Summary

Nov 302013
 

Join a vibrant food culture, growing and eating local

Covering all matters food across North East Melbourne

Whether you are a local food producer, want to eat local food, grow veggies in your garden or just want to meet like-minded folks, Local Food Connect is for you. Join now.

Eltham Farmers’ Market, a Local Food Connect initiative, is held every Sunday.

The purpose of this website and associated newsletter is twofold: to promote all aspects of local food around North East Melbourne and to make people around North East Melbourne feel part of a local food community.

The material is centred on 5 databases:

  1. Upcoming local food-related events: all the upcoming events of various types, around 200 per month.
  2. Local food producers: pages on each of around 140 producers, both farmers and makers.
  3. Local community gardens: pages on each of the 70 community gardens in the area
  4. Local food swaps: details of the 30 food swaps in the area.
  5. Local food justice organisations: including ‘food is free’ sites, free food distribution organisations and free community meals.

These databases are brought together into an overall Local Food Directory which contains pages for each of 320 or so local food organisations.

In addition, there are articles written by a variety of local people on:

LFC News December 4

Dec 032024
 

This is the last newsletter for 2024. Seasonal greetings to everyone. Normal service will resume in early 2025.

Thanks to the people who have contributed to this week’s newsletter: Choy Lai, Connie Cao, Jan Saunders, Julie Cabrol, Louise Webster, Nancy Mills, Nathacha Subero, Vanessa Veldman and Virginia Solomon.

The year in review

This newsletter

The newsletter is now in its 13th year, with me (Guy) as its editor for the last 10 years. That’s a total of 460 newsletters with me at the helm.

We began the year with around 4,200 subscribers. 44 newsletters later, we now have around 4,300 subscribers, an increase of 100.

So, the number of subscribers increased but at a slower rate than in previous years. This slowing is actually the result of some simple arithmetic. Both the number of new people subscribing to the newsletter (450 per year) and the proportion of existing newsletter readers who unsubscribe (8-9% per year) remain very stable from one year to the next. But, as the total readership increases, a constant 8-9% unsubscribe rate results in an increasing number of unsubscriptions and, in 2024, these reached around 365 (i.e. one a day), leading to a net increase of around 100 (450-365). Crunching through the numbers, the implication is that the readership will probably continue to increase but at an ever slower rate, reaching about 5,000 in 10 years’ time!

Incidentally, I try and contact many of the unsubscribers to ask why they unsubscribed and the two most common answers are “I’ve moved out of the area” and “My inbox has got out of control and I am clearing it down”.

10% of the new subscribers live in Banyule, 10% in Darebin, 10% in Merri-bek, 10% in Nillumbik, 20% in the other municipalities of North East Melbourne and the final 40% from further away (ranging from the rest of Melbourne to the Netherlands, Italy and Morocco). The graphic shows the geographic distribution of newsletter recipients in the various suburbs of North East Melbourne, where the size of each red blob is proportional to percentage of the population in that suburb who are newsletter recipients.

The most clicked links in 2024 in various categories were as follows:

Although the number of subscribers has almost doubled since before the pandemic (i.e. since 2019), the number of clicks of the event-related links in the newsletter is now actually lower than in 2019 (in other words, people are, on average, clicking around half the number of event-related links than they used to). Furthermore, the trend is still downward, with 15% fewer event-related clicks in 2024 than in 2023. Given that, for booking reasons, you have to click on an event if you potentially want to go to it, it seems that many fewer people are considering going to events as a result of reading about them in this newsletter. Read into this what you want but my impression is that behaviours were changed either permanently or semi-permanently by the pandemic such that many people have become more home-based and less interested in events outside of their home.

Just about every newsletter contained at least one article on a food growing or food eating subject. This was only possible because of the regular contributions from Connie Cao, Hayden Marks, Jaimie Sweetman, Julie Merlet and (most of all) Robin Gale-Baker. Thanks to all of them! Robin’s contributions, in particular, have been truly extraordinary: her regular, monthly articles have now continued unbroken for 6 years and have collectively covered most aspects of how to grow a full range of vegetables and fruit trees. She is an original thinker who always has something interesting to say. She always submits her articles on time and understands how journalists (like Robin) and editors (like me) should work together to improve the product.

Contributions from newsletter readers continue to greatly enrich the newsletters. Over the years, around 630 readers have made contributions. Again, thanks to all of them! Particular thanks to Angelo Eliades, who often answers other people’s questions and whose answers are invariably comprehensive.

Finally, during 2024, I received around 120 emails saying nice things about the newsletter. Such comments are (obviously) much appreciated and it is one of the things that makes writing this newsletter so worthwhile. Here are three of my favourites:

  • “I just want to thank you for the extraordinary information I receive in your newsletters. They are phenomenal. I’m learning so much about gardening and have met the most wonderful people through attending some of the events you’ve listed. You’re a true champion of the people, Guy.“
  • “The newsletter is simply brimming with articles, recipes, interesting links and calendars of events covering everything to do with food – whether it be growing, making or teaching – across Melbourne. The amount of excellent general information shared is incredible. The newsletter is wonderful. Thanks for all the work you do for our community.“
  • “Thanks so much for the newsletters. They are such a great read and I often refer back to them. I’ve really enjoyed reading articles either by, or about, people that I know, often revealing things I wouldn’t have known about them otherwise.“
The website

The Local Food Connect website is closely intertwined with the newsletter, with any new articles on the website being included or summarised in the newsletter and with most of the material from the newsletters also being somewhere on the website.

There were around 450,000 unique visits to the website in 2024, similar to the previous year. Around 40% of the visitors are from Melbourne, 40% from elsewhere in Australia and the final 20% from the rest of the world. In total, the website was visited by people from all the countries in the world except for North Korea and 10 very small ones. Most of the visitors find the website by google searching and going to particular pages as a result.

The most popular page was, somewhat surprisingly, Robin’s article on harvesting, curing and storing pumpkins (with the number of visits up threefold since 2023), just relegating the perennially popular planting guide of what veggies to plant when down to second place (with the number of visits down by a third since 2023). Our page about food-related proverbs was also very popular. These results all show, I think, both the importance and unpredictability of where pages rank in Google searches.

In part because of her prodigious output, by far the most popular section of the website was Robin Gale-Baker’s growing guides.

There are now 135 producers in our Local Food and Drink Directory, 71 gardens with pages in our Community Gardening Directory, 28 swaps in our Food Swap Directory and 33 organisations with pages in our Food Justice Directory. All of the material has been approved by the relevant organisation and organisations are added as and when I (Guy) become aware of them and they respond positively to my communications with them.

Local events

There continue to be literally hundreds of local food-related events every month. For example, in November there were 430 events in our website calendar (I counted). These cover a wide range of subjects, at a wide range of costs and at a wide range of locations.

Many neighbourhood houses organise numerous food-related events and courses, including (but not limited to) Ajani (in Lower Templestowe), Arrabri (in Bayswater North), Brunswick, Greenhills (in Greensborough), Japara (in Kilsyth), Kinglake, Living & Learning Nillumbik, NECCHi (in Coburg), North Ringwood and Reynard Street (in Coburg).

Many of the free food-related events are organised by councils and libraries. However, I (and therefore maybe others) am finding these increasingly difficult to find on the relevant websites because the classification systems used don’t help identify them. For example, if I choose the most relevant seeming categories for my local libraries (i.e. creative minds, creating connections, growing healthy lives, and life skills), then just about all their events get listed and I have to plough through everything to try and find the food-related events. In other words, the filtering doesn’t help.

Local community gardens

Community gardens are at the core of many of the community food-related activities across North East Melbourne and, as stated earlier, 71 of them now have pages on our website. See the graphic right for their geographic distribution.

The following were added to our website in 2024:

Many of the established community gardens continue to organise numerous events to which everyone is welcome, including (but not limited to):

Local food swaps

In contrast to the vibrancy of many of the community gardens, local food swaps seem to be in something of a decline. During 2024, no new ones started and 6 existing ones ceased (Collingwood Yards, Greensborough, Joe’s Market Garden, Macleod, Mernda and Rosanna), leaving 28 carrying on.

Local food producers and markets

3 of the 4 main local farms now sell their produce at their farm gate (Caring Farms Coop / The Veggie Empire, Farm Raiser and CERES / Joe’s Market Garden), with the 4th (Sugarloaf) continuing to have a stall at Eltham Farmers’ Market.

The various farmers’ markets continue.

Chocolate creators, bakers and other makers come and ago.

Local food justice organisations

This is a vibrant and ever changing space. Because of this, I (and therefore our website) am perhaps not completely up-to-date with what is, and is not, happening. I will spend some time over the seasonal period rectifying this situation, with the plan being to defer my 2024 review until early 2025.

In the meantime, we have 33 local food justice organisations with pages on our website.

Loofah (by Connie Cao)

[I’m delighted to announce that Connie Cao will be a regular contributor to this newsletter in 2025. As you may know from her previous contributions, Connie writes about Asian veggies, covering both growing and eating. In October 2024, she published a book entitled Your Asian Veggie Patch, which you can buy online. The material below on loofahs is an example of the type of thing she will be writing for this newsletter.]

Who doesn’t want to grow a shower sponge that you can also eat! Many of us grow loofah plants because of the novelty of making your own shower sponges, but did you know that loofahs can also be eaten as well? In Asian cuisines, it’s a popular squash and summer veg.

If loofahs are harvested when they’re young, they have the texture of zucchini and can be used in much the same ways, two of my favourite options being in stir fries and curries. When they are left on the vine to mature and dry, they dry out inside and become fibrous – that’s when you use them to make sponges.

If you are growing loofahs, note that there are two distinct types. One is the angled loofah, which has ridges down the side and is more commonly eaten as the shape doesn’t lend itself to making sponges. The other is the smooth loofah, which can also be eaten, but is more popular for making sponges.

Watch this video on Instagram.

Mitcham Community Meal is ceasing

In news that is sudden, shocking, surprising and (most of all) sad, Mitcham Community Meal has just announced that it will be closing its doors permanently at the end of 2024. Their stated reasons are “the cost of food has risen, we are outgrowing our donated space and we are no longer able to staff our service in a way that allows us to continue running effectively.” Read their closure announcement plus people’s comments on this announcement.

Panton Hill Community Garden

[In May, the Panton Hill Community Garden was doubled in size, to around 10 raised beds. I was told that a video was being produced about the expansion and we (the garden people and I) jointly agreed that I would defer announcing the expansion in this newsletter until that video was published. The video has now been published, hence this belated announcement.]

Watch this video about the garden.

This garden is open to the public. Joining the associated gardening group is free but requires registration.

To register, or to discuss any aspect of the garden, contact them by phone (9433 3744) or email.

At 18 Bishops Road, Panton Hill.

The Panton Hill Community Garden is part of the Panton Hill Living & Learning Hub. It was extended in 2024 and now comprises around 10 raised beds. There are also a few fruit trees.

The garden grows produce to share with the community, helps participants learn and provides a fun and friendly opportunity for social connection.

The garden is managed by a coordinator who runs a weekly volunteer garden group, as well as workshops and hosting visiting groups to the garden.

The gardening group meets every Friday, 3-5pm. Read more about the group and its meetings.

As announced from time to time in this newsletter, there are also regular workshops on different aspects of food gardening.

Read their page on our website.

A bit more on edible veggie leaves

Last week’s article about the edibility or toxicity of various vegetable leaves didn’t mention sweet potato leaves and Jan Saunders has written in to ask about them. Sweet potato leaves can be eaten either raw or cooked. You can either sauté them like spinach or boil them. They contain vitamins A and C, fibre, calcium and magnesium.

Sustainable Living Champion – Kenton Johanson, Nunawading

Whitehorse Council occasionally publish articles on local ‘sustainability living champions’. The latest is on someone called Kenton Johanson from Nunawading. I rather liked Kenton’s phrase “values are caught, not taught“.

Read about their previous sustainability living champions.

Some videos for you to watch

Both produced by Yarra Ranges Council.

Mooroolbark Community Garden.

Using biochar.

The Melbourne ‘Local Food Connections’ community radio show

On next Sunday’s show (8th December, 10-10.30am) on 3CR (855 AM), Amy and Ann will interview
Sian Kavanagh about local government sustainability planning. Listen by tuning into either the station (855 AM) or its livestream.

Podcasts of all previous episodes are available on their website, the latest being The Black People Union’s community kitchen (24th November).

Critters of the week

Thanks to Choy, Julie and Nancy for the various photos below.

Read about our previous critters of the week on our website..

Golden stag beetle

The photo is of a golden stag beetle (Lamprima aurata in family Lucanidae) in the garden of Julie Cabrol. Whilst the males are typically metallic golden green or yellow with colourful legs, the females may be blue, blue-green or dull brown.

The bright colours of the beetles are not the product of pigmentation but produced by the interference and reflection of light by the nanostructure in the beetle’s exoskeletons. This is

The golden stag beetle is native to Australia and ranges from 1½ to 2½ cm in length.

The adults drink the nectar of flowers, particularly eucalypts, and fruit. The larvae feed on rotting logs.

Green vegetable bug

The left hand photo is of the 5th instar of a green vegetable bug (Nezara viridula in family Pentatomidae) as taken by Nancy Mills at CERES. The right hand graphic illustrates the various life stages of the bug, including the 5th instar.

Unlike beetles, which they sometimes resemble, true bugs, such as the green vegetable bug, do not pupate and do not undergo complete metamorphosis from juvenile to adult. Rather, they moult as they grow, and each stage between moultings before the adult form is called an instar. As you can see, all the instars of the green vegetable bug have a similar shape but rather different colours and patterns.

Green vegetable bugs are sap suckers and feed on many vegetables, including legumes, brassicas, cucurbits and solanums.

As a type of stink bug, they can emit a noxious smell when disturbed.

They over-winter as adults.

Green vegetable bugs can be found over much of the world.

Pantry moth

I am including this moth in this newsletter because the adults are currently appearing in large numbers, at least in my house, so it is topical.]

The photo is of an adult pantry moth (Plodia interpunctella in family Pyralidae), aka Indian meal moth, grain moth or flour moth. These various common names are derived from the eating habits of the larvae (see below).

They can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

The adults are small (up to 1cm in length), short-lived (around 2 weeks) and do not eat. They are usually seen indoors flying around seemingly aimlessly (but actually seeking a mate).

The larvae (sometimes called waxworms) grow to just over 1cm in length. They eat grains and many other plant-based human food products, including dry pet food, bird seed, cereal, bread, pasta, rice, flour and dried fruits.

The larvae can even chew through plastic bags and thin cardboard to reach their food, so even unopened packages may become infested.

The eggs are usually laid in a location where grain or similar is present.

The larvae move away from their food sources before pupation, sometimes travelling considerable distances. Pupation sometimes occurs in clothing.

Longhorn beetle

The photo is of a longhorn beetle (genus Pentacosmia in family Cerambycidae) in the garden of Choy Lai.

Longhorn beetles are so-called because they have long antennae, at least as long as their body. These antennae are used to sense chemical cues, including alkaloids (to help find a host plant) and pheromones (to help find a mate).

Both adults and larvae feed on plant tissue. In so doing, the larvae can bore into wood, potentially causing extensive damage to either living trees or untreated lumber.

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

The most popular link in the last newsletter was Angelo Eliades’ tomato growing guide.

The most popular event link in the last newsletter was the Caring Farms Coop farm gate.

b33e661f-c100-4ebe-9ffa-847952e0da4e.jpgJoke (or pun) of the week

There’s an old man, and every year, he and his son plant a tomato garden together. This particular year, however, the son is in jail, and so the old man writes him a letter. “My son, it is regrettable that you can’t be here to plant the tomato garden with me this year. The soil is too hard for me to dig myself. I look forward to the day you come home so we can continue this tradition together.”

The son writes back, “Father, don’t dig up the tomato garden, that’s where the bodies are buried.”

That night, the police show up at the old man’s house with a warrant to search the ground for bodies. After several hours of digging around, they find nothing, apologise to the man, and go on their way.

The next day the man receives another letter from his son, “Father, given the circumstances, this was the best I could do. You should be able to plant the tomatoes now.”

Read more food-related jokes on our website.

 

Regular activities over the coming week

Farmers’ and other food markets

At Sunday’s market, Eltham will welcome occasional visitors Cham Cham Sauce, Long Paddock Cheese and Snowy River Biltong. North East Region Permaculture (NERP) will also have a stall where, from a waste wise perspctive, they will be sharing ideas for gifts, decorations, wrapping and New Year’s resolutions. They will also have some window plants in terra cotta pots for sale as water-wise gifts plus some feed bag market totes.

In terms of the markets over the Christmas period: Alphington will not have a market on Sunday, 29th December; Carlton and Coburg will not have markets on Saturday, 28th December; and Eltham will have a market every Sunday.

Food swaps
Community gardens

Upcoming face-to-face events – not cooking

Integrated pest management and companion planting; Saturday, 14th December, 11am-1pm; $25 ($13 per hour); Coburg.

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a step-by-step approach to managing pests sustainably. You’ll explore how to: prevent pests through proper garden care and planning; monitor for early signs of pests to avoid outbreaks; and use natural solutions like beneficial insects and homemade sprays to control pests effectively. You will also discover how pairing the right plants together can: naturally deter pests using scents and trap crops; attract beneficial insects to your garden; and improve plant health and yields through strategic combinations. Presenter: Angelo Eliades from Deep Green Permaculture. Organised by Reynard Street Neighbourhood House.

Sake master class; Sunday, 22nd December, midday-2pm; $73 ($37 per hour); Brunswick East.

Kana Aoyama will guide you through the history, production and tasting of this traditional Japanese beverage. She will teach you all the basics, let you try 5 different styles, and show you how to pair sake with cheese, cured meats and chocolate.

Sake master class; Sunday, 29th December, midday-2pm; $73 ($37 per hour); Brunswick East.

Kana Aoyama will guide you through the history, production and tasting of this traditional Japanese beverage. She will teach you all the basics, let you try 5 different styles, and show you how to pair sake with cheese, cured meats and chocolate.

In December
Regular events

Upcoming face-to-face events – cooking

The art of French crepe making class; Saturday, 7th December, 3-6pm; $158 ($53 per hour); Thornbury.

Learn a little about the history of French crepes and the tools of the trade. Learn how to make crepes from scratch, including preparing and spreading the batter and experimenting with different folding methods. At the end, enjoy a shared meal with your fellow participants, savouring your creations at the table with an array of toppings. Then take home a stack of freshly made crepes to enjoy later.

In December
Regular classes