Workshops and Plastic Free July!

Posted 9 years, 10 months ago    0 comments


Timebank workshop - Upcycling with Di Jennings

1pm to 3pm, Saturday 21 June, 2014

Venue: Register for location

Please register by replying to Annie at acochrane@orcon.net.nz or 021922253 cell

The workshop will use 2  TimeBank credits.  Don't worry if you don't have any credits right now, going into 'debt' is not a problem with TimeBank.

 This workshop aims to inspire participants about upcycling clothes – how to transform a garment or garments into something gorgeous that you will love to wear! Di has a background as a fashion designer and has played with upcycling in recent years – including co-authoring a book “Alchemy Arts: Recycling is Chic” that is full of inspiring ideas.

Di will show some of her upcycled works and provide tips for combining and decorating garments in interesting ways. It is suggested that you bring along a project or project idea that participants can collectively discuss how to progress…

With just 2 hours, this workshop is aimed at inspiring and ideas exchange, rather than completion of a project. Hopefully it will get you started though…

 

 

Sunday June 29th Bike Maintenance with David 1pm -

Come clean your bike chains and tighten those loose nuts. Great way to get to know your bike and how you can give it a bit of DIY love. Drop-in workshop at the Environment Centre, Town Hall


Plastic Free July Workshop
@ Valente’s on Thursday July 3rd -7pm
Advice and tips on plastic free living with local expert, Merren Tait. Expert?
Merren’s been living 11 months plastic free and also writes a blog detailing the how and the why.
http://1yearnoplastic.blogspot.co.nz/

Plastics Anonymous meetings
@ Harbourview every Thursday in July - 5pm
Provides opportunities for learning, creative ideas, strategies, support and encouragement. Share your plastic dilemmas and also get free prizes!


Coming up this week...

Posted 9 years, 11 months ago    0 comments

This week we need you! We have two great opportunities to help your community through Curtain Bank and Fruit Tree Planting. Plus, we have a FREE EM workshop for you to help your gardens and home thrive! Later this month, we've got another great Timebank potluck. Read on for details...

 

Curtain Bank Working Bee - Tuesday June 3rd @ noon


If you'd like to be involved in this project, we're looking for volunteers to come along and help measure and sort curtains at our June working bee. They'll be free cake! And tea! Come meet our friendly team and other lovely locals. If you're a timebank member you'll also earn a credit. 

@ Raglan Town Hall, Bow Street, June 3rd, 12.00 noon

Arbor Day Fruit tree planting – Wednesday June 4th @ 1pm

Come plant fruit trees with Whaingaroa Environment Centre! Thanks to generous donations from Lions Club and Raglan Backpackers, we have some fruit trees to put into public places in Raglan. But we need your help! Come along and get these trees in with us! The long-term vision is to have fruit along public walkways and parks so everyone in Raglan can enjoy fresh, local produce.

@ meet Raglan Town Hall, Bow Street, June 4th 1pm

EM and bokashi workshop – Tuesday June 3rd @ 7pm
"DON'T WASTE USEFUL WASTE!"

EM stands for Effective Microorganisms and they are indeed effective at so many things! You can use EM in composting, household odour control, septic tanks, and more… Come along to learn about all the uses of EM and ask questions with Mike Daly of EMNZ and visiting expert Dr Ravi Sangakkarra

 SPEAKER PROFILES
Dr. Ravi Sangakkara completed his PhD in NZ in the 1980’s at Massey University; he now holds a chair in Crop Science at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. Ravi specializes in crop agronomy and food production systems and has extensive international publications in this area. In addition to his very busy teaching and research programme in agronomy, Ravi has developed a broad technical expertise in EM® technology, including many research projects evaluating EM®, Bokashi and Nature Farming techniques around the world.

Mike Daly studied agricultural science at Lincoln University in the mid 70’s and then began a 20 year career in agricultural research working for MAF, AgResearch and HortResearch, specialising in sustainable farming methods and in particular organic farming techniques. While attending an international conference on organic farming in Brazil in 1992, he heard a presentation on EM® and was invited to research this technology in NZ. After three years of research he considered the technology had great promise and set up a Trust (NZNFS) to develop EM® and Bokashi in NZ. He has since founded Naturefarm, a company dedicated to the development and sale of EM and microbial technology in NZ.

 

@ meet the Environment Centre, Raglan Town Hall, Bow Street, Tuesday June 3rd @ 7pm. Please register 825 0480 or envirocentre@whaingaroa.org.nz

em bokashi workshop.pub

COMING SOON....

Timebank Potluck- June 15th

Timebank potluck are a great chance to meet your neighbours and get chatting about how we can help each other, share skills, and support our community!

Come between 5-5.30pm if you would like to see the sunset into the sea at Suz's house.  :)

Join Timebank or get in touch for address.

 

Timebank in Waitetuna

Timebank in Waitentuna! Raglan Timebank coordinator Bexie recently gave a presentation to local residents who's ears perked up when they heard about Timebanking through a local maildrop. If you live in Waitetuna, you TOO can join Timebank and get a local group going to help your neighbours and get the support that you need! Get in touch with WEC.

 

 






 

 


Free events, Working bees, training and workshops!

Posted 9 years, 11 months ago    0 comments

What’s coming up @ the Environment Centre

We've got a lot coming up in the next couple weeks. Here's a calendar so you can come along!

Timebank Winter Kai Workshop - May 26th @ 6pm
Indoor gardening! Well...kind of...! Come along to our Timebank Fermenting, Sprouting and Microgreens Workshop. Learn from our knowledgeable locals, taste and try out fermented veges and take home some samples and microgreen trays to continue producing at home. 

Register by phone 825 0480, or email timebank@whaingaroa.org.nz 
$2.00 Koha for materials plus 2 Timebank credits, 26th May 6-8pm, location on registration

 

Training Workshops with Sustainable Coastlines - May 27th – 29th

Sustainable Coastlines are doing a Training Workshops tour, and offering free workshops in Whaingaroa for community groups and volunteers. Next week, we’ll be hosting three workshops on Event Management, Public Speaking and Working with Community Probation Services. If you’re interested in any of these workshops, please get in touch with Whaingaroa Environment Centre.

 

May 27th 1pm - Event Management @ Town Hall, Supper Room

May 28th 3pm - Presenter Training @ Community House

May 29th 3pm - Working with Community Probation Services @ Whaingaroa Environment Centre

 

Matt and Andy – Earth’s Customer service team - May 28th

Matt and Andy are coming to Raglan to deliver free performances to our schools and community, including free giveaways. Performances are 15-minutes each and are assured to be entertaining and hilarious!

@ Xtreme Zero Waste 10:30am Wednesday May 28th

and Raglan Town Hall stairs 12:00 Noon Wednesday May 28th

 

Timebank Presentation @ Waitetuna school

Hey Waitetuna residents!

We are hoping to get a local membership to Timebank, so that we can call on each other when small tasks are needed or when you need help getting a job done.

As a member of Timebank, you’ll find lots of opportunities throughout Whaingaroa. Yoga, gardening, workshops and more..

In Waitetuna, we’ll be able to support each other locally through Timebank.

If you’re interested, get in touch with Ruth Jowers 07 825 5274

 Or come to our info night!

@ Waitetuna School May 28th 2014 @ 7:30pm

 

Love Your Water Tree Planting May 30th - 31st

At the end of the month our friends Sustainable Coastlines have organised a 2-day tree planting. So come along and warm up with some digging! Saturday morning they'll also be at Xtreme Waste's Name Change party. Head there for 10.30 for upcycling, mural making, morning tea fun and then go plant some trees!  www.sustainablecoastlines.org.nz  

Friday 30th May, 9-3pm @Raglan Area School
Saturday 31st May, 1-3pm @Rugby Grounds for Kaitoke Peninsula and Xtreme Zero Waste May 31st 10:30am – 12:30pm

 

Curtain Bank Working Bee
Now's the time to sign up for the curtain bank if your feeling chilly at home. Good quality, well-fitting curtains can noticeably reduce heat loss- and we run a project that will find, measure and fit your curtains for free! Sign up at WEC.  

If you'd like to be involved in this project, we're also looking for volunteers to come along and help measure and sort curtains at our June working bee. They'll be free cake! And tea! Come meet our friendly team and other lovely locals. If you're a timebank member you'll also earn a credit. 

@ Raglan Town Hall, Bow Street, June 3rd, 12.00

 

EM and bokashi workshop – Tuesday June 3rd @ 7pm

EM stands for Effective Microorganisms and they are indeed effective at so many things! You can use EM in composting, household odour control, septic tanks, and more… Come along to learn about all the uses of EM and ask questions with Mike Daly of EMNZ and visiting expert Dr Ravi Sangakkarra

@ meet the Environment Centre, Raglan Town Hall, Bow Street, Tuesday June 3rd @ 7pm. Please register 825 0480 or envirocentre@whaingaroa.org.nz

 

 

Arbor Day Fruit tree planting – Wednesday June 4th @ 1pm

Come plant fruit trees with Whaingaroa Environment Centre! Thanks to generous donations from Lions Club and Raglan Backpackers, we have some fruit trees to put into public places in Raglan. But we need your help! Come along and get these trees in with us! The long-term vision is to have fruit along public walkways and parks so everyone in Raglan can enjoy fresh, local produce.

@ meet Raglan Town Hall, Bow Street, June 4th 1pm


Warm up ready for Winter with WEC

Posted 9 years, 11 months ago    0 comments

Check out all our winter warming events this May/June and get ready for the colder weather with one of our brrrrr-illiant projects..!

Curtain Bank
Now's the time to sign up for the curtain bank if your feeling chilly at home. Good quality, well-fitting curtains can noticeably reduce heat loss- and we run a project that will find, measure and fit your curtains for free! Sign up at WEC.  

If you'd like to be involved in this project, we're also looking for volunteers to come along and help measure and sort curtains at our June working bee. They'll be free cake! And tea! Come meet our friendly team and other lovely locals. If you're a timebank member you'll also earn a credit. 

@ Raglan Town Hall, Bow Street, June 3rd, 12.00

Working Bee June 14.pub

 

Winter Kai Workshop
Indoor gardening! Well...kind of...! Come along to our Timebank Fermenting, Sprouting and Microgreens Workshop. Learn from our knowledgeable locals, taste and try out fermented veges and take home some samples and microgreen trays to continue producing at home. 

Register by phone 825 0480, or email timebank@whaingaroa.org.nz 
$2.00 Koha for materials, 26th May 6-8pm, location on registration

Door Snake Sewers Needed! 
Door snakes are a great way to stop cold drafts sneeking under doors. We sell them in our Enviro shop and need keen volunteers to help stuff and sew a bunch of new snakes to build up some Winter stock. Pop in to see us if you can help! It'll be much appreciated.  

Love Your Water Tree Planting
At the end of the month our friends Sustainable Coastlines have organised a 2-day tree planting. So come along and warm up with some digging! Saturday morning they'll also be at Xtreme Waste's Name Change party. Head there for 10.30 for upcycling, mural making, morning tea fun and then go plant some trees! 

Friday 30th May, 9-3pm @Raglan Area School
Saturday 31st May, 
1-3pm
 @Rugby Grounds for Kaitoke Peninsula Register @www.sustainablecoastlines.org.nz  


Police Gardens Working Bee 

Lastly- another warming working bee! Come along and lend a hand, get stuck in and take home some fresh veges from the community gardens. 

@ Police Community Gardens, 3 Wi Neera St, 17th May 9am

police garden working bee may.pdf

 


Upcoming events and projects from KASM, Koanga Institute and more..

Posted 10 years ago    0 comments

Check out our projects..

Terracycle!

Whaingaroa Environment Centre is participating in a nationwide innovative recycling programme to save wrappers from landfill and fundraise towards a local project.

Over 200 locations across the country, including Raglan’s Whaingaroa Environment Centre are participating in the Mondelez, Confectionery Wrapper Brigade run by TerraCycle, a global company that recycles difficult and “non-recyclable” waste.

The collected waste will then be recycled into affordable, sustainable consumer products and materials. For every confectionery wrapper returned, TerraCycle will make a donation of two cents to the school or charity organisation of the collector’s choice.

Check out TerraCycle's new initiative to recycle toothbrushes and coffee capsules. But don't forget, you can buy bamboo toothbrushes from the Herbal Dispensary and make your own coffee from Raglan Roast! These recyclers aren't the solution to the problem, but they're creating awareness in the right direction.

What's Happening this month...

May 3 - KASM Fundraiser

Raising Funds to Fight Seabed Sand Mining!

A fundraiser music/auction event is being held at the Raglan Club on Saturday 3rd May. Top musicians include Raglan local Midge Marsden and the Legendary Raglan Mudsharks;  Moana and the Tribe; Slipped Discs and Amelia Penfold. Food also available.

Doors open 6.30pm at the Raglan Club.

Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased from the Raglan Information Centre or Whaingaroa Environment Centre. Contact Hine on 825 0900 for more information  

 

22 May - Hamilton - Kay Baxter from Koanga Institute

“Kay Baxter and the crew from the Koanga Institute will be touring the country through May - July raising funds to save their land and save NZ's heritage seeds.  Kay, co-founder of Koanga Institute, world-renowned expert in seed-saving and permaculture gardening will be doing two inspiring talks in one session, her first talk will be ‘Seeds, Humans and the Process of Co-evolution… a regenerative way forward’  and in the second Kay will share her journey around ‘Future proofing Your Health and Designing Your own Nutrient Dense Diet’.  During July, the team ¬¬will also be carrying out travelling workshops to show people how to live in a more sustainable way.  For more information and to purchase tickets - visit www.koanga.org.nz/tour.

 


Gardening and Neighbours

Posted 10 years, 1 month ago    0 comments

Hi-dee-ho Neighbourinos!! This Weekend 29-30th March is Neighbours Day

What better way to get to know your neighbours and your community than lend a hand at our upcoming working bee.  The Raglan Police Community Gardens would love a bit of attention.  Come down and meet Wayne, local expert gardener and coordinator of the Police garden.  Learn some new skills, meet some new people, lend a hand and walk away with some fresh veges.  See our poster below for details

Neighbours Day Aotearoa is a national campaign that aims to get all kiwis to go one step further in getting to know their neighbours on one day (weekend) of the year. Driven by the simple belief that great neighbours make great neighbourhoods, the NDA campaign is about turning streets into neighbourhoods, strangers into friends and turning every street in New Zealand into a fun, friendly, safe and resilient place to live. It all starts with kiwis connecting with the people that live behind, beside, in front of and across the road from them.  


There are lots of ideas on www.neighboursday.org.nz for what YOU might do to celebrate neighbours day this year. Here are just a few of them:
  • Sharing food - take your neighbor a cake or some produce from your garden. 
  • Get together for a street BBQ, games, or a street clean up 
  • Start a street book club
  • Organise a DIY party: make natural cleaners,chutneys, homemade facials or learn to bake something new together

You can also join in the national campaign by registering your event on the website. 

Tell us about it - we'd love to hear about some Raglan Neighbour Day activities!

 

 


Speaking up about seabed mining and FREE CURTAINS

Posted 10 years, 1 month ago    0 comments

Kia ora koutou!

The EPA hearings are well underway for the Trans Tasman Resources application to mine our seabed.  Phil McCabe from KASM has been keeping us up to date as the hearing progresses with his blog http://kasm.org.nz/latest/

The EPA will be coming to Hamilton to continue the hearing between the 1st and 7th April.  This is your chance to speak up! If you made a submission through the KASM website and inidcated you wished to be heard, come along to the KASM workshop tomorrow.  Phil McCabe and Malibu Hamilton will be offering their expertise and assisstance about the hearing process and how best to get your point across.  Please spread the word about this!

WORKSHOP FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK AT THE EPA

THURSDAY 20TH MARCH 4:30PM - 6:30PM;  TOWN HALL -SUPPER ROOM

https://www.facebook.com/events/380054755471008/

 

And as the weather cools it's the purrrfect time to start thinking about getting your home ready for the cold in winter.  1/3 of the heat in your home can be lost through your windows. Properly fitted curtains can make a huge to different to the health of your home, and your pocket, saving you on your heating bill. We are still running the Raglan Curtain Bank and can offer a free curtain service to anyone with a community service card, others may receive the service for a koha.  We alter and line the curtains to fit your home. Spread the word in your networks and pick up an application form from the centre.  

And we'd still love to receive any clean curtains you may have.

 


Raglan West Food Forest working bee this Saturday

Posted 10 years, 2 months ago    0 comments

Come along this Saturday 9am to the Raglan West food forest in Taipari Ave.  Bring a helping hand and we'll provide some tools.  We want to see more FREE fruit and vegetables for our community! (see poster attached)

 

And we can't wait for Maui's Dolphin Day this Sunday 2nd March!!  Put those finishing touches on your recycled raft and we'll see you at the finish line!  Spaces are filling up for raft entrants so make sure you reigister.  And don't forget our Project Maui Recycled fashion show, just turn up on the day and get creative with our supply of recycled materials.  We have some really great prizes to give away and some awesome entertainment lined up.  Can't wait!



Shim