About
This blog documents an average Australian family’s journey towards a sustainable lifestyle without leaving suburbia. It’s easier than you think!
We’re a household of 5 (2 parents and 3 young children) living in Kiama, on the NSW coast just south of Wollongong (which itself is just south of Sydney).
The Kiama, Shellharbour and Wollongong councils have joined together to create the Sustainable Illawarra project. This project has funding from the NSW State Government’s Environmental Trust, and aims to pool the three councils’ resources and knowledge to promote sustainability in a consistent way across the Illawarra.
As part of the project, 120 families across the Illawarra were selected to participate in the Sustainable Illawarra Super Challenge, and we were fortunate enough to be chosen as one of them.
Despite the name, it’s neither a competition nor a reality show. It’s a 12-month programme to help the families learn more about sustainability issues, to set their own goals, and to work towards achieving them. Participants’ stories will be shared via the Sustainable Illawarra web site and various media outlets to help promote sustainability in the community.
We’re using this blog to record what we learn and to document our own “green change” as it unfolds.
If you’d like to send us information, brochures, catalogues, samples, etc, our postal address is:
Darren Collins
PO Box 362
Kiama, NSW, 2533
Australia
Feel free to email Darren if you have any questions or suggestions!
Darren,
A wonderful website!! I am feeling the desire to become sustainable now – and get off the grid. Because of my work commitments – a website busienss focused on helping people have more joy – better health, relationships and careers – I want to find a coach – someone to help me make off-grid decisions for a sustainable dwelling I will be buying to put on land…..and there is much I can do in the meantime.
Let me know your ideas…I am in California and there is much that can be done thru email. I can pay for coaching time….
Many good wishes,
Oshana
It’s All About Joy Redding, CA oshanaben@yahoo.com 480-353-7312
@Oshana: It’d probably be best for you to find someone local to coach and advise you on becoming more sustainable. Someone half-way around the world, or even just in another state, won’t have the in-depth knowledge to help you make the most of state rebate schemes, city programs, local organisations, etc. Try looking for some clubs or associations with active groups in your area that deal with food (e.g. the Slow Food Movement, Community Supported Agriculture), transport (e.g. car pooling schemes), the environment (e.g. GreenPeace) and other sustainability topics. Just by attending a few meetings you’ll begin networking with like-minded people, and discover other organisations, events and programs that can help you on your journey. Good luck, and do let me know how you get on!
Hi Darren
I just wanted to say that I really admire your committment to leading a more sustainable life and know that your blog is an inspiration to many. I cam across this website http://www.biowishtechnologies.com/index.html when I was doing some research into environmental products for the home and garden and thought you might be interested in having a look.
Hi Darren,
I enjoyed the fruits of the project today: http://darcymoore.net/2009/11/01/sustainable-illawarra/
Lets meet-up soon.
@Darcy: Sounds like it was a great workshop, and great to set up some garden beds at the school. We’ll soon (this Thursday!) have a large area to plant out if you’re keen to put your new-found skills to good use
.
I like the new look for your blog, Darren.
Thanks, Darcy! I’m still working on tweaks, but I liked this theme when I first saw it. I’m trying to put together an interesting header graphic, too. Now I’ve just got to get back in the swing of writing posts!
Leave your response!
Subscribe to Posts
Upcoming Events
Categories
Blogroll
Blog Vitals
Archives
Meta
Councils
Recent Comments
Most Commented
Tag cloud