August 2023
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August 2023 - Green Living Casey Live
Green Living, Live
Have you ever yearned to catch up with the Green Living community in real life? Please join us at our get-together this month.
Strategically slotted in with the August farmers market at the Old Cheese Factory on Saturday 12 August 2023, we’ll kick off at midday and party on as late as 4pm!
* Discover programs you might not know about *Find groups you can connect with * Meet like-minded people and discover different ways to make an impact
But wait – there’s more! Learn even more about how to Refuse, Rot, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Restore this Keep Australia Beautiful week with our brand new waste guide!
Read on further for money- and planet-saving tips on food, clothing and efficient home heating.
Get practical War on Waste information with our workshops.
Meet a rare golden possum and celebrate Platypus Month.
Plus City of Casey rebates are back! Go to the Grants and Awards section of the newsletter to apply.
Join the Green Living in Casey Facebook group for even more tips, activities and ideas.
WHAT'S ON
1-7 August Landcare Week
7-13 August Keep Australia Beautiful Week
Saturday 12 August Berwick Farmers Market
Saturday 12 August Green Living Live
12-20 August National Science Week
20-24 August World Water Week
Saturday 19 August World Humanitarian Day
Saturday 26 August Casey Pet Expo
SUSTAINABILITY + CLIMATE
Keeping chickens In Casey you can keep up to six chickens. These low-maintenance pets eat your leftover scraps, create manure for the garden and provide fresh, sustainable eggs. |
Hot water heat pumps Heat pumps use 30% less energy than conventional electric hot water systems, saving you money. These alternatives to traditional systems extract heat from the air to warm up the water. Rebates are available for some households. |
How does your energy use compare to your neighbours? Casey has developed an online dashboard displaying a range of data sets, including the average household electricity and gas emissions by suburb. See how your household compares. |
BIODIVERSITY
Flora and fauna spotlight - Platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus
August is Platypus Month! Along with the echidna, the platypus is the only other mammal that starts life in an egg.
These strange and shy monotremes would have been found throughout Casey's freshwater creeks and streams. Photo by Karin Cox.
Environmental volunteering - Friends of Frog Hollow The Friends of Frog Hollow (Inc) is a non-profit environmental group that works with the local community, Melbourne Water and all three levels of government to protect and enhance the environment along the Eumemmerring Creek. |
Benefits of trees and rare fauna Trees have many benefits including providing habitat for our unique fauna like this golden brushtail possum that was shared with us by a local Casey resident. This golden colour is due to the low levels of melanin in their skin and fur. Visit Council’s website for the other benefits trees provide. Photo by Carol Shaw. |
WASTE & CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Wash less, save more Taking better care of your clothes and the environment can be as simple as rethinking your laundry habits. After all, why iron, steam and tumble dry when you can let it all hang out? |
Eco shopping this month: Wonky veggies Fruit and veggies that are too big, too small or a little wonky don’t make the cut for supermarket sale and often end up in the bin. Buying a box of these otherwise fresh veggies is cheap, convenient and keeps ugly but delicious food out of landfill, all while supporting our farmers. |
Skip the tip: Polystyrene Polystyrene foam AKA Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is used to make moulded packaging foam (often used to protect appliances), fruit and vegetable boxes, beanbag beans and packaging peanuts/pellets. Polystyrene foam should never be put in your recycling bin at home. The nearest designated recycling drop off point is the Monash City Council Waste Transfer & Recycling Station. If you have no other option, it goes in the rubbish bin. |
Recycle right Despite the single-use plastics ban, Victorians still use more than 3 billion drink containers every year. Many bottles and cans are not recycled, ending up in landfill and as litter across our state – but not for much longer. Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme is set to launch on Wednesday 1 November 2023. |
FOOD AND GARDEN
What to plant now: Potatoes
Spuds! No matter whether you want to make your garden Up To Date, worship King Edward or want to grow your own Sapphires, there’s a potato variety for everyone.
August use-it-up recipe
Potato peel soup.
Save the peelings from roast or mashed potatoes for this rich and delicious chowder-like dish.
Project planning
There’s an app (or two) for that! Meal planning is proven to prevent food waste, but sometimes it’s challenging to plan ahead.
COMPETITIONS
Wild At Art
Entries to the Wild At Art threatened species art competition for kids are open from Monday 17 July to Thursday 7 September 2023.
Image: Green Sea Turtle by Mina, aged 9
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Are you an educator in Casey? Sign up for our Green Living in Casey Education
e-newsletter. View the previous edition or subscribe now.
If you're a teacher, student or just interested, check out the resources available under the “Sustainability for Educators” section of the Casey Council website. There's a suite of great resources FREE to use for levels Foundation to Grade 6.
REBATES AND GRANTS
Recycling Modernisation Fund: Plastics Technology Stream (Sustainability Victoria) closes Monday 4 September 2023 These grants are for businesses, social enterprises, not-for-profit organisations and local government. The Australian Government has announced $60 million in national infrastructure funding to boost recycling rates for hard-to-recycle plastics.
Risk and Resilience Grants Program (Emergency Victoria) closes 10 August 2023
This grant is available to volunteer emergency service organisations and incorporated associations with an emergency management purpose, connection or interest to deliver local projects relating to climate change adaption and risk reduction, designing for risk and resilience, or managing local and regional risks and building resilience.
Victorian Circular Economy Recycling Modernisation Fund – Round 4 (Sustainability Victoria) closes 11 August 2023
Businesses, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations involved in Victoria’s resource recovery sector can apply for targeted projects addressing waste materials and recycling to be co-funded by Sustainability Victoria.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Do you have any environmental news, stories or events to share?
Contact us via email or through the Green Living in Casey Facebook group.
We proudly acknowledge the traditional owners, Casey’s Aboriginal communities and their rich culture and pay respect to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s first peoples and as the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work and live.
