Christmas 07 Newsletter

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Sustainable Living

Rachel Brown
Wanaka Wastebusters Sustainable Living Coordinator

With the Government clearly indicating that the environment is a priority for 2007, Queenstown Lakes District Council is doing its bit to encourage sustainability by contracting Wanaka Wastebusters to deliver a Sustainable Living programme in both Wanaka and Queenstown.
 

Sustainable Living is an independent, community-based adult education and action programme that helps people make informed decisions about their choices affecting the environment. The programme focuses on practical tips and techniques to reduce your environmental footprint through energy efficiency, waste reduction, shopping choices, lower carbon transport, alternatives to toxic chemicals, conserving water use, composting and growing organic food.

During the fourth school term of 2007, I organised a series of seven night classes in Wanaka and three in Queenstown. My aim was to choose topics that are particularly relevant and important to these communities.

The programme in Wanaka began with a session on sustainable building to coincide with the Sustainable House Day. We then had a couple of inspirational speakers about water issues: Jo Wakelin on Dry Gardening and Nick Mills on using Biodynamic methods to avoid irrigating. Another session on building and energy issues followed, then two sessions facilitated by Wanaka Permaculture that focussed on how to build your own vegetable garden and how to use your food scraps to feed it. The final session aims to bring sustainability to Christmas – looking at how to lessen our footprint at this consumptive time of year!

We had from 8-32 participants at each of these Tuesday night sessions. The highlights were networking with each other for inspiration and information. It was very exciting to share stories and encourage each other in positive action.

In Queenstown, the pilot programme coincided with the introduction of kerbside recycling to the Wakatipu. The first session was on waste; this was followed by sessions on shopping and composting. A small but very enthusiastic network of participants was established over this time.

It is so inspiring to meet people who are serious about lessening their footprint on this earth: Queenstown is lucky to have some discerning citizens who are determined to lead the way in sustainable living.

Plans are to run a seven session programme in both Queenstown and Wanaka next year once the summer evenings start closing in and people are ready to gather round and inspire and inform each other again.

Thanks to all those who participated in our inaugural Sustainable Living Programmes. I look forward to catching up with you all in 2008, along with newcomers to our worthwhile networking sessions.