LFC News April 27 2016

Apr 272016
 

staffordshire bull terrier eccleWell, what do you think was the most clicked link in last week’s newsletter? Yes, your guessed it(!): the market dog gallery again!

Since you last looked at the gallery, 11 new pictures have been added.

Here is a comment by Sue from Locheilan Farmhouse Cheeses: “As a stallholder, one of my pleasures is seeing the happiness brought for so many lovely dogs and their owners by their Sunday morning outings.”
b
And, finally, here is an event on at the weekend recommended by Marie from Poppys Kitchen: The Dog Lovers Show; Friday, 29th April to Sunday, 1st May; Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton. Features Dr Chris Brown (Julia Morris: “The thought of returning to the jungle with Dr Chris Brown makes me both swoon and explode in equal measure. The fact that he is so hot has become my new normal.“).

How to grow strawberries

strawberryHelen’s article for the month of May is on how to grow strawberries. As she says in her introduction: “With the leaves now falling from the trees, some plants will be starting their winter dormancy in a few weeks. Strawberries are one of these plants. This means that it is an excellent time to plant strawberry runners.” She then goes on to discuss runners or seeds, soil preparation & aspect, pest & disease management, fruiting and varieties. Read the full article.

As many of you will know, Helen has previously written articles about growing basil, chilli, garlic, rhubarb, tomatoes and lesser known herbs.

Help a fellow gardener in Kangaroo Ground by answering two quick questions

Helen Gillies is moving from Kangaroo Ground to Healesville in the near future and has to decide which fruit trees to take with her. She asks:

  1. What variety of fig is shown in the pictures, noting that it only crops once a year? (Chris Newman thinks that it is a White Adriatic but Helen doesn’t think so.)
  2. When transplanting fruit trees, what are the key success factors?

fig1    fig2

Email Helen with your answers.

Help a fellow gardener in Greensborough by answering two quick questions

Sue Hill has recently moved to Greensborough. She asks:

  1. Where should she be sourcing her soil from?
  2. Should she be planting seeds or seedlings?

Email Sue with your answers.

Do you live in Darebin and want some free seeds?

seedbankKerrie Ludekens and the Northcote Library Food Garden are offering seeds to Darebin home gardeners free of charge. Collect them from: Northcote Library Food Garden at their working bees (next door to Northcote Library, second Sunday of the month at 10am, except long weekends); Northcote Library (32–38 Separation Street, Northcote); Preston Customer Service Centre (274 Gower Street); Kiln Cafe (85C Clyde Street, Thornbury); or the Darebin Information and Volunteer Resource Service (285–287 High Street, Preston). For more info, contact Kerrie by phone (8470 8888) or email.

The winners of our boots’ photo competition claim their prizes

The winners of our boots’ photo competition came to claim their prizes on Sunday.

karin    lucy

Karin (pictured left) chose eggs from Top Hundred Acres, strawberries from Spirli Strawberries, honey from Heidi Honey Hurstbridge and vegetables from Little Feet Farm, Peninsula Fresh Organics, Sugarloaf Produce and Weyhill Farm.

Lucy (pictured right) chose champagne cider from Hazeldean Forest Farm, cheese from Blue Bay Cheese, gnocchi from Alberto’s Delicacies, honey from Heidi Honey Hurstbridge, a mushroom kit from The Mushroom Shed and vegetables from Peninsula Fresh Organics.

Is this a good rule?

“Vegetables that grow underground – start off in cold water; vegetables that grow over ground – place in boiling water.”

It comes from the Farmers’ Almanac Facebook. Here is their rationale:

  • Cooking corn, peas, etc. simply entails softening their cell walls to make them more palatable and easier to digest. Because most green vegetables are small and/or thin, this does not take long. So you add those to boiling water.
  • Root vegetables contain a great deal of starch, which needs to be dissolved before they can be eaten. It takes a while for the heat to penetrate the vegetables. Starting root vegetables out in cold water, and heating the outside layers, gradually allows the cell walls get reinforced and become more resistant to the effects of overcooking. This works especially well on starchy root veggies, like potatoes, since the gradual temperature change keeps the outer edges from overcooking and turning mealy.

I tried Googling to see whether others agreed with the rule. I found a number of sites in support. I also found some that said one should always steam rather than boil (to lessen vitamin leaching), and a few that advocated adding things to the water (e.g. fat and citrus, as well as salt)

New events

Native plant sale

What: An annual event by the Australian Plants Society – Yarra Yarra. A huge range of native plants, tube stock to advanced, including indigenous and grafted stock.
When: Sunday, 1st May, 10am-3pm.
Where: Eltham.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Australian Plants Society Yarra Yarra by phone (9439 7228) or email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Official opening of the EPIC garden

epicWhat: The activities include: 11.30am – see the Edible Food Forest come into existence; 11.45am – step into their imagination on a “vision walk” of the proposed gardens with the EPIC permaculture specialists; 10.30am–1.30pm – get the kids involved in the ‘magic of nature’; and 1pm-1.30pm: learn how to build the winning ingredient for any garden – hot compost.
When: Sunday, 1st May, 10.30am-1.30pm.
Where: Sherbrooke.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Rick Colasacco by email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

‘No dig’ garden workshop

What: A wonderful way to avoid digging, cope with couch grass and produce some rapidly growing vegetables. Organised by, and located at, St Johns Riverside Community Garden.
When: Sunday, 15th May, 11.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Heidelberg.
Cost: $5 (free for members).
Enquiries: Katrina Philip by phone (0422 735213) or email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Seed saving

What: Join Robin to find out the keys to saving your valuable seeds. A great way to not only save money but ensure the quality of your plants.
When: Tuesday, 17th May, 11.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Greensborough.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Dione Fisher by phone (9434 3809) or email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Raising healthy seedlings from seeds and cuttings

What: Local horticulturalist Helen Simpson will explain how to economically start your herb and veggie seedlings from seeds and cuttings. Learn a variety of easy methods and see practical demonstrations.
When: Tuesday, 24th May, 11am-midday.
Where: Watsonia.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Watsonia Library by phone (9435 2397).
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Permablitz 181 (Kilsyth)

What: Linda is a working mum of two teenage boys and has a dream of creating an edible forest garden, with a long-term view to creating a community garden next door. She has a massive space to work in, so there will be activities in the front and back yard areas.
When: Sunday, 29th May, 9am-4.30pm.
Where: Kilsyth.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Permablitz website.
Further information: Permablitz website.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week
Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events.

LFC News April 20 2016

Apr 202016
 

What do you think was the most clicked link in last week’s newsletter? The lead article on our boots for change competition? No. Maybe one of the recipes from the Little Drop of Poison? Nope. How about one of links to the ‘world record’ 54 local events that were listed? Wrong again. But, you might say, there weren’t any other links. Oh yes, there was. Buried somewhere was a one liner about our new market dog gallery and that was the most clicked link!

A new, weekly farmers’ market in Ringwood

Every Sunday from 24 April, from 9am to 2pm. Along Melbourne Street and the Town Square in Ringwood. Jointly operated by Melbourne Farmers’ Markets and Eastland.

Does your community garden need some soil?

The Green Centre in Keilor Park is currently offering free soil or compost to community gardens in North East Melbourne in return for a mention on a blog or equivalent (e.g. on the Local Food Connect website). Moreland, Newlands and Ringwood have already taken advantage of the offer and, earlier this week, the Eltham planter boxes were also grateful recipients. As I understand it, the minimum quantity is ½m3 and the maximum quantity is 3m3. The products on offer are three soils (Premium Veggie Mix, Turf Loam or Botanical Blend) and two composts (Composted Cow Manure or Dig in Compost). If you are potentially interested, email me and I’ll put you in touch with the right people.

bee rescueA bee rescue caught on camera

At the last Eltham Farmers’ Market, someone called me over to take a photo of a bee rescue in action. This person, whose name I don’t know, had seen a bee become dehydrated (or equivalent), had got a smidgeon of honey (from Heidi Honey Hurstbridge), and was feeding it to the bee. The bee was drinking (or equivalent) and revived in front of my eyes. The photo on the right is the proof.

Some jars find a loving home

A couple of weeks ago, Kathryn offered up some of her surplus jars. You will be pleased to know that they have been snapped up by “a lovely lady who is going to make marmalade”.

A date for your diary?

Did you know that the first week in May is international compost week? See the Centre for Organic & Resource Enterprises website. Presumably, some dirty weekends will be organised!

Want to be on any more mailing lists?

The list below comprises those local newsletters that I subscribe to. Its purpose is twofold: first, to give you a checklist of newsletters that you might like to subscribe to; and, second, so that you can tell me if there are any other newsletters that I should subscribe to. In many cases, it is actually quite difficult to subscribe online so the links below are the email addresses from whom the newsletters emanate.

New events

Gardening for habitat and biodiversity

What: Learn about the best plants and the best techniques to increase the habitat value of your suburban garden, from the experts at La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary, then take a tour of the Sanctuary, one of our region’s best natural assets. Morning tea provided. And a free plant to take home.
When: Saturday, 30th April, 10.30am-1pm.
Where: Bundoora.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Charlie Davie by phone (8470 8405) or email.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Permaculture design course (14 week)

What: Running for 14 weeks, this 98 hour (plus site visits) permaculture design course offers you the opportunity to delve into the world of permaculture. Suitable for people wishing to develop their own productive garden, planning a larger scale rural enterprise, or starting out in the world of design. Covering the ethics and principles underpinning permaculture, using zones, sector planning, reading the landscape, site assessment, small-scale home gardens to forest gardening, integrating animal systems, energy efficiency and much more. Guest tutors will enhance your learning experience, along with site visits to see examples of permaculture or related techniques in action. By the end of the course, students will have developed and presented one individual design and one group design.
When: Every Sunday, from 1st May to end August. Also, every Wednesday, from 4th May to end August.
Where: Mornington Peninsula.
Cost: $1,050.
Enquiries: Fleur Baker from Santosha Permaculture by phone (0425 785233) or email.
Bookings: Trybooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Composting workshop

What: The workshop is aimed at beginners and will cover how to set up and maintain a compost bin, worm farm and Bokashi bucket at home. Participants will receive a free kitchen caddy to take home and use in their kitchen for collecting food scraps. Bookings essential. The workshop is part of International Compost Awareness Week.
When: Wednesday, 4th May, 9.30-11am and Thursday, 5th May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Ringwood and Croydon.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/bookings: Maroondah Council’s waste education provider (EnviroCom) by phone (9703 5288).
Further information: Ringwood event and Croydon event.

Autumn family fair at Yandell Kindergarten

What: A fabulous day of fun for the whole family. Kids’ activities, music, market stalls, a silent auction, craft, plant stalls, food & coffee. Includes a native plant sale.
When: Saturday, 7th May, 10am-4pm.
Where: Greensborough.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Linda Wong by phone (9435 9472) or email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Permaculture basics: planning your garden

What: Ian Culbard will introduce the basic principles of permaculture and demonstrate how you can apply them to your garden. Bring a sketch of your garden to assist with planning ideas.
When: Saturday, 7th May, 11am-midday.
Where: Watsonia.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Watsonia Library by phone (9435 2397).
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Biodynamic course (two-day)

What: A 2-day course covering: Rudolf Steiner and the Biodynamic Movement – 8 Steiner lectures; biodynamic preparation 500 / burying cow horns / stirring and spraying; biodynamic compost – the preparations and making the compost; cosmic nutrition, seed saving and collecting; the planting calendar and nature’s rhythms, Gothean science; biodynamic peppering – plant, insect and vermin elimination; and elementals, intention, mycelium, weeds, mosses, lichen, tree paste.
When: Saturday, 11th June and Sunday 12th June, 9.30am-4.30pm. The course will be repeated on the weekends of 6th/7th August, and 15th/16th October.
Where: Warranwood.
Cost: $290.
Enquiries: Grit by phone (0477 408665) or email.
Bookings: Cheques, cash, electronic transfer, Paypal or credit card – see the LFC calendar entry for details.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Dim sims and spring rolls workshop

What: Join in this hands-on workshop and learn how to make your own dim sims and spring rolls. Why travel anywhere else when you can make these at home? This is a practical workshop, there are no tastings. Bookings required as limited spaces. Not suitable for children.
When: Monday, 20th June, 1-2.30pm.
Where: Mill Park.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/bookings: Jack by phone (9437 8189) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week
Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events.

LFC News April 13 2016

Apr 132016
 

Boots, farmers’ markets and prizes

The wearing of boots can (vaguely!) be considered to be a metaphor of the connection between local farmers and the public. As per last week’s newsletter, we celebrated the wearing of boots at Eltham Farmers’ Market on 10th April. Here are the 3 major winners plus 3 of the other photos:

 lucy  chris  karin
Lucy
Winner: best photo
Prize: bag of market produce		 Chris
Winner: in need of new boots
Prize: a pair of new boots		 Karin
Winner: random draw
Prize: bag of market produce
 felicity 1  gillian's dog  nicola
Felicity’s gardening boots Gillian’s dog Nicola and children

Lucy and Karen will be collecting their prizes at the 24th April market. Chris will be ordering his boots from Blundstone, who have kindly donated them.

Whilst on the subject of photo galleries, have a look at our new market dog gallery.

Two yummy new recipes

Kobi Ruzicka, from the Little Drop of Poison, cooked two rather delicious dishes at the market using produce from the stalls. Here are the recipes:

If you have never been there, the Little Drop of Poison is well worth a visit: both a cafe and a bar, it opens early in the morning and closes late at night. The food is unusual, as is the vertical cactus garden (by Local Food Connect member, Nathan Ezard). The only place in Victoria to serve cherry cider! Down a little alleyway (St Laurence Lane) off Main Road, Eltham.

Finally, something that has been bugging me for ages: why do recipes rarely contain the words “the” or “a” (at least until I get my hands on them)? Is it some sort of rule? Who decided?

Here is what someone called Stefan Diemer said on the demise of the definite article in a paper entitled Recipes and food discourse in English – a historical menu: “Some syntactical features remain universal diachronically while others, like the ellipsis of the definite article, are comparatively recent developments.” It isn’t often that I read a sentence where I have to look up the meaning of at least three of the words!

Upcoming community gardening working bees

On 18th April at 2pm, a number of us will be doing the winter planting of the planter boxes at Arthur Street in Eltham. If you would like to join us, that would be (more than) great. It shouldn’t be at all onerous! If potentially interested, email me.

There are other working bees this coming weekend at Bellfield community garden and St Johns, Heidelberg and they would also love to see you.

Finally, the planter box team in Diamond Creek are short of people. If you are potentially interested in being part of the team, or helping on an ad hoc basis, please email Pam Jenkins.

New events

Biodynamic course (two-day)

What: A 2-day course covering: Rudolf Steiner and the Biodynamic Movement – 8 Steiner lectures; biodynamic preparation 500 / burying cow horns / stirring and spraying; biodynamic compost – the preparations and making the compost; cosmic nutrition, seed saving and collecting; the planting calendar and nature’s rhythms, Gothean science; biodynamic peppering – plant, insect and vermin elimination; and elementals, intention, mycelium, weeds, mosses, lichen, tree paste.
When: Saturday, 16th April and Sunday 17th April, 9.30am-4.30pm. The course will be repeated on the weekends of 11th/12th June, 6th/7th August, and 15th/16th October.
Where: Warranwood.
Cost: $290.
Enquiries: Grit by phone (0477 408665) or email.
Bookings: Cheques, cash, electronic transfer, Paypal or credit card – see the LFC calendar entry for details.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Food garden planning in Melbourne’s climate

What: As part of the Forest Hill and Box Hill South Urban Harvest food swaps, Karen Sutherland, of Edible Eden Designs, will be giving a short workshop on ‘Food garden planning in Melbourne’s climate’. Karen is well known in gardening and permaculture circles. She has been growing food for many years and her suburban garden has been featured in TV programmes and newspapers.
When: Saturday, 16th April, 10.15am (Forest Hill) and 11.45am (Box Hill South).
Where: Forest Hill and Box Hill South.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entries – Forest Hill and Box Hill South.

Fruit tree pruning

What: After an introduction to pruning and how fruit trees grow, watch demonstrations and then gain practical experience in pruning deciduous fruit trees. Learn the why, when and how of pruning. This 4-hour workshop will balance both the theory and practice of deciduous fruit tree pruning. It will be useful for those wishing to learn how to prune their deciduous fruit trees correctly in order to maximise yield and reduce pests and disease. Dress for the outdoors and bring along your own secateurs.
When: Wednesday, 8th June, 10am-2pm and Saturday, 18th June, 1-5pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: $50.
Enquiries: Edendale by phone (9433 3711) or email.
Bookings: Edendale website.
Further information: Edendale website.

Healthy eating as a way of life

What: Judy Davie is the founder of The Food Coach, a website dedicated to inspiring people to eat healthily. She will be talking about her latest book The greengrocer’s diet: what starts as a diet can become a way of life which shows how easy it is to eat healthily and how delicious healthy food can be.
When: Wednesday, 8th June, 7-8pm.
Where: Camberwell.
Cost: free
Enquiries: Camberwell Library by phone (9278 4666).
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week
Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events.

LFC News April 6 2016

Apr 062016
 

bootsforchange2Eltham Farmers’ Market 2nd birthday celebrations on 10th April

We want photos of you wearing your boots! Boots for Change is a national farmers’ market initiative asking people to show their support for their local farmers by wearing their boots when they shop at their local farmers’ market in April:

  • Before the market: Go in the draw to win a bag full of market food by taking a photo of you (and maybe your friends) in your boots. There will be a prize for the most creative photo plus a random prize for simply entering so everyone has a chance to win. You can email your photo to us or post your photo on your Facebook or Instagram account along with the hashtag #bootselthamfm.
  • On the day of the market: Wear your boots – we will be taking photos of shoppers in their boots at the market so you can enter the draw for a bag of delicious fresh market food!

bootscootContinuing the boots theme, at 10.30am, Caro from Bootscoot’n Basics in Diamond Creek will lead her group of country line dancers and then you can join in the fun!

Want some jars with lids?

Kathryn Larfield of Eltham has been saving jars with lids for relish and chutney making and now has a box and a half more than she needs for this year’s batch. If you would like these jars, email Kathryn. Be quick though: first in, best dressed.

‘Free range’ egg producers that you should avoid

As many of you will know, the state, territory and federal consumer affairs ministers met on 31st March and decided that ‘free-range’ can mean eggs produced by hens stocked at up to 10,000 birds per hectare, not the maximum 1,500 per hectare that the CSIRO Model Code recommends. Choice, who have been running a campaign on this issue, have put together a list of egg producers who you should avoid because, although they call themselves ‘free range’, their stocking densities are 10,000 birds per hectare:

  • Aldi Lodge Farm Free-Range Eggs.
  • Coles Free-Range Eggs.
  • Eco Eggs.
  • Farm Pride Free Range Eggs.
  • Manning Valley Free-Range Eggs.
  • Meggles Farm Free-Range Eggs.
  • Misty Mountain Free Range Eggs.
  • Otway Free Range Eggs.
  • Pace Farm Free-Range Eggs.
  • Pace Omega 3 Free-Range Eggs.
  • South Gippsland Eggs Free-Range.
  • Woolworths Select Free-Range Eggs.

50 resources to help you become more self-sufficient

As Lucinda Green says, there are lots of tips and ideas within this article.

10 steps towards greener cooking and eating

Read this article on Facebook.

New events

Permablitz 180 (Thornbury)

What: The Isaacs family have designed a productive garden, with espaliered fruit trees and raised beds. They would like a friendly bunch of blitzers to join them in bringing their new design to fruition, and help them install fruiting hedges, garden beds, a herb spiral, a pond, and espaliered trees. Lunch and snacks will be provided, as well as a safe place for kids to play/watch TV, plus how-to handouts for each task.
When: Saturday, 7th May, 9am-4pm.
Where: Thornbury.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Permablitz website.
Further information: Permablitz website.

Introduction to fruit trees workshop

What: Thinking about starting a small orchard? Are your fruit trees looking a little sad and neglected? Join the Mernda Community Gardeners and Craig Castree from Edible Gardens to discover what fruit trees need to stay healthy, happy, and most importantly productive and delicious! Placement, pruning techniques, soil, irrigation and common problems will be a particular focus. You’ll be outdoors in the garden so be weather smart, wear sunscreen, appropriate outdoor clothing and covered shoes. Bookings essential.
When: Saturday, 28th May, 10am-12.30pm.
Where: Mernda.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: by email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

All the other new events below (23 of them!) are from the Darebin Homemade Food & Wine Festival. Their web page includes a one-page pdf summary of all their events and their phone number is 8470 8593.

Samira El Khafir: cooking with love

What: Samira El Khafir’s (MasterChef) passion for Middle Eastern food comes from the heart and the home. Now based at her modern Middle Eastern cafe on the Merri Creek in Thornbury, Samira will join you to demonstrate three delicious Middle Eastern dishes made from common leftovers, and take you through easy ways to minimise food waste and save money. Bookings essential.
When: Monday, 9th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Delicious ajvar

What: Ajvar can be eaten on bread and is especially yummy with chevapi! Originating in Macedonia, Ajvar is popular right across Eastern Europe. Susan Stojanova will demonstrate a roasted pepper and chilli version of this delicious relish.
When: Monday, 9th May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Angie Chong: I love dumplings

What: Angie Chong is a fourth generation foodie, daughter of legendary celebrity chef Elizabeth Chong, and granddaughter to dim-sim pioneer William Wing Young. Passionate about sharing her rich food culture, she will show you how to roll, wrap and eat delicious handmade dumplings. Bookings essential.
When: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Introduction to homemade wine making

What: Become your own winemaker! The session, led by Home Make It, will cover wine basics & equipment, crushing & fermentation, pressing, malolatic fermentation & storage, racking, oak, finings and barrels, wine adjustments, faults and blending, filtration and bottling. Everything you need to know to get started. Bookings essential.
When: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-7.45pm.
Where: Reservoir.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Think health … think spelt!

What: Learn all about Italy’s most famous ancient grain – organic spelt (‘farro’ in Italian) – at this demonstration by one of Australia’s foremost experts on all things spelt, Alfred Abbatangelo of Classica International. Alfred will share the many health benefits of this ancient grain and take you step by step through two of his favourite spelt dishes. Includes tastings and recipes.
When: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Backyard honey workshop

What: With Benedict Hughes, from The Practical Beekeeper. Bees are incredibly important for our ecosystem – a third of all the food we eat is pollination dependent. In this two hour workshop, you will learn about backyard beekeeping and the pleasure of having your own supply of honey. You will also get to see the process of honey harvesting up close and take some home.
When: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-8.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Shop ethical

What: What are you supporting when you shop? Are you unconsciously supporting companies, practices and ingredients that you wouldn’t if you were aware of it? Join Transition Darebin and Shop Ethical for an ethical shopping ‘whodunnit’ as they look at how to buy with a clear conscience and for a healthy planet.
When: Tuesday, 10th May, 7.30-9pm.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: Donation at the door.
Bookings: Eventarc.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Sun Hyland: sensational sauces from scratch

What: Thornbury chef Sun Hyland self-published his first cookbook Loving Good Food after a successful crowd funding campaign. Passionate about sustainable food choices and the benefits of conscious living, Sun will show you how to make your own tasty and nutritious condiments with no dairy or saturated fats. They include raw green sauce and vegan mayo. Bookings essential.
When: Wednesday, 11th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

An African feast

What: With Desiree Ashitei, from Awo’s Kitchen. Expand your culinary horizons. Learn how to make authentic & delicious West African dishes cooked with love! Dishes include: agushi flo, a hearty vegetarian stew and kelewele, a popular street food from Ghana. A selection of West African delicacies will also be available to sample – including jollofe rice.
When: Wednesday, 11th May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Rita Erlich in conversation with Cameron Smith

What: Food writer Rita Erlich will discuss her book The Makers: A Story of Food Family & Foreigners with Cameron Smith (Eat It, Triple R). The Makers explores the intersections between food, family and the traditional methods that Melbourne’s Italian community continues to practice in the backyards and garages of our suburbs. Bookings essential.
When: Thursday, 12th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

A Tamil feast

What: Tamil cook Nigethan, from Tamil Feasts, will share the amazing food heritage of his Sri Lankan homeland. He will demonstrate traditional vegetarian and gluten free dishes – a rare opportunity to experience the rich colour, spice and flavour of authentic Tamil cuisine. Includes tasting.
When: Thursday, 12th May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Italian meat ball demonstration and tasting

What: With ancestors from the Abruzzo Region of Italy, Hilda and Laurie Inglese, authors of Wow, It’s Italian, are passionate about sharing their wonderful recipes before they are forgotten. Join them as they make traditional meatballs and learn more about how growing, storing and preserving food was done in their tiny, remote village in Italy. Includes tasting. Bookings essential.
When: Friday, 13th May, 7-8pm.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

A taste of Spain

What: Cooking paella is a spectacular sensory experience! Join them for a demonstration of this delicious traditional dish from Valencia in the east of Spain. The demonstration will includes a tasting and music.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 11am-midday.
Where: Reservoir.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Pasta making for kids

What: Ready, steady, spaghetti! Learn to make your own yummy orichette from scratch at this fun hands-on workshop led by The Travelling Kitchen and get inspired about ‘doing it yourself’ in true Italian style. Suitable for primary school aged children.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 11am-midday.
Where: Reservoir.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Make your own Vietnamese rice paper rolls for kids

What: Learn to make authentic Vietnamese rice paper rolls at this fun hands-on workshop led by The Travelling Kitchen. Rice paper rolls are crunchy and delicious and definitely the coolest way to eat your veggies. Suitable for primary school aged children.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 1-2pm.
Where: Reservoir.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Meet the Makers showcase

What: Homemade wine tasting and an opportunity to meet your fabulous local homemade wine makers, cooking demonstrations, information stalls, coffee, music and more. The awards ceremony for best local homemade wine, beer, passata, ajvar and olives will be at 3.30pm.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 1-4pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Cooking with quinces

What: Autumn is quince season and during this workshop, Meg Montague will show you how to make the most of this this unusual but beautiful fruit. Learn the art of making quince paste, jelly and jam, delicious accompaniments to cheese and antipasto. Includes recipes, tasting samples and some hands-on opportunities.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 2-3.30pm.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Olive preserving

What: With Darebin Fruit Squad and DIVRS. Mediterranean masters of home grown produce Ilias Papadopoulos (Greece) and Sam Ferraro (Italy) will show you how easy it is to preserve your homegrown olives in a fun and practical workshop.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 2-3.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Streetside brew

What: Northside’s own home brew club, Merri Mashers, are passionate about top-notch beer. Together with Home Make It, let them take you step by step through the process of brewing your own beer at home. This informal event is the perfect introduction to home brewing and will provide plenty of opportunity to have all your beer brewing questions answered over a glass or two from Carwyn Cellars’ huge selection.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 2.30-6pm.
Where: Thornbury.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Organic backyard chook keeping

What: Want healthy, happy and productive chooks as part of your sustainable backyard? Jessamy Miller from the ABC’s Organic Gardener and Australasian Poultry magazines will demonstrate how to set up your hen house, integrate chooks into the garden, and manage your flock using organic methods. Get the lowdown on what to feed your birds, and how to deal with some common issues.
When: Sunday, 15th May, 10-11.30am.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

A taste of Autumn / Winter home produce at the Plummery

What: Join Kat Lavers in her small-scale highly intensive food garden, the Plummery, where you will taste a range of delicious home grown autumn and winter produce such as Chinese quince, persimmon, feijoas, radicchio, minutina, daikon, kale, mizuna, wild rocket, perennial leeks and even quail eggs. Kat will provide tips on how to produce these delicious foods yourself, providing fresh food throughout winter and keeping your veggie patch productive all year long.
When: Sunday, 15th May, midday-1pm.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Fermented beverages workshop

What: Make delicious non-alcoholic fermented beverages kombucha, water kefir, and rejuvelac in this hands-on workshop. Darcy Watson-Russell, a fermentation enthusiast with many years’ experience facilitating community workshops, will guide you through the fermentation process, flavouring techniques, and how to use fermented beverages in a variety of recipes.
When: Sunday, 15th May, 2-4pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Tibetan soul

What: Learn how to prepare Tibetan momos with Samdup and Fiona in the warm and atmospheric surrounds of their Northern Soul Tibetan Cafe. Samdup was born in Tibet and has grown up eating and cooking momos. He will teach you how to make both the dough and filling. Delicious, healthy and hearty! Kids welcome.
When: Sunday, 15th May, 4.30-5.30pm.
Where: Thornbury.
Cost: $20.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week
Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events