This week we replaced one of our compost bins - to keep our compost hub chugging along.

We bought a new Aerobin from Bunnings - but accidentally only picked up part 1 of 2 packages required for the bin when we dropped in before the holidays. Corrado realised parts were missing as he started putting it together … luckily the LOVELY Bunnings folk saved the day … two staff came by to drop the extra box to us within an hour of our call - how nice!

We love our little compost hub that enables neighbours to drop off scraps throughout the week. Along with our own kitchen scraps and the green garden waste from our raised beds, every few months we fill a bin.

Clare turns them on Friday for a few minutes. We keep a bag of straw/organic matter next to the bins and ask all contributors to add a handful as they go (so we’re balancing the ‘brown’ carbon and the ‘green’ nitrogen). Once the bin is full and well mixed we leave it for a month (and start filling the other bin).

And then … in the blink of an eye it seems, we have such great compost! It’s amazing how quickly it all happens with the right processes in place.

If you’d like to learn more about composting at home you can come along on Fridays and chat to Clare. She’s a wealth of knowledge. And if you live nearby and don’t have access to a compost bin you are welcome to contribute to ours!

We still have places available in our upcoming Repair workshops if you are keen to book in …

Sewing Machine Maintenance on Saturday 29th July from 10am

Lamp Repair Workshop on Saturday 5th August from 10am.

Overlocker Maintenance on Saturday 12th August from 10am.

These workshops are subsidised by Sustainability Victoria so you can learn how to repair and maintain things yourself - rather than throwing them away.

Our new art classes are starting this week. Get in contact with Clare to find out more and book in.

The weirdest thing happened on Friday … someone came along and completely emptied our little book library!? Whilst we were there I think … our community gardeners said it was full at 10am but it was definitely completely empty by the afternoon … so odd.

In addition, over the school holidays two of our little toadstool cushions that make our cubby house so cute disappeared, as did our outdoor table tennis bats, and Bim and Tig - the little salt and pepper shakers that were on holiday in our birdcage … and all the other fun recycled community art that Lee had created for community enjoyment.

We’ve put lots of things out on the street for people to use in the last few years and left our site open for community access after hours - trusting in community goodwill. So it’s all a bit disappointing. Sigh.

Anyway … if you have some books we’d love to restock the book library. And we’ll get new outdoor bats for the table tennis so it can be used again - it has really been super to see all the different people who stop for a quick hit (you can tell from the worm spots on the grass how popular it is!).

Our Term 3 program is out on our website - and bookings are open. You can book in here.

We have a spot left in our Women in the Shed program. And a series of repair workshops coming up … book in if you have a sewing machine or overlocker - and learn basic troubleshooting and how to keep them in tip top condition.

Separate booking processes (directly with the tutors) are in place for our new Artful Painting and Drawing with Clare, Meditation with Susanna and Japanese Playgroups with Miami. Also Yoyo’s violin lessons. See our brochure for the details.

And there’s lots more in there as well …

We’re looking forward to seeing you after the holidays.we reopen on Monday 10 July.