Sustainable Living
Find out about sustainable living events, activities, and resources at libraries.
The Great Stash Swaps
Our Great Stash Swaps are back for you to refresh your stash. Bring along your unwanted fabric, haberdashery, buttons, wool, lace, trims, paints, brushes, zips, needles, card, stamps, in fact any old crafting supplies. You then choose what you want to take away. No cash involved!
Monday 17 August to Saturday 22 August at Lyttelton Library
Sunday 23 August 11am to 2pm at Upper Riccarton Library
Sunday 6 September 11am to 2pm at South Library
Sunday 13 September 11am to 12.30pm at Tūranga
The Great Stash Swaps
The Great Library Seed and Plant Swaps
Spring is on its way and to celebrate the season of growing and gardening we are hosting seed and plant swaps in September.
Got some leftover seeds? Bring them to your local library to share with your community!
This is for everyone! Don't worry if you don't have any seeds to share this year, you might next year. We welcome vegetable, herb, flower, native and heritage seeds - and you can even bring any spare seedlings you have potted up.
Seeds can be dropped in any time before or during seed swap times.
Grow those seeds, save new seeds, and share your surplus next year!
The Great Library Seed and Plant Swaps
Sustainability resources
Find sustainable living eResources, books, and eBooks in our collection.
Sustainability Resources
New Titles: Selector Picks - Global issues - July 2020
BWB Books Critical Issues Collection
GreenFile
Sustainability Resources - Global
Sustainability Resources - Local
About the Sustainable Living Series
Christchurch City Council has been a leader on climate change for many years and is now actively planning to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build the resilience that Christchurch needs to support climate adaptation. In support of this, a series of public talks, workshops and Storytimes are being created.
The Sustainable Living Series was launched on Sunday 10 February 2019 at Tūranga. It starts off a two-year programme developed by Christchurch City Libraries to support the Council's climate change strategy.
Sustainable Christchurch
Christchurch City Council defines sustainability as:
A dynamic process of continual improvement that enables all people, now and in the future, to have quality of life, in ways that protect and enhance the Earth’s life supporting systems.
Sustainable Christchurch on the Christchurch City Council website has lots of information about living and working smarter, making better choices. Find out about:
- Sustainability at home
- Schools and sustainability
- Sustainable transport
- Sustainable communities
- Resource efficient Council
Read more about Sustainablility policies at Christchurch City Council.
The Sustainable Living Programme
The Sustainable Living Programme is a New Zealand community education programme is a practical, fun way to learn and try out actions that reduce your environmental impact at home. It’s an opportunity to 'make a difference for the planet', probably save on living costs and be healthier too. Think of it as learning future living skills, relevant at any stage in life. The charitable trust is managed from Canterbury for 15+ partner unitary, city and district councils across New Zealand.
