We do this by sharing stories of sustainability shaped by the people, places and projects of regional communities across Australia.
The ReNewy Living Podcast
Listen to sustainability stories from regional communities
Listen to the Latest Episodes…
22. What’s Threatening Lake Macquarie’s Green Sea Turtles?
Did you know that in Lake Macquarie the local green sea turtles are at risk. It’s not just specific to the Great Barrier Reef. There are at least three reasons why our sea turtles are being impacted so badly. So what’s happening and what can we do about it?
My guest is Tania Rossiter from Hunter Wildlife Rescue which is an organisation that’s spent more than 45 years rescuing and rehabilitating native wildlife.
Listen to 22. What’s Threatening Lake Macquarie’s Green Sea Turtles? on Spotify podcasts or Apple podcasts.
21. Practical Steps to Decluttering after Loss
Decluttering your home is tough enough, right? Finding the time, energy, and headspace when you’re feeling your best is a challenge on its own. But what happens when the responsibility shifts? I’m chatting with ReNewy Living Community member Rowena from the Central Coast of NSW. She recently navigated the emotional and practical challenges of clearing her dad’s estate after his passing.
Listen to 21. Practical Steps to Decluttering after Loss on Spotify podcasts or Apple podcasts.
20. Sustainable Home Renovation Design that Puts People First
Renovating your home is exciting—but it can also be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to make sustainable short and long-term choices. Is it possible to create your dream design without a massive environmental footprint? That’s exactly what we’re talking about with my guest Natalie Van de Merwe from On Home Ground!
Listen to 20. Sustainable Home Renovation Design That Puts People First on Spotify podcasts or Apple podcasts.
19. Easy Wins for a More Energy Efficient Older Home
My guest is ReNewy Living community member Gayle from Valentine NSW. Gayle’s an active member of her local Sustainable Neighbourhoods Group and has a wealth of hands-on experience retrofitting her homes. She’s here to share real, practical advice from her own retrofitting journey.
Listen to 19. Easy Wins for a More Energy Efficient Older Home on Spotify podcasts or Apple podcasts.
18. The Community Garden where Veggies meet Biodiversity
Joining me is Katie Ryan from The Groundswell Collective. Katie’s role at The Shelley Street Community Garden is helping guide the garden from purely food production to something more suited to the area. The garden is moving towards building an ecosystem that supports native species, the permaculture principles and the whole community.
Listen to 18. The Community Garden where Veggies meet Biodiversity on Spotify podcasts or Apple podcasts.
17. From Waste to Wake-Up Call: Art that Hits Home
I’m speaking with Marina DeBris, a Lake Macquarie artist who creates visual story installations to highlight the rubbish problems on our beaches. Over the last decade or so, her solo rubbish-collecting efforts have become a valuable, small-scale commentary about our society and culture.
Listen to 17. From Waste to Wake-Up Call: Art that Hits Home on Spotify podcasts or Apple podcasts.
16. How a Native Plant Nursery Protects Local Biodiversity
I’m chatting with Emma Graham from Trees in Newcastle as she digs into why choosing plants from your local area makes a big difference not just for your garden, but for the natural environment too.
Listen to Ep 16 How a Native Plant Nursery Protects Local Biodiversity on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts or your wherever you get your podcasts
15. Flipping the Concept of Supermarket Shopping
In this episode, I’m chatting with Jayne Travers-Drapes, founder of Box Divvy. They’re flipping the concept of how we think about fruit and veg shopping by changing the way your purchasing power works. Their un-supermarketing approach is all about supporting local communities and cutting down on food waste. Let’s find out about this fresh approach to eating well and doing good.
Listen to 15. Flipping the Concept of Supermarket Shopping on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts or your wherever you get your podcasts
Stories, News & Voices
Stories that strengthen commitment to caring for people & planet, reducing our consumption & connecting with community.
Upcoming Workshops, Events & Education
The events & workshops for sustainable living where you’ll find ReNewy Living
Green Cleaning: Switching to Solutions that Work
Wednesday 2nd July , 7.30pm, Online as part of the 2025 Plastic Free July Campaign
Learn which chemicals to avoid and why switching to green cleaning products are better for your health and the planet. Mardi will show you how making the switch is easier than you think!
Wallsend Op Shop Walking Trail
Thursday 3rd July 2025, 11am – 2.30pm, Wallsend
Learn more about our amazing op shops and volunteers, and shop for your own treasures to take home! A delicious lunch is included
Social Enterprise Festival
Saturday 16th August 2025, 10am – 3pm; UTS Business School (Sydney)
A FREE, family-friendly event where you can learn more about social enterprises, and get hands-on with a range of market stalls and workshops. Experience the largest market for social enterprise products and services in NSW and ACT.
FREE however bookings essential here…
Pop Up Op Shop Markets
Saturday 20th September 2025, 9am – 3pm; Speers Point Park NSW
You can find The Pop Up Op Shop Markets in the red Heritage Shed (next to the main stage) at Lake Macquarie City Councils’ annual Living Smart Festival. Up to 8 op shops from the local area are in the one space so you can support preloved to your hearts content!! Payments are with cash or card.
Online Eco Store
Your go-to online eco shop for preloved items & creative reuse to help reduce your environmental footprint.
Sale!
Books & Stationery
Original price was: $18.00.$15.00Current price is: $15.00.
Home Decor
$10.00
Tableware & Servingware
$7.00
Sale!
15% Saving!
Cleaning & Laundry
Original price was: $31.80.$27.00Current price is: $27.00.
Cleaning & Laundry
$12.00
Books & Stationery
$10.00
Cards & Paper
$15.00
Books & Stationery
$6.00
Cleaning & Laundry
$3.00 – $4.50
Sale!
Christmas
$4.65 – $28.20
Sew On Patches
$6.00
Clothes & Accessories
$20.00
Cleaning & Laundry
$6.00 – $10.00
Sale!
Non-Fiction
Original price was: $10.00.$8.00Current price is: $8.00.
Clothes & Accessories
$20.00
Sale!
Toys & Play
Original price was: $10.00.$8.00Current price is: $8.00.
Tableware & Servingware
$8.00
Sale!
Home Decor
Original price was: $34.00.$28.00Current price is: $28.00.
Board & Card Games
$10.00
Books & Stationery
$6.00
Looking for ideas or solutions? Search here…
As Featured In…
ABC Radio Newcastle
Tips for shopping for preloved gifts from the op shops…
11th December 2024
(ABC Radio Newcastle Breakfast)
Practical Permaculture
Episode 70 Values Aligned Sustainability | Mindful Consumption
Sharing my journey into sustainability, exploring the importance of community empowerment, creative workshops and the principles of permaculture in daily life.
Available on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify podcasts
November 2024
Pod like a Pro
New to podcasting, I talk about how I learned to find my voice and style in podcasting…
Listen on Spotify podcasts here…
Listen on Apple podcasts here…
11th September 2024
ABC Radio Newcastle
How a chocolate wrapper from 1998 points to a bigger plastic problem. Mardi shares what she thinks this vintage wrapper reveals about our modern waste problem.
21st August 2023
(ABC Newcastle Breakfast)
Creativity: Uncovered
Mardi chats about the link between creativity & sustainability, including op shopping, resourcefulness, mindset and how important it is for all of us to embed creativity into our everyday.
June 2023
(Apple Podcasts and Spotify podcasts)
ABC Radio Newcastle
Mardi shares her personal stories and insights into gifting more mindfully to help us simplify Christmas with family and friends.
13th December 2022
(ABC Newcastle Breakfast)
The Newcastle Herald
Mardi shares how her eco-friendly bon bons evolved to support other small businesses and make our Christmas table feel and sound like Christmas!
Saturday 3rd December 2022
ABC Newcastle
In recognition of Buy Nothing New Month, Mardi shares two reasons why she’s passionate about buying nothing and how being a part of the Buy Nothing Project facebook group supports buying nothing every day.
October 2022
(ABC Newcastle Breakfast)
Living Smart Podcast (Lake Macquarie City Council)
Listen in to Mardi’s stories about “Getting Creative with Rubbish” and how resourceful we can be with waste and marine debris.
Search ‘Living Smart Lake Macquarie’ wherever you get your podcasts, or listen on apple podcasts here…
September 2021
The Newcastle Herald
Highlighting the benefits of more eco-friendly, low tox, green cleaning for A Spick and Span House and Planet.
March 2020
Proud Member of the Social Enterprise Council of NSW
