LFC News August 29 2013

Aug 292013
 

Welcome to new readers this week – Alexander, Ann, David, John, Judy, Lone and Michelle.

Local food-related events

Food Swaps

The Monty Swap this Sunday will be followed by a Garden Talk: To Bee or Not to Bee, from 11.30am to 12.15pm. Jane Woollard and Sally Koster will share their experiences of backyard bee-keeping and will cover topics that include:

  • First things first – what essential items do you need to get started.
  • Location and lifestyle – for you and them.
  • Hive inspections for first timers – a personal perspective.
  • Seasonal tasks.
  • The dos and don’ts of honey extraction.

There’ll also be information on the Great Tomato Taste Off which is planned for the February food swap, but needs your careful thought right now.

Lemons for October 26th

Briar Hill Primary school children make lemonade for their annual Spring Fair on October 26. Are there any readers who have or will have more lemons than they can use and be willing to offer to the activity? If so, please let Giuliana know at Giuliana.priolo@bigpond.com or 0407 046422

Community radio 3CR

The 3CR gardening radio show is on Sundays at 7.30am to 9.15am on 855AM or 3CR digital. Also available as a podcast online. The host is an Eltham woman called Pam Vardy. She’s very good.. and the regular presenters include Penny Woodwood, Stephen Ryan and Millie Ross. They are all very knowledgeable and you ring in with questions.

Local gardening clubs

Nillumbik Garden Club, Meets: first Monday of the month, 7.30pm at  Metzner Hall, Eltham Retirement Centre, 43 Diamond St. Contact: 9444 0304. So their next meeting will be Sept 2nd.

Hurstbridge Sow and Grow. Meets: first Tuesday of the month. Contact 9438 1563.

Soil improvement workshop

At Edendale, Friday September 6, 10am-12pm. bookings 9433 3711 or edendale@nillumbik.vic.gov.au

Other food activities/information

Fruit Squad

Did you read this article in The Age last week? This is a great idea for collecting food surplus, which could become food waste, and distributing it to the needy. I also like the arrangement where the pickers are given horticultural training at TAFE level. If anyone is interested in setting up such a scheme around Nillumbik, Banyule, Whittlesea area and using Darebin’s blueprint LFC would be delighted to know about it.

Give a fork

This is the latest campaign of Sustainable Table. They are asking people to host a sustainable seafood dinner party in the week of October 7-14.

LFC News August 22 2013

Aug 222013
 

Local food-related events

Build a no-dig veggie garden

Saturday, August 24, Edendale at 2pm and again at 4pm. $20. Bookings  (BH): 9433 3711, or  edendale@nillumbik.vic.gov.au.

Sourdough workshop

Montmorency South Primary School, Sunday August 25, 1-4pm. Demonstration by Petra Hyam. Shape and bake your own dough to take home, plus some starter. $35. For all enquiries contact Cathryn Hulme, 0419 322 782.

Establishing fruit trees in small yards

Find out more on Sunday Aug 25, 10:30am -12 noon, at Creeds Farm Living and Learning Centre, cnr Snugburg Way and Redding Rise, Epping.

Other food activities/information

Citrus gall wasp

Interesting article about this pest at SGA.

Horticulture and permaculture opportunities overseas.

Red Cross is currently seeking a Permaculture Officer and two Horticulture Officers to support their work in Africa. For more details, contact Amanda Perry at amperry@redcross.org.au

Wildlife friendly fruit tree netting

Apparently Mitre 10, Diamond Creek and Bunnings Eltham now stock Hail Guard, Fruit Saver and Veget Net netting which are less likely to trap wildlife while protecting your fruit and nut crop. More info here.

McIvor Farm tours

Last Saturday we met Jason and Belinda, owners of the pork farm up near Heathcote. Besides a range of normal pork products, they also are making salamis and hams, some with very little nitrates used in preservation. McIvor Farm Foods specialise in old breed pork, specifically Berkshires.The pigs are in open paddocks and fed 100% australian grain, non GMO and antibiotic free. There is an open day on October 27. Book now for a tour of the farm.

LFC News August 15 2013

Aug 152013
 

Local food-related events

Thanks to all who attended the AGM last Sunday. It was a good meeting and we look forward to joining with you in more local food activities.

Garden styles

Tuesday Aug 20. Diamond Valley library, 11am -12:30pm “Honouring the past while creating the future”. Review some of the known garden styles and potential futurist concepts and styles in gardens with Wild Gardener and Softscaper, Ruby Jane Stormer. Book on 9434 3809.

Establishing fruit trees in small yards

Find out more on Sunday Aug 25, 10:30am -12 noon, at Creeds Farm Living and Learning Centre, cnr Snugburg Way and Redding Rise, Epping.

Organic  Market Gardening Master Class

August 25 – 27 at Taranaki Farm. For all enquires, email hello@taranakifarm.com.au and to secure your place, Book here.

Taranaki Farm Tour and Small Farm Machinery Demonstration Day

August 24th, 11am – 3pm.

Build a no-dig veggie garden workshop

No-dig garden beds are an ideal way to create and develop gardens in areas where the soil is poor or compacted. The workshop will be at Edendale, Saturday 24 at both 2pm and 4pm, $20. Bookings required (BH): 9433 3711 or  edendale@nillumbik.vic.gov.au.

Food Swap idea

Olympic Village Veggie Swap are calling for 2 coordinators per swap each month.

Other food activities/information

Food forests

If you are interested in Food Forests, you may like to view this 10 minute film titled “30 year old food forest” in Queensland.The local permaculture blog may also be of interest.

Worm wicking one year on

This is a great article by John Ashworth at the SGA site, on how a worm wicking bed has worked for him.

LFC News August 8 2013

Aug 092013
 

Local food-related events

Greensborough Food Swap

New venue this Saturday at Diamond Valley Library, 10 – 11.30am. Join in with possibly some greens, broadbeans, citrus, celery or preserves or maybe some fennel foliage. See the developing food garden at the library also.

Annual General Meeting of Local Food Connect

Sunday August 11, 10am – 1pm.

Come along and share in the organisation and connect with activities of LFC. After the formalities, there will be discussions on Food Swaps and Harvest Month 2014 and then a shared lunch.

Establishing fruit trees in small yards

Creeds Farm Living and Learning Centre Community Garden, Corner Snugburg Way and Redding Rise, Epping are running this workshop on Sunday, August 25, 10.30am – 12pm.

RSVP by Wed Aug 21 to creedsfarmers@gmail.com  or 0400 235 529.

Eltham Neighbourhood Food Group

Meet local horticulturalist and gardener Mac McVeigh at a garden in Zig Zag Road Eltham, Sunday Aug 11, 2 – 4pm. For more information contact Meredith, Ph: 9439 8750  Email: meredith@baag.com.au

Fruit tree grafting

11am-3pm, Saturday August 10. CERES Nursery, Entrance cnr Stewart & Roberts St, Brunswich East.

There are many apple varieties available with some plums available (all subject to availability) . See how grafting is done.

Go to www.heritagefruitssociety.org.au/ for more information.

Other food activities/information

Allan Savory

Will be in Melbourne next weekend to talk on reversing desertification, healing landscapes, food security and more. August 17, 18.

CERES’ Permaculture Design Course (PDC)

Commences on Thursday 15th August. Run part time over seventeen weeks, the course is a mix of classroom presentations, design exercises, practical exercises and visits to properties to see Permaculture in action.

Local food research

A student of Melbourne University is carrying out research on food choice and local food as part of her studies and is looking for volunteers for this research. She is hoping to reach out through this group to a local community. Involvement in this research will require participation in one focus group and and volunteers would be greatly appreciated. Olivia can be contacted at 0420 621877 or omclean@student.unimelb.edu.au.

LFC News August 1 2013

Aug 022013
 

Local food-related events

Welcome to many new subscribers. We hope you find some useful food information in the weekly news. You are welcome to contribute any information that relates to chemical free local food.

Greensborough Food Swap

This is the original swap under the LFC banner and it is now going to an exciting new venue! From August 10, the Greensborough swap will be held at the Diamond Valley library in the community garden there.  A great combination of sowing, growing and swapping!
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