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Switch Your Thinking

Perth’s gardeners, help save our waterways!

Each year around 250 tonnes of nitrogen and 26 tonnes of phosphorus enter the Swan and Canning rivers – nearly double what they can safely receive. The impact of this includes algal blooms, deoxygenation, fish death and human health problems. 

The main source of nitrogen entering the Swan Canning catchment is from residential housing, primarily through fertiliser application on gardens and lawns. It’s also the second highest source of phosphorus. 

To help tackle this issue ABC TV Gardening Australia presenter and environmental scientist Dr Josh Byrne is delivering a series of free workshops.

“This isn’t about tearing up your lawns and covering everything in mulch,” says Dr Byrne, “there are simple and cost effective steps we can take to reduce nutrient pollution.”

Supported by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions River Guardians program each FREE event showcases the latest ideas in river-friendly gardening as well as providing participants with practical information on design, plant selection and irrigation. The events are hosted by the City of Gosnells, City of Canning and City of South Perth.

Find out more and register for FREE tickets here

City of Armadale's win for water

A big congratulations to Switch your thinking partner local government, City of Armadale, who won the second National Water Sensitive Cities Award during the 5th Water Sensitive Cities Conference earlier this month. 

City of Armadale won the award for its outstanding water sensitive city initiatives on-ground including efficient parks irrigation, water sensitive urban design in new developments and leak detection in council buildings. The City shares the award with WA Water Corporation, which played a major role in funding the project and supporting the City.

Find out more.

Building a house? Read this first 

Perth is in the grips of a building boom! If you are building your dream home, the last thing you want after you move in is an enormous power bill. Check out our blog post on some of the no (or low) cost things you can do now to reduce the energy use of your new home and make it comfortable to live in at the same time.

Read the blog post here.

What's on

Wicking beds in small spaces

Saturday 8th May
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Bill Hicks Hall, Byford
Cost: Free

Find out how to set up a simple wicking bed in a foam box used for storing vegetables at supermarkets. This is perfect to grow lettuce or herbs and keep close to your back door to pick as you need.

Find out more

Thinking Green: Worm farming

Saturday 8th May
10:00am - 12:00pm
Guildford Public Library, Guildford
Cost: Free

Saturday 22nd May
11:00am - 1:00pm
Gidgegannup Hall, Gidgegannup
Cost: Free


Learn how to use a worm farm to transform household food scraps into useful products for your garden.

Find out more

Worm Farming Workshop

Saturday 15th May
10:30am – 12:30pm
Canning River Eco Education Centre, Wilson
Cost: Free

Come along to learn how to set up and maintain a worm farm.

Find out more

Clean NRG: Home solar and battery storage workshop

Thursday 13th May
5:00pm - 6:00pm
Town of Mosman Park Men's Shed, Mosman Park
Cost: Free

Wednesday 19th May
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Canning River Eco Education Centre, Wilson
Cost: Free

Friday 28th May
10:30am - 11:30am
Armadale Public Library, Armadale
Cost: Free


Learn about all the latest battery technology, how batteries can predict your usage and adapt, and the real facts and figures of installing a battery.

Find out more

Thinking Green: Coiled Baskets

Friday 14th May
10:00am – 12:00pm
Ellenbrook Community Library, Ellenbrook
Cost: Free

In this hands-on workshop, Miriam Gardiner will teach participants to make a coiled basket using materials that can be salvaged from linen cupboards, leftover craft projects and overgrown garden corners.

Find out more

Low Tox on a Budget

Create house cleaning products
Saturday 15th May
9:30am - 11:30am
Amherst Village Function Centre, Southern River
Cost: $5

Create bathroom cleaning products
Saturday 29th May
9:30am - 11:30am
Amherst Village Function Centre, Southern River
Cost: $5

Come along to this hands-on workshop series where you will learn how to make low tox cleaners using affordable, eco-friendly ingredients.

Find out more

Introduction to Waterwise Gardening - Part 2

Saturday 15th May
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Girrawheen Library, Girrawheen
Cost: Free 

In this second waterwise gardening workshop we continue to discuss ways to have a healthy, attractive and productive garden while making sure we water as efficiently as possible. 

Find out more

Less Stuff – An Intro to Decluttering

Tuesday 18th May
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre, Winthrop
Cost: $7.00

Join Lindsay Miles as she dispels the common myths about decluttering, along with the common excuses that hold people back, and discover that decluttering (when done right) can actually be good for the planet.

Find out more

Thinking green: DIY Personal Products

Thursday 20th May
5.30pm - 6.30pm
Beechboro Public Library, Beechboro
Cost: Free

Learn how to make simple and cheap deodorant and toothpaste without the chemicals.

Find out more

Bokashi Workshop

Saturday 8th May
10:30am – 12:00pm
Canning River Eco Education Centre, Wilson
Cost: Free

Join us to learn how to use the bokashi system to convert kitchen waste into a product for use in the garden. 

Find out more

Thinking Green: Introduction to permaculture

Saturday 8th May
9:00am - 12:30pm
Swan Valley Community Centre, Baskerville
Cost:Free

This introductory workshop, presented by permaculturalist and educator Fiona Blackham brings us back to the basics of permaculture design. You will leave with a head full of ideas and skills on how to look through 'permaculture design goggles'.

Find out more

Thinking Green: Frog friendly gardens 

Wednesday 12th May
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Midland Public Library, Midland
Cost: Free

Ecologists Mike and Mandy Bamford will introduce you to the native frogs which inhabit our city and give you the skills to create a frog haven in your garden.

Find out more

Living Smart - City of Kwinana residents

Monday 10th May, to
Monday 21st June
6:00pm - 8:30pm
John Wellard Community Centre, Wellard
Cost: $20 or $10 concession

Living Smart is a 7-week course that will inspire you to make sustainable changes in your own home, with your family, and in your wider community. 

Find out more

Cultural Conversations in the Early Years

Thursday 13th May
5:00pm – 7:30pm
Canning River Eco Education Centre, Wilson
Cot: $10 for City of Canning early years services $25 for non City services

Learn about the impacts of your own cultural identity in Early Years settings before developing an awareness in children of local Noongar histories and cultures. 

Find out more

Living Green Launch Event and 2040 Movie Night

Saturday 15th May
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Darius Wells Library and Resource Centre, Kwinana Town Centre
Cost: Free

Shani Graham from Ecoburbia and some local community groups will start the night off with a bit of inspiration to get involved in local community activities. Then settle in to watch 2040 from award winning director Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film), a film that explores what the future could look like if we simply embrace the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet.

Find out more

Rag Yarn Workshop

Saturday 15th May
10:00am - 12:00pm
Town of Cambridge Administration Centre, Floreat
Cost: Free

Keep textiles out of landfill, save money and decorate your house by learning how to make rag rugs, bowls and bags.

Find out more

Your Garden with Josh Byrne

Southern River and Surrounding Suburbs
Tuesday 18th May
6:30pm
Amherst Village Function Centre, Southern River
Cost: Free

Willetton and Surrounding Suburbs
Tuesday 25th May
6:30pm
Willetton Reserve Pavilion
Cost: Free

Your Garden with Josh Byrne is a free event series providing residents with the ideas and inspiration to create a successful garden while doing your bit to help protect the Swan and Canning rivers. 

Find out more

Composting Workshop

Saturday 29th May
10:30am – 11:30am
Canning River Eco Education Centre (CREEC), Wilson
Cost: Free

Learn how to ditch the fertilisers, save your pocket and do your garden a favour by making compost.

Find out more

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