44e Portage Road, New Lynn
Koha, bookings required
2. Zero Waste Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home, where we cook up delicious meals to sustain our friends and whānau. But it’s also where most of our household waste originates from. Learn how to tackle this issue in your own kitchen at this interactive workshop led by Kristy Lorson, founder of zero waste enterprise EarthSavvy and the popular Zero Waste in NZ! Facebook group.
Kristy will show you all her zero waste grocery shopping, storage and cooking tips and tricks. You’ll also learn how to make your own ginger beer and vegan parmesan. Please bring a jar of one cup capacity for the ginger beer starter, and a smaller jar (baby food sized) for the vegan parmesan. Brought to you by EcoMatters.
Zero Waste Kitchen
Wednesday 25 March, 6-8pm
EcoMatters, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn
$16, bookings required
3. Clothes Swap
Bring along your clean old clothes to swap for new pre loved items. A great sustainable way to give your old unwanted clothes new life and maybe find something new. Brought to you by Auckland Libraries.
Clothes Swap
Saturday 4 April, 10.30-11.30am
New Lynn War Memorial Library, 3 Memorial Drive, New Lynn
Free event, no bookings required
4. Learn How To Compost
These courses offer an introduction to the three basic composting systems that can be used in your home and garden: traditional composting bins, worm farms and bokashi buckets. Participants will receive a $40 Voucher. Brought to you by Compost Collective.
Composting Workshop Piha
Saturday 4 April, 3-5pm
Barnett Hall, 2 North Piha Road, Piha
Free event, bookings required
Composting Workhosp Oratia
Saturday 11 April, 10am-12pm
Oratia Settlers Hall, 567 West Coast Road, Oratia
Free event, bookings required
Composting Workshop New Lynn
Thursday 16 April, 6.30-8.30pm
New Lynn Community Centre, 45 Totara Avenue, New Lynn
Free event, bookings required
5. Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
Learn how to make your own solid shampoo bars and conditioner bars. They’re great for your hair, for the environment and for your pocket! Make two shampoo and one conditioner bar for your specific hair type, course fee includes all ingredients. If used properly, each bar is equivalent to about 2-3 bottles of shampoo. Course fee includes all ingredients. Students need to bring a tea towel and container/bag to take home their products. Brought to you by Rutherford College.
Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
Sunday 22 March, 9.30am-12.30pm
Rutherford College, 16 Kōtuku Street, Te Atatū Peninsula
$69, bookings required
6. T-Shirt Bags – sorry, cancelled due to venue closure
Make your own bag from an old t-shirt. No sewing required. For ages 5-105. Bring your own old t-shirt made of stretchy fabric. Brought to you by Auckland Libraries.
7. Beeswax Wraps – sorry, cancelled due to venue closure
Keep your food fresh in an environmentally friendly way. Learn how to make yourself some beeswax wraps. Materials provided, but feel free to bring along your own fabric to upcycle. Ages 16+. Limited spaces. Brought to you by Auckland Libraries.
8. Balms And Lipbalm Making
Learn to make a basic balm and how to tweak the recipe to fit particular needs, such as sports, arthritis and skin healing balms. You will also learn how to create lip balms, including how to flavour and tint them. Brought to you by Rutherford College.
Balms and lipbalm making
Tuesday 31 March, 6.30-8.30pm
Rutherford College, 16 Kotuku Street, Te Atatu Peninsula
$49, bookings required
Share your photos from these events with #ecofestwest
These events are part of EcoFest West 2020, a month-long celebration of our stunning environment.
Check out more than 120 events at www.ecofest.org.nz.
