Sustainability in action

Sustainability comes full circle this year at the Pengari Children’s Festival in a truly remarkable way.
Humble chia seeds, harvested from plants that grew in the school garden, will be for sale this year. They were originally planted and cared for by students and nourished with the help of compost that was created from the waste from last year’s festival.
So the waste of last year’s festival has now evolved into new life for this year’s festival – this is sustainability in action.
The environment is given absolute priority by the organisers, and is evident everywhere you look.
Firstly, waste and packaging is reduced greatly by the use of both washable and compostable sugar cane pulp plates, wooden cutlery, coffee cups, drinking straws and even the icy pole wrappers and sticks.
All of these are compostable and will be directed to the specially created compost heap in the school garden.
No stone will be left unturned to ensure that Pengari Festival will be the most sustainable festival.
Children are so at ease with the focus on nature and sustainability and are encouraged by a special free raffle for children who are seen putting their waste in the correct bins; compost or chook food bins, recycling or landfill.
Local produce and services are sourced wherever possible including tie-dye kits produced from Gold Coast made non-toxic paints.
Other craft stalls will offer a variety of creations and creative activities utilising totally natural products including making juggling balls and poi, swords and a special weaving stall.
Cakes, pizzas, burgers and curries will, as always, be lovingly made by volunteers and parents.
By creating a truly sustainable event, the Pengari Children’s Festival committee is hoping to make this an example of how mindfulness can truly and easily make a difference in our daily lives.