FREE online workshops and events are providing lessons on how to become conscious consumers.

Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Fix It Festival focuses on implementing sustainable habits, including repairing broken items, earning money from unused items, growing veggies, composting and recycling.

Consumers will be asked to consider the resources used to make the things they own and the environmental impact of throwing them away.

Before buying something new, check to see if you have something similar you can reuse or repair. If the answer is no, ask can you borrow, swap, rent or purchase the item second-hand?

Buying an items second-hand eliminates excess plastic packaging and minimises air pollution from delivery trucks and vehicles.

If there is no choice but to buy new, consumers are being urged to buy local to support businesses.

Fix It Festival events:

Everyday actions to live more sustainably with Tamara DiMattina from The New Joneses, 5-6pm, Wednesday 4 November.

Blairgowrie Community Garden staff will show how to grow your own fruit and vegetables from food scraps and seedlings, and produce your own nutritional compost, 9.30-10.30am, Sunday 8 November.

Point Nepean Men’s Shed will show how to repair household items, 12.30-1.30pm, Tuesday 10 November.

What to put in your recycling bin, 5-5.45pm, Wednesday 11 November and 10.30-11.15am, Saturday 28 November.

Using food scraps to start a compost or worm farming system, 10-11am, Saturday 14 November.

Maximise your second-hand online sales, 8-8.45pm, Thursday 19 November.

Seawinds Boomerang Bags will show how to sew, repair and upcycle textiles, 6-7pm, Wednesday 25 November.

Details: mornpen.vic.gov.au/fixitfestival

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 3 November 2020