Zero Waste Week

Join us in the week of interactive school holiday zero waste activities

10.00-11.30am Monday 27 September - Recycle Your Jeans Fabulously

Have a pair or two of jeans that are past wearing? Learn how to turn them into a range of items with very little waste.  You will learn how to cut them down to create bags, pouches, patches, placemats and coasters among other things.

You will need 

• a pair of old jeans
• threads – sewing cotton, embroidery thread – whatever you have.
• Personal sewing kit (scissors, pins and needles)
• most importantly your imagination and enthusiasm!

10.00-11.30am Tuesday 28 September - Quick and easy waste-free snacks

Are you trying to reduce waste, but stumped with the plastic or too busy to make an interesting lunch? There are some simple ways you can ditch the takeaway and make lunches more interesting for home, school or work

We will cover

• Ideas for waste free packed lunches
• Time saving tips to reduce waste
• Quick and easy muesli bars
• Popcorn – 3 flavours
• School lunch ideas

You can cook along and watch and chat

You will need – ingredients to come

10.00-11.30am Wednesday 29 September - Visible Mending – Make a statement with patches.

Do you have a favourite piece of clothing that is looking the worst for wear with thin patches or holes? Come along and learn how to make the clothes you love last.  You will learn to repair and embellish your clothing making them a delight to wear again.

You will need 

• clothes that have rips or holes that need repairing 
• fabrics for patches – can be old clothes, linen, sewing offcuts – whatever your have. 
• threads – sewing cotton, embroidery thread – whatever you have.
• Personal sewing kit (scissors, pins and needles)
• most importantly your imagination and enthusiasm!

10.00-11.30am Thursday 30 September - Salad for Lunch with Waste free salad dressings and accompaniments

Learn how to turn bread into the ultimate garnish for salads, and how to make simple mayo or salad dressings to avoid single-use waste and save money. 

• How to make simple dressings and mayo
• Turn old bread into croutons to make a meal special
• Beetroot and veg salad, healthy and easy for kids to make too

You will need:

Ingredients to come

10.00-11.30am Friday 1 October - Log Cabin patchwork 

Learn how to stitch patchwork blocks using recycled cloth to embed meaning into your piece. You will learn a simple running stitch which can be used for connecting pieces to a background using the Log Cabin patchwork technique. 

Using precious scraps of cloth, which can come from clothes you can no longer wear, allows you to slow down in a hectic world and take pleasure in simple stitches to creatively mend or create a masterpiece

You will need:

• 13cm x 13cm backing fabric – this could be denim, calico, cotton or linen
• Repurposed, recycled, inherited, and vintage fabric scraps you may have – cotton, linen and/or silk
• work well – you will need approximately 10 – 12 small pieces from 2cm – 4cm wide x 3cm – 10cmlong.
• Sewing thread to match your background fabric
• Personal sewing kit (scissors, pins and needles)

This event will be run ONLINE  Tickets are free.

Who will be teaching? 

Kirsty Bishop-Fox, sustainability consultant and environmental, who loves food but hates waste. She lives a low-waste lifestyle and prioritises sustainable choices in everyday life too.

Kirsty will share simple ways you can reduce waste with quick and easy recipes. You can cook along during the session or watch and ask questions so you can try them in your own time.

AND

Tamara Russell is a Textile Artist specialising in free machine embroidery, hand stitching and mending based in Melbourne. She has been making her clothes and mending since a teenager.  Loving to personalise her wardrobe with visible mending, embroidery and embellishment. Tamara enjoys teaching various forms of mending and embroidery. She also happily accepts commissions to mend your old favourites

For more information on lowering your waste check out the Zero Waste Victoria website

This program is being held in partnership with Yarra Ranges Council