Judy visits St Johns Riverside Community Garden in Heidelberg
St Johns Riverside Community Garden recently installed a new type of wicking bed called FoodCubes and Judy Vizzari and I were invited to the installation event. As Judy says in her writeup: “there are 12 bins in total, each a metre square, connected by a pipe which extends the full length of the row and maintains a level of water in the reservoirs in each base. On top of each base is a moulded upper container with four hollow legs. The upper bins are filled with potting soil which is also packed into the hollow legs extending down into the reservoir below to enable water to be drawn upwards as required by growing plants. This system provides a constant water source adjusted by a single overflow valve serving all bins. Curved rods are placed into slots to support shade cloth or netting which will prevent insects and animals from ravaging crops.”
We took advantage of the opportunity to look round the rest of the garden and talk with the ten or so members who were there on the day. As Judy discusses in her writeup, we were shown the extensive composting facilities, the beehives that the garden shares with The Beekeepers Club Inc and the varied artwork, as well as the veggie beds and fruit trees.
Claire Hetzel, from 3000acres, discusses carbon farming
In August, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a report entitled Climate Change and Land. Along with presenting some stark figures on agricultural emission rates, it discusses how changes to agricultural practices can help to produce healthier land, healthier food and healthier people, while also acting to reverse climate change.
It is not alone in seeing the potential for practice change to manage risks and reduce vulnerabilities in land and food systems. Close to home, there are some examples of regenerative agriculture initiatives that not only reduce emissions but also utilise living systems to capture carbon from the atmosphere. These include Gippsland farmer Niels Olsen, who is even getting paid for his efforts!
On a smaller scale, even our choices around local food production practices can potentially support reduced emissions and active drawdown of carbon. As research demonstrates, allotment soils in cities can show higher concentrations of organic carbon than arable soils.
So, as we tend our gardens this Spring, it would seem that we can cultivate more than food through simple practices like using living mulches, incorporating compost and diversifying annuals with perennials. Happy carbon farming!
Local food organisations in the news – Kevin Heinze GROW
Kevin Heinze GROW, in Doncaster, featured in a 5(!) page spread in the latest issue of Gardening Australia magazine.
Kevin Heinze GROW’s 40th Anniversary Spring Festival is on Saturday, 19th October, 9am-3pm at 39 Wetherby Road. If you go to the festival, make sure that you also have a walk around their amazing community garden.
Eltham Wine Show
The Eltham Wine Show is on Sunday, 17th November, 10.30am-2.30pm at the Veneto Club, 191 Bulleen Road, Bulleen. If you have never been before, it is a unique event, partly because of the large numbers of wines to taste and partly because of the large numbers of people who attend. It is Australia’s largest amateur wine show!
If you are a winemarker and would like your wine to be included, the closing date for applications is 20th October. Download the application form.
Does your Council have a ‘no spray’ register?
In Moreland, you can choose not to have any chemically-based herbicide spraying outside your property – see their website.
Two more articles from Angelo Eliades
Formative pruning, vase form – how to prune young fruit trees in the first three years.
Garden arches, vertical gardening for more growing area in small spaces.
Read more of Angelo’s food-related articles.
Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?
ASRC’s food collection points.
Joke of the week
Submitted by Vince Rozmiarek: I saw a baguette at the zoo. It was bread in captivity.
New events – not cooking
Eating for energy masterclass: Thursday, 3rd October, 6.30-8pm; Chirnside Park Community Hub.
What: Led by Rosie Chehade. This class will provide an information session of the power of pure energy, clean eating 101, and 5 health hacks that will change your life. Learn about the power of real food as medicine, gain a balanced perspective of all things health and ditch the diet forever! Includes a mini smoothie demo.
Cost: $35.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Just Eat It (film): Thursday, 3rd October, 6.30-8.30pm; Preston.
What: Join them to mark the launch of Darebin’s food waste recycling service. Around 38% of the household waste bin in Darebin is food. From 7th October, Darebin residents will be able to add food waste to their existing green waste bin, along with garden waste. This includes fruit and vegetable scraps, meat and bones, bread, cheese and even those uneaten leftovers. Just Eat It is a documentary film about food waste and food rescue. We all love food. As a society, we devour countless cooking shows, culinary magazines and foodie blogs. So how could we possibly be throwing so much of it in the trash?
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Citrus care workshop: Sunday, 6th October, 2-5pm; Sylvester Hive, Preston.
What: Presented by Kaye Roberts-Palmer. The workshop will cover citrus botany (i.e. different types of citrus, organic pest control strategies and nutrient deficiencies. It will also include a shape pruning demonstration. Click here to read about the garden.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Macleod Organic Community Garden tour and talk: Wednesday, 9th October, 2-3.30pm; Macleod Organic Community Garden.
What: Robin Gale-Baker will give a tour of the garden and discuss adjusting planting schedules and plant care in the light of climate change. Afternoon tea at 3pm.
Cost: free.
Bookings: by phone (0408 733683) or email.
Getting a harvest – Summer vegetables: Sunday, 20th October, 9-11am and again at midday-2pm; Camberwell.
What: Learn all you need to know to grow fresh produce at home in Summer. What you will learn: planning your Summer veggie garden – what to plant and when; soil maintenance in the Summer months; smart watering and managing hot weather; feeding and maintaining the patch for a great harvest; mulching; introducing sustainable ways to improve productivity – crop rotation and companion planting; starting with seeds and seedlings; tips for sustainably avoiding and managing pests and diseases; and harvesting.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite (9am, midday).
Bellfield Community Garden Festa 19: Sunday, 20th October, midday-4pm; Bellfield Community Garden.
What: Jointly organised by Bellfield Community Garden and Ivanhoe Garden Club. Demonstrations will include: growing Asian vegetables, composting, beekeeping, making insect hotels, making your own seed pots, flower arranging and bonsai pruning. Stalls will include: plants & seedlings, homemade preserves, local honey and Roving Refills. Also, wood-fired pizza, sausage sizzle and Devonshire tea.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Children’s day at Macleod Organic Community Garden: Saturday, 26th October, 10am-midday; Macleod Organic Community Garden.
What: Children and their families are invited for a morning of gardening, healthy food and learning about sustainable living. Click here to read about the garden.
Cost: free.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Advanced mushroom growing: Saturday, 9th November, 10am-12.30pm; Central Ringwood Community Centre.
What: Led by Sena. The workshop will include topics such as: propagation of pure culture spore & clone; spore print and tissue culture; making agar master bank; agar to agar inoculation; making grain spawn; master & second generation sterilisation; laboratory equipment; and how to build and use your homemade lab.
Cost: $50.
Bookings: by phone (9870 2602).
Native fruit: Thursday, 14th November, 6.30-9pm; Bulleen Art and Garden.
What: What you will learn: the A-Z of growing native fruit; handy hints and tips from an experienced native fruit grower; and when to harvest native fruit, and different ways to use it. Presented by Karen Sutherland, of Edible Eden Design. Native produce plants – or bush food – are becoming increasingly popular. Whilst many native fruits can’t be grown in Melbourne, some can. You’ll learn how to grow, harvest and use such fruit, with a particular focus on what can be grown in pots.
Cost: $50.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Bees wax wraps: Thursday, 14th November, 7-9pm; Mount Evelyn.
What: Holly from Holly’s Backyard Bees will show you how to make bees wax wraps and will have a selection of Christmas fabrics for you to choose from.
Cost: $50.
Bookings: by phone (9736 1177).
Beekeeping workshop: Saturday, 16th November, 10am-1pm; Central Ringwood Community Centre.
What: Ben Moore from Ben’s Bees get you to suit up and learn about: cast systems; swarm control; disease identification & management; how to harvest bee products such as honey, pollen, bees wax & propolis; and how to grow a bee-friendly garden.
Cost: $100.
Bookings: by phone (9870 2602).
Farm tour and garlic harvest: Saturday, 16th November, 10.30am-midday; Sugarloaf Produce, Strathewen.
What: Sugarloaf Produce is a small non-certified organic farm located in Strathewen. Learn how they grow vegetables, fruit, mushrooms and eggs without the use of synthetic chemicals, and how they produce compost using a mixture of farm green waste, manure, and other organic materials.
Cost: $5.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Bee hive tour: Saturday, 16th November, 10.30am-12.30pm; Yarrambat.
What: Your tour, led by Nathan Stewart, a professional Doreen-based beekeeper from Maya ‘Xala Honey, will include suiting up in protective gear, lighting a bee smoker, and spending two hours as real life beekeeper. Initially, Nathan will give you some tips on what to look for inside a hive including how to spot the Queen and where to look to potentially witness the birth of a new worker bee. Then, together you will lift the lid of a busy hive, watch bees at work creating honey, pull out a frame of honey ready for extraction, and get up close with more than 100,000 bees! After the lid is closed, you will sample some of the honey direct from the hives while enjoying a refreshing honey tonic.
Cost: $75 (plus various packages for families).
Bookings: their website.
Farm tour and Spring planting: Saturday, 16th November, 2-3.30pm; Sugarloaf Produce, Strathewen.
What: Sugarloaf Produce is a small non-certified organic farm located in Strathewen. Learn how they grow vegetables, fruit, mushrooms and eggs without the use of synthetic chemicals, and how they produce compost using a mixture of farm green waste, manure, and other organic materials.
Cost: $5.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Native edibles – walk, talk, taste: Saturday, 16th November, 2-4.30pm; Karen Sutherland’s garden, Pascoe Vale South.
What: Presented by Karen Sutherland. There are many edible native plants that are easy to grow in urban gardens and pots. Karen’s own garden grows around 40 native edible plants and is a great place to see how they grow. You will look at lemon myrtle, her lesser known cousin cinnamon myrtle, native pepper, a range of salt bushes and some native fruits.
Cost: $55.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Spring food forest – walk, talk, taste: Sunday, 17th November, 10am-12.30pm; Karen Sutherland’s garden, Pascoe Vale South.
What: Presented by Karen Sutherland. Take a guided tour of Karen’s garden. Taste some new and interesting plants. You will receive a packet of seeds saved from the garden.
Cost: $50.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Eltham Wine Show: Sunday, 17th November, 10.30am-2.30pm; Bulleen.
What: Australia’s largest amateur wine show: around 700 wines available for tasting; wine awards and presentations; artisan olive oil sampling & sales; and free tasting glass.
Cost: $17.
Bookings: just turn up.
Introduction to permaculture (two sessions): 2 consecutive Sundays, 17th and 24th November, 10am-4pm; Edendale.
What: Facilitator: Donna Livermore. Developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, permaculture (permanent agriculture) is a whole system approach to ecological planning and design for sustainable living. This workshop, spread over two weekends, will be beneficial to both those new to the concept of permaculture and for those thinking of undertaking a permaculture design course. You will be introduced to permaculture and gain a basic understanding of the principles and design methods associated with permaculture.
Cost: $125 for the two days.
Bookings: TryBooking.
New events – cooking
Ombre cake decorating workshop: Saturday, 12th October, 1-3pm; Chirnside Park Community Hub.
What: In this class you will learn: the ombre buttercream icing technique; the colouring buttercream method; the smooth buttercream icing technique; and flower placement & arrangement. The class includes: double dark chocolate mud cake; buttercream & flowers; and a
box for transportation home.
Cost: $95.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Cooking master class – ‘BBQ salads’: On Thursday, 24th October, 7-9pm and again on Friday, 25th October, 7-9pm; Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
What: Enjoy 3 tasting size courses cooked by chef Bek McMillan, from Gourmet Living, who will demonstrate step by step. All recipes are included. Menu: chilli sesame chicken salad; lamb fillet & roast veg salad; and banana, caramel & meringue salad.
Cost: $42.
Bookings: EventBrite (Thursday, Friday).
National dumpling day workshop: Saturday, 26th October, 6-8pm; Chirnside Park.
What: Learn how to roll, wrap, tuck and steam. Sample your masterpieces at the end. All proceeds will go towards the Treak community centre in Cambodia.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Indian cooking – Punjabi (two sessions): Tuesday, 12th November and Tuesday, 26th November, both 6.30-8.30pm; Hurstbridge Community Hub.
What: Tutor Taariq Hassan. Learn how to cook a healthy North West Indian vegetarian meal from scratch using authentic ingredients. Menu for the first session: daal (spiced lentil stew); raita (seasoned yoghurt based dip with chopped salad vegetables); and muttar chaaval (basmati rice boiled with peas
Cost: $90.
Bookings: their website.
Veggies in desserts with Mettle + Grace: Saturday, 16th November, 10am-3pm; CERES, Brunswick East.
What: What you will learn: foods which make your brain brighter; how to incorporate brain powering foods easily into your daily diet; and foods that can build and protect your gut microbiome and clear brain fog. Presenter: Melanie Leeson, from Mettle + Grace. Learn how to create healthier versions of your old favourites. The desserts are dairy-free and gluten-free using a variety of ingredients: nuts, seeds, vegetables, whole grains, fats, spices, legumes and unrefined sugars. The menu includes: chocolate kidney bean slice; spiced pumpkin donuts; rich chocolate beetroot truffles; lime + spinach cake; strawberry + cauliflower cheesecake; and sweet veggie mousse.
Cost: $100.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Summary of upcoming events – not cooking
Over the next week
- Edible weeds: Thursday, 19th September, 3-4.30pm; Heide, Bulleen.
- Veggie gardening for beginners: Saturday, 21st September, 9.30am-12.30pm; Bulleen Art and Garden.
- Royal Melbourne Oktoberfest: Saturday, 21th September, midday-11.30pm; Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton.
- Beekeeping workshop: Saturday, 21th September, 2-4.30pm; Bee Sustainable, Brunswick East.
- Getting a harvest – Summer vegetables: Sunday, 22nd September, 9-11am; Hawthorn Community House.
- Getting a harvest – Summer vegetables: Sunday, 22nd September, 11.30am-1.30pm; Hawthorn Community House.
- Introduction to mindful eating: Tuesday, 24th September, 7-8.30pm; Heidelberg Heights.
- Compost: Wednesday, 25th September, 8-10pm; Preston.
Over the next month
- Tomato talk, book sales & signing: Thursday, 26th September, 7-8pm; Brunswick.
- Native plants for food and medicine: Saturday, 28th September, 9.30am-12.30pm; Bulleen Art and Garden.
- Growing your veggies from seed: Saturday, 28th September, 2-3pm; Watsonia Library.
- Eating for energy masterclass: Thursday, 3rd October, 6.30-8pm; Chirnside Park Community Hub.
- Just Eat It (film): Thursday, 3rd October, 6.30-8.30pm; Preston.
- Growing great tomatoes: Saturday, 5th October, 10am-3pm; CERES, Brunswick East.
- Book launch – Plotting at Rushall Community Garden: Saturday, 5th October, 2-4pm; North Fitzroy Library.
- Growing mushrooms in your home and garden (2 day): Saturday, 5th October and Sunday, 6 October, both 9am-4.30pm; Bellfield Community Garden.
- Citrus care workshop: Sunday, 6th October, 2-5pm; Sylvester Hive, Preston.
- Native pollinators: Monday, 7th October, 7.30-9pm; Nunawading Civic Centre.
- Am I hungry? Mindful eating program (8 sessions): 8 consecutive Tuesdays, starting 8th October, 7-8.30pm; Heidelberg Heights.
- Macleod Organic Community Garden tour and talk: Wednesday, 9th October, 2-3.30pm; Macleod Organic Community Garden.
- Mental Health Week – food for every mood: Wednesday, 9th October, 6-9pm; Kathleen Syme Library, Carlton.
- 2040, Join the Regeneration (film): Wednesday, 9th October, 7-8.30pm; Hoyts, Greensborough.
- Herbal teas: Thursday, 10th October, 6.30-9pm; Bulleen Art and Garden.
- Edible weeds walk: Saturday, 12th October, 10.30am-12.30pm; Brunswick East.
- The art of watering: Saturday, 12th October, 12.30-2pm; Bellfield Community Garden.
- Edible weeds walk: Saturday, 12th October, 1.30-3.30pm; Brunswick East.
- Urban chickens 101: Saturday, 12th October, 2-4pm; Central Ringwood Community Centre.
- Set up and maintain a worm farm: Saturday, 12th October, 3-4pm; Edendale.
- Knox Community Gardens 35th birthday celebration: Sunday, 13th October, 9am-4pm; Boronia.
- Bee hive tour: Sunday, 13th October, 10.30am-12.30pm; Yarrambat.
- Vegetable seedling propagation: Thursday, 17th October, 6.30-8.30pm; Edendale.
- Produce in pots: Thursday, 17th October, 6.30-9pm; Bulleen Art and Garden.
- Introduction to permaculture and urban agriculture (6 sessions): 6 consecutive Fridays, starting 18th October, 10am-2pm; Richmond.
Summary of upcoming events – cooking
Over the next week
- Cooking master class – ‘can be vegetarian’: Wednesday, 18th September, 7-9pm; Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
- Maltese sweets: Thursday, 19th September, 7-8.30pm; Mill Park Library.
- Cook Indian by the creek: Friday, 20th September, 6.30-8pm; Diamond Creek.
- Shio koji making and cooking: Sunday, 22nd September, 11am-1.30pm; Preston.
- Vegan brunch cooking class: Sunday, 22nd September, 11am-3pm; Smiths Gully.
- Cook Indian by the creek – kids special: Tuesday, 24th September, 11am-12.30pm; Diamond Creek.
- Cooking master class – ‘foodie favourites of 2019’: Wednesday, 25th September, 7-9pm; Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
Over the next month
- Nonna & Mum’s homestyle cooking class: Thursday, 26th September, 7.30-10.30pm; Thornbury.
- Cook Indian by the creek: Friday, 27th September, 6.30-8.30pm; Diamond Creek.
- Lunchbox made easy in the Thermomix: Monday, 30th September, midday-2pm; Chirnside Park.
- One meal many ways: Thursday, 3rd October, 10-11am; healthAbility, Eltham.
- Kids in the kitchen: Friday, 4th October, 10.30am-1.30pm; Panton Hill.
- Cook Indian by the creek: Friday, 4th October, 6.30-8pm; Diamond Creek.
- All about cakes with Emelia Jackson ‘floral Spring style’: Friday, 4th October, 7-9pm; Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
- No Waste Cook Club: Saturday, 5th October, 10am-midday; North Fitzroy Library.
- Cook and feast with Audra Morrice: Saturday, 5th October, 11am-12.30pm; Kitchen Warehouse, Preston.
- Farewell Victoria – vegan cooking class party: Sunday, 6th October, midday-4pm; Smiths Gully.
- Thermomix eat well – demonstration-style cooking class: Tuesday, 8th October, 6.30-8.30pm; Eltham.
- Cake decorating (6 sessions): 6 consecutive Tuesdays, starting 8th October, 7-9.30pm; Mitcham.
- Cooking master class – ‘festive faves’: Thursday, 10th October, 7-9pm; Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
- Cooking master class – ‘festive faves’: Friday, 11th October, 7-9pm; Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
- Mozzarella and ricotta cheesemaking workshop: Saturday, 12th October, 9-11.30am; Bee Sustainable, Brunswick East.
- Fermentation veg ferments and cultured condiments: Saturday, 12th October, 10am-2pm; CERES, Brunswick East.
- Creative Chinese vegetarian cooking: Saturday, 12th October, 10.30am-midday; Watsonia Library.
- Ombre cake decorating workshop: Saturday, 12th October, 1-3pm; Chirnside Park Community Hub.
- Seasonal ferments: kimchi + kombucha: Saturday, 12th October, 2-4.30pm; Bee Sustainable, Brunswick East.
- Diabetes and diet: Tuesday, 15th October, 7-8.30pm; Hawthorn Community House.
- Christmas hamper cooking: Tuesday, 15th October, 7.30-9pm; Kilsyth.
- Cooking master class – ‘festive faves’: Wednesday, 16th October, 7-9pm; Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
- Artisan pasta with seasonal herbs: Thursday, 17th October, 11am-midday; Diamond Valley Library.
- Demystifying bread: Thursday, 17th October, 6.30-9pm; Park Orchards.
- Cooking master class – ‘festive faves’: Thursday, 17th October, 7-9pm; Gourmet Living, Templestowe.