Manly Council is integrating its ‘Green Up Your Life!’ Sustainable Living Workshops Series and Community Gardens project into an innovative ‘education for sustainability’ program called ‘DIG Manly’.

 

With a focus on encouraging discussion on a wide range of current sustainability issues, the new program will aim to inspire people to embrace sustainability by providing practical advice and a range of possibilities for change through fun and inspiring events.

 

DIG Manly, to be launched on May 30 at a screening of David Suzuki’s film, ‘Force of Nature’, arose from a community survey conducted by Manly Council in 2011 which found that people who are committed to sustainability want broader opportunities for involvement as well as more practical advice on how to live and work differently.

 

‘DIG’ is an acronym for ‘Dream. Inspire. Grow.’ and represents the need for a strong vision of a sustainable future (Dream), assistance from sustainability leaders in how to live sustainably (Inspire), and a strong community that continues to grow and work together in building a sustainable future (Grow).

 

Presented by Manly Council’s Community & Environmental Partnerships team, the ‘DIG Manly’ program is designed to:

  • Engage and involve Manly residents in sustainability education and other community initiatives
  • Encourage residents to question their current lifestyles through exposure to current scientific research, leading sustainability professionals and local sustainability leaders, and
  • Build the capacity of residents to live sustainably by providing skills training and access to other learning opportunities.

 

‘DIG Manly’ workshops will feature titles such as ‘The Future of Food’ – an insight into public health, sustainability and social equity issues from paddock to plate, ‘Green Renting’, ‘Composting & Worm Farming’, ‘Small Space Gardening Made Easy’, ‘What’s Your Carbon Price?’ (How will a price on carbon affect our cost of living?).

 

More information is at http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/