There are many simple ways you can introduce environmentally friendly habits into your lifestyle. From buying clothes from ethical retailers rather than fast fashion brands to cutting down your plastic waste, there are many things we can do to keep our planet happy. We have put together a list of the top 10 classes that will help you live a more sustainable lifestyle and adopt greener habits.
Top 10 Classes That Will Help You Live a More Sustainable Lifestyle:
- Build a Bee Friendly Garden with Oakdale Bees
- Clothing Redesign and Alteration with Remode Collective
- Sew a Leather Tote Bag with Love and Salvage
- Make Your Own Beeswax Wrap with Oakdale Bees
- Learn How To Make a Herb Garden with Ferris Heart Sloane
- Vintage Upcycling Workshop with Touch Wood Vintage Designs
- Fermentation and Preserving Workshop with Greenwich Pantry
- Learn How To Mend Your Clothing with Make Town
- Make a Macrame Bag with Restoration London
- Learn How To Grow Your Own Veg Patch with Learning with Experts
1. Build a Bee Friendly Garden with Oakdale Bees
Location: At-Home Kit and Online Course
Bees and insects pollinate 80% of all plant species in Europe including agricultural and horticultural crops such as oil seed rape, orchard fruits, bio fuel and field beans.
Their decline is subsequently placing at risk the equilibrium of the wild plants and wildlife eco systems in the UK.
If you have ever wondered what you can do to help, look no further! Oakdale Bees have created a kit with the knowledge and seeds that you will need to create a little environment where bees and other pollinators can be safe.
Order now on Obby2. Clothing Redesign and Alteration with Remode Collective
Location: Leith, Edinburgh
Nearly everyone has some articles of clothing in their wardrobe that they just don't wear anymore. Perhaps because the garment doesn't fit or isn't your style anymore.
However, instead of throwing your clothing away, why not transform them instead? Remode Collective are determined to help you breathe new life into your clothing!
Simply bring your own pieces of clothing to the inspiring Remode Collective studio and explore how to alter and restyle your items. Monika is a talented designer who will guide and advise you throughout the process, from design to execution.
Book now on Obby3. Sew a Leather Tote Bag with Love and Salvage
Location: Leyton, East London
Bag making is hard and intricate work, but totally satisfying! In this beginner friendly class you will discover how to make your very own leather bag using sustainably sourced materials.
Love and Salvage was founded by Eli Wislocka who believes in minimising leather waste.
After 'salvaging' beautiful pieces of waste leather to make bags for her pop-up shop, Eli realised that she wanted to teach others how to make their own leather bags with leather that would have otherwise been thrown away.
When you make your own bag, you love it more and loved bags last longer! So what are you waiting for? Learn how to make your own sustainably sourced leather bag that will stand the test of time!
Book now on Obby4. Make Your Own Beeswax Wrap with Oakdale Bees
Location: At-Home Learning Kit
Beeswax wraps - the new sustainable way to store, transport and keep your food fresh. Whether you are looking for a plastic free replacement for cling film, straws and piping bags or you want a solution to keeping your leftovers fresher for longer, beeswax wraps can help.
Made using 100% cotton fabric, beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin these totally natural food wraps are sustainable and eco friendly. They can last up to a year with proper care and make great fire lighters when you can use them no more.
Each kit provides full instructions and everything you need to make your own beeswax wraps. You should even have some of the wax mixture left over to refresh your wraps in the future or you can use some fabric of your own choice and make some extras.
Order now on Obby5. Learn How To Make a Herb Garden with Ferris Heart Sloane
Location: At-Home Kit and Online Class
Want to plant a herb garden but not sure how to do it? Never fear! Starting a herb garden is an easy and delicious way to start gardening. Growing your own herbs is also an exciting avenue towards a more sustainable lifestyle!
Not only is growing your own greens a more sustainable way to live, but you can also add your tasty herbs to your home cooked dishes.
This online class will give you an overview of growing herbs in different urban spaces such as windowsills, balconies, patios and small gardens.
Book now on Obby6. Vintage Upcycling Workshop with Touch Wood Vintage Designs
Location: Streatham, South West London
Touch Wood Vintage Designs provides all the materials you will need for each workshop, as well as a range of furniture items for you to try techniques on, although you are welcome to bring any small projects you would like to work on.
Discover how you can use natural ethical paints, accent colours and waxes to bring a whole new layer of creativity to your re-purposing and up-cycling projects.
During the sessions you'll be introduced to colour trends and how to mix your own unique natural colours. So instead of getting rid of your old pieces, you can learn how to turn them into a piece of timeless vintage furniture!
Book now on Obby7. Fermentation and Preserving Workshop with Greenwich Pantry
Location: Greenwich, South East London
If you're tired of wasting food, this workshop will enlighten you to the food fermentation and preserving process which will help you eliminate food waste.
Open up the world of fermentation and learn how to get started fermenting delicious food and drinks at home.
The two hour class will be a mixture of demonstrations and hands on learning with lots of tips, talking and tasting!
Book now on Obby8. Learn How To Mend Your Clothing with Make Town
Location: Hackney, East London
Make Mother Earth and the Slow Fashion movement proud of you!
Rips in your jeans, holes in your socks, moth eaten jumpers, broken zips, too long hems, missing buttons and stains on your favourite blouse. Figure out how to mend your clothing with Make Town.
In this workshop you will learn the basics in mending and alterations so you can make your wardrobe last longer and experience the rewarding feeling of fixing your clothing!
Book now on Obby9. Make a Macrame Bag with Restoration London
Location: Brixton, South London
This is the perfect workshop for those wanting to learn macrame and for those wanting a more sustainable way of carrying their shopping home, instead of using plastic bags!
During this workshop, you will master the square knot and a wrapping technique for the handles of your bag.
You will be making your bag in a gorgeous 100% biodegradable unbleached cotton cord - provided by Restoration London.
Book now on Obby10. Learn How To Grow Your Own Veg Patch with Learning with Experts
Location: Online Course
Nurture a passion for growing your own vegetables with River Cottage’s Head Gardener Adam Crofts.
At River Cottage they believe growing your own veg has the power to change your life. In these times of intensive farming, reliance on harmful pesticides and the detrimental effect it has on our environment, we now more than ever need to be more reliant on locally grown and sustainable food systems.
From propagation and tools, to considering what varieties to grow and how to nurture them, this is the perfect course for both the curious and committed. You will be taught a comprehensive range of skills and techniques focusing on organic vegetable growing.
Book now on ObbyNeed more advice?
Being mindful of climate change and living a greener lifestyle can start with small and manageable changes. For instance cutting down on food waste and using less plastic goods are small changes that will make a huge difference. Whether you decide to leave behind fast fashion brands or ditch plastic bags, every small change you make will have a meaningful impact on the environment.
Take a read of some of our other amazing guides and best round ups below. We're sure you'll find something useful, oh - and don't forget to share the love.
- In Conversation with Love and Salvage - the leather workshops transforming trash into treasure
- Obby Introduces: Touch Wood Vintage
- Top 10 Things to Do at the Weekend to Reconnect with Nature
- 8 Fun Ideas To Help Celebrate Earth Day (2022)
- Obby Introduces: Make Town