LFC News November 29 2012

Nov 292012
 

Local food-related events

LFC gathering last Sunday was a very relaxed and pleasant  event. What a beautiful setting at Red Box Winery, Kangaroo Ground. Thank you very much to Colin and Glenys for their welcoming hospitality. The door prize, a large basket of local produce, was won by Pat Reynolds. Congratulations!

Fay Loveland will take over Food Swap coordinator position early next year. Food Swap facilitators will be hearing from Fay or Ann soon as there are new regulations to be aware of. Amazing how a good-willed sharing community activity can be seen by officialdom to be in need of rules and regulations. Thank you to Ann for seeing this stage through so calmly.

Sunday December 2, Hurstbridge Farmers Market

Other food activities/information

As it is now cherry and berry time, where is your local source? I came across this cherry grower at Flowerdale. Has anyone tasted the produce? (Owners’ surname sounds a little familiar!)

Carric Cherries. Caroline and Richard Cornelissen: 86 Moores Road Flowerdale 3717 Phone: (03) 5780 2177
Mb: 0423 519 599   Fresh Cherries, Cherry Wine, Cherry Jam, Cherry Sauce, Shed sales – weekends 10am – 4pm or by appointment.  Late November – Mid January.   Email: caz_corn@hotmail.com

For berries, try Kinglake Raspberries, Tooheys  Road Kinglake. Ph. (03) 57865360, and
Kadarine Berries. 606 Extons Road, Ph (03) 5786 1389

Many of these farm products may be able to be purchased at Bollygum Community Market Kinglake, Dec 9 from 10am -2pm. Bollygum Park, 40 Whittlesea-Kinglake Rd, Kinglake.

“Producers offer the best local, fresh, seasonal fruits, vegetables, fresh meat and sausages and other goods”

Eltham College Diploma of Permaculture  are having an Open Day, Thursday Dec 5, 1:30 – 5pm. Go to Swipers Gully restaurant and ask the way to permaculture. There will also be a display of students’ designs, Wed Dec 4 – Fri Dec 6 in Dining room 3 of the Restaurant. Go for a coffee 9 – 11.30 am and have a look.

The ‘Guide to Ethical Supermarket Shopping‘ is completely revised and updated, with the new branding of ‘Shop Ethical!’. This new edition includes new company ownership charts, improved categorisation, new blurbs, and lots of tips for shopping beyond the supermarket.

Harvest month will be celebrated in Banyule and Nillumbik Shires during the month of March 2013. The committee is still fine tuning some of the details, but, if you can, incorporate a local and seasonal food theme into your calendar planning for your group’s March monthly meeting.

LFC News November 22 2012

Nov 232012
 

Local food-related events

Montmorency Farmers’  Market, Nov 24, 9am

November 25, 11am -3pm. You are invited to join LFC for a casual conversation around local food issues and opportunities at Red Box Winery in Kangaroo Ground. A barbeque is booked. Antipasto and cheese plates are available to purchase or bring along your own picnic. We hope that you can join us and share your ideas for local food in 2013. A basket of local food products will be won by one of the lucky attendees!

The Diamond Valley Library Community Garden is looking for supporters. If you live nearby, why not pay a visit one day? Talk to Dione Flegg, the community librarian, for more information.

The Bell Street Masterplan is developing and the next thing to happen is that they are forming a Friends of Bell Street group. If you are interested in this Eltham Community project and in particular perhaps some food growing opportunities there, you may like to join. The first monthly working bee will be Dec 9, 10am-12pm. Contact Jeremy Neal on landmanagement@me.com

Linda is putting together a food hamper for a struggling family for Christmas. If you wish to donate, contact her on lincor88@hotmail.com. Unfortunately perishables are not able to be accepted.

A gourmet mushroom farm in Reservoir is looking for a drop off point in the northern suburbs for the waste growing material.  If you are part of a school or community garden in that area, you may like to contact Todd Mansfield at greenglobenotion@hotmail.com

Hildebrand Grove, Arthur’s Creek, has its Christmas packages available. This award winning oil can be ordered via the website at www.hildebrandgrove.com.au/

Other food activities/information

Social Inclusion Week, November 24 – Dec 2. “Collaborate, Connect and Celebrate”. See this website for more information. Maybe it is a time for a street barbecue, or sharing of vegie seedlings with a neighbour, or planting a pumpkin on the verge!

A social enterprise related to food. Is anyone interested in volunteering or is already involved in an enterprise about supplying food to some people? If so, drop us an email at info@localfoodconnect.org.au or ring 0416203067.

Did you know that the ABC has a recipe page?  Unusual recipes as well as the old favourites can be sent through to your email by an RSS feed. This week’s recipes include French macaroons, Lemonade scones and okonmiyaki (Japanese pancakes!)

LFC End of year gathering

Nov 202012
 

I hope you can join us for our end of year “gathering” at Red Box Winery on Sunday 25th November.

This is an informal opportunity to catch up and chew the fat (or the carrot!) on local food issues – and I am sure many other things.

The venue is Red Box Winery who have offered us their patio, complete with barbeque and shade sails. The timing is loosely between 11am and 3pm. Come when suits and linger as long as you like.

Continue reading »

LFC News November 15 2012

Nov 152012
 

A number of people signed up for various bites of food information at the Eltham Festival last Sunday.  I have signed them up to receive this weekly food news, so welcome to you all. The LFC News aims to keep you in touch with local and seasonal food events or activities that are happening in the north east of Melbourne or that you may like to follow on the web. Contributions are welcome.

Local food-related events

Drop-in session at 2 Bell Street to catch up on the project Sunday 18 November 2012, 10am – 11.30am at the shed. This is an informal drop in session on the land where you will have the opportunity to chat with others about the Bell Street Masterplan Project.

November 25, 11am -3pm. You are invited to join Local Food Connect members for a casual conversation around local food issues and opportunities at Red Box Winery in Kangaroo Ground. A barbeque is booked. Antipasto and cheese plates are available to purchase or bring along your own picnic. We hope that you can join us and share your ideas for local food in 2013. RSVP – Robyn email: rrcurrie2@bigpond.com.

LFC Food Swap Coordinator. The current coordinator, Ann, is unable to continue in the role. Are you interested in this voluntary position? The person needs to be a member of Local Food Connect  and do the following tasks: Report annually to LFC; Report to the LFC committee if anything changes throughout the year; Fill out the required forms for Nillumbik Council; Provide support to and answer queries from the Food Swap Facilitators; Provide information and a kit to new groups wishing to start up; Provide new sheets and labels to FS facilitators when needed; Collect records annually and file with LFC documents. For more information, please contact Linda lincor88@hotmail.com.

Volunteer food garden assistant is sought for Edendale one or two mornings a week.

Volunteer duties include planting, mulching, watering, composting and weeding; selecting and tagging vegetable seedlings; maintaining a safe, clean and tidy workplace; harvesting and preparing food for sale. Once adequate training has been provided it is envisaged that the volunteer will carry out all duties with limited supervision.

Skills, interest or experience for the role: experience in chemical-free/sustainable vegetable gardening is essential; commitment, enthusiasm and responsibility; ability to communicate with a range of staff, volunteers and trainees in the workplace; ability to identify a need for assistance and be comfortable to seek help or advice; ability to perform physical tasks; willingness to get the job done and an eye for detail; an interest in working with members of the community; ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Volunteer benefit: experience working in a dynamic local government setting; working in a diverse team with staff and members of the community; invitation to attend volunteer celebration events; access to ongoing learning in sustainable gardening; training in occupational health and safety.
Contact  Edendale at 9433 3711 if you are interested.

Other food activities/information

My darling lemon thyme is a blog by a young West Australian chef and mother of two young children. She shares some tasty vegetarian and vegan recipes with all her readers.

LFC News November 8 2012

Nov 082012
 

Local food-related events

November 25, 11am -3pm. You are invited to join us for a casual conversation around local food issues and opportunities at Red Box Winery in Kangaroo Ground. A barbeque is booked. Antipasto and cheese plates are available to purchase or bring along your own picnic. We hope that you can join us and share your ideas for local food in 2013. RSVP – Robyn email: rrcurrie2@bigpond.com.

Sawdust or other mulch for paths? The Diamond Valley Library Community garden is about to add 3 small keyhole paths to their garden. Does anyone have any surplus  mulch suitable? One or two chaff bags full would probably do. Offers gratefully received by Robyn at rrcurrie2@bigpond.com.

I was given a radish today, freshly picked from a friend’s Eltham garden. It looks like a white carrot, not round like those in the feature picture from Milkwood’s blog. It has the hot radish taste, but fibrous chewy texture of a carrot.

Other food activities/information

Eltham Rotary Festival, November 11. Visit the LFC local food hub just beside the lake!

LFC News November 1 2012

Nov 012012
 

With lots of lemons on the tree and many delicious fresh eggs from our hens, I think Lemon meringue pie may be a special treat this week! What is your special seasonal treat at your place?

Local food-related events

How to create an edible garden (spring/summer). Learn about the principles of permaculture, composting, siting of food plants and crops that would be suitable for spring and summer planting.
Session 1: Saturday 3 November   Session 2: Saturday 10 November Time: 2pm – 5pm
Cost: $20 for both sessions  Facilitator: Lyn Beattie
Venue: Living & Learning Panton Hill, 18 Bishops Road, Panton Hill (Melway 263 K9)
Bookings: Environment and Planning Administration on 9433 3316

November 25, 11am -3pm. You are invited to join us for a casual conversation around local food issues and opportunities at Red Box Winery in Kangaroo Ground. A barbeque is booked. Antipasto and cheese plates are available to purchase or bring along your own picnic. We hope that you can join us and share your ideas for local food in 2013. RSVP – Robyn email: rrcurrie2@bigpond.com.

Other food activities/information

Eltham Rotary Festival, November 11. Visit the LFC local food hub!