Tucked away in the Lismore Transit centre is an unlikely place you might not have thought about buying Christmas gifts from.

Lismore Environment Centre has become not only the place that gives out public transport timetable information, but a place you can buy local produce and cool and unusual gifts – like the Knitting Nannas 2020 calendar.

Jodi Adams is one of the volunteers at the Lismore Environment Centre and said the centre has become a hub for locals to bring in everything from worm juice, to local honey, coffee and soap.

“If you buy things from here, you are supporting local producers and community groups,” she said.

“We are an eco shop and one of the few main street shopfront environmental centres in Australia.

“We have tshirts and merchandise from the Knitting Nannas Against Gas, the Railway Action Group and books from the Koala Gardens, which is now a wildlife refuge.

 “We sell local honey from three different suppliers and hemp products – sales from these will benefit small scale organisations in the local area.

“We also have animal costumes for use to lend to people.”

Jodi said she started volunteering at the environment centre because, as an activist, she “saw people needed help here”. 

“I helped set up the Manly Environment Centre in Sydney,’ she said. “It’s critical we keep this place and remain independent from Council.

“We are all volunteers here, but we pay rent to the council for the space and rely on selling products to keep the shop running.”

Jodi said the environment centre has also become an unofficial frontline health and social support service.

“We offer free towels and cups of tea and have clothes for a small donation, or free if you need it,” she said.

“We often refer people to services like the Community Gateway or make phone calls for them.

“The local hospital recognised we are becoming a frontline support service.

“Recently I took a man who came here to the hospital to get his medication and made sure he found somewhere to stay for the night.

“He’s one of the many people we help here all the time.

If you are keen to help support the Lismore Environment Centre, drop in to the Transit Centre from Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm at 115 Molesworth Street, Lismore (where the Transit Centre is located).

The centre also sells:

* locally made bread and cheese boards small to large

* mugs and cards from local indigenous artist Cindy Roberts

* locally made soaps and skin products

* books on the local region’s history, plants and animals

* locally made candles 

* wildlife posters

* environmental campaign t-shirts and bags

* hemp products for humans AND horses