LFC News June 27 2013

Jun 282013
 

Local food-related events

Letter of support

If you are a home grower and have taken part in the Home Harvest Feast over the last two years, would you like to write a letter of support for us to add to a grant submission that we are writing at the moment? Please contact Robyn at info@localfoodconnect.org.au for more details.

Community composting workshop

Saturday, June 29, 11am – 1pm at Buna Reserve Community garden, cnr Boyd Crescent and Buna Street, Heidelberg West. For more information contact Edwin Wise, 0407 567 245.

Community Advisor to Nillumbik Health

Nillumbik Health are looking for volunteers from the community to advise them on the type and quality of community health services required by our different population groups. It would be great to have a local and healthy foods advocate from our LFC community.

Fruit tree pruning workshops

Edendale. Saturdays July 20 and 27.

LFC AGM

The Annual General Meeting of Local Food Connect will be held Sunday August 11 at Edendale. Please join us and help to develop and influence a local and healthy food culture in our area. We will also be discussing one of our priorities which is Harvest Month. How can we involve more people in growing, purchasing and eating more nourishing, local and seasonal foods?

Local pork

A couple of suppliers that may interest you.
Yarra Valley Free Range Pork, Macclesfield. See www.largeblackpigs.com.au/.
McIvor Farm Foods, Tooboorac. See www.mcivorfarmfoods.com.au/.

Other food activities/information

Community gardens

How nutritious are our fruits and veg? Read about a study here.

LFC News June 13 2013

Jun 152013
 

Local food-related events

Permaculture

Immediately after the Macleod Food Swap on Saturday, Julie French will present a workshop on Permaculture in Home Gardens. This talk will provide a brief overview of the principles of permaculture and will give examples of how these can be practically utilised in a home garden. Julie is a keen food gardener and has a Permaculture Design Certificate from the Southern Cross Permaculture Institute.

Locally grown food

“What are the possibilities when modern communities grow more of their own food?” Monday June 17th 2013 from 7:00-9:00 pm, Function Room, The Courthouse Hotel, 615 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. Panel includes Peter Huff, City of Yarra, Cam Walker FOE, and Natasha Kuperman from My Home Harvest. Book here.

Soil Improvement Workshop at Edendale

A hands-on workshop on improving soils naturally through worm farming and composting. Saturday 22 June , 10am to 12noon. Cost: Free, including morning tea.
Bookings through Edendale on 9433 3711 or email (edendale@nillumbik.vic.gov.au)
Edendale have food and garden workshops running through to August – http://www.edendale.vic.gov.au/Sustainable_Living/Workshops

Local Food Connect annual general meeting

Advanced notice of the Local Food Connect AGM! This will be on August 11, at Edendale, 10am onwards. You are all invited .

Other food activities/information

Allan Savory, founder of Holistic Management,

will present an evening talk and intensive seminar on how we can reverse desertification, heal landscapes, empower communities and reverse climate change. Holistic Management is a decision-making framework used world wide that mimics patterns in nature to pro-actively use herbivores to regenerate grasslands, watersheds and rural community integrity.
Aug 17 2013 – Aug 17 2013 6:00pm – 8:30pm Storey Hall, RMIT – Melbourne
Aug 18 2013 – Aug 18 2013 8:30am – 12:30pm Storey Hall, RMIT – Melbourne Book here

Community Food Grants 2013-14

Grants of up to $10 000 for community gardens, city farms or similar activities and up to $25 000 for farmers’ markets, food rescue and similar activities will be available from the federal government.

Secondbite

…collect fresh food that otherwise would go to landfill and make meals for those in need. They are running a campaign at Coles from June 12 until July 9 to try to raise half a million dollars to provide more meals over winter. For more information see http://secondbite.org/

Reducing food loss and waste

A new working paper, from The World Resources Institute (WRI) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), shows that more than half of the food lost and wasted in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia occurs close to the fork, at the consumption stage. By contrast, in developing countries, about two-thirds of the food lost and wasted occurs close to the farm, after harvest and storage.

‘Radical Food Gardening Approaches: What are they and why do we need them?’

Wed 24th July, 7:15pm. Transition Whitehorse is organising this event. Promises to be a lively evening of discussion, speakers and short videos, presented by Transition Whitehorse. Where: Willis Room, Whitehorse Civic Centre, 397 Whitehorse Rd, Nunawading. Entry: Gold coin donation. RSVP/enquiries: Frank 0414 301 072 or transitionwhitehorse@gmail.com

LFC News June 5 2013

Jun 062013
 

Local food-related events

Frozen blueberries from Kinglake, are still available for purchase at $13.50 per kg. Contact Cathrine (in Eltham) if you wish to purchase. c.king67@bigpond.com

A new film, United Natures, is being launched at CERES, Brunswick, Thursday, June 13, 2013, 7:00pm until 10:00pm. It is an Australian made documentary featuring the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth, permaculture of the inner landscape, philosophy, spirituality and a neo-indigenous future for humanity. Followed by Q&A time with David Holmgren, John Seed and director Peter Charles Downey. $18/14conc. Bookings essential

Backyard Chooks – the sequel,  at Edendale, Saturday 15 June, 1pm-3pm. Bookings 9433 3316.

Friends of Bell Street Reserve, Eltham, will be meeting for the monthly working-bee this Sunday the 9th of June from 10am ’til 12pm. ‘We will be installing and guarding as many plants as we can. Morning tea will be provided.’

“Food” related books at the YPRLibrary

Sustainable food by Michael Mobbs. With many photos, diagrams and text, this book tells the story of growing food in private and public spaces in Chippendale, Sydney.

The resilience imperative; cooperative transitions to a steady state economy. Written by Canadian Michael Lewis and British Pat Conaty, this book “offers practical innovations for individuals and communities to help transition to a more humane steady state economy”. There is a very interesting chapter on sustainable food systems.

Other food activities/information

World Environment Day

…is today! The theme this year is “Avoid food waste”.

On food waste, is anyone interested in joining a local scheme to collect cafe waste, especially coffee grounds? We don’t yet have such a scheme, but know of one which we could copy! If interested in joining a working party, email info@localfoodconnect.org.au and I will put you in touch with each other.

Market garden internship intensive

Spend 10 weeks in the garden with Michael Hewins at Milkwood (near Mudgee), and receive personalised tuition about starting a market garden enterprise. 2 intakes x 2 students @ $4800 each!