LFC News August 30 2012

Aug 302012
 

Local food-related events

The Edendale website is now live! http://www.edendale.vic.gov.au/Home. Check out the future plans and see the great space allocated to food production! There are also many food related workshops appearing on the calendar.

Pick Share Eat was successfully launched at the Wattle Festival. Thank you to all who supported this project.  The recipe books are selling fast, so soon this local food community project will be completed. LFC also ran a raffle at the festival. The prize, a basket of local produce valued at over $90, was won by K.Barling of Montmorency. Congratulations and thank you to all the local producers and growers who contributed!

Plenty Valley FM radio have a Food and wine segment each Sunday morning at 8:30 am. LFC and the recipe book project will be part of the program this weekend.

Thrive Community garden and orchard is planned for Diamond Creek. A no-dig garden workshop will be held Sunday September 16, 11am, meeting at the netball courts in Diamond Creek. More information from Jeff White at jandanate@yahoo.com or 0435 769 570.

Next meeting of Local Food Connect is the AGM, September 23, 2pm, at the Diamond Valley library. Come and have your say. After the brief formalities, we will take part in activities based on the Library Community Food garden. Everyone is welcome to attend.

I found some tiny tomato seedlings in my compost this week. Must be time to start tomatoes (and cucumber and capsicums) – keep in a warm spot for a while though.

LFC News August 23 2012

Aug 232012
 

Please let me know of any food related events around the Diamond Valley region. Thank you to those who have already passed on information.

Local food-related events

Wattle Festival, Hurstbridge,

this Sunday, will have all sorts of food events. Check out the program at www.wattlefestival.org.au/. Local Food Connect will have a stall outside Going Green Solutions. Do you have an hour to spend talking to people about Food? If so, contact Robyn at rrcurrie2@bigpond.com. Recipe book launched at 2pm in the Hurstbridge Hall.

Food fest at the library in September

Check out the Yarra Plenty Regional Library website for details and bookings. Activities include cooking demonstrations, tastings, progressive dinner, Jane Austen and Regency food and activities for children.

Other food activities/information

More on the National Food Plan submissions, due September 30

The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance is organizing a People’s Food Plan. Food underpins our lives. It determines our health, our economies, our shops, our landscapes, our culture and our future. It is too important to be left to the big corporations. Tell AFTA what are:

1. The core values and principles you think should underpin our food and farming systems?

2. Your main areas of concern?

3. What you think should be the three most important steps that individuals / communities / governments should take in order to address items 1 & 2?

Email your answers to: info@foodsovereigntyalliance.org OR Talk with us at the LFC stall  at Hurstbridge this Sunday. Download this document for more information about the consultative process around the PFP, and this document for an overview of the plan so far.

Incredible edible at Todmorden, UK

Listen to this inspiring talk by Pam Warhurst at How can we eat our landscapes Can we do this around the Diamond Valley? Keep tuned for a public discussion on this…Those of you who are teachers may also like Growing green in the south Bronx.

LFC News August 16 2012

Aug 162012
 

Local food-related events

Wattle Festival, Hurstbridge, Sunday  August 26. Check out the sustainable precinct outside Going Green Solutions, as well as see the launch of our local and seasonal  recipe book, Pick Share Eat.

Other food activities/information

An evening with Rosemary Morrow
Widely known and respected for her work as an international permaculture teacher and consultant, Rosemary Morrow is the author of The Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture. Rosemary will be sharing her experiences, approaches to permaculture and ‘development’, and key thoughts for the future. Tuesday 21 August 6:30pm – 9:00pm, CERES Van Raay Centre. $20/$15 concession.

The Parliament of Victoria has announced its Terms of Reference for an inquiry into the impact of food safety regulations on farm and other business’s. This is a very important opportunity for everyone concerned with the operations of PrimeSafe and DairySafe to write a submission that will have a positive outcome for small local food producers. We will not have this opportunity again for a long time and I feel if we do not band together now we may well lose the few local producers we have. If you care about being able to source local meat and dairy from small producers, please write a submission.

LFC News August 9 2012

Aug 122012
 

Local food-related events

Sunday August 12, 2pm. Edendale. Eltham South SGA pod are getting together for a tour of Edendale’s facilities and then to view some SGA short films on gardening. For more information contact Meredith on  meredith@baag.com.au  94398750

Sunday August 12, 9.30am -2.30pm. Sutherland Heritage Market, cnr Diamond Creek and Yan Yean Rds. Homemade preserves, cheese and other food stalls

Sunday August 19, 8:30am Eltham Community Craft and produce market, beside Eltham Library.

Monday 20 August, 2pm – 4pm Whittlesea Community Garden Workshop – Herbs  Whittlesea Community Garden, on the grounds of Whittlesea Secondary College, Laurel Street, Whittlesea.  Includes permaculture design ideas. For more information contact Rhiannon or Megan 9422 8054 or 0407 699 775 or email whittleseacommunitygarden@pvch.org.au

Banyule Sustainable gardens workshop. Thursday, Aug. 23rd at 6:15PM Montmorency Primary School. Hear about how poultry, fruit trees, growing your own vegetables, composting and mulching can all be used to create a fantastic small urban garden. Learn how to complement your food producing garden with a stunning indigenous garden that is waterwise and creates food for both you and local wildlife.

Other food activities/information

Our local and seasonal recipe book, Pick Share Eat, will be launched at the Wattle Festival on August 26. Over 100 recipes are presented, using fruit and vegetables seen at local food swaps over the last two years.  Book your copy here. Here is a sample from the book.

Sauteed kohlrabi

8 small kohlrabi bulbs, grated (about 4 cups)
1 tsp olive oil
Salt, pepper
2 tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice

Trim the stems and leaves from the kohlrabi. Remove the stems from the leaves and discard into the compost. Save the leaves for soups, stir fries or pasta sauces.

Peel the bulbs with a potato peeler and grate coarsely by hand or food processor.

Heat oil in a high sided pan. Add the shredded kohlrabi and cook, stirring often, 3-4 minutes or until tender.  Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Makes a great nest for grilled fish, or can be used as a side dish with winter roasts. Serves 4.

* * *

Listen to 96.5FM, between 7 and 8pm, Tuesday August 14, for a promotion of the recipe book!!

LFC News August 2 2012

Aug 022012
 

Local food-related events

Saturday 4 August:  10am – 12 noon fruit tree pruning demonstration at 4 Adamson Street Heidelberg. Gold coin donation, bring secateurs. Limit 10 people. Register by emailing info@transitionbanyule.org.au or phone 9455 2581.

Sunday August 12, 2pm. Edendale. Eltham South SGA pod are getting together for a discovery tour of Edendale’s facilities and then to view some SGA short films on gardening. For more information contact Meredith on meredith@baag.com.au 94398750

Sunday August 12, 9.30am -2.30pm. Sutherland Heritage Market, cnr Diamond Creek and Yan Yean Rds. Homemade preserves, cheese and other food stalls

Monday August 20, 2pm – 4pm Whittlesea Community Garden Workshop – Herbs  Whittlesea Community Garden, on the grounds of Whittlesea Secondary College, Laurel Street, Whittlesea. Includes permaculture design ideas. For more information contact Rhiannon or Megan 9422 8054 or 0407 699 775 or email whittleseacommunitygarden@pvch.org.au

Did you check your seed store for summer plantings? Use the list of seed suppliers from last week’s news to order more. Ring a friend and order together!

Other food activities/information

Duang, a local foodie, has recently revisited Vashon Island near Seattle and writes – …”not much has changed in 10 years. The sourdough bread maker still bakes 20 loaves of his special bread once a week. We could buy non pasteurized milk and fresh farm eggs, veggies and fruits from farm stands all over the island. There is zero signs of any corporate businesses, no fast foods, no drive through and no takeaway coffees…also  Lopez Island in the San Juans near the Canadian Border where 2000 people live farming, fishing and doing art. This small community manages to support a 100% organic and whole food store, an art co op and among other things, an op shop to die for… When the GFC is affecting so many Americans in the midwest and the east, communities like those on these 2 islands are thriving seemingly unaffected. People go about happily supporting each other and living their principles. I am totally inspired.”

The Federal Government’s National Food Plan Green Paper was recently released. Unfortunately it may be little more than further support for large corporate agriculture and business. See the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance‘s detailed summary of their concerns with the Green Paper here . Submissions on the paper are due by 30 September 2012. Have your say.

Grafting day with the Heritage Fruit Group
Learn grafting and budding techniques from the masters. No need to register, the folks from HFG will be at the Nursery from 10:00am – 4:00pm on Saturday 11 August.  There will be 20% off all bare rooted fruit trees and berries on the day.

The latest CERES newsletter is out, with many food activities mentioned. See the link here