At South Melbourne Market, sustainability is something we are passionate about. We are always striving to reduce our environmental impact and create a sustainable Market for future generations to enjoy.

During September, we’ll be hosting workshops, cooking demonstrations, tours and events for all ages and promoting ideas to inspire our community to shop and live more sustainably.

WHAT’S ON!

Leftover Lovers Cooking Show
Join Jessie and Alice as they demonstrate recipes utilising seasonal food and produce, and ‘waste’ collected from the Market whilst teaching principles on reducing waste in the kitchen.

Sustainability Tours
Take a guided tour around South Melbourne Market and find out new ways to shop and live more sustainably. Meet the traders who take sustainability seriously, discover their wares and taste delicious local produce. We’ll also take you behind the scenes to see sustainability in action and innovations like how we’re turning our food waste into garden fertiliser and the modern wonder of worm farms!

Pop Up Bike Repair
Ride your bike to the Market for a FREE bike tune-up from the team at Back2Bikes, pick up a Travelsmart bike map and hear about upcoming bike infrastructure projects and events.

Resident Artist – James Price
During Sustainable September we welcome James Price to the SO:ME Space. James is a local artist who has received a City of Port Phillip Cultural Development Grant to capture the cultural essence of a Market beyond that of being a place to obtain goods and services. He’ll be taking photos at the Market and turning them into art on upcycled materials such as milk cartons and packing boxes. Be sure to stop by and witness art in the making!

Wormlovers
Curious about having your own worm farm at home? A well-functioning worm farm can take kilos of food scraps a week and turn it into quality compost! The Market has partnered with Wormlovers and now have our very own hungry bins onsite, home to thousands of worms. We will commence selling Tiger Worms (the work horses of composting worms!) at the Market office, along with Organic Worm Juice and Worm Castings.

Curry Up Now
Everyone’s favourite vegan food truck will be rolling into the Market during September serving up their delicious vegan butter chicken!

WORKSHOPS / CLASSES:

• DIY Organic Skincare Products – learn to make eco-friendly, vegan beauty products
• DIY Beeswax Wraps – a sustainable alternative to cling wrap
• PLAYE – learn how to upcycle plastic bag layers into useful everyday products
• Sustainable Seafood Essentials – learn where to source sustainably caught or farmed seafood, how to select the best of the days catch, the best ways to store it and cook it.
• Miso Making Class: Learn the art of traditional Japanese fermentation
• Cooking with Spring Produce: Using fresh, seasonal produce in your cooking is sustainable, and also tastes better!
• Smart Weekly Menu Planning: Save time, money and stop wasting food
• Zero Waste Cooking Classes – Learn how to get more out of your weekly shop with chef, Tamara Graffen, and tackle food wastage by using some of the most wasted foods in Australian households.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN! 

• Spring Sprouts Workshop – Kids will learn about the germination process of seeds and make a sprouting jar to take home!
• Colours of the Kitchen: Carry Bag Workshop – Experiment with painting and printmaking using natural vegetables dyes to create a unique, reusable shopping bag!
• Kids Can Cook! Using leftovers kids will create delicious pretzels with chia berry jam
• Kids Can Cook! Using leftovers kids will create yummy muffins and banana bliss balls

SO:ME SPACE

• Tri Colour Federation: Sustainable denim, plus clothing and accessories made from recycled materials for men and women, with a percentage of profits supporting programs to protect the endangered Corroboree Frog.
• Jennifer’s: Fabulous vintage clothing for women, courtesy of a passionate collector (no social media so please come and see for yourself!).
• Elementary Skin Care: Handcrafted, small batch natural skin care in recyclable packaging.
• McIntyre: Australian grown and made Merino knits for men and women.

WHAT’S NEW?

• The Market has partnered with Simply Cups, Australia’s first takeaway coffee cup recycling program. READ MORE
• We’re harnessing the power of the sun, with a new solar panel system installed on the rooftop. READ MORE
• The Market is now accepting your plastic milk bottles for recycling READ MORE

Click here to read more about the Market’s sustainability initiatives.

We would also love to hear from you. We’re always looking for tips and ideas about how the Market can be more sustainable. Drop in to the Market Office or fill in our online feedback form during September with your ideas, suggestions or tips.