by | Dec 6, 2019 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
It’s Denmark Arts Market time again. Green Skills will continue the amazing success of our Not Waste education program. The Bin Faeries are a chance to be on the ground talking to our community and making a real difference in waste separation. To augment this Green Skills and Denmark Arts have been helping stall holders to change their practices by providing information on alternatives to single use plastic. This is not the only thing but it is a great step towards waste reduction. Also Plastic Reduction Denmark will continue there wash station and will be trialing plate washing from one stall. These two projects, community education and the changes by stallholders have reduced the landfill by over 90%. We would love to have you as a part of the team and thanks so much to everyone who has already been a part of this community action.
James the Bin Faerie
by albanymanager | Dec 3, 2019 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
40 stall holders at the Twilight Markets
Encouraging “shop local this Christmas” is the theme behind the inaugural Green Skills Twilight Markets. After extensive tours of UK Christmas twilight markets in 2018, and knowing how creative the great southern community is, Green Skills Albany Manager, Anne Sparrow, came back to Albany inspired to provide opportunity for local and regional, small, home-based and micro-businesses to increase trade in the lead up to Christmas gift giving and keeping funds circulating in our economy. Sustainable communities need sustainable economies and these small and micro-business keep money in our community.
The Twilight Markets provides a wider range of options for Christmas shoppers to support local businesses for their gifts. With over 40 stalls available across both nights, there is something for everyone. This includes a huge range of hand-crafted decorations and gifts for all ages including clothing, art, food, woodwork, mirror art, plants, decorative pieces, baskets, toys, jewellery, chocolates, functional items for house and home, beauty products, face painting, experience vouchers for wacky golf and more.
There will also be an outdoor street food alfresco area set up in the car-park providing afternoon tea, snacks, dinner and live music all night.
With two nights available shoppers have an option to leave the loved ones at home for one of the nights and shop in peace.
by Rachel | Nov 21, 2019 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
Green Skills was pleased to support the City of Albany to run another successful Green Fair in November 2019. With a jam-packed schedule of demonstrations, speakers, workshops, displays, music and market stalls, there were plenty of sustainable skills to look at. The weather was looking stormy in the week prior but Saturday brought welcome sunshine. This year the event was spread over both sides of the library (and upstairs in the meeting rooms) due to the construction site next to the Albany Town Hall.
Adrian Price travelled from Boyup Brook to talk about upcycling ewaste, how to safely dismantle items for parts and the potential for selling components.
Sustainable Schools had several displays inside the library area. Several local schools also had their own stalls outside, and it was great to see the recycling and sustainability initiatives that are popping up.
Green Skills held a stall and answered questions about our Terracycle programs, bushland regeneration and other projects.
There were lots of volunteers and community groups on the day sharing their skills and knowledge. What did you learn?
by Laura | Nov 18, 2019 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
Visitors to Coogee Beach will notice Ecojobs staff working in the dunes – not trampling, but using a technique called “brushing”.
This rehabilitation method involves using tree and shrub branches to stabilise dunes. Native branches create a microclimate that protects and shades sand, increases water infiltration, reduces erosion and wind speed, deters traffic, and traps sand. The essential conditions for revegetation.
Ecojobs team members Perry, Mitch and Ben have been working with the City of Cockburn on this coastline protection initiative.
by Basil | Oct 17, 2019 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
For two days in mid-October, Green Skills held a Citizen Science environmental monitoring event at the Balijup Sanctuary near Tenterden. 19 people participated in the activities, including Conservation lecturer from TAFE South, Sylvia Leighton and 10 of her Cert III students. Projects completed including monitoring of 24 Phascogale nesting boxes (some showing use), Wildlife camera monitoring, a tree hollow survey of the wandoo/Jarrah woodland, Sanctuary fence maintenance, weedy wattle road verge removal, night spotlighting, and a survey of rabbit warrens. Balijup co-owners Anne Vanderbyl and Alan Hordacre were on hand and provided valuable assistance to the activities.
Despite lots of indirect evidence of our elusive native marsupials, none were directly spotted during the two days.
The event was supported by the WA State Government’s State NRM program, the Koorabup Trust, Gillamii Centre, Janicke Environmental Consultants, enthusiastic volunteers and the owners of Balijup Farm.
A four day Bandicoot and fauna survey project is planned from Thursday 15th January 2020 to Monday 20 January 2020. Volunteer participants welcome to join in that event.
For further info on the Balijup Fauna project, contact Basil Schur, Green Skills Project Manager on 0429481019 or [email protected].,au
Volunteer team checking Phascogale nesting boxes at Balijup Fauna Sanctuary, October 2019
Inside a Phascogale nesting box with scats visible. Balijup October 2019
Wandoo and Jarrah woodland tree hollow survey at Balijup
Fence check and upkeep at Balijup Fauns Sanctuary by Conservation TAFE students
Annie Vanderbyl, one of the co owners of Balijup farm, with a photo acknowledging her parents, near entrance of the Balijup Sanctuary.
The Citizen Science Group on the edge of one of the 13 lakes and wetlands on Balijup Farm. October 2019
