Come and find out all about the Ballarat Muncipal Observatory and Museum and the Ballarat Dark Sky Community at the expo! 

You could become a member and look through the 18th to 21st century (including the first disability access telescope in Australia designed and built by members) telescopes, or come along to one of the many events!

This Observatory, situated at Mount Pleasant in Ballarat, was established on the initiative and with the financial support of James Oddie, and was formally opened to the public in 1886. When Oddie presented the Observatory to the people of Ballarat, it became the first municipal observatory in Australia.

https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/

Display Ambulance Education Van with a CPR display, demonstration, and participation.

Find out about learning CPR!

We have some passionate locals in our village full of knowledge and resources, always asking questions and collaborating with the experts in the industry. Pick their brains! Ask them any niggling questions you might have about sustainable building.

What's it like to live in a high performance house?
What are some of the costs?
Would they do it again? If so, what would they do differently?

10:00 - 11:00 - Yanabeelbuild - Straw Bale House
Hand built local Straw Bale house.

www.yanabeelbuild.wordpress.com
Jess & Bryan

12:00 - 13:00 - Healthy High Performance home for the family.
Justin Weyers is currently building an Architecturally designed High Performance home to Passive House Principles.

A healthy home for his family free of dust mites and pollen focusing on Air tightness, triple glazing, moisture management, maximum insulation with a HRV. Come and hear his journey, see the plans and his building samples and ask anything you want. Always happy to share his new found passion and growing knowledge on his sustainable journey.

13:00 - 14:00 - Finding North - Aspects of Sustainability
www.findingnorth.net.au/
At Finding North, we believe that everyone has the ability to make changes which improve how we live sustainably. Based on honest and independent service we hope to help others achieve this for themselves. Andrea Mason.

02:00 - 02:30 - All the locals together.
All the 'Ask a locals' in one spot to share knowledge with each other. Join the discussion.

14:30 - 15:30 - Joe Boin
TBC

https://ballaratpermacultureguild.org/

Come and find out "What is Permaculture?"

also The Hidden Orchard - http://hiddenorchard.org/  (more info below)

Permaculture is a simple way to live sustainably.

“A design system for sustainable living and land use based on universal ethics and design principles” David Holmgren, co-originator of Permaculture

“The harmonious integration of landscape and people, providing their food, energy, shelter and other…needs “ Bill Mollison, co-originator of Permaculture

The Hidden Orchard

The Hidden Orchard harvests fruit from backyards or public areas and shares it amongst the site owners, pickers and local charities. The charities distribute the fruit free to people within the community, or use it in meal programs.

The Hidden Orchard is a project of Ballarat Permaculture Guild. We thank our friends at Growing Abundance (Castlemaine) for inspiration and support.

http://hiddenorchard.org/ 

https://brb.org.au/

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1608091066091640

Talk to beekeepers about bees and what is involved in being a beekeeper!

Ballarat Repair Cafe - demonstrating repairs

Visit the Repair Cafe on the last Saturday of the month from 1pm to 4pm at Barkly Square, 25 Barkly Street Ballarat East.

Come and see us about future repairs, and to volunteer your excellent skills! You could join the team.

Web - https://repaircafeballarat.com.au/

IF AN ITEM IS BROKEN, WHY NOT FIX IT? DON’T THROW IT AWAY!
This is the concept behind Repair Cafe Ballarat, a free event where community members meet to share skills and fix items that would otherwise go to landfill.

It is a simple idea that will have a positive environmental impact by increasing the life of items with repairs and encouraging community members to re-think their purchases and choose quality items that can be repaired.

https://www.ballarattoollibrary.org/

Come and join the library, and perhaps, join the team as a volunteer!

The Ballarat Tool Library is a volunteer-led initiative that provides access to the tools needed to repair and care for your home and belongings while saving you money from having to buy new tools you may only use once or twice.

We provide a local library of tools - both used and new - garden tools, construction tools, kitchen tools, woodworking tools and artist tools. If it’s a tool we’ll try and stock it as we grow and expand!

Ballarat Wildlife Rehabilitation & Conservation Inc

BWRAC was established by Ballarat wildlife carers and veterinary professionals to respond to the growing need for specialised care of sick and injured wildlife in Ballarat and surrounding areas.

BWRAC also support and promote wildlife conservation through education, advocacy and research.

https://www.facebook.com/BallaratWildlifeRehabilitation

http://www.bwrac.org.au/

Work towards reducing the Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere

BREAZE is a local group of energetic, forward thinking people who are organising more resilient and sustainable ways of living on our patch of the planet.

Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions 

https://buninyongps.vic.edu.au/

Come and visit the Buninyong Primary School exhibit!

Solar Boats,  Energy Breakthrough bikes, Fun activities for children - potting up a plant - our thanks to Bunnings DTC.

Solar Boats - come and sail a boat with power from the sun!  Great fun, and free!

Free Activity- Potting a plant

Bunnings has kindly donated pots, soil and plants!

Children can pot up a plant to take home and tend, and watch it grow. 

Come and play in the dirt. :-)

Come and see us on the Entrance stand, and at our ASK A LOCAL, or WIN A SUBPOD exhibits.

FREE ENTRY TO THE WHOLE EXPO!

This year, 2023, the Smart Living Expo will have more than 80 exhibits.

So many new eco stalls, and it includes the Buninyong Village Market.

Including the biggest Electric Vehicle display in Western Victoria!

We are looking for new members to help us put on the Expo, every year, on the last Sunday in February - Join us!

Ask a Local

Talk to some local Buninyong people about their sustainable build.

Justin Weyers is currently building an Eco Home in Buninyong.  

A local couple who have built a Straw Bale house. https://yanabeelbuild.wordpress.com/

Win a SubPod!

Be in the running to win a Subpod Growbag Bundle for your instant garden, compost bin & worm farm follow these easy steps!

Winner will be drawn on the day of the expo.

1 - Follow us on Facebook @BuninyongSustainability

2 - Be Part of the Solution. Find the Suppod post, and tell us in the comments what sustainability activities we could do in our communities.

3 - Share the post, Tell everyone about our SmartLivingExpo on Sunday the 26th of February and come along!

https://environmentvictoria.org.au/

Our Ballarat volunteer group for Environment Victoria, working on local climate action.

Join a community of people working together for Victoria’s environment and future. 

Extinction Rebellion is a global movement. Our aim is to get our governments to respond urgently to the climate and ecological emergency.

The big polluters need to stop putting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Come and join the Rebellion!

https://www.facebook.com/XRBallarat/

http://buninyongbotanicgardensfriends.org.au/

The Friends of the Buninyong Botanic Gardens will be selling plants at the expo!

https://www.focc.asn.au

https://www.facebook.com/friendsofcanadiancorridor/

Linking the community with Woowookarung and the Canadian Corridor.

This beautiful piece of bushland is right on our doorstep - come to the expo and find out about our events, citizen science projects, plantings and lots more!

Get involved by creating a garden that is wildlife-friendly. Come and see us at the Expo to find out how!

Gardens for Wildlife Ballarat is a free, community-based gardening program that provides advice and ideas to those interested in making more wildlife friendly spaces in urban gardens.

https://www.gardensforwildlifeballarat.com/

The Hidden Orchard - see them on the Ballarat Permaculture stand. 

The Hidden Orchard harvests fruit from backyards or public areas and shares it amongst the site owners, pickers and local charities. The charities distribute the fruit free to people within the community, or use it in meal programs.

The Hidden Orchard is a project of Ballarat Permaculture Guild. We thank our friends at Growing Abundance (Castlemaine) for inspiration and support.

http://hiddenorchard.org/ 

Nomadtronics, Sensible by design, Off-Grid Artisan Community Maryborough

Free Activity - Bunnings has kindly donated pots, soil and plants! Children can pot up a plant to take home and tend, and watch it grow. 

Come and visit the Buninyong Primary School exhibit to play in the dirt. :-)