LFC News June 13 2018

Jun 132018
 

There is a new ‘grow free’ cart at Rosanna

‘Grow Free’ is a movement “dedicated to making our food locally grown, organic and free” and they are currently “all about growing and giving away free organic, heirloom veggie/herb/flower seedlings for people to get their garden going“. The movement started out in Adelaide but it now has a foothold in Melbourne, with a new cart in Rosanna (at the Fire Station Community House). Join their Facebook group.

There are now a total of 9 entries in the ‘food is free’ section of the Local Food Directory (plus discussions are underway with a 10th).

News about local food producers

Old Evropa Bakery, Shop 7/906 Main Road, Eltham (in Eltham Village), has an opening for a casual position for front of house. “Immaculate presentation and attention to detail will land you a job in a beautiful environment surrounded by amazing organic products.” If interested, email your CV to oldevropa@bigpond.com.

Crepe Collective, from Eltham, will be serving their savoury galettes and sweet crepes at the Winter Solstice Festival in Eltham on 23rd June.

Juanita’s Kitchen, from Preston, will be serving their Mexican and West African sauces at Connect: Darebin’s Big Night of Business in Preston on 14th June.

Want to do some pickling?

Sylvester Hive Community Garden (Preston) have sent in some pickling recipes: pickled beans (or cucumbers), pickled chillis and infused chilli oil (peperoncini sott’olio). Thanks Hendrik, Michelle, Sylvia et al!

Eltham Food Swap needed a bit of help

Thanks to David, Monique, Sabi and Yeokie for volunteering.

Every newsletter needs a good picture

Gillian Essex has sent in a photo of enormously long zucchina lunga, as spotted in a market in Italy whilst on holiday. Thanks, Gillian!

Recipe for cabbage
(a poem by Christina Spry, from Montmorency)

Take one large cabbage
Cut in half – slice thinly

We battle the melee of people jostling
At Dad’s favourite vegetable stall
he always chooses the biggest
the best cabbage
thick and heavy –
lots of dark green outside leaves

Take one large cabbage
Cut in half – slice thinly
Bring the water to the boil

At home Dad cuts the cabbage in half
separating the leaves to wash vigorously
shaking in a clean bowl of water
sometimes he’ll find a green
caterpillar nestling among the leaves
I throw it in the bin

Take one large cabbage
Cut in half – slice thinly
Place slice cabbage in water

Dad hands me the big knife
I put the leaves on the wooden board
and cut each one into thin slices
fill the saucepan with cold water
add some salt and bring to the boil
pop the leaves into the boiling water

Take one large cabbage
Cut in half – slice thinly
Add salt boil for twenty minutes

I arrive home from school
and let myself in the front door
the smell is overpowering
this means boiled cabbage for tea
(or maybe it’s Brussels sprouts?)
wonder what delights we’ll have with it?

Take one large cabbage
Cut in half – slice thinly
Eat with potatoes meat and thick gravy

Thanks, Christina!

Newsletter readers Pam Jenkins and Gillian Essex have previously sent in some food poetry. Read their poems.

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

Pete the Permie’s article about avocados.

Joke of the week

As submitted by Atika Rea: What did the boiled egg say when it got cracked? Ha ha haaaa! Thanks, Atika!

And here is the corollary: What happens to an egg when it laughs too hard? It cracks up!

Or: Would you like to hear an egg yolk? I have a dozen of them. When you hear them, you’ll crack up.

Or: My eggcellent egg yolks crack everyone up. If you don’t like them, you’re just hard boiled.

Read all the jokes.

New events

Mexican – delicious everyday meals

What: Ana and Gaby are Mexican Aussies with a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience in cooking Mexican dishes. Immerse yourself in Mexican cooking techniques and culture. This workshop will cover red rice, fijoles (traditional Mexican beans) and tortilla soup.
When: Saturday, 23rd June, 10am-12.30pm.
Where: Living & Learning, Panton Hill.
Cost: $63.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Farmer Incubator urban farm tour – Spoke & Spade

What: Previously a standard suburban house block, Spoke & Spade is now an urban farm that has been transformed by Sim, a farmer on a mission to inspire, reconnect and recreate our connection with community through food. During this day-long event, you will get to learn first hand about the Spoke & Spade enterprise along with all its history, tips, challenges and vision as Sim takes you on a tour of the farm. You will enjoy a home-cooked meal with produce from Spoke & Spade and Days Walk Farm. After lunch, Farmer Incubator volunteers will help organise facilitated group discussion where the topics will be selected by you.
When: Saturday, 7th July, 10am-5pm.
Where: Spoke & Spade, Heidelberg West.
Cost: $90.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Thrifty and recycled gardening

What: Learn from Maria Ciavarella, of My Green Garden, how to garden inexpensively and by recycling.
When: Thursday, 5th July, 10.30am-midday.
Where: Whittlesea Community Garden.
Cost: free.
Bookings: by phone (9716 3361) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Composting success

What: Learn from Maria Ciavarella, of My Green Garden, how to compost successfully.
When: Thursday, 12th July, 10.30am-midday.
Where: Whittlesea Community Garden.
Cost: free.
Bookings: by phone (9716 3361) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Thermomix Christmas in July class

What: Whether you have a Thermomix or not, this class is packed full of recipe ideas and meals to indulge in. Join them for an evening of demonstrations.
When: Thursday, 26th July, 7-9pm.
Where: Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
Cost: $42.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Spring veggie garden

What: Join Robin Gale-Baker to learn how to prepare your soil for spring vegetable planting and how to select the best veggies for your needs.
When: Saturday, 28th July, 2-3pm.
Where: Watsonia Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Asian fusion cooking demonstration

What: Learn how to cook an Asian inspired 3 course meal in just 2 hours. Modern, gluten-free, nut-free and easy recipes that cook in minutes.
When: Thursday, 2nd August, 1-3pm.
Where: North Ringwood Community House.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Growing fruit and veggies in small spaces

What: What you will learn: which produce plants are suitable to grow in small areas; coping with shade and sun for produce growing; and how to make the most of any available space for growing produce. Presented by Angelo Eliades. Do you only have a small garden or no garden at all? Would you still like to grow your own food? This class will inspire you to get started. Topics will include fruit, vegetables and berries for small spaces, growing produce in pots and containers, maximising productivity in any size space and plant selection.
When: Saturday, 11th August, 9.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Bulleen Art and Garden.
Cost: $45.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Tea appreciation 101

What: Immerse yourself in the steamy world of tea, from its roots in China around 59 BC to its contemporary iterations. Discover how one plant species has led to six families and hundreds of individual pure leaf teas. By the end, you will know how to cup, brew and identify quality tea. There will be plenty of sample flavours to match you with your favourite. They will cover both eastern and western brewing styles, history and equipment. And, finally, they will discuss the burgeoning Melbourne tea scene, where to source quality leaves and which cafes steep the best cuppa.
When: Saturday, 11th August, 10am-1pm.
Where: Fitzroy.
Cost: $70.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Green at Kathleen – preparing for spring harvest

What: How to prepare for a spring harvest including: garden maintenance and preparation; selecting what to plant and when to plant it; and growing spring veggies in pots.
When: Saturday, 11th August, 11.30am-1pm.
Where: Kathleen Syme Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Invisible Farmer project

What: Invisible Farmer is the largest ever study of Australian women on the land. It aims to create new histories of rural Australia, reveal the hidden stories of women on the land and document the diverse, innovative and vital role of women in agriculture. Learn more about the project from curators Liza Dale-Hallett and Catherine Forge. Please bring your stories, photos and family heirlooms and share the stories of rural women in your family history.
When: Monday, 13th August, 11.30am-1.30pm.
Where: Whittlesea Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Indigenous plants for food and medicine

What: What you will learn: traditional Indigenous lifestyles and healing practices pre European settlement; traditional ways of using various Indigenous plants for medicinal purposes; and promising new research into their potential medical applications. Presented by Gaby Harris. Indigenous Australians have been using native plants and animals for tens of thousands of years as sources of food and medicine. With European settlement much of this knowledge was lost or ignored, but there is now growing interest in relearning these traditional healing methods. More research is being carried out to see how we can grow, harvest and utilise our Indigenous plants for foods, medicines, cosmetics and more. This class will introduce you to some of the well-known, as well as some more obscure, Indigenous Australian plants, teach you how they were once used, and how you can use them now. You will be able to see, smell and taste a variety of these amazing plants and learn where you can find them and how to cook with them.
When: Saturday, 18th August, 9.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Bulleen Art and Garden.
Cost: $45.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Creating a food forest in your backyard

What: Join permaculture designer and avid home food grower Ian Culbard for a presentation about the benefits of having a food forest in your garden and how to get one started.
When: Saturday, 18th August, 2-3pm.
Where: Watsonia Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week
Over the next month

View the complete calendar of upcoming events.

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