A friend mentioned recently that her daughter was saddened by what she saw as a widespread sense of apathy about environmental issues.
“I have an idea…” I said “Let’s have a sustainability working bee! We’ll get together and mend things and swap clothes and anything else we can think of!”
Over the course of a couple of weeks, the idea evolved into a fully planned out day. As I mentioned it to friends in passing, the number of eager participants grew, and so it was that 19 of us gathered together at our house yesterday for crochet and beeswax wrap making lessons, sewing projects, good food and great conversation.
I’d made a stack of cloth napkins, lace vegetable bags and crocheted dishcloths as gifts…
We served up a big cheese platter, smoked salmon, freshly baked baguettes and chestnut flour brownies. My darling friend The Norsk Nymph provided incredibly delicious gluten-free treats. I was having so much fun that I completely forgot to take photos of any of it except the brownies…
We set up the clothing swap in the hallway, which worked brilliantly! “Swap” is probably a misnomer, because our system was: donate anything you DON’T want, take away anything you DO want. All the leftovers have now been stashed into t-shirt bags for donation to the Salvos.
Maude gave crochet lessons to anyone who wanted to learn – I’d been to Reverse Garbage and the Salvos to source used hooks and donated all of my half finished balls of cotton…
Meg’s first attempt (in green) was seriously impressive!
I’d ordered a stack of beeswax sheets for the occasion and Pete taught everyone how to make their own wraps. He’s the world’s most patient man, according to my friends…
We put my sewing machines to good use and mended Cake’s vintage chenille bedspread and hemmed Ilaria’s too short dress into a top. Pete and I used a pair of old jeans to reupholster Bernie’s office chair…
The Norsk Nymph asked for a bespoke yoga bag, which came together in minutes from another pair of old jeans (it’s a basic reworking of this bag)…
I gave pilates instructor Meg a different yoga bag that I’d made earlier from an old umbrella skin…
Jenni was very happy to turn her old t-shirt into a bag. The sleeves then became a water bottle holder and a polishing rag…
I, on the other hand, was delighted with this gorgeous bag that she donated to the swap – it was the perfect size and shape for a crochet bag!
Perhaps the quirkiest request of the day came from Tara, who wanted a crocheted Christmas hat for her brother’s snake. Maude was happy to oblige! Tara was thrilled, but disappointed that she had to wait before trying it on as the snake had just shed its skin and needed to be left alone for a few days (she’s promised to send a photo when it finally happens!)…
Our Sustainability Working Bee was as waste-free and low carbon as we could make it – we used hard plastic glasses that I’d bought from Reverse Garbage in the late 90s. They get pulled out whenever we have a gathering of more than a dozen people. I figured out yesterday that a small melamine cleaning cube will scrub permanent marker off the plastic, which meant we could write names on them…
Our cloth napkins have now been in use for two whole years and they’re still good enough to use for guests (granted, my standards aren’t overly high – I’m happy so long as they’re not too stained). The napkins wash easily and line dry in a flash – no ironing required…
Finally, our newly installed solar energy system meant that even though it was 34°C yesterday and the house was full of mostly menopausal women, we were able to run the air conditioner on eco mode and still be off the grid! Yay!
The day before the working bee, I emailed my friends and asked them if they’d be interested in adding a charitable component to the day. I suggested that if everyone donated a couple of gold coins, we might be able to raise enough to fund a Kiva loan (US$25)…
And because I have ridiculously generous friends, we actually raised enough to fund four loan contributions!
It was truly such a memorable day, and I’d urge you all to consider getting together with your own friends and neighbors and starting something similar! Even if you’re not particularly crafty, just swapping clothes rather than buying new ones will reduce your carbon footprint.
It’s also incredibly rewarding to see the knock-on effects from an event like this – for example, we have several friends now discussing renewable energy with their partners. After yesterday, I think we’ll all look at our possessions a little differently, thinking twice before discarding or donating, and more importantly, before buying new. And hopefully the younger folk who were here will have left feeling a little more optimistic, knowing that some of us really are trying to live more sustainably.
Let’s keep the momentum rolling towards a greener future! 🌿💚
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Wonderful! What a fantastic idea!
Bravo. A wonderful antidote to… errr… well… way too many things atm.
Oh this looks like such an awesome day. I’ve been loaning money through Kiva a for a number of years now and it’s such an easy and fulfilling way to empower women in different circumstances to my own. Do you have a pattern or instructions you could share for making the bag out of umbrella fabric? This would be a perfect project for my Boomerang Bag group. Cheers, Peta
Oh it was SUCH a palaver! I only did it because I couldn’t bear to throw away my loyal old umbrella of 14 years. I started by getting the skin off the frame – a bit of work in itself – then I unpicked one of the panels and sewed the remaining piece (minus one panel) in half somehow (I was figuring it out as I went, sorry I can’t be clearer but I don’t have it anymore to see what I did! :)). I patched a hole in the side with an old badge I found in my sewing room. The handle was just two panels stitched together at the point. Ha! I’m not sure any of that is much help – sorry, Peta!
Absolutely love this and will share in our local sustainable living group. I just use bi-carb to remove marker from plastic containers but that may scratch acrylic glasses. Sewing machineS??? 😂
I have three. :)
This looks so fun! What a great idea.
Celia I’ve been following your blog for a few years now. You’re my sourdough guru!
Your beginners tutorials got me going a few years ago and I got a bit obsessed.
I’ve recently started teaching beginners sourdough workshops, so this hobby is morphing into something more😃
Thanks for your inspiration.
Kylie
That’s so nice to hear, thanks for letting me know! Wishing you all the best with your future sourdough business, Kylie!
Not only very useful but looks as though it was great fun too. The Kiva effort was magnificent! I wish I could have been there Celia 🤗
You are such an inspiration
This sounded like a good idea and loads of fun.
I always enjoy reading about your “adventures” keep it up! Happy Season!
What a brilliant idea. I’m going to steal it for our community after New Year. You truly are an inspiration.
Wishing you a joyful Christmas season and a New Year filled with projects and friendship.
A great idea. The umbrella bag is interesting. I have never seen such a tiny hat. Won’t it get scraped off as the snake slithers around?
I love your blog. It is an amazing place to stop in for an escape or inspiration. I especially love your advice and examples of sustainability. I do my best to pass these on to my two daughters. One of my favorites which I have mentioned to many people is your long ago post on making your own pectin. The post you made long ago about your chickens is what really hooked me. Thank you for so many years of pleasurable reading and inspiration. God bless you!
That was spectacular! You are always RIGHT on top of things and able to get ideas sent out into the universe. Perfect and Merry Christmas/Happy New Year
Celia – I have been a long time reader – now first time commenter. I love your blog and I really love your style of writing. You have a wonderful ability to not only entertain but to also educate. I have learned so much from you and implemented many of the things that you have shared, into my life and also shared them with others. You make me want to BE better and DO better. Thank you so much. I hope you and your family have a wonderful fesitve season and a great new year.
What a brilliant idea and such a successful day. We all have many skills and clothes that we should be sharing. Something to consider for 2020.
Fabulous event …. well done Celia and all involved x
What a fantastic idea for a gathering. Love all the things you have all made.
It was SUCH a special day and has inspired our family anew. Celia and Pete, your generosity and ingenuity are boundless. Thank you! xxx
Celia…your innovative ideas, your generous giving, your kindness extending to strangers like myself (enter Jethro & Abby Starters! ) is such a blessing in society! Wish there were others like you and Pete. God bless you and your family this Christmas and the coming New Year. Your posts always give me something to walk away with and think about. Thank you!
How do you make the lace vegetable bags?
Sounds like you had a wonderful event
😊
Here you go, Helen…
Thank you 🎄
People should really get together and have more days like this. Down here there is a twice yearly “festival” put on by a friend where they teach about protest and do crafts but we need more crafty stuff both in friend groups and in the community. It looks to have been a great idea and I love the up-cycled yoga bag.
That looks a thoroughly successful and productive day!
Have you ever thought about making wine glass charms? They would save you scrubbing the glasses and would use up various odds and ends from your jewellery making.
Kate, I used to do that but everyone gets drunk and forgets which one was theirs! 🤣