How to find a green community course near you

Eco Neighbourhood Group

A group initiative for those living in the Albert-Eden local board area and would like to be part of an eco-neighbourhood learning about and applying sustainable living.

• Location: Auckland

For information email [email protected].

Loving Your Leftovers

A course to teach you how to save money and time. Learn how to use all of the edible parts of vegetables and fruits, to shop seasonally, and to create exciting meals from your leftovers.

• Duration:4 weeks
• Location: Selwyn College, Auckland
• Cost: $112

For more information and to register see www.selwyncomed.school.nz/courses.

Eco Design Advisory Open Day

Part of the upskilling programme for Eco Design Advisors and affiliated service providers, such as Home Performance Advisors, designers and architects. They are also aimed at promoting the Eco Design Advisor service to areas not covered by current member councils.

• Location: Wellington
• Date: 14 October 2015
• Cost: Free

To register see www.ecodesignadvisor.org.nz/conferences.

Keeping Chooks in Your Back Yard

Chickens tick lots of boxes for the edible gardener – organic fertiliser providers, expert bug hunters and a free weeding service – all this and eggs, too. Learn how to design and create a smart chicken area, and keep your chooks healthy and cared for.

• When: 21 November 2015, 10am – 1pm
• Location: The Edible Garden, Levin (Manawatu-Wanganui)
• Cost: $65

For information and registration see www.ediblebackyard.co.nz.

Keeping Chickens and Other Feathered Friends in the City

Learn about local Council regulations on poultry in urban areas, best breeds, hatching chicks, feeding, building a permaculture dome. Also learn about keeping ducks and quails.

• Cost: $70 ($55 per person if you bring a friend)
• Location: Havelock North (Hawkes Bay)

Check www.greenurbanliving.co.nz for next course date/s and bookings.

Worm Composting

This two-hour workshop teaches the basics of ‘vermi-composting’ and how to harvest the compost or ‘vermi-cast’ to use on gardens. Participants receive their own worm bin, worms, lime and compost to set up at home.

• Location: Tauranga
• Cost: Nominal fee

To register contact Tauranga City Council on 07 577 7000.

Worm Farming, Bokashi and Cold Compost

The Compost Collectives runs many composting workshops throughout the Auckland region, covering three systems including the Japanese bokashi (fermentation of organic wastes) method. There are 13 facilitators that work across the region and if there is a community group interested in doing a specific workshop, they will come and teach the group for free.

• Location: Auckland
• Cost: Free

Check dates on www.compostcollective.org.nz/events.

There is also a pop-up garden, compost display and information workshop at Wynyard Quarter:

• When: 10th – 18th October

For more information see www.compostcollective.org.nz/wynyardquarter.

Permaculture Workshops

Permaculture, from the words ‘permanent’ and ‘agriculture’ is not just about organic gardening techniques and growing food, but has developed into a design philosophy and ethos which can be applied to eco housing and entire communities. It’s about working with nature’s patterns, plants and wildlife, to create a sustainable and largely self-reliant environment, based on observation of natural ecosystems.

Kotare Village Permaculture

An intensive 12-day course covering the curriculum recognised by the International Permaculture Research Institute, as well as an introduction to holistic management, latest on nutrition and developing cooperatives.

• Location: Kotare Village, Wairoa (Hawkes Bay)
• Cost: $1,900 (price includes all meals)
• When: Autumn course begins February 2016

For more information and registration see www.kotarevillage.org.nz.

Auckland Permaculture Workshop

The Permaculture Design Certificate offers a new form of permaculture education through 12-day-long workshops over the course of a year. These workshops focus on various aspects of ecological design, appropriate technology, social innovation and sustainable living.

• Cost: $1,350 for year or enquire about non-monetary payment options.

The following workshops are part of the permaculture certificate, but can be attended individually:

• Intensive organic gardening: 3 October 2015, 9am – 5pm
• Empowerment and resilience: 17 October 2015, 9am – 5pm

Retrofitting the Auckland Bioregion

Participants will investigate concepts and design strategies that seek to enrich their neighbourhoods and bioregion.

• Date: 14 November 2015, 9am – 5pm
• Location: Auckland
• Cost: $135

For more information email [email protected] or see www.apw.org.nz.

Organic Vegetable Gardening

This course includes garden design, permaculture principles, waste minimisation, growing organic produce, companion planting, seed saving and pest control techniques with a high practical component.

• When: 7 November 2015, 9:15am – 12:00pm
• Location: Kelmarna Gardens, Herne Bay, Auckland
• Cost: $49.95

To register see www.eventfinda.co.nz.

Department of Conservation – free online courses

www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/training-and-teaching/online-courses/

• Natural Heritage – provides a broad understanding of the fundamentals of biodiversity and DOC’s management approach.
• Heritage courses – learn about the core principles we follow to manage and protect New Zealand’s heritage.
• Animal Ecology – covers the differences between native and introduced animal species, how animals interact with each other, and why long-term predator control is vital.

EcoMatters Environment Centre

Is a provider of sustainability-related workshops (energy, water, waste, organic gardening, green building, sustainable living) and in the future they plan to coordinate longer sustainability-related courses including a (modular) Permaculture Design Certificate course. Check out www.ecomatters.org.nz.

Sustainable Living New Zealand

For information and links to other eco workshops and events in your area see www.sustainableliving.org.nz/SLP/Councils.