Interest grows in community sharing of skills

July 13th, 2012
[by David Armstrong]

Interest is growing in sharing specialised domestic skills held in the community, with several groups starting up in Motueka over the past year for men and women to teach and learn good old crafts, carpentry and DIY competence.

The latest group to offer support for those wanting to hone their manual and project skills is a DIY Technology group, proposed by Craig Ambrose, who is also active in Transition Town Motueka.

Craig, a computer specialist, has booked Community House in Decks Reserve for a meeting next Tuesday, 17th July, where anyone can hear about projects people can build at home. They can also have a chat to others who are interested in making, tinkering, inventing and sharing designs with each other.

He says projects that may be candidates for learning could be any homemade technology ideas in any field including electronics, engineering, metalwork, woodwork, plastics, textiles.

"I'm hoping that it'll be an ongoing club with monthly meet-ups, but we'll start with this one evening and then ask people who attend if they'd like to come back each month," he says. Those wanting more information should phone Craig at .

This follows the formation of a women's craft-sharing group called Crafty Tarts, which began meeting a few months ago and already has a database of some 30 women and attendances of up to 15 at monthly meetings. (See our earlier story here.)

They have already had sessions teaching each other some of the basics in embellishing eco shopping bags, card making, crochet, making fabric bags and tatting. Underlying their interest is also some strong networking, fun and fellowship they all experience at and between meetings.

Some are also donating some of their spare time knitting peggy squares to be sent to Christchurch to make blankets. Those interested in Crafty Tarts should phone Val at .

Men good with their hands have also been catered for over the past nine months with the establishment of the Motueka branch of the Men's Shed movement. (See our earlier story.) They have been meeting on Wednesdays from around 10am till 1pm in a double garage at the Recreation Centre, beside Weka House.

The general aims of the Men's Shed are to provide a meeting space for people to share and learn skills, undertake personal and community projects, donate and share tools and equipment, mentor and learn from younger people, enjoy a yarn and make some new (and rekindle old) friendships.

The group is already outgrowing its garage at the Recreation Centre and is looking for a new, larger and more customised space. Currently they are looking at a deal to use facilities at Marchwood Park. Those interested in attending should phone Tony Small at .

Some of the Crafty Tarts at work

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