Tackling sustainable living doesn’t need to be overwhelming, if you start with just one thing.

Two Ōamaru women, Ruth Davison and Ann Brown, started chatting one day about three months ago after bumping into each other in an op-shop.

“We talked about the issues around sustainability and how many things are already going on, and that’s great but it was all a bit overwhelming,” Ruth said.

They decided to meet for a coffee about three weeks ago, and came up with the Just One Thing (JOT) Sustainability Club.

The idea of the club is to encourage people to do just one thing that is better for the planet. It was not about being perfect, but just trying to be a little bit better than the week before, Ruth said.

“It’s so overwhelming, why wouldn’t we just stick a duvet over our heads, because it would be easier - but we can’t, because it’s essential for the future generations, and even now, with climate change,” she said.

The first meeting is at Ōamaru’s Business Hive on July 17, at 5.15pm, and is open to everybody. People are encouraged to register for catering purposes. 

Ruth and Ann have heard people say “what’s the point”.

“They’re thinking, I can’t be the person with the one little jar of waste a year, and I can’t be the person who’s making my own almond milk, and so on and so on,” Ruth said.

“Let’s just pare it back. Let’s just start one step at a time, one thing at a time, and work together, because it’s better together - to coin the phrase.

“We call ourselves serial JOTers, because you start with one thing, and then it’s just another one, and just another one thing, and it becomes a mindset that means you do give it a go.”

It becomes easier to make the changes, Ann said.

“Sometimes you make a change and you can’t sustain it - so if you can’t make the change completely, but are doing things better - at least you’re doing something.”

The group was about being positive, non-judgmental, and supportive of each other, and not being afraid to ask for help.

The meetings are going to be held monthly but at different times and days, to attract people from “all walks of life”, so as to get the message to as many people as possible. There will also be a different theme each time, Ruth said.

“It could be food waste, sustainability in clothing, it could be plastic waste, gardening and compost, or worms.”

People can pick and choose the meetings that appeal to them, and the pair are hoping to attract different speakers with a variety of skills, who are “already half-way along the journey”.

“So, it’s actually drawing people together on the things they’re interested in,” Ann said.

There was a Facebook page, Just One Thing Waitaki, which people are encouraged to follow, and even if they can’t attend the meetings, they could get and share ideas there, and put them into action.

Ruth and Ann have been “unbelievably supported” by Waitaki District Council waste minimisation officer Lucianne White, and will continue to work with her, although they are not a council group.

Lucianne said her core job is offering solutions around waste.

“But there are so many opportunities for other solutions, and the key to success is that community-driven connection. So a really strengthened sustainability and resource recovery network. So we’ll totally support these guys in setting up, but they are the instigators, and kind of similar to the Plastic Free July, the focus is on, you know, if you can just make those small changes, we can all achieve great things.”

Ruth said the intention of the first meeting is to “see what people want” and then facilitate things from there, rather than talking at every meeting.

“We’re not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but we’re on the journey, and if we can hold a few people’s hands and they can help us too, why wouldn’t we be stronger together.”

People wanting to register for the Just One Thing Information Evening can do so through The Business Hive website