Our little Sussex Green Living posse sat around earlier this year and just casually chatted about how we would like a sustainable community to look and what steps we could realistically take with the resources available to us with zero funding. Nothing that could be termed New Age Fluff just stuff everyday folks might get behind. The Reuse Shop at our local recycling centre was one...we've explored that and are still prodding and challenging the obstacles put before us, especially in the light of discovering that all the surrounding counties already have them. Dear old West Sussex has to get its recycling targets up from 44% to 50% by 2020 somehow so this is beginning to look increasingly like a viable option...at least worthy of further investigation at this stage.
The other project we had in mind was setting up a Repair Cafe. Now I'm not going to take any credit for sorting this one out....I stick to the Terracycle schemes and FB page moderation, but I guess this has freed up time for the others who aren't still working to get the ball rolling. It took a while to find a suitable location, but as of last Saturday we now have a cafe which will open for 2.5 hours on the first Saturday of the month. With a rolling programme of events we are trying it out for a year to see how it goes
I've been amazed at the attention our project has attracted. It's been picked up by the media and given very positive coverage. It was therefore, with some trepidation we opened our doors...we had no idea how it would go, but a steady stream of people turned up to learn how to repair and upcycle clothing. It was an ideal opportunity for me to be able to clarify the recycling schemes we run and many took advantage of the Ecover refilling service programme which our hosts, The Quakers, have already set up. It was officially opened by our local MP and our local councillor who is head of waste.
Just a few photos of the day. Next month it's repairing electrical and tech.
I felt really proud to play a small part in something so positive.
Arilx
The other project we had in mind was setting up a Repair Cafe. Now I'm not going to take any credit for sorting this one out....I stick to the Terracycle schemes and FB page moderation, but I guess this has freed up time for the others who aren't still working to get the ball rolling. It took a while to find a suitable location, but as of last Saturday we now have a cafe which will open for 2.5 hours on the first Saturday of the month. With a rolling programme of events we are trying it out for a year to see how it goes
I've been amazed at the attention our project has attracted. It's been picked up by the media and given very positive coverage. It was therefore, with some trepidation we opened our doors...we had no idea how it would go, but a steady stream of people turned up to learn how to repair and upcycle clothing. It was an ideal opportunity for me to be able to clarify the recycling schemes we run and many took advantage of the Ecover refilling service programme which our hosts, The Quakers, have already set up. It was officially opened by our local MP and our local councillor who is head of waste.
Just a few photos of the day. Next month it's repairing electrical and tech.
Items made from men's ties, duvet covers and knitted strips of sheets.
Arilx
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Well done...every little helps do the saying goes! x
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was great fun too....none of this hair shirted nonsense!
DeleteArilx
That's a wonderful achievement. Well done.
DeleteI follow the charity Traid on Facebook and am always impressed with the repairing courses they offer, too. xxx
I'm just the monkey not the organ grinder, but I hope it inspires people. It appeals to my naturally thrifty nature.
DeleteArilx
Great Idea!!,I wish we had something like this where i live.I always recycle and reuse everything i can.I like the idea of knitting strips of material!!,Im going to try that.Debi,x
ReplyDeleteThanks. I found the whole event really inspiring and yes, that knitting appealed to me too!
DeleteArilx
Noticed there was one in our small town as well, slowly the world revolves to more sensible options, take Edible Todmorden where my daughter lives for a start!
ReplyDeleteIt's just plain old fashioned common sense. Sometimes I really do think I was born into the wrong generation.
DeleteArilx