Central Coast Council is holding a series of free green living workshops to help you live sustainably and reduce your environmental impact around the home.

Learn from experts in their field on how to compost, setup an organic garden, use Australian bush flower essences, eat sustainable food, keep backyard chickens and clean your house without chemicals.

To celebrate National Recycle Week, from Monday 7 until Friday 13 November, Council also has a range of workshops that focus on recycling around the home including in the kitchen, your backyard and even in your wardrobe.

In addition, a variety of workshops will be on offer as part of the Wyong Lakes Festival from Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 November.

Council’s Environmental Education Officer, Anni Griffiths, said there are workshops to suit all households.

“Regardless of what size your backyard is or whether you live in a unit, we have a range of workshops to suit everyone’s lifestyle and sustainability goals,” said Ms Griffiths.

“By making small changes you can easily live a greener lifestyle. For instance, the average household wastes around $1,000 worth of food each year. At these workshops you can learn how to reduce your household food waste and save money, especially during the festive season.

“Discover how to turn your junk into treasure, make more sustainable food choices, and create a healthy and bountiful garden.

“We are also giving a free compost bin or worm farm to each attending household that completes the compost and worm farm workshop.”

The free workshops are held at various locations around the Coast until the end of the year. Bookings are essential. To book, visit our Green Living Workshops page.

Upcoming Green Living Workshops:

October

• Sunday 9 October, variety of workshops at Woytopia Sustainable Living Festival, 9.30am - 1.30pm, Woy Woy South Public School
  • Composting, 9.30am
  • Worm Farming, 10.30am
  • Keeping Backyard Chickens, 12pm
  • Chemical Free Cleaning, 1.30pm
• Monday 17 October, Organic Gardening, 12pm - 2.30pm, Peninsula Leisure Centre
• Tuesday 18 October, Health and the Use of Australian Bush Flower Essences, 10.30am, Lake Haven Shopping Centre
• Saturday 22 October, Compost and Worm Farming, 10am - 12.30pm, East Gosford Training Centre, 9 Russel Drysdale St, East Gosford

November

• Monday 7 November, Love Food Hate Waste, 11am - 12.30pm, Wyoming Community Centre
• Wednesday 9 November, Upcycle Kitchen Garden, 10am - 1pm, Kincumber Library
• Saturday 12 November, Wicking Bed Construction, 9am - 11am, Woy Woy Community Garden
• Saturday 12 November, Op Shop Hop, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Woy Woy Op Shops, meeting at Woy Woy Train Station
• Sunday 13 November, Keeping Backyard Chickens, 9am - 12pm, Erina Fair Meeting Space 3
• Sunday 13 November, Compost and Worm Farming, 1pm - 4pm, Erina Fair Meeting Space 3
• Monday 14 November, variety of workshops at Wyong Lakes Festival, from 9am, Buttonderry Waste Management Facility
  • Your Recycled Kitchen Garden, 9am
  • Worm Farming/Composting, 9.30am
  • Sustainable Eating, 12.30pm
  • Living with Less Chemicals, 12.45pm
• Wednesday 16 November, variety of workshops at Wyong Lakes Festival, from 9am, Buttonderry Waste Management Facility
  • Create a No Dig Garden, 9am
  • Worm Farming/Composting, 9.30am
  • Gardening in Small Places, 12.45pm

December

• Wednesday 7 December, Sustainable Eating, 6pm - 8.30pm, Erina Fair Meeting Space 3
• Saturday 10 December, Compost and Worm Farming, 9am - 12pm, The Coast Christian School
• Saturday 10 December, Practical Backyard Permaculture 12.30pm - 3.30pm, The Coast Christian School