LFC News May 30 2018

May 302018
 

Judy visits the garden of Lucinda Flynn

Many of you will know Lucinda through her ownership of the the eco-lifestyle shop, Going Green Solutions. Judy Vizzari has now visited Lucinda’s garden in Hurstbridge. Here is how Judy introduces her write up, when she first sees the garden: “I gaze at the garden and am entranced by its magical blend of levels and plots and winding paths – no regimented borders here, no driveway to mention, just a meandering arrangement of thriving herbs, vegetables, fruiting trees, vines and plants which spill out in blue, lavender, red, pink and green hues. This is a garden where I can imagine fairies dancing in moonlight and wonder whether frogs might nestle beneath the sharp leaved Vietnamese mint in its water garden. I imagine them mirrored by moonlight and waiting for princesses to transform them into charming princes. Anything can happen here.” Read the full interview.

We are in danger of running out of people to interview. If you would be happy being interviewed, or if you want to suggest someone else to be interviewed, email us.

Robin’s tip of the month – quick composting of leaves

Nature is currently providing us with an abundance of raw nutrients for next season’s garden in the form of leaves and grass clippings, both excellent ingredients for composting.

Deep-rooted trees pull trace minerals from deep in the soil and deposit them in their leaves. Leaves contain twice as many minerals as the same weight of manure. The main problem with using leaves is that they mat and this creates a barrier to air circulation and water absorption and consequently slows the composting process or, in some cases, stops it altogether. There is an easy solution to this: mow or shred your leaves. This reduces their size and creates many leaf edges that are then easily accessible to microbes that break down the leaf structure. A rotary mower, shredder or even a whipper snipper will do the job.

To begin your compost heap, select a site directly on soil and start building layer by layer. Begin with a layer of shredded leaves about 100-150mm thick, then add 50-100mm of fresh grass clippings. By the next day, the clippings will have created considerable heat. Add some animal manure. Fermented vegetable scraps can be added next (such as the contents of a Bokashi bin – Bokashi mix is full of microbes and a scattering of this alone will speed up composting).

Repeat these layers until the heap is 1-1.5 metres high and has a similar width. Make sure you water each layer as dry material will not compost. Add a ‘heavy’ layer to the surface to prevent any leaves blowing away – this could be soil, hessian bags or chicken wire.

The final step is to turn your heap regularly and, as the leaves are light, this won’t be heavy work. Leave the heap for a fortnight, then turn every 3 days for rapid composting until you have a rich, black humus which you can either dig into your soil or add as a layer of mulch.

Read all of Robin’s tips.

What to plant in June

Here is a list (see the planting guide for more detail):
Broad beans
Coriander
Garlic
Lettuce
Mustard greens
Onion
Peas
Radish
Shallot

The list is pretty short. It’s your last chance to plant broad beans and garlic, and arguably too late for them.

Would you eat wild mushrooms?

Carol Woolcock has written in: “Nature has provided extras next to the tanks and fruit trees. I know that they are safe to eat as we have been doing so for decades. They are a little later this year due to the delayed rain.

News about community gardens

Sylvestor Hive (Preston)

It’s been a busy week for the Sylvestor Hive community garden in Preston.

A week ago Monday, they were the setting for an interview with Paul West from River Cottage Australia and, last Wednesday, they were the backdrop for the picture on the front of The Preston Leader.

Then, on Sunday, they held a well-attended open garden followed by a presentation on how to preserve chillies and beans. I attended and it was good to meet newsletter readers Hendrik, Jack, Kim, Lou and Michelle.

Whilst there, I was told that the Council had borne the entire set up costs of the community garden. When it comes to food-related initiatives, Darebin is streets ahead of most of the other Councils in North East Melbourne.

  

Incredible Edible Eltham

Thanks to Bev Robertson, the railway station beds now have snazzy yellow information signs telling the commuters about each plant that is growing in the beds.

News about local food producers

Coburg Farmers’ Market has moved to Coburg Primary School at 92 Bell Street, Coburg.

Kooinda Boutique Brewery, from Heidelberg West, are now a stallholder at The Fitzroy Mills Market.

You can now buy Sugarloaf Produce’s veggies and mushrooms at the St Andrews General Store and Post Office. Sugarloaf Produce are from Strathewen.

Yarra Valley Gateway Estate, in Coldstream, now sell Coldstream Dairy’s cheese.

Leader local grants

The voting has opened for the latest Leader local grants, with the voting period ending on 8th June. Here are some of the food-related applications from around North East Melbourne:

‘Crowd harvest’ – winter citrus

Lemon trees are often heavily laden in the middle of winter. Gardeners with excess are invited to give them to one of the not-for profit organisations listed below who will, in turn, provide them to facing food insecurity. DIVRS in Preston, Now and Not Yet Cafe in Warrandyte or STREAT in Collingwood. If you want someone to harvest the lemons for you, contact Cath Lyons (aka Tiny Trowel) by phone (0401 814679) or email.

Transforming suburbia

This debate was recorded at the Sustainable Living Festival in February. Features David Holmgren, Costa Georgiadis, Kat Lavers and others. Thanks for the heads up, Fay Loveland!

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

The No Grainer Facebook post.

Proverb of the month

Bread always falls butter side down. Original meaning (1832): bread falling buttered side down causes bad luck. Subsequent meaning (1835 to now), the converse: bad luck causes bread to fall buttered side down. In other words, the same meaning as Murphy’s law or Sod’s law, namely: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Relates to people who are glass-half-empty (i.e. pessimistic) rather than glass-half-full (i.e. optimistic) in their approach.

So, considering it literally, is there any truth in the saying? Per Manchester University, ‘yes’ but only if dropped from a table around a metre high and starting butter side up (the argument being that it only has time for a half turn before it hits the floor). In 1996, someone won the Ig Nobel Prize for Physics for analysing the issue (the nature of Ig Nobel Prize is illustrated by the fact that the 2017 prize for Fluid Dynamics was for a paper studying the dynamics of liquid-sloshing when a person walks backwards while carrying a cup of coffee).

Together with Gulliver’s Travels (cf. the correct end to crack an egg), the saying was the inspiration for the 1984 Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss, where the Yooks eat their bread with the butter-side up while the Zooks eat their bread with the butter-side down.

Read all the proverbs.

Gardening quote of the month

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” by Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Read all the quotes.

Joke of the week

Jesus fed 5,000 people with two fishes and a loaf of bread. That’s not a miracle. That’s tapas.

Read all the jokes.

New events

Wow it’s Italian – Italian minestrone + pasta

What: Enjoy a social evening of cooking demonstrations and food tasting. Take away healthy recipes and tips for entertaining, favourite family meals, simple sauces and pasta dishes. Menu: Italian minestrone with homemade pastas.
When: Thursday, 31st May, 7-9pm.
Where: Chirnside Park.
Cost: $20.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Sylvester Hive – roasted chestnut get-together

What: Join them for a social gathering with locals and enjoy some freshly roasted chestnuts. Take a plate to share. BYO drinks. Roasted chestnuts will be available to purchase on the day.
When: Saturday, 2nd June, 2-4pm.
Where: Sylvester Hive Community Garden, Preston.
Cost: gold coin.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Edible weeds of Melbourne

What: Learn the most common edible weeds of the season, how to prepare them and some of their medicinal properties. This workshop will teach you how to identify weeds that are local, edible, and/or medicinal in the greater Melbourne area. Eating weeds allow us to connect more deeply with our local ecology, understand the role of weeds in the human and plant environment, and expand our culinary possibilities. Monique Miller will walk you through the weeds at Joe’s Market Garden and down by the nearby Merri Creek.
When: Saturday, 16th June, 10-11.30am.
Where: Joe’s Market Garden, Coburg.
Cost: $15.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Medicinal herbs workshop

What: Do you like to grow your own herbs? Would you like to find out how you can use them for medicinal purposes? Then go along to this hands-on workshop, presented by Doris Pozzi, to learn about natural alternatives that can be grown from your own backyard. Also, take the chance to network with other local community gardeners and share some of your own home grown herbs and veggies.
When: Saturday, 23rd June, 10am-1pm.
Where: Greenbrook Community House, Epping.
Cost: free.
Bookings: by phone (9408 0916) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Eating green

What: John and Sunday Reed created Heide as a self-contained realm with an emphasis on holistic, sustainable living. Join Alexandra Pyke, founder of plant-based eatery The Alley, for a tour of Heide’s kitchen garden followed by a cooking demonstration and a discussion of vegan protein and superfoods.
When: Sunday, 24th June, 10am-1pm.
Where: Heide, Bulleen.
Cost: $46.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

SEEDs Winter Soup Festival

What: Join them in celebrating SEEDs Communal Garden at their annual ‘winter soup’ fundraiser – with live music and performers, food prepared using SEEDs-grown produce, chai, coffee and mulled kombucha, locally brewed craft beer, communal weaving, sewing with boomerang bags, children’s activities and a mini market. See how much the garden has grown over the last three years.
When: Sunday, 24th June, 11am-4pm.
Where: SEEDs Communal Garden, Brunswick.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Heidi garden club

What: A monthly (last Wednesday of the month) gathering of like-minded people who enjoy chatting about all things garden, in particular productive gardening. Set in the Heide I kitchen garden, join them for a chat and a light morning tea, including a Heide produce tasting. Facilitated by Heide gardener, Katie Grace.
When: Wednesday, 27th June, Wednesday, 25th July and Wednesday, 29th August, all 10am-midday.
Where: Heide, Bulleen.
Cost: $14.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Creative soups in your thermomix

What: Soups are a staple for winter. They will share their favourite soups, from simple tasty broths to more complex asian style soups. From sharing tips for getting the most flavour through to healthy preservative-free soups in under 20 minutes, you will come away with plenty of ideas, recipes and be sampling throughout the evening.
When: Wednesday, 27th June, 7.30-9.30pm.
Where: Kilsyth.
Cost: $21.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Cooking master class

What: Enjoy 3 tasting size courses cooked by chef Bek McMillan, from Gourmet Living, who will demonstrate step by step. All recipes are included. Menu: winter greens minestrone; smokey barbeque pork; and sticky date rice pudding.
When: Friday, 29th June, 7-9pm.
Where: Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
Cost: $42.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Cooking master class

What: Enjoy 3 tasting size courses cooked by chef Bek McMillan, from Gourmet Living, who will demonstrate step by step. All recipes are included. Menu: roast mushroom soup; gnocchi; and apple & pear crostata.
When: Thursday, 5th July, 7-9pm.
Where: Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
Cost: $42.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Sauerkraut and gut health workshop

What: Sauerkraut is finely cut cabbage (combined with many other vegetables) that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria. It has a long shelf life and a distinctive sour flavour, both of which result from the lactic acid that forms when the bacteria ferment the sugars in the cabbage. As it’s naturally fermented with living bacteria, sauerkraut is a probiotic and prebiotic food, with benefits such as improved digestion, immunity, aiding mental clarity and mood stability. Giving attention to gut health is a great way to promote both physical and mental health. This workshop will cover the history of sauerkraut, how to make it, what can go wrong with it and how to fix it. You will also cover how to make it even healthier and more delicious with the addition of different species and seasonal vegetables.
When: Tuesday, 24th July, 7-9pm.
Where: Hawthorn Community House.
Cost: $20.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week
Over the next month

View the complete calendar of upcoming events.

LFC News May 23 2018

May 232018
 

Local food producers in the news

No Grainer, who are from Reservoir and who make grain-free bread and scrolls, featured on episode 4 of the new TV series, The Mentor, on Channel 7. The website blurb says: “two sisters [Jo & Sally] venture into a new bakery business that specialises in gluten-free loaves. The products are selling, but they can’t keep up with the demand. Mark [Bouris] only has five days to save the business.” But, as you will discover if you watch the video, the story, as told, is actually rather different. No Grainer’s Facebook post on the subject got around 700 likes and 120 comments!

Blue Pear Pantry, who make savoury rolls and are from North Warrandyte, and PoppySmack, who make Asian sauces and are from Warrandyte, both featured in the May edition of The Warrandyte Diary. So, in another article, did Kellybrook Winery, who make wine, cider & beer and are from Wonga Park.

  

News about local food producers

You can now buy Australian Harvest / Bio Grape’s products at Organic Fix, Eltham. Australian Harvest / Bio Grape are from Coldstream and make Certified Organic horseradish vinegar, mustards, jams, chutneys, sauces and BIO-GRAPE fruit pastes. Organic Fix now sells products from 11 different local food producers, which puts them 4th equal in the league table of local shops.

You can now buy Apted’s Orchards’ apples at Local Fine Foods, Diamond Creek. Apteds are from Arthurs Creek.

Want to make some Thai curry?

At last Sunday’s Eltham Farmers’ Market, Bridget Frances, from Hawthorn-based Curry Favour, demonstrated how to make Thai curry, both meat-based and vegetarian. Her two recipes are now available on our website: Thai vegan curry and Thai coconut braised lamb curry.

There are now 4 Thai curry recipes on our website, the other two being by Kelly Meredith, from Panton Hill-based Under The Pickle Tree: chicken ball green curry and red curry fish cakes.

Yarra Council’s future urban agriculture strategy

Yarra Council is about to review its Urban Agriculture Strategy. In 2014, their first urban agriculture strategy aimed to support the community to grow and share food locally, building on previous work to help residents set up edible gardens in shared spaces, like laneways and nature strips. They now need to decide what they can do better to support people grow food where they live. Have your say online by Friday, 15th June or at one of their information sessions (Friday, 1st June, midday-2pm, Peel Street Park, Collingwood; Saturday, 2nd June, 10am-midday, Edinburgh Gardens, North Fitzroy; and Saturday, 2nd June, 8.30-10.30am, Gleadell Street Market, Richmond). Read more.

Art exhibition: Australian Indigenous bush medicine

The art of healing: Australian Indigenous bush medicine looks at traditional Indigenous healing practice through art and objects, giving examples of healing practice and bush medicine from many distinct and varied Indigenous communities across Australia. At the Medical History Museum, University of Melbourne from now until end September. Brownless Biomedical Library (Building 182), Kernot Road, Parkville, 3052. The library is behind the Medical Building on Grattan Street. Enter Gate 10, Grattan Street and follow Kernot Road.

Every newsletter needs a good picture

Monique Decortis has submitted two pictures of her chickens. She writes: “7 chicks brooded out so far and mam is sitting on another 5 eggs, while the chicks in them contemplate whether they will come out of their shells.” Thanks, Monique!

  

On the subject of chickens, click here to watch a new video on how chickens get oxygen whilst they are inside the eggs.

Finally, the grapes on my grapevine (singular) were destroyed this year by mildew. Whilst googling for potential solutions for future years, I recently came across an extraordinary picture of a ‘fumigation tractor’ (see picture right). In turn, this led to a rather interesting article in the Guardian about ‘natural wine’.

Stationeers

Jenny Shaw has sent in an article about about a new Stationeers garden at Newport railway station (see picture right). The Stationeers program, which is managed by Keep Victoria Beautiful, aims to improve improve railway station landscapes by removing litter, installing murals, and establishing gardens. Thanks, Jenny!

There are currently Stationeers groups for the following railway stations in North East Melbourne: Brunswick, Dennis, Fairfield, Merri, Mooroolbark, Northcote, Surrey Hills, Westgarth and West Richmond.

Incredible Edible Eltham has recently applied to become the Stationeers group for Eltham.

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

Amazingly, the most popular link last week was the same as the previous week (and the week before). But it’s now time to move on so I’m neither going to repeat the link again, nor name it!

I received a variety of comments about my words from last week about the link, ranging from “completely idiotic” to “seriously funny”. It makes the newsletter sound like Monty Python!

Joke of the week

How much does a pirate pay for corn? A buccaneer!

In passing, why is a dollar often called a ‘buck’? Apparently, it dates back to America’s colonial frontier days when deer skins were a primary measure for bartering goods. And, of course, male deer (and male kangaroos) are called bucks.

Read all the jokes.

New events

Chinese vegetarian cooking

What: Helen Chen and her friends will be demonstrating home-cooked Chinese food (which is very different from Chinese restaurant food), namely spring rolls.
When: Sunday, 27th May, 11.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Macleod Organic Community Garden.
Cost: gold coin.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Eat your greens! (a Moreland Local Food Network event)

What: Featuring locals blues musician Ian Collard, guest MC Paul West (host of River Cottage Australia) and a vegetarian dinner by Sabores De Timor. Drinks will be available to purchase from the bar. There will be some facilitated conversations about the different local food projects and initiatives happening around Moreland, who else can help or should be involved in these, and how you would like to see local food supported on an ongoing basis. They will also launch the Moreland Food System Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
When: Wednesday, 30th May, 6-9pm.
Where: Fawkner Bowling Club.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Kids cooking workshop with Dani Venn

What: Kids will learn how to make meatballs and tzatziki with some help from Dani Venn, Masterchef. For children between 3 and 8.
When: Saturday, 2nd June, at 11am, midday and 1pm.
Where: Greensborough Plaza.
Cost: free.
Bookings: by phone (9435 4000).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Good Earth Group presents eco-friendly beekeeping

What: Jay, from Organicsway, Jay will talk about basic knowledge of honey bees, beekeeping, bee products and their benefits. Products from this eco-friendly business in Silvan will be available for tasting and purchase on the day.
When: Sunday, 16th June, 10.30am-midday.
Where: Lilydale Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Miris Products winter warmers demonstration

What: Watch Sonali from Miris Products create this winter warmer menu: pumpkin chilli chutney dip; mulligatawny soup; chicken and chickpea curry; refreshing carrot and pineapple sambol; and spiced fruit compote with coconut ice cream.
When: Thursday, 21st June, 7-9pm.
Where: Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
Cost: $42.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Malt beer masterclass

What: What you will learn: see behind the scenes of a fully functioning craft brewery; taste your way through the malt beers from The 3 Ravens range under the guidance of one of their brewery team; and learn 3 Ravens’ approach to malt-driven beers. Includes a sharing sit down style feast from A1 Bakery Fairfield.
When: Saturday, 23rd June, 12.30-2.30pm.
Where: 3 Ravens Brewery, Thornbury.
Cost: $65.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

3 Ravens Brewery tour and tasting

What: What you will learn: see behind the scenes of a fully functioning craft brewery; taste your way through the The 3 Ravens range under the guidance of one of their brewery team; and learn what goes into beer, how it’s produced and how it gets in your glass.
When: Saturday, 23rd June, 4-5pm.
Where: 3 Ravens Brewery, Thornbury.
Cost: $35.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Pickling your winter vegetables

What: Wondering what to do with your winter vegetables? Go along to this workshop with Marie from Rie’s Kitchen and learn how to pickle your produce.
When: Tuesday, 17th July, 11.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Diamond Valley Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Beeswax food cover workshop

What: Learn how to make your own beeswax food covers. All materials supplied, each participant will take home their own cover. Facilitated by Gail Burrell-Davis and Jo Massey.
When: Saturday, 21st July, 10am-midday.
Where: Murundaka, Heidelberg Heights.
Cost: $5.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry. Continue reading »

LFC News May 16 2018

May 162018
 

News about local food producers

PoppySmack, from Warrandyte, sell Asian sauces. You can now buy their products from Farmer Joe’s Market, Eltham and FoodWorks Research as well as the 20 or so other local places listed on our website.

You might have noticed that Poppysmack get mentioned quite a lot in this newsletter. The reason is that Hanh Truong, its owner, emails me whenever she has news. If you are a local food producer (or community garden participant, or whatever), you can also get your organisation mentioned if you email me with your news.

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

For the second week running, the most popular link was the picture of the naked female gardeners. Furthermore, the majority of the people who clicked the link were men even though only 20% of the total newsletter readership is male!

It is not often that the same link is the most popular for two weeks in a row. Indeed, it has only happened once(!) before: two years ago when the Eltham Farmers’ Market dog gallery was being created.

Permablitz’s ‘hero of the month’ – garlic

“It is the season for colds and flu so what better way to make it through than chewing down on what you grew: garlic!” Read the full article.

Read all Permablitz’s heroes.

Joke of the week

Customer: “Do you have spaghetti on the menu today?”
Waiter: “No, I cleaned it off.”

Read all the jokes.

Corrections and clarifications

Last week’s description of the Mexican spice for beginners workshop was wrong. Here is what it should have said:

Mexican spice for beginners

What: Ana and Gaby are Mexican Aussies with a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience in cooking Mexican dishes. This workshop will cover Mexican pickles (with or without chilies), 2 salsas and guacamole. Enjoy and learn more as part of a discussion on Mexican food culture, chilies and eating customs.
When: Saturday, 26th May, 10am-12.30pm.
Where: Living & Learning, Panton Hill.
Cost: $63.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

New events

Beekeeping workshop

What: If you are new to keeping bees, this information session will help answer some of the most important questions before you start.
When: Saturday, 2nd June, 10-11am.
Where: Kerrimuir Neighbourhood House, Box Hill North.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: by phone (9899 7660).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Fish farm walkabout at Finns

What: Take a tour of one of Manningham’s little known Aboriginal aquaculture areas on the Yarra, with local historian Jim Poulter and a local Wurundjeri man, Dale. Because Aboriginal technology was often invisible to European eyes, extensive aquaculture areas, like the ones at Finns Reserve and the Warrandyte Township, tended not to be recognised. Jim and Dale will lead a brief excursion along the riverfront at Finns, so that people will be able to see the area with new eyes and a new understanding. Hear about, and see for yourselves, this historic 200 metre long fish trap, eel trap, yabbie nursery and freshwater mussel farm area. Join Reconciliation Manningham for this event in National Reconciliation Week.
When: Saturday, 2nd June, 10-11.30am.
Where: Finns Reserve, Templestowe.
Cost: free.
Bookings: by email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Beeswax wraps workshop

What: If you want to stop using plastic cling wrap, then homemade beeswax wraps are a great alternative. Use them to cover food and keep it fresh, plus they’re reusable and can easily be refreshed if the wax starts to wear.
When: Tuesday, 5th June, 1-2pm.
Where: Box Hill South Neighbourhood House.
Cost: $20.
Bookings: by phone (9898 8270) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Herb basket workshop

What: Recycle an old basket into a herb garden. All materials supplied.
When: Thursday, 7th June, 1-3pm.
Where: Box Hill South Neighbourhood House.
Cost: $20.
Bookings: by phone (9898 8270) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Open Cellars of the Artisan Hills

What: Visit any or all of the family-owned wineries in Nillumbik, each with an individual style, where the grapes are hand-picked and hand-crushed by family and friends in the traditional style, with wines developed on site. This is a chance to sample exquisite wines from the artisan wine-makers of the western Yarra Valley, at wineries not always open to the public. You will also find excellent food to complement the wine, as well as live music and artworks from local artists at some venues. There is no entry fee, or tasting fee, at any of the venues. The participating wineries include: Buttermans Track, Easthill Estate, Giammarino Wines, Hildebrand Ridge Organic Vineyard, Kings of Kangaroo Ground, Nillumbik Estate, Panton Hill Vineyard & Winery, Punch, Shaws Road Winery, Wedgetail Estate and Yarrambat Estate Vineyard.
When: Saturday, 16th June and Sunday, 17th June, both 11am-5pm.
Where: various around Nillumbik.
Cost: purchase wine and food as you want.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Edible weeds walk

What: What if many of the weeds in our garden were just as edible as the vegetables we tend beside them? What if some of these these free, all-too-easy-to-grow uninvited guests were so nutritionally dense that they are just about the healthiest things you could possibly eat? What if many of them also had medical traditions dating back centuries? Well it’s all true! And if you know what to choose, they also taste great. Join Adam Grubb, co-author of The Weed Forager’s Handbook, for a fascinating walk on the wild side.
When: Sunday, 17th June, 11am-1pm.
Where: Merri Creek Trail.
Cost: $25 ($20 concession).
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Gut health with Lindy Cook

What: Most of us have heard about gut health and maybe know the basics … but what’s all the fuss about? Gut health is not just about digestion; how happy our belly is affects everything, from our mood, brain function, sleep and weight to our allergies and immune system. Making sure we have a thriving gut is important for health. Run by Linda Cook, this session offers practical dietary and lifestyle tips to nourish and support your gut microbiome, thus supporting good health, well being and productivity.
When: Thursday, 21st June, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Doncaster Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Mouth watering sweet and savoury preserves

What: What you will learn: how to bottle fruits and vegetables for future use; how to make jams and pickles; and how to select and re-use suitable jars, and how to sterilise them. What you will get: recipes all of the preserves made; small jars of all the preserves prepared on the day; and tastings. Presented by Maria Ciavarella. Learn how to preserve fruit and veggies safely, using a variety of techniques. No preserving background is assumed as you go through techniques on how to prevent food spoilage using bottling, jam making, pickling and dehydrating. As well, there will be a hands-on component which will include making jam with frozen berries, a Middle-Eastern inspired vegetable pickle, and bottled seasonal fruit.
When: Saturday, 23rd June, 9.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Bulleen Art and Garden.
Cost: $45.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Green at Kathleen: thrifty gardening

What: This workshop will demonstrate how you can get away with not spending a fortune on your garden by utilising things you may already have and by learning some clever techniques to save money.
When: Saturday, 23rd June, 12.30-1.30pm.
Where: Kathleen Syme Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Blogger Cat Woods explores resources around plant-based living

What: Cat Woods will discuss blogs, websites and library resources dealing with plant-based diets and health.
When: Saturday, 23rd June, 2-3pm.
Where: Fitzroy Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Fruit tree pruning

What: Facilitated by Justin Calverley. Learn the why, when and how of deciduous fruit tree pruning. As well as the theory around pruning, some of this workshop will be spent in the Edendale orchard where there will be hands-on pruning practice. So bring along your secateurs and wear some suitable outdoor boots, clothes and gloves.
When: Sunday, 24th June, 9am-1pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: $65.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Amazake making and cooking

What: Amazake (aka ama koji) is a traditional Japaense fermented energy drink. Rich in digestive enzymes and nutrition, amazake is also a seasoning for cooking. Learn about amazake and enjoy the flavour, beauty and health benefits.
When: 2 times on Friday, 29th June, 10am-12.30pm and again at 2-4.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $80.
Bookings: by email (hello.cookingwithkoji@gmail.com). In your message, please include your name, contact number, email, requested date and time.
Further information: their website.

Winter kid’s gardening – insect hotels

What: What you will learn: how to make an ‘insect hotel’; how ‘good bugs’ can help you to look after your veggie patch and garden; and how to encourage good bugs in your garden. What you will get: your own insect hotel garden feature. Many insects actually act as ‘garden assistants’, helping to pollinate crops and control pest populations. By nurturing and encouraging these ‘good bugs’, you can make your job as a gardener that much easier and also reduce your use of pesticides and other chemical sprays. In this hands-on class, you will meet some commonly found garden bugs and learn how to make your garden more welcoming to the helpful ones. You and your child will work together to create an ‘insect hotel’ – a piece of wooden garden art that doubles as a hibernation and nesting place for beneficial insects.
When: Tuesday, 3rd July, 10-11.30am.
Where: Bulleen Art and Garden.
Cost: $30.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Bare-rooted trees

What: Hurstbridge Garden Club. Titch – Flemings on bare-rooted trees
When: Tuesday, 3rd July, 7.15-9.15pm.
Where: Hurstbridge Community Hub.
Cost: $4.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

The environmental chef

What: What you will learn: about the food industry; making environmentally sustainable food choices; and how to prepare your own low-impact lunch. What you will get: lunch; and sustainable recipes. In a world full of amazing indulgent recipes and glossy cooking television programs, Ryan DeCoite, ‘the environmental chef’, will encourage participants to understand where their food comes from as well as creating awareness of what effects food industries have on the ecological environment that sustains us. Learn about the food industry with practical and interactive examples, create your own environmentally friendly lunch and take home ecologically sustainable recipes and information.
When: Wednesday, 4th July, 10am-3pm.
Where: CERES.
Cost: $55.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry. Continue reading »

LFC News May 9 2018

May 092018
 

Do you know of any olive trees?

On the 16th and 17th of June, 3000acres are teaming up with Barfold Olives and the community for an olive harvesting and pressing extravaganza. There are so many olive trees in streets, backyards and gardens around Melbourne that just aren’t getting the love that they deserve – 3000acres want to change that. To make the most of this opportunity, they want to gather as many olives as possible to press into locally-produced olive oil for the community to enjoy. If you have a tree that is producing more olives than you can brine, or if you know of any olive trees in community gardens, streets, wherever, 3000 acres wants to hear from you. Contact them via either email or their online registration page. Read more on their Facebook event page.

Alphington Farmers’ Market

I went to the first of the weekly Alphington Farmers’ Markets last Sunday. Compact site. 35 stallholders. Gold coin donation. I renewed my acquaintance with Harper & Blohm’s wonderful melted raclette on steamed potatoes.

The Community Grocer Mernda

The Community Grocer Mernda have just released a video. They are a not-for-profit fresh fruit and vegetable market stall that takes place every Thursday, 9am-midday, during school terms.

The annual Feed Melbourne appeal

The annual Feed Melbourne appeal has now started. Read about it in the picture right. There are four ways to donate:

  • Via the Feed Melbourne Appeal website.
  • By phone (9428 0044), Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, using your credit card.
  • At the checkout at Woolworths stores.
  • By cheque (Feed Melbourne Appeal, FareShare Foundation, 1-7 South Audley Street, Abbotsford, 3067).

New free range egg labelling laws

New free range egg laws have just come into effect. From now on, eggs labelled free range must come from chooks that: have regular and meaningful access to an outdoor range; are able to roam and forage on an outdoor range; and are subject to a maximum stocking density of 10,000 hens per hectare. The bad news is that hens with a stocking density of 10,000 per hectare can be described as ‘free range’. The good news, however, is that the new rules require eggs labelled ‘free range’ to display the stocking density on pack, so you can easily distinguish eggs that come from hens with lots of room to move from those that don’t. Received wisdom is that you should be looking for a stocking density of 1,500 hens per hectare or less.

New kilojoule labelling laws

Dana Thomson, Health Promotion at healthAbility, has written in to say that new kilojoule labelling laws came into force at the start of May. The Department of Health and Human Services has also launched a complementary consumer education campaign entitled Kilojoules on the menu: check before you choose. Find out more by reading the picture right or by going to the Better Health website.

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

It was a close run thing, but in the end the most popular link was the picture of the naked female gardeners, with the naked male gardeners relegated to second place.

Joke of the week

How much does a pirate pay for corn? A buccaneer!

Read all the jokes.

New events

Big Vegan Market

What: Shop from the huge variety of 100% vegan products, with more than 200 stalls. The stallholders will include AVS Organic Foods (Watsonia North), Billy van Creamy (Fitzroy North), Curry Favour (Hawthorn), and PoppySmack (Warrandyte).
When: Saturday, 12th May and Sunday, 13th May, both 10am-6pm.
Where: Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton.
Cost: $2.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Food know how sustainability sessions – food gardens in small spaces

What: The average household in Australia throws away $2,000 worth of food every year. That means that one out of five bags of shopping that is purchased is never eaten. Join Karen Sutherland, from Edible Eden Design, to learn how to create a food garden in small spaces.
When: Monday, 14th May, midday-1pm.
Where: North Fitzroy Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Miso cooking

What: Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji (the fungus Aspergillus oryzae). This is a class for people who have no idea what to do with miso. You will make several miso dishes together as well as learning the benefits of having miso daily.
When: 4 times on: Friday, 18th May, and Saturday, 23rd June, each both 10am-12.30pm and 2-4.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $80.
Bookings: by email (hello.cookingwithkoji@gmail.com). In your message, please include your name, contact number, email, requested date and time.
Further information: their website.

Ramadan Iftar dinner

What: Break the fast together and learn more about Victoria’s diverse cultural and faith traditions. Buffet halal meal at sundown (vegetarian options also provided).
When: Friday, 18th May, starting 4.45pm.
Where: Heidelberg West.
Cost: free.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

How to grow bananas in Brunswick

What: Banana grower, Siffa, will lead you into the art of growing bananas in a cold climate as you help plant out a banana orchard. Siffa has grown bananas his whole life in Tonga and, when he moved to Melbourne, he started growing them in Edinburgh Castle car park.
When: Saturday, 19th May, 10-11am.
Where: Joe’s Market Garden, Coburg.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Minimising food waste workshop

What: Learn about how to reduce your household food waste. Learn skills and ideas around menu and pantry planning, how to get the most of the food you purchase, and what to do with leftovers and kitchen scraps. Facilitated by Lisa Moore.
When: Saturday, 19th May, 10am-midday.
Where: Murundaka, Heidelberg Heights.
Cost: $5.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Miso paste making

What: Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji (the fungus Aspergillus oryzae). You will make your own miso paste using all Australian organic ingredients and following traditional Japanese methods. It will be a fun, hands-on workshop which even kids can enjoy. You will take home around 1kg of miso to ferment.
When: 8 times on: Saturday, 19th May, Saturday, 26th May, Friday, 15th June, and Saturday, 16th June, each both 10am-12.30pm and 2-4.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $80.
Bookings: by email (hello.cookingwithkoji@gmail.com). In your message, please include your name, contact number, email, requested date and time.
Further information: their website.

Nuka duke – rice bran pickling

What: Nuka duke is a famous Japanese fermented pickling using rice bran. In this workshop, you will make your own Nuka bedding so that you can keep pickling at home (for years and years!) and share the knowledge how to maintain it.
When: 4 times on: Sunday, 20th May and Friday, 22nd June, each both 10am-midday and 2-4pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $80.
Bookings: by email (hello.cookingwithkoji@gmail.com). In your message, please include your name, contact number, email, requested date and time.
Further information: their website.

Shio koji making and cooking

What: Shio koji is a Japanese fermented seasoning made with rice koji (cooked rice that has been inoculated with the fungus Aspergillus oryzae). It is called ‘miracle seasoning’. You will make your own shio koji and also prepare some more to ferment at home. You will also cook some dishes using shio koji.
When: 4 times on: Friday, 25th May and Saturday, 30th June, each both 10am-12.30pm and 2-4.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $80.
Bookings: by email (hello.cookingwithkoji@gmail.com). In your message, please include your name, contact number, email, requested date and time.
Further information: their website.

Composting 101 with Audrey

What: Audrey will be delving deep into the world of compost, looking at how we can use our kitchen and garden waste and other easily found organic materials to make hot compost that kills weed seeds and can transform a pile of ‘waste’ into nutrient-rich compost thriving with biological life to enrich our soils, in as little as a month. By balancing your materials just right, you can encourage the fast decomposition of our wastes and provide the best possible habitat for the microbes that make all the magic happen. During the workshop, you will be making a hot compost pile from scratch while discussing the theory and practice behind different composting methods.
When: Saturday, 26th May, 10-11am.
Where: Joe’s Market Garden, Coburg.
Cost: $15.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Mexican spice for beginners

What: Ana and Gaby are Mexican Aussies with a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience in cooking Mexican dishes. This workshop will cover Mexican pickles (with or without chilies), 2 salsas and guacamole. Enjoy and learn more as part of a discussion on Mexican food culture, chilies and eating customs.
When: Saturday, 26th May, 10am-12.30pm.
Where: Living & Learning, Panton Hill.
Cost: $63.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Melbourne Italian Wine & Food Festival

What: Journey through Italy with 200 wines to taste, meet winemakers and importers, or attend an Italian wine masterclass. Feast on pizza, pasta and Italian snacks, while Melbourne’s top Italian chefs share their joy for cooking on the main stage. Taste your way through the Italian market, sip on an Italian cocktail from the Negroni Bar and relax in the festival wine gardens. The festival is all about celebrating wine, food and culture together in Italian style.
When: Sunday, 27th May, 10am-6.30pm.
Where: Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton.
Cost: various.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Cooking master class

What: Enjoy 3 tasting size courses cooked by chef Bek McMillan, from Gourmet Living, who will demonstrate step by step. All recipes are included. Menu: Indian dhal soup; Moroccan chicken; and banana & coconut tart.
When: Thursday, 31st May, 7-9pm.
Where: Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
Cost: $42.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Winter fruit tree maintenance

What: What you will learn: pruning – formative and maintenance of new and established fruit trees; selection and planting of new fruit trees; winter fruit tree maintenance practices for pest and disease prevention, control and treatment; and pruning tool maintenance. Presented by Angelo Eliades. The aim of this demonstration class is that you will leave it feeling confident to maintain your fruit trees. Learn all of the pruning techniques and needs of individual fruit trees from apples and plums to persimmons and pomegranates. And hear about what not to do. Discover how to reduce and prevent pest and diseases that compromise your fruit production. Learn how to treat problems with different methods – organic/permaculture and conventional. They will also cover buying new fruit trees and will demonstrate how to clean and sharpen your pruning tools and other edged garden tools (spades etc). You have the option to bring one of your own pruning tools along and learn how to sharpen it.
When: Saturday, 2nd June, 9.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Bulleen Art and Garden.
Cost: $45.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

DIY water-wise wicking beds

What: Wicking beds are a ‘fail safe’, low maintenance, water saving garden bed. Not only practical and sustainable, they can be used as a great teaching and learning tool. Join Richard Rowe from Worm Lovers for this practical workshop where you will help set up and plant a wicking bed in front of the Camberwell Library. Learn all about wicking beds, how they work, the best materials to use and how to make your own.
When: Sunday, 9th June, 10am-midday.
Where: Camberwell Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Food know how sustainability sessions – Winter warming soups

What: The average household in Australia throws away $2,000 worth of food every year. That means that one out of five bags of shopping that is purchased is never eaten. Join Gaby and Jen from Plan Buy Cook to learn how to make tasty winter warming soups that won’t break the budget or produce food waste.
When: Monday, 18th June, midday-1pm.
Where: North Fitzroy Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Backyard chickens

What: Always wanted to have your own chickens for pets or to enjoy your own fresh eggs? Join Maria McCarter from Sunset Valley Chicks and learn all about how to keep chicks in your very own backyard.
When: Tuesday, 19th June, 11.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Diamond Valley Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Authentic Indian cooking

What: Each region of India has its own style of cooking and distinct flavours: the north is known for its tandoori and korma dishes; the south is famous for hot and spicy foods; the east specialises in chilli curries; the west uses coconut and seafood; and the central part of india is a blend of all. Join cook, Anitha, as she blends spices and ingredients to prepare authentic Indian dishes.
When: Tuesday, 19th June, 7-8.30pm.
Where: Hawthorn Community House.
Cost: $20.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry. Continue reading »

LFC News May 2 2018

May 022018
 

Judy interviews Ian Hemming, President of Diamond Valley FoodShare

Most of you won’t know Ian but, in my view, he is one of the most important food people in North East Melbourne because he shows what is possible. Each year, the Diamond Valley FoodShare, of which Ian is President, gives away around 70,000 meals to Banyule residents, with most of the food being collected from the two major Melbourne-wide food relief organisations, namely Foodbank and SecondBite.

Judy Vizzari has visited the FoodShare and interviewed Ian. Here is how she starts her writeup: Every Monday to Friday between 1pm and 3pm, Diamond Valley FoodShare is providing Banyule residents in need of emergency assistance with free food. We are all enriched by their work. Guy Palmer and I are visiting Ian Hemming, the FoodShare’s President – Guy to gather information for their listing in the Local Food Directory and me on a mission to find out more about the organisation, of which I know only a little. We arrive at the Council-owned Senior Citizens’ Complex in Greensborough War Memorial Park and are welcomed by Ian, who leads us into a room which has been allocated to the FoodShare. It’s a large room featuring a wide bench down its length, walls lined with fridges, a freezer, many labelled drawers, and cupboards which fill every available space – even below the benchtop. The room is bright and well organised and has a sense of military precision – Ian’s influence? Whilst Guy busies himself taking photos of the copious stock of neatly stored fresh and packaged foods, I notice an array of Community Award certificates displayed on a large noticeboard. I’m curious for details – who are the ‘volunteers, where does the food come from, how is it distributed and who is judged to be eligible to receive it? I ask Ian, who enthusiastically recounts the story.” Read the full interview.

I plan to visit SecondBite’s headquarters in Heidelberg West to have a look round. If you would like to come with me, email me.

News about local food producers

Lachlan, the marmaladier at J.B. Shackleton’s, a local marmalade maker from Wonga Park, won a gold medal for Australia in the 2018 World’s Original Marmalade Competition in the UK! Their winning marmalade was ‘Luxury Lime Marmalade’. Their commendation said “A remarkable preserve where the punch and brilliance of lime was upfront and proud. You could imagine eating it well beyond the confines of the breakfast table and imagine it favouring evening from desserts to evening cocktails.” In addition, they won silver medals for their Tahiti Lime and Sweet Orange marmalades, and bronze medals for some of their other marmalades.

Read about Lachlan’s previous wins on our website. Read J.B. Shackleton’s Local Food Directory entry. I have tasted quite a lot of their marmalades and they really are yummy. If you would like to contact Lachlan, you can email him.

Reader contributions

A WEEly good idea

Greta Gillies has written in: “Urine can be used to fertilise food crops in a number of ways. At it simplest, it can be added undiluted to the base of fruit trees. The Veganic Agriculture Network has a sensible and comprehensive article on the uses of urine in the garden.”

Kinglake Produce and Artisan Market

Justin Bumpstead has written in: “It runs every 4th Sunday of the month, 10am-2pm, at Ellimatta Youth Space, 94 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake. We’re always looking for new producers to offer their produce for sale too.“. Justin is the owner of Bumpstead Family Apiaries, who are based in Kinglake. They have a stall at the market.

It would be good if there were more reader contributions to this newsletter. If you have something that you think others might be interested in, or you just want to see your name in lights, email me.

Are you ready for World Naked Gardening Day?

World Naked Gardening Da is on next Saturday (5th May). Here are a couple of gender-themed pictures from one of our local community gardens from last year. A special prize to anyone who can identify the garden!
    

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

Mary and Robert Stringer’s garden.

Joke of the week

Why don’t cannibals eat clowns? Because they taste funny.

Read all the jokes.

New events – Darebin Homemade Food & Wine Festival

The Darebin Homemade Food & Wine Festival is taking place from Saturday, 26th May to Sunday, 3rd June. Each of the events is discussed below, with clickable links to book your place. Click here to view/download a brochure of the full program.

Homemade marketplace

What: This market will feature local craft beer brewers, wine and spirits hand selected by Thornbury’s Carwyn Cellars, a carefully selected range of locally made food and produce, information stalls, coffee and music.
When: Saturday, 26th May, midday-4pm.
Where: Northcote Town Hall.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Thai street food

What: Cassie Pitman, from Melbourne food truck Pok & Kok, is passionate about traditional Issan (north eastern) Thai street food. She will demonstrate phad kee mao (drunken noodles) – a staple of street food stalls in Thailand. She will also take you through one of Thailand’s most famous dishes – som tam thai, or green papaya salad.
When: Saturday, 26th May, 12.20-1.20pm.
Where: Northcote Town Hall.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Darebin Bake Off

What: Are you Darebin’s best baker? Enter your home-baked sponge cakes, slices, biscuits and scones to find out. Entries will be judged by Noela McLeod and Laurell Cockerell from the Country Women’s Association.
When: Saturday, 26th May, 1-2pm.
Where: Northcote Town Hall.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Meet the makers

What: Go along and celebrate Darebin’s local home wine makers. Sample wine from entrants in the wine competition and vote for your favourite in the People’s Choice Award.
When: Saturday, 26th May, 1-4pm.
Where: Northcote Town Hall.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Salami demonstration

What: Learn the art of making your own homemade salami. This demonstration will cover mincing, mixing, filling and (most importantly) curing. Ask Home Make It’s master maker anything. Includes tastings.
When: Saturday, 26th May, 1.15-2.15pm.
Where: Northcote Town Hall.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Spätzle workshop

What: Angela Pradel’s parents migrated from the Tyrol region in the Italian Dolomites, close to the Austrian border, in 1961. She loves cooking traditional dishes for her family. Spätzle (‘primi piatti’) is a favourite. Angela will show you how to make spätzle with spinach. Once cooked, the spätzle will be tossed in a creamy sauce either made with speck and panna or burnt butter and sage.
When: Saturday, 26th May, 2.15-3.15pm.
Where: Northcote Town Hall.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Raspberry winemaking demonstration

What: Gary Campanella, Danny Cappellani and Mario Fantin from Eltham and District Winemakers Guild will introduce the basics of fermentation and demonstrate the steps to make raspberry wine with a tried-and-true recipe.
When: Saturday, 26th May, 3-4pm.
Where: Northcote Town Hall.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Gardening throughout the year and chilli pickling

What: The multicultural and intercultural group at Sylvester Hive are all about socialising, gardening, sharing food, food growing and preserving traditions. Enjoy a tour of the community garden, a talk exploring what they plant throughout the year, and a chilli pickling workshop. A lunch using fresh produce straight from the garden will be provided.
When: Sunday, 27th May, midday-3pm.
Where: Sylvester Hive Community Garden, Preston.
Cost: gold coin donation.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Mushrooms are our future!

What: Ryan Creed and Julian Mitchell co-founded Life Cykel in 2015 after discovering how to grow gourmet mushrooms from waste coffee grounds. They now have 5 mushroom farms across the country promoting a circular economy in food production. Ryan will cover the mushroom production process, varieties, uses of mushrooms, and tips for growing mushrooms at home. The session will also include tasting samples and an opportunity to purchase Life Cykel home mushroom kits and products.
When: Sunday, 27th May, 2-3.30pm.
Where: Darebin Intercultural Centre, Preston.
Cost: $14.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Pizzaly woodfired pizza demonstration and tasting

What: Ever wanted to learn how to make your own classic pizza from start to finish? Join Pizzaly for a fun Italian afternoon learning techniques you can put into practice at home. Try your hand at topping and cooking your own pizza in a traditional wood fired pizza oven.
When: Sunday, 27th May, 3.30-5.30pm and again on Sunday, 3rd June, 3.30-5.30pm.
Where: Pizzaly, Preston.
Cost: $39.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Tibetan momo making

What: Learn the art of Tibetan momo making with Fiona and Samdup. Samdup grew up in Amdo, Tibet and will share a traditional family recipe handed down with love for generations. Using fresh organic ingredients, Samdup will teach participants how to make the dough, the fillings and demonstrate a variety of ways to cook these delicious dumplings. Kids welcome.
When: Sunday, 27th May, 4-5.30pm.
Where: Northern Soul Café, Thornbury.
Cost: $44.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

A vegan Mexican feast with Juanita

What: Popular for her monthly taco nights, Juanita from Juanita’s Kitchen will teach you how to make (and eat!) a Mexican meal, including perfect tortillas from scratch. Plus tips and ideas for creating quick and easy dips and salsas, recipes and a goodie bag to take home.
When: Sunday, 27th May, 4.45-6.30pm.
Where: Juanita’s Kitchen, Preston.
Cost: $63.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Kimchi mania

What: Lentil as Anything’s catering chef Chase will show you how to make kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish made of fermented cabbage. A kimchi themed dinner is included. Notes and recipes will be provided. Bring a large jar.
When: Monday, 28th May, 6-9pm.
Where: Lentil as Anything, Thornbury.
Cost: $39.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Introduction to homemade winemaking

What: Stephan Logoida will guide you through the whole process of home winemaking, covering all the most important moments of the winemaking process including selecting good quality grapes, fermenting and maturity.
When: Tuesday, 29th May, 6-7pm.
Where: Home Make It, Reservoir.
Cost: $14.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Yoko Nakazawa – Zen cooking

What: Explore the beauty of traditional Japanese cooking. Yoko Nakazawa, from Cooking with Koji, will show you how she uses the suribachi, an ancient Japanese cooking tool, in her meditative approach that uses all five senses and has an emphasis on being in the moment. Learn to make miso soup and seasonal vegetables with sesame miso sauce from scratch. Yoko will also demonstrate nukazuke, a pickling technique that uses rice bran. Vegan and gluten-free.
When: Tuesday, 29th May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Melbourne Polytechnic, Preston.
Cost: $14.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Pulp fiction – what to do with leftover pulp?

What: Do you make your own nut milk or juices? Ever wondered what you can do with your left over pulp? Join Yoko Inoue, owner of raw food cafe Shoku Iku for this workshop which will cover a simple nut milk recipe and creative ways to use leftover pulp such as croquettes, chocolate cake, granola crackers and almond pulp cheese. A raw vegan workshop.
When: Tuesday, 29th May, 7-8.30pm.
Where: Shoku Iku, Northcote.
Cost: $84.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Introduction to homebrewing

What: Dean Smith will guide you through a simple home brew. He will demystify the process and talk about the many ways that you can produce your own beer at home. The workshop will cover the basic processes, ingredients and the hardware needed.
When: Wednesday, 30th May, 6-7pm.
Where: Home Make It, Reservoir.
Cost: $14.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Kaye Roberts-Palmer – save our citrus

What: Kaye Roberts-Palmer, the founder of Save Our Citrus Melbourne, will show you how to take care of your citrus trees including basic botany, tackling the citrus gall wasp and other pests, pruning, watering and fertilising.
When: Wednesday, 30th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Darebin Intercultural Centre, Preston.
Cost: $14.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Modern Scottish masterclass

What: Head Chef and owner of Wee Man’s Kitchen, Chris Orr, will take you through a crash course on traditional Scottish cooking. The ticket includes a three course meal.
When: Wednesday, 30th May, 6.30-9pm.
Where: Tallboy & Moose, Preston.
Cost: $93.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Paul West – whole cookery

What: Paul West is a Thornbury-based cook and food grower best known as host of River Cottage Australia (SBS, Lifestyle Channel). At this demonstration and tasting, Paul will explore nose-to-tail and root-to-stem cookery. Learn how to create dishes and minimise waste using offal and other underutilised cuts of meat and by using all parts of the vegetables that you buy or grow.
When: Thursday, 31st May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Melbourne Polytechnic, Preston.
Cost: $14.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Tasting traditional beer styles brewed local

What: Tour the Tallboy & Moose brewhouse before settling in to enjoy a curated tasting paddle of locally-produced beer styles. You will learn about beer history, how beer was traditionally, and how it is made today. You will also explore how beer styles and flavour have changed as a result.
When: Friday, 1st June, 6-6.45pm, again at 7-7.45pm, and again at 8-8.45pm.
Where: Tallboy & Moose, Preston.
Cost: $14.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

RetroSuburbia – Aussie Street with David Holmgren

What: David Holmgren’s new book, Retrosuburbia: the downshifter’s guide to a resilient future elevates the importance of household food growing into an empowering vision for the future of Australian suburbs. It uses permaculture thinking to create home-based solutions by retrofitting our homes, gardens and behaviours. This event will see David in conversation with Darebin permaculture designer Kat Lavers – bringing his ideas to life.
When: Saturday, 2nd June, 10-11.30am.
Where: Reservoir Community and Learning Centre.
Cost: $14.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Olive preserving mediterranean style

What: Jessica Ridout (winner of the Darebin Homemade Food & Wine Festival’s 2015 best preserved olives) and Martin O’Callaghan (from Darebin Fruit Squad) will show you how easy it is to preserve your home-grown olives. You will also take home a jar of preserved olives that you make on the day.
When: Saturday, 2nd June, 2-4pm.
Where: Darebin Intercultural Centre, Preston.
Cost: $34.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

The art of vegan momos

What: Join Dechen as she shows you how to make traditional Tibetan momos and spicy sauces at this hands on vegan workshop. Afterwards, sit down together and enjoy all-you-can-eat momos.
When: Saturday, 2nd June, 3-6pm.
Where: Lentil as Anything, Thornbury.
Cost: $44.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Alphington Farmers’ Market tour and cooking demonstration

What: Take a guided tour through the Alphington Farmers’ Market. Along the way, you will collect seasonal Victorian produce to use in the Love Food Hate Waste cooking demonstration to follow. Learn how to shop waste free and make the most of your winter produce through storing tips and tricks, recipe ideas and creative ways to prevent food waste. Includes a tasting and ‘boomerang’ reusable market bag to take home.
When: Sunday, 3rd June, 10-11.30am.
Where: Melbourne Innovation Centre, Alphington.
Cost: $54.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

The Plummery – garden tour and tasting

What: Kat Lavers’ small-scale permaculture house and food garden, The Plummery, is featured in David Holmgren’s new book RetroSuburbia. In this tour, Kat will demonstrate how almost all the veggies, herbs, fruit and eggs consumed by the household are produced on a 280m2 block. She will also show how she recycles all organic waste, captures water and generates a large proportion of the household’s power on site. Includes produce tastings and a handout on growing winter veggies.
When: Sunday, 3rd June, 10-11.30am.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: $14.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Flavours and Stories from Iran, Iraq and Syria

What: Enjoy a sizzling Persian BBQ, a diverse range of Middle Eastern mezze, and an array of authentic Iraqi dishes. Listen to live traditional music and learn about the rich and colourful cultures of Iran, Iraq and Syria. Free to Feed’s chefs will also share stories of their individual journeys to Australia.
When: Sunday, 3rd June, 4-8pm.
Where: Free to Feed HQ, Thornbury.
Cost: $70.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Market on Kulin Nation (indigenous market)

What: Market on Kulin Nation is all about bringing the community together and celebrating what’s great about Indigenous culture through food, art and music. This free event will feature food stalls, art stalls and live entertainment as well as a cooking demonstration by Chef Zach Green over an open fire. Attendees can purchase food tokens to indulge in the food that will be available for sale.
When: Sunday, 3rd June, 4-8pm.
Where: Darebin Arts Centre, Preston.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry. Continue reading »