Mar 282014
 

Local food-related events

There is one last weekend of Harvest month activities. Have you taken part in any activities? Let us know what you thought.

Setting_up_EFM_boxesMore local edible planter boxes!

In preparation for the upcoming opening of Eltham Farmers’ Market, four wicking beds were built and planted out this week. Thanks Andrew, David, Guy, Susan and Nathan. The produce will be able to be used in a variety of ways at the markets and the beds used for educational workshops. Look out for the new Local Food Connect marquee on market day.

Not sure how a certain supermarket snuck into the picture!

Apple pie competition this weekend!!

Come along to the Eltham Town Square this Saturday, taste some local foods while listening to local music! To enter the pie competition email or call Lucy Anderson (0419 351640). The winner will receive $500 in vouchers to spend at their choice of Eltham shop(s). This is a Harvest Month activity. Continue reading »

Mar 212014
 

Local food-related events

Home Harvest Feast

Home Harvest Feast
On Sunday 16 March, the Feast was held in the new performing arts hall at Eltham High School. The day was a wonderful celebration of home growing and cooking! Congratulations to all involved. If you missed our stars on Vasili’s garden, it is repeated again on C31 Friday at 3pm and Saturday at 2pm. C31 also have catch up TV so if you miss it you can catch it online.

The great venue was made even more special by Light and Sound Solutions who brought the room to life with photos and light projections. Thank you to local company Light and Sound Solutions for their sponsorship of this community event.

Eltham North Primary School Fete

Saturday 10 – 5pm. At the fete, there will be a home-made and home-grown market. You may also be able to look at their food gardens.

Parking for Eltham Food Swap

This Saturday morning access to Edendale along Gaston’s Road will be limited because of preparation to seal the new road. Parking in the Adventure playground area will also be difficult because of the above mentioned fete.

Setting up a basic pantry

Are you wanting to recharge your pantry, set it up differently, maybe for health reasons, or moving to a new house or whatever? Local cook and caterer Duang Tengtrirat will advise what the basic contents should be. Friday March 21, 2-3pm, Diamond Valley Library.

Tastings in the Eltham Mall

Saturday March 22, 10am-2pm. Several of the traders will be showcasing their products which are locally grown or made. This is another Harvest Month event!.

Rivers Local Community Fare

This Saturday, 10-2pm, several local producers will be selling their produce – Jam Lady Jam; Rustic Bakery; Yarra Valley Tea Company.

Harvest Skill Share @ Edendale

The final activity of the Harvest Month calendar will be a skill share day to be held at Edendale on Sunday 30 March from 1pm to 4pm. Home growers are invited to participate in the day by either sharing a skill related to harvesting, gardening or simply coming along to participate. The program includes two extended activities: a ‘soil lab’ where growers can learn more about the fascinating world of soil composition and a seed saving session. These will follow a rotational skill share session where skills will be demonstrated and discussed in a short 20-30 minute mini workshop, for example soft cheese making. Please contact Rachel Bishop on Rachel.bishop@nillumbik.vic.gov.au if you have a skill you’d like to share on the day. This event is free to 2014 Home Harvest Feast growers and $10 for non-growers. Bookings are now being taken. Call 9433 3711.

Tomatoes

Several people have been making passata lately. Do you have a favourite recipe for preserving the tomato harvest in another way? Please send in and we shall add to our recipe page.

Rotary Local Food Night 2014

Thursday 10th of April, 6.30 for 7pm, Samson Hill Winery. The cost of the night is $55 per head – for 5 courses of quality local produce. Book no later than 27th March. For information or bookings, email or call Chris Chapple: chrisrchapple@gmail.com 0407 431 366.

Mar 142014
 

The data from the long-awaited Nillumbik Shire Council’s Local Food Directory project has now been made available to us. Select the Local Food Directory menu item to browse the information or to search for a particular organisation.

Mar 142014
 

Local food-related events

Home gardeners celebration this Sunday!

The festivities begin at 12 noon this Sunday at Eltham High School. Time to meet other likeminded gardeners and then join in the feast! All produce should have been dropped off by now and you should have your entrance ticket. Have a wonderful day. We are looking for LFC members to host the usual tasting stall at the Feast. If interested, please email info@localfoodconnect.org.au. Continue reading »

Mar 062014
 

Local food-related events

What is LFC?

This is the topic for discussion at the Eltham Library this week, Thursday, 7-8pm. Come along and ask those questions that you have or simply relax and hear about our local group Local Food Connect! This is a Harvest Month event.

Local Food Directory

Nillumbik Shire Council have made their local food directory information available to us. Now we can start to build a story of where our local food needs and wants are available. This is a major step in the local food connect story and we thank NSC for starting it. Let us know what you think.

Seed saving

One of the major ways to source local food is to save seed. Several individual readers save their seed from year to year, using it again in their own garden next season and sharing with friends. The film “Our seeds; seeds blong yumi” stresses the importance of seedsaving in communities. In conjunction with North East Ranges Permaculture Group, we are sharing a viewing of their dvd at Diamond Valley Library, Tuesday evening, March 11, 6:30-8pm. This is a Harvest Month event.

passata
The Feast

The passata is made and we are readying for the major event of Harvest Month – Home Harvest Feast! If you are a home gardener living in Nillumbik or Banyule you are welcome to attend for the price of some produce from your garden! Times and venues for drop offs of produce next week will be circulated to all of those registered.

tastingsLocal food tastings

The first tasting for Harvest Month was held at Bolton Street Deli last Saturday morning. A great time was had by both producers and passersby. Next tasting is in Diamond Creek, Saturday March 15 at Nillumbik Cellars, from 10am.

Caring for fruit trees

A workshop being held at Edendale, Saturday March 15, 2-4pm, $25, booking 9433 3711.

Workshops at BAAG

Preparing for winter Veg, Thursday, March 6, 6.45-9.15. $40.

Beekeeping basics, Wed March 12 6.45-9.15pm. $45.

Murundaka Workshop

Earth Co-operative proudly presents the Autumn Asian Vegetables workshop. This workshop will explain the different growing requirements of a variety of Asian vegetables anyone can grow in their backyard, by experienced permaculturist Seila Hierk. Then join Japanese cook Mikoto Araki in the kitchen to learn how to cook delicious Asian dishes for the autumn season.

10am-1pm Saturday 15th March at Murundaka Cohousing Community, 42 Bamfield Road, Heidelberg Heights. Please bring an apron for cooking.

Tea, coffee and snacks provided. Teenagers, children and people with all abilities are welcome. Bookings essential.

Other food activities/information

New event website

Thanks to a reader, I now have a new source of local activity information, which of course includes food! You may like to subscribe to Weekend Notes . Just a couple of activities happening soon – Upick chestnuts at the Chestnut Farm in Chalet Road, Olinda, free entry, $10 per kg picked. Another is the open day of St Erth, (Diggers), April 5 & 6, various activities. Another is a new food restaurant in the city, Shanghai Street Dumpling, offering homemade boiled Peking Dumplings!