Sustainability workshops for easier living

From baking your own sourdough bread to keeping chooks and bees in your backyard, Mornington Peninsula Shire is making it easy to live more sustainably with a range of workshops at The Briars’ Eco Living Display Centre.

Chooks not only make great pets, they're also great composters and happily give us delicious eggs as a reward. Learn how to create a healthy, happy ‘chooktopia’ of your own as well as finding out about chook health, nutrition, housing, protection from predators and pests, and the sustainability and circular economy benefits of keeping these delightful animals. It’s on Saturday, July 2, from 10.30am-noon; the cost is $20.

Looking for ideas to entertain the kids over the school holidays? In this hands-on workshop, they'll not only get to create their own puppets to take home using simple materials that are provided, they’ll also learn all about sustainability. It’s on Wednesday, July 6, from 10am-noon and bookings are essential; it costs $14.80.

Baking your own bread is delicious, nutritious and a great way to reduce single-use plastic, and you can experience every step in the process with sourdough expert Warwick. You will leave with dough to take home and bake later, as well as a sourdough starter, and you can enjoy a light lunch afterwards. Bring a container to take the starter home in, and a large mixing bowl to make the dough. It’s on Saturday, July 16, from 10am- 2pm; the cost is $45. It's not suitable for people with gluten intolerance.

Would you like to begin your journey into natural beekeeping but need to find out more? Or have you started keeping bees and have some questions? This introduction to natural beekeeping will help you understand how a bee colony works, what equipment you need to set up a hive, how to maintain a healthy hive, and much more.

It’s on Saturday, August 6, from 10am-noon; the cost is $30.

Finally, learn how to save energy and money without breaking the bank by sustainably retrofitting your home. You’ll be given easy, cost-effective ways to make your home more energy-efficient so you can stay more comfortable year-round. It’s on Saturday, September 3, from 11am-12.30pm; it costs $5.

For more info and to book, go to www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/enviroworkshops