Stories From: Sustainability

Bushcare's bimonthly Weed Walk and Talk in Hazelbrook is attracting both young and old to learn more about protecting our bushland. Getting rid of weeds supports biodiversity and reduces fire risk by maintaining healthy native bush with less fuel. Volunteers are also joining the group to meet people and do something for the environment.

The Sunshine Project supports Blue Mountains organisations to respond to climate change. The charity raises money to fund solar systems and resilience hubs. Sunshine also delivers educational workshops that address energy use in the home and explore the practicality of home solar installation.

Mid Mountains Seed Savers in Bullaburra maintains a seed bank as a security measure for the future. The seed bank preserves diversity, offers an ongoing supply of locally adapted varieties, provides options for breeding more resilient varieties, and safeguards food supplies in the event of disaster.

Dr Megan Halcroft, a native bee specialist and her husband Steven Ruttley, are certified Bee Friendly Farmers in Hampton. We look at what this certification means and the choices Megan has made to ensure their sheep stud is bee-friendly as well as environmentally and economically sustainable.

After focusing on protecting NSW wilderness areas for more than 30 years, conservationist Keith Muir turns his attention to his own Blue Mountains backyard.

Hamish Dunlop attends a talk by Dharug man Chris Tobin. Chris’ talk highlights how learning about other people’s cultures and ways of seeing can increase the resilience of individuals and communities.

Hamish Dunlop talks with Joe and Merylese Mercieca about the journey from a ‘fibromajestic’ home to their newly completed Passivhaus, and how sustainable design and building methods can support human health and the health of the planet.

Australian Parents 4 Climate Action (AP4CA) is hosting a Spring Kids' Clothes and Toy Swap on Sunday 10 September in Lawson. Belle Butler spoke to the organisers at their last Swap.

Having been declared a natural disaster area five times in just four years, Blue Mountains City Council is reaching out to all sectors of the community to join in creating a Community Net Zero Strategy and Action Plan.

The garden is the first line of defence in a bushfire, but that doesn’t mean sacrificing liveable spaces for the rest of the year. Landscape architect Sue Bell explains how we can balance good garden design with sound bushfire principles.