ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE EVENT: A HUGE SUCCESS!

What a day! First aid, Compost Toilets, Chainsaw Safety and Biltong making. 

A whopping 17 people joined us, including a 4-year-old superstar and 2 loyal canine companions on Saturday 7th June at Lake Ngatu. The weather played ball (mostly) and we were able to connect, learn and share skills and knowledge. It was a fantastic day of learning, and I speak for all when I say that we all walked away feeling empowered and inspired with information gained! 

Our attendees loved the workshops, the company, and the sense of community that came together to prepare for the unexpected! A huge thank you to our Timebank members who made this event possible, especially John for providing the wonderful space for the event and also to those that came along for the event. 

Paula and husband John kicked off the day with running a basic first aid course. Even those with first aid knowledge learnt something! From minor cuts to wrapping wounds, it was all covered. 

Next up was Ken Spence sharing his knowledge and experience on how to make a simple, effective Compost Toilet. Talking sh&t as Ken put it! Great when the power is out and flushing isn’t an option or if you’re conserving water. Everyone should have one of these as a backup option. Plus, you’re making amazing compost for your garden!  If you are interested in more information or purchasing one, be sure to make contact with Ken (details in Timeoverflow) or see him at the Eco Centre on a Friday morning. 

Roger Gale is our expert tree felling/chainsaw safety Timebank member and we are ever so grateful for him sharing his knowledge!  We learnt how to use and maintain a chainsaw safely, essential for clearing debris (or Zombies!). We also discussed tree felling, battery operated chainsaws and general chainsaw business.

Last but not least was Gordon running his Biltong making workshop. A traditional technique for keeping protein on the table! How lucky were we to learn, taste and ask questions about the process of biltong making. It's another way of being prepared and it's always handy learning another method of food preservation. Gordon generously shared his recipe so folk are prepared to make their own at home. 

Thanks to Waikarere for coming along and sharing information she learnt at a recent food resilience workshop in Kerikeri too. It added value to the day and capped off the day nicely.

And the impact doesn't stop there! One of our attendees was inspired to take action and purchased a compost toilet part from our Eco Centre to set up a backup system at her home.

The event was such a hit that some of you have already asked for a repeat! While nothing is planned yet, watch this space for future updates!

Nga mihi nui Caryl

Te Hiku Local Coordinator