Sustainable living is easier said than done… or so we think!
Recently, the Herrick District Library featured a display which asked the community how they prioritize sustainability in their everyday life. While some of the answers were simple, others involved a deeper commitment: composting kitchen scraps, choosing electronic receipts, reusable grocery bags– all of these involve making an active choice to live a little greener.
One of the ways that Herrick District Library encourages sustainable living is through the resources provided by the Groundworks lab for repairs and reconstruction. Current offerings include a jewelry repair kit, a watch repair kit, leather working tools, 3D modeling software and 3D printers to recreate replacement parts, soldering irons to either fix electronics or repair stained glass and specialty screwdrivers for universal usage.
In the past, HDL has hosted Repair Cafés, a designated time on Saturdays for people to bring broken equipment or household products to be evaluated by Holland volunteers. By connecting with local community volunteers, Groundworks invites anyone with a curious mind to learn, tinker, and problem solve. Interested in volunteering for a future Repair Café? Fill out our volunteer form.
At September’s Repair Café, volunteers fixed a paint sprayer, four lamps, and a cushioned dining room table chair. In the last repair, librarian Dan was able to measure the broken chair support brace and 3D print a new one. A little over two hours later, the chair was standing ready for use again.
In Dan’s words, “Best guess, we kept about 100+ pounds of material out of the landfill and saved patrons at least 300-500 hundred dollars in replacement costs.”
There are similar upcoming opportunities hosted by the Groundworks Staff. There will be an activity on November 3 where our Groundworks team will demonstrate how to turn plastic bottles into 3D printer filament. On November 25, the Herrick District Library is hosting a Learn to Solder class which will include a circuit board assembly craft.
Groundworks is a teaching and learning space with a goal to teach people the process of how to make or create something.
Book an appointment or drop in during Groundworks hours to ask questions about how to repair your broken items. If you are already familiar with the machines, feel free to reserve the equipment ahead of time to guarantee your time slot.
Chances are, if you break it, you can fix it; taking the time to value sustainable living makes a difference.
There are opportunities for sustainable and healthy living all around us. Check out these suggested titles to find out how you might prioritize living well.
Books and more to help you live well while living sustainably
