Thanks to the people who have contributed to this week’s newsletter: Angela Paraskevas, Ann Stanley, Ben Moore, Charles Yeo, Hayden Marks, Jaimie Sweetman, Kerri Wellington, Marcela Santos, Melanie Wilson and Peter Kamstra.
Chilean guava (Ugni molinae) by Jaimie Sweetman
[Jaimie Sweetman is Head Gardener of the Edible Forest located on the Yarra Valley Estate in Dixons Creek. There are regular tours of the Edible Forest, often led by Jaimie – read more and book your place on a future tour. Their tours on Saturday, 16th March are being badged as part of Permaculture Week and you get 10% off if you enter the coupon code PCWEEK-2024 at time of booking.]
Originating from Chile in South America, the chilean guava is small shrub getting to around 1 metre by 1 metre. It is sometimes known as the tazziberry.
It has little pink berries that ripen in Autumn. The berries taste a bit like strawberries and are a true children’s favourite.
The plant makes a great, small hedge that doesn’t require pruning unless to shape.
It doesn’t like a temperature under 10degC so, if you are in a cold area, it is best planted in a full sun but protected area. It can also handle being in pots, which then allows it to be moved under cover in winter.
Ours are located in full sun at the back of the forest where they are protected from dry winds and heavy frosts.
It loves a bit of moisture so compost and mulch well.
You can source seedlings easily in either nurseries or online and we often have them for sale in our nursery.
[Read about more of Jaimie’s unusual edible plants on our website.]
Local producer news – Ben’s Bees
You can now buy Ben’s Bees’ honey from his honesty hut at 20 Perth Street, Blackburn South. $12 for 500g or $30 for 1½Kg.
CERES’ fruit and veg storage guide
CERES Fair Food have just published a guide for storing your fruit and vegetables. It comes in two forms:
- An overall graphic (see right and/or download their original pdf).
- A page with a paragraph about how to store each fruit and vegetable.
Corrections and clarifications – Botanikos
Last week, I correctly said that Botanikos are scheduled to be at Eltham Farmers’ Market on the 4th Sunday of every month but then incorrectly said that this meant they would next be at the market on 18th February. In fact, of course, it means that they should next be at the market on this upcoming Sunday (25th February). They sell botanically-infused simple syrups and shrubs as cocktail or mocktail mixers.
Want to raise some funds for your local community garden?
The University of Melbourne is undertaking a research project called Community Engagement for Disaster Risk Reduction (CEDRR), whose main aim is to grow community resilience to current and future risk through research and conversations with communities. If you participate in a 20-30 minute survey-interview engagement about your experiences of risk, they will donate $25 to a community garden of your choosing. Then, 4-6 months later, the research team will request you complete a 5-minute follow-up phone call, for which your garden will receive an additional $25. So, $50 in total. Click here to sign up.
If you are actively involved in a local community garden, contact Peter Kamstra by email (peter.kamstra@unimleb.edu.au) to discuss opportunities for CEDRR researchers to visit to say hi and to sign up participants at a convenient time. Croxton / Marra Guwiyap Community Garden did so and have raised over $1,000 to date.
Want to help maintain the healthAbility planter box in Eltham?
As you may or may not know, there is a planter box outside of healthAbility, 917 Main Road, Eltham where leafy greens and other veggies have been grown for the last decade. It is irrigated but obviously still needs occasional weeding and top watering. The main person who has done so for the last few years wishes to retire and is therefore looking for someone to replace her. The job involves a) deciding on & then planting new seedlings and b) occasional visits for weeding & top watering. It is a single, long, raised bed, around 1 metre high, so no bending is required. It is perpetually in the shade, so is best suited for leafy greens and herbs. If you are potentially interested, email me (Guy) and we can discuss over a coffee.
Want to own your own food shop?
Melganics Organic Produce Store at ECOSS in Wesburn is up for sale. It sells fresh fruit and vegetables as well as various dry goods. For more information, or to submit an expression of interest, contact Melanie Wilson by email (melganics1@gmail.com). Closing date: 1st March.
Get your aprons on!
As part of the Celebrate Mooroolbark Festival to be held on Sunday, 17th March, they are organising a baking competition. The categories are banana muffins, carrot cake, lemon slice and ‘your choice’. Enter by emailing your name, age and baking category to competitions@celebratemooroolbark.com. Closing date: Wednesday, 13th March.
Do you make any alcoholic beverages?
If you make any of beer, cider, mead or wine then you might be interested in some of the articles on this website.
Melbourne Bushfood
As you know, we regularly feature material about particular bush foods drawn from the Melbourne Bushfood website, courtesy of its owner Hayden Marks. We have now, rather belatedly, included a page about the Melbourne Bushfood organisation in our Local Food Directory.
Melbourne Bushfood are based in Fairfield. Their overall mission is to put Aussie native foods into stomachs across the world, whilst supporting their First Nations and small Aussie farmer allies. To progress this mission, they sell both native edible plants and food products made with native edible plants.
Their native edible seedlings cover the full range of native bush foods, including leafy greens, fruit plants and flower plants.
Their food products include jams & syrups, spices & powders, chocolate, teas and fresh & frozen fruits.
You can buy any of these seedlings or products are their shop, open Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm, at 49 Sparks Avenue, Fairfield. Alternatively, you can buy online.
Finally, they have partnered with Nyul Nyul Elder and Traditional Owner Bruno Dann, helping to grow his mob’s harvest and to purchase critical infrastructure needed for his remote community. Read more.
Read the Melbourne Bushfood page in our Local Food Directory.
Creative community cookbook – fighting waste and fighting hunger
At the upcoming Community food aid festival, this coming Sunday (25th February), 11am-3pm, at Edendale, Diamond Valley Community Support will be launching their Creative community cookbook – fighting waste and fighting hunger. Here is one of the recipes from that book by newsletter reader Jennie Ramage.
Vegetable dahl
1 cup dry lentils (puy, green, small black lentils. Don’t use the small red lentils as they won’t hold their shape)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon ginger
3 cups mixed vegetables (e.g. silverbeet, collards, celery stalks & leaves, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli stalks, capsicums)
1 can coconut milk
2 cups water
2 teaspoons coriander
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cardamom
1-2 tablespoons brown mustard seeds
olive oil
squeeze of lemon
½ cup diced onion (or leek, spring onions, chives)
½ cup fresh herbs (e.g. parsley, coriander)
Rinse the soaked lentils and put aside.
Heat a large saucepan and dry fry the mustard seeds until they begin to pop. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the diced onion and the stalks of herbs and greens. Cook for 5 minutess or so, then add the garlic and ginger. Cook for a minute or so, then add the spices.
Chop all the veggies into large cubes and stir in.
Drain the lentils, rinse and combine with the veggies.
Add the coconut milk and water and give it all a good stir.
Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 2 hours.
In the last 5 minutes, stir in shredded silverbeet leaves.
Note that:
- Serve with brown rice, a dollop of yoghurt, extra parsley or coriander leaves and a hard boiled egg. Squeeze lemon juice onto each serving. Papadums or naan bread also make a nice accompaniment.
- Dried lentils are a cheap source of vegetable-protein. Soak 1 cup of lentils in plenty of water overnight. (Tinned lentils may be used instead, but are not as economical.)
- This is a very flexible recipe. It can be made with just 2 or 3 vegetables or as many as you have available.
Local people making a difference – Louise Ward (by Ann Stanley)
Inspired by her 2015 training in permaculture design, Louise has established an edible food forest at the Yarra Valley Estate in Dixon’s Creek, the function and conference centre that she owns with her husband, John.
Driven by a desire to improve the earth, and using the German system of hugelkultur, Louise, in collaboration with horticulturalist Jaimie Sweetman, has built soil, given life to many unusual plants and contributed to permaculture knowledge about the food forest method of growing food.
Louise is also involved in Global Gardens of Peace, which seeks to improve the mental health of vulnerable communities around the world through planting and tending gardens. She also supports her husband John’s work with disadvantaged people in Papua New Guinea (read more here) and has given 5 acres of the property at Dixon’s Creek to the establishment of a wildlife shelter.
Read more about food forest fundamentals. Listen to Louise talk about her food forest.
If you would like to nominate anyone (including yourself) to have their pen portrait in a future newsletter, drop me a line.
The Melbourne ‘Local Food Connections’ community radio show
On next Sunday’s show (25th February), Ann Stanley will interview Jaimie Sweetman on unusual plants for the layers of a food forest (deferred from previous weeks). Listen on 3CR (855 AM), 10-10.30am, by tuning into either the station (855 AM) or its livestream.
Podcasts of all previous episodes are available on their website, the latest being Amy Ciara on Celtic nature connections and modern horticulture (11th February).
Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?
The most popular link in the last newsletter was Botanikos’ online shop.
The most popular event link in the last newsletter was The Whittlesea Garden Expo.
Joke (or pun) of the week
A curious customer asked a local tomato farmer if their tomatoes were genetically modified.
“No,” said the farmer.
“That’s correct,” said the tomato.
Regular activities over the coming week
Farmers’ and other food markets
- Thursday: The Food Collective Market, Epping.
- Friday: Farm Raiser farmgate (Bellfield) and Community Grocer, Carlton.
- Saturday: Carlton, Coburg and Farm Raiser farmgate (Bellfield).
- Sunday: Alphington and Eltham.
- Tuesday: Community Grocer, Fitzroy.
Food swaps
- Saturday: Blackburn, Brunswick East, Heidelberg, Hurstbridge and Preston/Thornbury,
- Sunday: Eltham.
Community gardens
- Thursday: Buna (Heidelberg West), Diamond Valley Library (Greensborough), Edible Hub (Hurstbridge), Fawkner Food Bowls – children (need tickets), SEEDs (Brunswick) and Whittlesea.
- Friday: Reynard Street (Coburg) and West Brunswick.
- Saturday: Links (Lalor), Macleod and Thrive (Diamond Creek).
- Sunday: Creeds Farm (Epping), Fawkner Food Bowls, Merri Corner (Brunswick East), Pentridge (Coburg), Regent (Reservoir) and West Brunswick.
- Monday: Macleod, Panton Hill, SEEDs (Brunswick) and Whittlesea.
- Tuesday: Watsonia.
- Next Wednesday: Eltham Neighbourhood House, Macleod, Newton Street (Reservoir), Span (Thornbury) and Sylvester Hive (Preston) .
Upcoming face-to-face events – not cooking
Rare, vintage and cellared; Saturday, 24th February, 1-3pm; $55 ($28 per hour); Thornbury.
3 Ravens will showcase 12 of their rare, vintage and cellared brews.
A visit to the garden of Angelo Eliades; Sunday, 17th March, 2-3.30pm; free; Preston.
Angelo Eliades is a well-known permaculture gardener with a relatively small home garden packed to the brim with unusual food-producing plants, both indigenous and exotic. This includes sub-tropical species (e.g. bananas). Angelo will explain his watering set-up and planting techniques as well as discuss the plants. Organised by
Permaculture garden tour (Tenderbreak); Sunday, 17th March, 2-5pm; $10; Dixons Creek.
The property is a mudbrick home surrounded by one acre of food production on a 96 acre bush block. The features to be explored on the tour include: two dwellings with passive solar design; bushfire defence systems; solar power; wastewater worm farm treatment system; wood stove; fresh water and dam irrigation systems; large organic veggie garden; two large orchards; a hothouse; chooks; fences, gates, trellises and outbuildings made from recycled materials; a grain processing bench; swales; and a fish stocked multifunction dam.
Permaculture workshop with Matt Daniele of PEACE Farm; Thursday, 21st March, 2-4pm; free; Lilydale.
Matt Daniele, from PEACE Farm, will discuss: the permaculture concept and principles; how permaculture can be applied in the home garden; nutrient cycling; diversity of habitats and production; animal integration; and garden layout to maximise efficiency.
Urban property garden tour; Sunday, 24th March, 10am-midday; $10; Kilsyth.
The property features a solar system, multiple water tanks, a glasshouse, a seed saving box, a pond, a vegetable patch with wicking beds & fruit trees, chickens, beekeeping and a food forest.
Heritage apple tasting; Monday, 1st April, 3-5pm; $20; Templestowe.
Around 15 varieties will be available for tasting – mid-season apples. An orchard tour will also be included. All funds received go toward the maintenance and expansion of the collection. Organised by the Heritage Fruits Society.
SEEDs Communal Garden open garden; Saturday, 6th April, 10am-4.30pm; $8; Brunswick.
SEEDs Communal Garden is a community garden that provides opportunities for meaningful roles, community connections and friendships for the participants of Milparinka – a community organisation that supports people who have a disability. Established in 2015, SEEDs grows nearly a ton of food each year. It is maintained by its diverse community. It is a no-dig garden that uses composting to ensure rich soil. Organised by Open Gardens Victoria.
Heritage apple tasting; Sunday, 7th April, 2-4pm; $20; Templestowe.
Around 15 varieties will be available for tasting – mid-season apples. An orchard tour will also be included. All funds received go toward the maintenance and expansion of the collection. Organised by the Heritage Fruits Society.
Organic vegetable growing; Saturday, 20th April, 10am-3pm; $145 ($29 per hour); CERES.
The workshop is a mix of classroom presentations and practical exercises, giving you a chance to get your hands dirty on a real working farm. You will learn to: build healthy soils; work with the seasons; and grow a productive garden, including vegetables, fruits and herbs. Presenter: Donna Livermore.
Big Vegan Market; Saturday, 20th April and Sunday, 21st April, both 10am-6pm; $9; Carlton.
Shop from a huge variety of 100% vegan products.
Autumn native plant sale; Saturday, 20th April, 10am-4pm; free; Eltham.
Organised by Australian Plants Society – Yarra Yarra, there will be sales of native and indigenous plants plus books. The plant sellers will probably include APS Yarra Yarra growers, Goldfields Revegetation Nursery, La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary Nursery, Sunvalley Plants Nursery and Vaughan’s Australian Plants.
Sustainable gardening (8 sessions); starting Tuesday, 23rd April, each 10am-2pm; $650 ($20 per hour); CERES.
This course will introduce you to the basics of horticulture, permaculture and organic gardening. The 8 sessions will cover: intro to sustainable gardening and permaculture principles; soils and their preparation; composting, worm farming and fertilisers; organic vegetable production; growing bushfoods and berries; seed saving and propagating; organic fruit production; and water management and guild planting. Presenter: Justin Calverley.
In February
- Propagation workshop; Wednesday, 21st February, 5.30-7.30pm; $5; Northcote.
- A tour of ‘the Plummery’ (garden tour); Wednesday, 21st February, 5.30-7pm; $25 ($17 per hour); Northcote.
- Introduction to beekeeping; Friday, 23rd February, 10.30-11.30am; free; Edendale.
- Urban farm excursion; Friday, 23rd February, 11am-1pm; free; Greensborough.
- Rare, vintage and cellared; Saturday, 24th February, 1-3pm; $55 ($28 per hour); Thornbury.
- Mushrooms growing; Sunday, 25th February, 10am-4pm; $195 ($33 per hour); CERES.
- Community food aid festival; Sunday, 25th February, 11am-3pm; free; Edendale.
- Palestinian dinner with chef Aheda; Sunday, 25th February, 6-9pm; $79 ($26 per hour); Fitzroy North.
- Wangim cups; Tuesday, 27th February, 6.30-7.30pm; free; Reservoir.
- Complete urban farmer (14 sessions); starting Wednesday, 28th February, 9am-3pm; $1,150 ($14 per hour); CERES.
In March
- Whittlesea Garden Expo; Saturday, 2nd March, 9am-3pm; $8; Whittlesea.
- Introduction to beekeeping (2 sessions); Saturday, 2nd March, 9.30am-4.30pm and Saturday, 9th March, 10.30am-12.30pm; $225 ($24 per hour); Blackburn North.
- Urban foraging 101; Saturday, 2nd March, 10am-12.30pm; $90 ($36 per hour); Forest Hill.
- Organic gardening for beginners (2 sessions); Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd of March, 10am-2.30pm; $85 ($9 per hour); Richmond.
- Companion planting and mini market; Saturday, 2nd March, 10.30am-12.30pm; free; Montrose.
- The Prosecco Festival; Saturday, 2nd March, 11am-10.30pm; $70; Abbotsford.
- Potato fest; Saturday, 2nd March, 4-7pm; free; Bellfield.
- Whittlesea Garden Expo; Sunday, 3rd March, 9am-3pm; $8; Whittlesea.
- Introduction to mushroom growing workshop; Sunday, 3rd March, 10-11am; $53 ($53 per hour); Heidelberg West.
- Food waste solutions – Bev Middleton; Sunday, 3rd March, 12.30-1.45pm; free; Edendale.
- Summer vegetables illustration (4 sessions); consecutive Thursdays, starting 7th March, 10am-midday; $144 ($18 per hour); Forest Hill.
- Awara open garden; Saturday, 9th March, 11am-12.15pm; $22 ($18 per hour); Pascoe Vale South.
- Mushroom farm tour; Saturday, 9th March, 2-2.30pm;$27 ($54 per hour); Alphington.
- Wild edible gardening; Saturday, 9th March, 2-4.30pm; $53 ($21 per hour); Pascoe Vale South.
- James Wall on growing vegetables in pots; Wednesday, 13th March, 8-10pm; free; Doncaster East.
- Mushroom foraging; Thursday, 14th March, 6.30-8.30pm; $85 ($43 per hour); Collingwood.
- Grow your veggie garden; Saturday, 16th March, 10-11am; $25 ($25 per hour); Kinglake.
- Edible weeds; Saturday, 16th March, 10am-midday; $70 ($35 per hour); CERES.
- Growing nutrient dense food; Saturday, 16th March, 10am-3pm; $145 ($29 per hour); CERES.
- Jenny’s garden open garden; Saturday, 16th March, 10am-4.30pm; $10; Canterbury.
- The Herb and Chilli Festival; Saturday, 16th March, 10am-5pm; $27; Wandin.
- Victorian Whisky Festival; Saturday, 16th March, 11am-4pm; $93; Preston.
- Setting up a worm farm; Saturday, 16th March, 2-3.30pm; free; Edendale.
- Local Sustainability Fair (Ringwood); Sunday, 17th March, 10am-2pm; free; Ringwood.
- Ricotta festival; Sunday, 17th March, 10am-4pm; $10; Thomastown.
- Jenny’s garden open garden; Sunday, 17th March, 10am-4.30pm; $10; Canterbury.
- The Herb and Chilli Festival; Sunday, 17th March, 10am-5pm; $27; Wandin.
- A visit to the garden of Angelo Eliades; Sunday, 17th March, 2-3.30pm; free; Preston.
- Permaculture garden tour (Tenderbreak); Sunday, 17th March, 2-5pm; $10; Dixons Creek.
- Permaculture workshop with Matt Daniele of PEACE Farm; Thursday, 21st March, 2-4pm; free; Lilydale.
- CERES Harvest Festival; Saturday, 23rd March, 10am-3pm; $5; Brunswick East.
- Introduction to food photography; Saturday, 23rd March, 1.30-4.30pm; $119 ($40 per hour); Warrandyte.
- Urban property garden tour; Sunday, 24th March, 10am-midday; $10; Kilsyth.
- Introduction to permaculture; Sunday, 24th March, 10am-3pm; $145 ($29 per hour); CERES.
- Traditional wooden spoon carving; Sunday, 24th March, 10am-4pm; $145 ($29 per hour); CERES.
- Grow your own mushrooms; Wednesday, 27th March, 6.30-8.30pm; $160 ($53 per hour); Collingwood.
In April
- Heritage apple tasting; Monday, 1st April, 3-5pm; $20; Templestowe.
- Microgreens growing; Saturday, 6th April, 10am-midday; $80 ($40 per hour); CERES.
- Beginners backyard beekeeping; Saturday, 6th April, 10am-3pm; $220 ($44 per hour); CERES.
- Small space gardening; Saturday, 6th April, 10am-3pm; $115 ($23 per hour); CERES.
- The herbal apprentice (8 sessions); starting Saturday, 6th April, 10am-3pm; $995 ($21 per hour); CERES.
- SEEDs Communal Garden open garden; Saturday, 6th April, 10am-4.30pm; $8; Brunswick.
- Australian Distillers Festival; Saturday, 6th April, midday-7pm; $68; Abbotsford.
- Awara open garden; Saturday, 6th April, 2-3.15pm; $22 ($18 per hour); Pascoe Vale South.
- Edible weeds; Sunday, 7th April, 10am-midday; $70 ($35 per hour); CERES.
- Urban foraging 101; Sunday, 7th April, 10am-12.30pm; $90 ($36 per hour); Forest Hill.
- Australian Distillers Festival; Sunday, 7th April, midday-5pm; $68; Abbotsford.
- Heritage apple tasting; Sunday, 7th April, 2-4pm; $20; Templestowe.
- Kat Lavers on permaculture kitchen garden design; Wednesday, 10th April, 8-10pm; free; Doncaster East.
- Savvy tricks to make your food go the distance; Thursday, 11th April, 10-11.30am; free; Ringwood.
- Plants and permaculture; Saturday, 13th April, 10am-3pm; $145 ($29 per hour); CERES.
- Urban food gardening (10 sessions); on Wednesdays, starting 17th April, 9.30am-1.30pm; $50 ($1 per hour); Brunswick.
Regular events
- Beekeeping workshop; roughly once a month on Saturdays, 1-4pm; $95 ($32 per hour); Brunswick East.
- Carlton aperitvio food tour; every Friday, 5-7pm; $139 ($70 per hour); Carlton.
- Cocktail making classes; various dates, times and costs; Richmond.
- Edible Forest tours; every Friday and Saturday, 11am-1pm and again at 1-3pm plus some other days of the week; $28 ($14 per hour); Dixons Creek.
- Eltham trails (walking food tour); various Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings; $65 ($22 per hour); Eltham.
- Flavours of Coburg food tour; 3rd Saturday of each month, 10am-1pm; $65 ($22 per hour); Coburg.
- Gin making masterclass; most Saturdays, 10am-1pm; $175 ($58 per hour); Nunawading.
- Plant to harvest; 1st Saturday of the month, midday-1pm; $5; Macleod.
- Gin masterclass; most Saturdays and Sundays, midday-1pm; $80 ($80 per hour); Eltham.
- Ratio Cocoa Roasters behind the scenes chocolate factory tour; various Fridays and Saturdays; $20 ($14 per hour); Brunswick.
- Spoon carving workshop; various Saturdays and Sundays, 10am-1pm; $130 ($43 per hour); Coburg North.
- Truffle workshop at Ratio Cocoa Roasters; 3rd Sunday of each month, 11am-1pm; $75 ($38 per hour); Brunswick.
- Wine tasting; various Saturdays and Sundays; $130; Fitzroy.
- Wine tasting; various Saturdays, 3-5pm; various prices; Northcote.
Upcoming face-to-face events – cooking
Plant-based cooking demonstration and tasting with Frankie Cox; Thursday, 21st March, 6-7.30pm; free; Fitzroy North.
Frankie Cox will show you how to incorporate more plant-based ingredients in our everyday meals. She will talk about eating for impact and sharing some tips and tricks for using vegetables in cooking. There will also be some tasty samples to share as well!
Sourdough basics; Wednesday, 3rd April, 6.30-8.30pm; $120 ($60 per hour); Collingwood.
The Fermented Mumma will discuss ingredient selection, starter care, and the processes of sourdough fermentation and baking. At the end, you will take your fermenting dough home to bake in the morning.
Sourdough bread baking; Sunday, 21th April, 9am-5pm; $220 ($28 per hour); CERES.
You will: make a variety of different breads, gaining the skills and confidence to make your own at home; enjoy some of your own handmade pizza for lunch; and take home some leaven to get you started baking bread at home. Presenter: Ken Hercott.
In February
- Buns and beer – cooking workshop at Molly Rose; Wednesday, 21st February, 6-8.30pm; $168 ($67 per hour); Collingwood.
- Yusheng and dumplings; Saturday, 24th February, 11am-1pm; $28 ($14 per hour); Forest Hill.
- Zero waste cooking workshop; Sunday, 25th February, 10am-1pm; $25 ($8 per hour); Brunswick.
- Thai BBC classics; Sunday, 25th February, 10am-2pm; $190 ($48 per hour); Panton Hill.
- Mexican cooking; Sunday, 25th February, 10am-3pm; $150 ($30 per hour); CERES.
- FFS … ferment four staples; Sunday, 25th February, 11.30am-4.30pm; $425 ($85 per hour); Fitzroy North.
In March
- No waste cook club 18-25 years (4 sessions); on Fridays, starting 1st March, 11am-2pm; $107 ($27 per hour); Coburg.
- Gnocchi making class; Saturday, 2nd March, 10am-1pm; $140 ($47 per hour); Thomastown.
- Fermenting at home; Saturday, 2nd March, 10am-1pm; $120 ($40 per hour); CERES.
- Japanese curry with Chika’s home cooking; Saturday, 2nd March, 10.30am-1pm; $57 ($23 per hour); Coburg North.
- Macarons workshop; Saturday, 2nd March, 2-4pm; $102 ($51 per hour); Lower Templestowe.
- Sourdough bread baking; Sunday, 3rd March, 9am-5pm; $220 ($28 per hour); CERES.
- Sri Lankan cooking class; Monday, 4th March, 6-8.30pm; $90 ($36 per hour); Surrey Hills.
- Sourdough basics; Thursday, 7th March, 6.30-8.30pm; $120 ($60 per hour); Collingwood.
- Japanese cooking 101: Chika’s Japanese home cooking (3 sessions); on 3 consecutive Fridays, starting 8th March, 1-2pm.; $80 ($27 per hour); Greensborough.
- Thai cooking; Saturday, 9th March, 10.30am-1pm; $65 ($26 per hour); Bayswater North.
- Sri Lankan Banquet; Friday, 15th March, 6-8pm; $35 ($18 per hour); Kinglake.
- German easter baking with Claudia Loeber-Rab; Saturday, 16th March, 10am-1.30pm; $80 ($23 per hour); Camberwell.
- Tomato passata making workshop; Sunday, 17th March, 10-1pm; $10; Watsonia.
- Thai chicken larb salad; Tuesday, 19th March, 10-11.30am; $28 ($19 per hour); Doncaster East.
- Natural soda workshop; Wednesday, 20th March, 6.30-8pm; $110 ($73 per hour); Collingwood.
- Plant-based cooking demonstration and tasting with Frankie Cox; Thursday, 21st March, 6-7.30pm; free; Fitzroy North.
- Urban Nanna’s scraptastic cooking; Friday, 22nd March, 1-2.30pm; $150 ($30 per hour); Croydon Hills.
- Cook Indian by the creek; Friday, 22nd March, 6.30-7.30pm; $50 ($50 per hour); Diamond Creek.
- Indian cooking; Saturday, 23rd March, 10am-3pm; $150 ($30 per hour); CERES.
- Vegan desserts; Sunday, 24th March, 10am-3pm; $150 ($30 per hour); CERES.
- Sunflower cupcake decorating workshop; Sunday, 24th March, 11am-1pm; $100 ($50 per hour); Bayswater North.
- Rose cupcake decorating workshop; Sunday, 24th March, 2-4pm; $100 ($50 per hour); Bayswater North.
- Japanese fermentation; Wednesday, 27th March, 6.30-9pm; $120 ($48 per hour); Collingwood.
In April
- Sourdough basics; Wednesday, 3rd April, 6.30-8.30pm; $120 ($60 per hour); Collingwood.
- Feta, haloumi and mascarpone cheese making; Saturday, 6th April, 10am-4pm; $240 ($40 per hour); CERES.
- The cook program (10 sessions); on Thursdays, starting 18th April, 9.30am-1.30pm; $50 ($1 per hour); Brunswick.
Regular classes
- Al dente cooking (Italian); most Saturdays, 9am-1pm; $155 ($39 per hour); Chirnside Park.
- BBQ classes; various days and times; $135-150 ($45-50 per hour); Brunswick East.
- Bread making; various Sundays, 8am-2pm; $230 ($38 per hour); Abbotsford.
- Brunswick Kitchen (many different classes); various dates, times and prices but mostly 2½ hours long and $120; Brunswick.
- Chocolate making and pastry classes for children; various days, times and costs; Yarra Glen.
- Chocolate making workshop; various Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; $152 ($38 per hour); Blackburn.
- Cook to connect; various Tuesdays, 11am-1pm; free; Carlton.
- Cozymeal (many different classes); various dates, times and prices; Carlton.
- Fondant cake toppers; various days and times; $300 ($100 per hour); Ringwood North.
- Kombucha brewing workshop; last Thursday of each month, 7-11pm; $49 ($12 per hour); Brunswick.
- Margot & Montanez (alfajores biscuits); various dates, times and prices; Camberwell.
- High rise baking; weekly on Fridays, 10am-1pm; free; Richmond.
- Nonna & Mum’s cooking class; 4th Thursday of each month, 7.30-10pm; $20 ($8 per hour); Thornbury.
- Otao Kitchen (many different classes); various dates, times and prices but mostly 3 hours long and $197; Abbotsford.
- Rosa’s cooking classes (Italian); various Saturdays and Sundays, 10.15am-3pm; mostly $165 ($35 per hour); Bundoora.
- Sourdough bread workshop; roughly once a month on Saturdays, 9-11.30am; $185 ($74 per hour); Brunswick East.
- Taiwanese cooking; various dates, times and prices; Brunswick.
- Tea blending; various Sundays; $75 ($60 per hour); Brunswick.
- Truffle and praline workshop; various Wednesdays, 6-10pm; $183 ($46 per hour); Blackburn.
- The ultimate biscuit class; various Tuesdays, 10am-3pm; $162 ($32 per hour); Blackburn.