Autumn Action

Walks Talks and workshops

March-May 2016

March

Soil Matters

A hands-on workshop on improving soils naturally through worm farming andcomposting. Learn to recycle household and garden organic waste (including dog poo!) by setting up a worm farm or backyard compost system. Learn more about plants that can help improve soils too.

Date: Saturday 19 March

Time: 2pm-4.30pm

Cost: Free

Facilitator: Dianne Gordon

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings:9433 3711 or on theEdendale website

Energy Freedom

Nine steps to Energy Freedom. That’s all it takes to put the power back into your hands and gain complete control over your energy bills. Beyond Zero Emissions will provide you with clear and simple steps to guide you through the process, answer all your questions about the latest technology and discuss why gas is no longer such a good option.

Date: Saturday 19 March

Time: 2pm–4pm

Cost: Free

Facilitator: Beyond Zero Emissions

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings: 9433 3316 or on the activities page on the Nillumbik website.

Earth Hour picnic

Join us for a picnic in the dark. Celebrate Earth Hour with unplugged band, The Booyans. Bring your own picnic, rug and sense of fun for a relaxed evening under the stars. Music includes covers from artists such as David Bowie, REM, Neil Young and Crowded House. This event will be held inside if it is raining.

Date: Saturday 19 March

Time: 7pm–10pm

Cost: Free

Band: The Booyans

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings: 9433 3316 or on the activities page on the Nillumbik website.

Backyard chooks for beginners

Come along to Edendale and learn the basics of backyard chicken keeping including bird selection, housing and care. Start to produce your own free range eggs!

Date: Monday 21 March

Time: 10am-12pm

Cost: $35

Facilitator: Stephen Laurence

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings:9433 3711 or on theEdendale website

April

Beekeeping a taster

Beekeeping is an enjoyable, relaxing and accessible hobby that has recently undergone resurgence. Learn what is involved keeping your own hive of bees during this informative session.

Date: Sunday 3 April

Time: 2pm-4.30pm

Cost: $15

Facilitator: Bob Owen

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings: 9433 3711 or on theEdendale website

Backyard chooks for beginners

Come along to Edendale and learn the basics of backyard chicken keeping including bird selection, housing and care. Start to produce your own free range eggs!

Date: Wednesday 13 April

Time: 10am-12pm

Cost: $35

Facilitator: Stephen Laurence

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings:9433 3711 or on theEdendale website

Platypus Picnic

Did you know that Nillumbik is home to the platypus? Come along and learn about this very secretive animal. We will explore where the platypus live with a walk to the creek and an expedition to catch some ‘platypus food’. Children will then be able to make their own platypus or waterbug sculpture to take home.

Please bring a snack and dress for the outdoors. Children are to be accompanied by an adult.

Date: Wednesday 13 April

Time: 10.30am-12noon

Cost: Free

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings: Essential. 131 722 or

Set up and maintain a worm farm

Learn how to set up and maintain a home worm farm –it’s easier than you might think. An efficiently run worm farm can turn your household food scraps into fabulous free fertiliser and soil for your garden. Discounted worm farms will be available at the session.

Date: Friday 15 April

Time: 3pm-4pm

Cost: Free

Facilitator: Dianne Gordon:

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings:9433 3711 or on theEdendale website

Soil matters

A hands-on workshop on improving soils naturally through worm farming andcomposting. Learn to recycle household and garden organic waste (including dog poo!) by setting up a worm farm or backyard compost system. Learn more about plants that can help improve soils too.

Date: Saturday 23 April

Time: 2pm-4.30pm

Cost: Free

Facilitator: Dianne Gordon

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings:9433 3711 or on theEdendale website

Indigenous Plant Propagation

Propagating local native plants from seeds and cuttings is an excellent way to expand your garden. The workshop will include how to select suitable cutting materials, what species grow from seed, collecting seed and storage, the propagation medium, techniques and care of the growing seedlings.

Date: Sunday 24 April

Time: 1pm-3.30pm

Cost: $35

Facilitator: Fiona Cross

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings: 9433 3711 or on theEdendale website

May

Set up and maintain a worm farm

Learn how to set up and maintain a home worm farm –it’s easier than you might think. An efficiently run worm farm can turn your household food scraps into fabulous free fertiliser and soil for your garden. Discounted worm farms will be available at the session.

Date: Friday 6 May

Time: 3pm-4pm

Cost: Free

Facilitator: Dianne Gordon:

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings:9433 3711 or on theEdendale website

Backyard chooks for beginners

Come along to Edendale and learn the basics of backyard chicken keeping including bird selection, housing and care. Start to produce your own free range eggs!

Date: Saturday 14 May

Time: 10am-12pm

Cost: $35

Facilitator: Stephen Laurence

Venue: Edendale, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings:9433 3711 or on theEdendale website

Interior Design for Health

Are you renovating or wanting to spruce up your home? Join us to hear about the importance of designing a healthy interior and how easy it is to get the result you want using much healthier alternatives to standard products and finishes. A lucky door prize will be given of a copy of Melissa’s Healthy Home Checklist.

Date: Saturday 21 May

Time: 2pm-4pm

Cost: Free

Facilitator: Melissa Wettig

Venue: Eltham Library, 1 Panther Place, Eltham (Melway 22 A1)

Bookings:9433 3316 or on the activities page on the Nillumbik website.

Cloth Nappy Information

Council runs frequent sessions to discuss the pros and cons, ins and outs of cloth nappies. The new styles of cloth nappies are a fabulous way to reduce family expenses and improve the environment. Just quietly, they’re cute to boot! If you would like to attend one of these sessions, give us a call for the next available date on 9433 3316 or email

March is Harvest Month

Throughout the month of March, activities and events will be held in Nillumbik to celebrate the summer harvest, launched by the Home Harvest Feast on Sunday 28 February. Sign up as a Grower and find out more about Harvest Month on the Nillumbik website.