Apr 292015
 

Robyn’s guide to local chocolate

vannunen1Have a look at Robyn’s guide to local chocolate. Thanks, Robyn! As she discusses, we are lucky to have a wide range of local chocolate makers, including:

For details about each of these chocolate makers, and where to buy their stuff, see the relevant part of the Local Food Directory.

Any changes, corrections or additions to this or any of the other guides would be most welcome. Ditto any words for any new local guides (honey anyone?). Just email us.

Local resources for community gardening

We have set up a resources page on the website, which lists some local professionals who build wicking beds or raised garden beds plus some others who grow and sell seedlings.

The list of local professionals who build wicking beds or raised garden beds currently comprises Greg Parsons (Yummy Gardens), Mac McVeigh, Matthew Laity (How Ya Growing), Nathan Ezard and Paul Gale-Baker (Urban Shepherd). The list of local professionals who grow and sell seedlings current comprises Helen Simpson (The Mushroom Shed) and Richard Lee (KABUU). Any others that should be added? What about local sources of compost, manure, etc?

Whilst on the subject, are Edendale still selling veggie seedlings (I didn’t see any when I last went there and nothing is mentioned on their website)?

Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) – website and newsletter

Several of us at LFC are also involved in another community organisation called Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA). Although SGA has nationwide coverage, it is actually based in Bulleen and 800 of its newsletter recipients live in either Nillumbik or Banyule.

SGA’s website has hundreds of articles about all aspects of gardening, with many of them relating to food. For example, during April:

If this sort of thing is of interest to you, you can sign up for their free, monthly newsletter.

[Guy’s editorial note: although I happen to be the person who sends out the SGA newsletter I don’t actually write the articles so when I say that many of the articles are rather interesting, you can take this as an unbiased opinion!]

Finally, here are two interesting statistics:

  • Of the 1,300 people in Nillumbik and Banyule who receive either the SGA newsletter or the LFC one, only 120 (9%) receive both.

  • For the SGA newsletter, Banyule recipients substantially outnumber those from Nillumbik (500 compared to 300).

New events

Telopea Mountain Permaculture guided tour

What: Pete (the Permie) and Silvia from Telopea Mountain Permaculture in Monbulk, are offering tours of their property to celebrate International Permaculture Day. It is a 12 acre property, run using biodynamic methods. The animals are integrated into the orchards, where there are over 1,000 varieties of fruit trees. They have a nursery with many food plants for sale and classrooms where they teach many classes including cheesemaking and cidermaking. You will be invited to try the fruit available from their collection, including tastings of old varieties of apple, pear and nashi. They will also discuss how biodynamics is used to provide health for the system and how permaculture design was used to create and improve the property.
When: Sunday, 3rd May, 10am and then again at 2pm.
Where: Monbulk (address to be supplied upon booking).
Cost: $25.
Enquiries/Bookings: Peter Allen by phone (0418 665880) or email.

The secret life of worms

What: Felicity Gordon will facilitate a discussion including: why worms are so valuable in our gardens; the biology and habits of worms; how to set up and maintain a worm farm at home; how to use worm castings and worm tea to improve your soil and garden; and what to do when things go wrong.
When: Tuesday, 5th May, 10.30-11.30am.
Where: Watsonia Library Community Garden.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Felicity Gordon by email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Sustainable garden sculpture: insect hotels

What: Take part in a creative environmental garden project in a beautiful rural setting, while learning about the importance of active insect life in your garden. Participants will work with artists to make sustainable insect hotels using a range of recycled materials. All ages welcome. Bookings are essential.
When: Saturday, 16th May, 10am-midday.
Where: Whittlesea Community Garden.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Megan by phone (0407 699755) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

If you know of any events that could usefully be included in the newsletter and website, email us. If you have a flyer, we can also include that. Just one request: please make sure that the details are in a form that we can copy/paste (i.e. not just a jpg).

Upcoming events from previous LFC News

Over the next week

Note that the ‘Small Blocks, Big Ideas’ Forum has been moved from Whittlesea Showgrounds to Hurstbridge Community Hub and will now be run concurrently with the Nillumbik Landholder Expo.

Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events.

Apr 222015
 

New events

Native plant sale

What: An annual event by the Australian Plants Society – Yarra Yarra. Propagation demos, seeds, cuttings and graftings from midday. View the plant list.
When: Sunday, 3rd May, 10am-3pm.
Where: corner of Main Road & Brougham Street, Eltham.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Australian Plants Society Yarra Yarra by phone (9439 7228) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Beekeeping – a taster

What: Obtain answers to your questions on the practical aspects of beekeeping and discover why keeping bees is a relaxing and a rewarding hobby for all the family.
When: Sunday, 10th May, 2pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Edendale website.
Further information: Edendale website.

Soil matters

What: Learn about the soil food web and how you can recycle household and garden organic waste by setting up a worm farm or backyard compost system.
When: Saturday, 16th May, 2-4.30pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Edendale website.
Further information: Edendale website.

If you know of any events that could usefully be included in the newsletter and website, email us. If you have a flyer, we can also include that. Just one request: please make sure that the details are in a form that we can copy/paste (i.e. not just a jpg).

Upcoming events from previous LFC News

Over the next week

None.

Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events.

Some links

Glyphosate

It has been suggested (thanks, Richard!) that you might be interested in signing a petition about the use of glyphosate.

Apr 152015
 

Montmorency Primary School Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

Montmorency Primary School is looking at recruiting new volunteers to work in their Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. As a volunteer you would assist a group of 4–5 students with either their cooking or their gardening lesson. You are not expected to be a master chef or a green thumb, but just have a willingness to help out whilst learning alongside the students and having fun along the way. If you could spare one to two hours on a Tuesday once a week or every fortnight they would love to hear from you. Gardening is 10-11am and cooking is 9-11am or midday-2pm.

If you are interested, please email Keryn Johnson or phone the school on 9434 5944.

Click here for Keryn’s volunteer request flyer. She has also started producing rather useful factsheets, including ones on zucchini and on autumn gardening.

New events

kylies1Meet the maker – breadmaking

What: Meet Kylie Moppert, local breadmaker: “Bread making is, in principle, very simple. It’s been done by millions of people for centuries. The living starter, the transformation of flour and water to soft bouncing dough, the aroma of baking bread. They are such tactile pleasures, so joyful to share, such fun to enjoy.“.
When: Wednesday, 6th May, 1-3pm.
Where: Eltham Library.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Living Learning Nillumbik.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Cooking workshop – minimising food waste

What: Learn what part of the plants can be used and different techniques to get maximum value from your fruits and vegetables. This workshop will be facilitated by Catherine Donnelly (Salt Foundation and Home Harvest cook) and Mikoto Araki (permaculturist).
When: Saturday, 9th May, 2-4.30pm.
Where: OAE Kitchen, 233 Southern Road, Heidelberg Heights (next door to Bunnings).
Cost: $15 or $10 concession.
Enquiries/Bookings: email Suzanne Crellin or phone OAE on 9450 2665.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

If you know of any events that should be included in the newsletter and website, email us. If you have a flyer, we can also include that. Just one request: please make sure that the details are in a form that we can copy/paste (i.e. not just a jpg).

Upcoming events from previous LFC News

Over the next week
Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events.

Apr 082015
 

New events

loveyourcompostCompost workshop at Carmone Community Garden

What: Home and community gardeners alike are invited to join a hands-on composting session guided by CERES Environment Park. You will better understand the principles of effective composting, and how to collectively manage the heap to reap its rewards.
When: Saturday, 11th April, 10am-midday.
Where: Community Garden at Carome Homestead.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Fiona, by phone (0407 138396) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

preservingPreserving your summer fruits and vegetables

What: Learn how to transform the humble tomato into a variety of delicious preserves, such as ketchup, relishes, pickles and pasta sauces. Discover how different preserving techniques make it possible to enjoy your harvest safely for months to come using tools and equipment you probably have in your kitchen.
When: Saturday, 18th April, 1-4pm.
Where: Whittlesea Community Activity Centre.
Cost: $5 for non-members. Members are free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Megan, by phone (0407 699755) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Seed saving with Maria Ciavarella

What: Complete the cycle in your garden as you learn how to save seeds from your own vegies to grow again. We cover some of the easier seeds as well as look at the vegies with more complex seed saving needs. Timing, techniques and hands-on activities are all part of the workshop.
When: Friday, 1st May, 7-9pm.
Where: Whittlesea Community House.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Megan, by phone (0407 699755) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

small blocks‘Small Blocks, Big Ideas’ Forum

What: Farming on small acreage is not without its challenges but it can be an exciting career and fantastic lifestyle. Rod May (Captain Creek Organics), Ben Falloon (Taranaki Farm), Tammi Jonas (Jonai Farms) and Kirsten Larsen (The Open Food Network) will tell their stories and answer your questions about how to get started and be successful in your own farming business.
When: Sunday, 3rd May, 9am-3pm.
Where: Whittlesea Showgrounds.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Annemaree Docking, by phone (9217 2593) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Hurstbridge Garden Club

What: Maurice Kellet on bromeliads.
When: Tuesday, 5th May, 7.15-9.15pm.
Where: Hurstbridge Community and Family Centre.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Cheryl Lowe, by phone (9438 1563) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

birthday flyer-1 smallEltham Farmers’ Market first birthday on Sunday, 12th April

As you will know from the last newsletter, the market is celebrating its first year of operation on 12th April. Highlights will include:

  • There will be a free competition, with a hamper as first prize and four other prizes of local produce.

  • At 9am, again at 10am, and again at 12.15, Pablo Naranjo will play guitar.

  • At 9.30, and again at 10.30, David Paul will perform magic tricks, juggle and play the trumpet.

  • At 11am, Bek McMillan will show how to prepare a simple, healthy birthday dish using fresh produce on offer at the market, including an opportunity for market goers to taste the results.

  • At 11.30, the competition will close.

  • At 11.45, Local Food Connect will present a certificate to a local retailer in recognition of their promotion of local produce.

  • At around midday, the results of the competition will be announced, and the prizes will be presented by Vicki Ward.

  • At around 12.15, Vicki will cut our birthday cake and pieces will be offered to market goers.

  • There will be two new sellers at our community market stall: Elodie/Tash (limes and figs) and Colin (honey).

  • Nillumbik Health will have a ‘eat well for health’ information stall.

If you know of any event newsletters that we should be subscribing to in order to get notification of events, please email us. The newsletters that we currently subscribe to include:

  • Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance.
  • Eltham POD.
  • Transition 3081.
  • Transition Banyule.
  • Whittlesea sustainable planning.

If you know of any events that should be included in the newsletter and website, email us. If you have a flyer, we can also include that. Just one request: please make sure that the details are in a form that we can copy/paste (i.e. not just a jpg).

Upcoming events from previous LFC News

Over the next week
Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events.

Survey results

A further 100 people have now responded to the one-question survey, making 220 in total:

  • 60% live in Nillumbik, 25% live in Banyule, 5% live in Manningham and 10% live elsewhere.
  • Of those who live in Nillumbik, half (30% of the total) live in Eltham and the other half live elsewhere in Nillumbik.
  • After Eltham, the suburbs with the most respondents were (in order): Hurstbridge, Montmorency, Diamond Creek and Greensborough, each with 5-6% of the total respondents.

Click here to see a detailed map of where people live.

Any more responses would be more than welcome. Please email us.

Apr 012015
 

Your local marmalade champion

Did you know that J.B. Shackleton’s, a local marmalade maker from Wonga Park, has just won two Gold medals in the 2015 World’s Original Marmalade Competition in the UK? Their winning marmalades were a) Lime and b) Tangelo. Read more …

wholemilk2Guy’s guide to local cheese

As a (near) vegetarian, I eat a lot of cheese. As discussed in the article on the website, I have gradually worked out which cheeses I like and where I can buy them from.

My diet includes cheeses from two local producers:

It would be great if there is anyone who would like to write something about local produce for the website. If you would be willing to write something/anything sometime/anytime, send us an email.

birthday flyer-1 smallEltham Farmers’ Market first birthday on Sunday, 12th April

The market is celebrating its first year of operation on 12th April and we would love you to come and share the day with us. We are still finalising the programme but it will include:

  • A free competition, with hampers as prizes.
  • Free cake.
  • David Paul, magician.
  • Pablo Naranjo, our favourite guitarist.

Although you can only enter the competition on the day itself, here are the four questions for you to ponder:

  1. What is the name of the Nillumbik apple business that has a stall at the market?
  2. Name the two stallholders who sell bread at the market?
  3. What suburb is the Wholemilk Continental Cheese Company factory in?
  4. Name one of the musicians who has sung at the market.

ph meterTesting the pH of your soil

It has just come to my notice (thanks Fay!) that Milkwood posted a comprehensive article on how to test and balance your soil’s pH.

The difference between a pH of 6 and and a pH of 7 might not sound much but remember that it is a logarithmic scale. So, for example there is a tenfold difference in the number of hydrogen ions between pHs 6 and 7 and a hundredfold difference between pHs 6 and 8.

The picture at the top of the article is of a pH test kit. If you find these fiddly to use, I would be happy to lend you my pH & moisture meter. Simply stick it into the soil and read the results. Drop me an email if you you like to borrow it.

While we are on the subject of borrowing:

New events

Launch of the Food and Beverage Growth Plan

What: the launch of a report on the growth potential of the food and beverage manufacturing sector in Melbourne’s North.
When: Friday, 17th April, 10-11.30am.
Where: RMIT University.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: d.redmond@latrobe.edu.au.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Some other dates for your diary:

If you know of any events that should be included in the newsletter and website, email us. If you have a flyer, we can also include that. Just one request: please make sure that the details are in a form that we can copy/paste (i.e. not just a jpg).

Upcoming events from previous LFC News

Over the next week
Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events.