Darebin calendar of events

A drop-in gardening session, facilitated by the DIVRS Urban Food Program, which everyone is welcome to attend. There is always plenty of weeding, watering, planting and harvesting to do!

Click here to read about the garden.

No garden of your own? Would you like be able to share some fresh produce? Go along and join Span’s gardening team. Wheelchair accessible, fun and supportive. You just need your skills, or want to develop skills.

Click here to read about the garden.

Fourth Wednesday of every month except for December.

2022 speakers and topics
26 Jan: No Meeting.
23 Feb: Chris Clarke on Victorian alpine flora.
23 Mar: Andrew from Warringal Orchid Club.
27 Apr: Weng Lim on Asian vegetables.
25 May: Kathleen Tant on propagation.
22 Jun: Val from the Northern Suburbs Bonsai Club.
27 Jul: AGM.
24 Aug: TBA.
21 Sep: Maria on flower arranging.
26 Oct: Kathleen Tants on crop rotation and companion planting.
23 Nov: Christmas breakup.

2021 speakers and topics
27 Jan: No Meeting.
24 Feb: Kathleen Tants on weeds and pests.
24 Mar: John Pinniger – Heritage Fruit Society.
28 Apr: Pollinator Alliance on attracting pollinators to your garden.
26 May: Maria Mitchell on flower arranging.
23 Jun: Kathleen Tants on soil preparation.
28 Jul: AGM.
25 Aug: Chris Clarke on Victorian alpine flora.
22 Sep: Geoff Crowhurst on autumn bulbs and gardens in Greece.
27 Oct: To be confirmed.
24 Nov: Christmas breakup.

2019 speakers and topics
23 Jan: Plant/flower ID quiz.
27 Feb: Maria from Ivanhoe Garden Club on flower arranging.
27 Mar: Janine Kay on geraniums and pelargoniums.
24 Apr: Ian Banks-Smith on roses.
22 May: Rebecca from Holman Industries Irrigation Systems.
26 Jun: Vince from Bunnings.
24 Jul: AGM.
28 Aug: Andrew from Richgro Garden Products.
25 Sep: Kirsten Macleod from Compost Depot on compost.
23 Oct: Angelo from BAAG on permaculture.
27 Nov: Christmas breakup.

Local sustainable food advocates and practitioners are invited. You will get an opportunity to provide your ideas, suggestions and feedback to help shape the content and direction of the Climate Emergency Strategy. You will hear from two local food groups (Holly Gallagher from DIVRS Urban Food Program and Nick Rose from Sustain). It will also be an opportunity to network and form connections with other local gardens and food growers.

Go for a lunch and stay for the conversation and activities.

Broc will take you through the basics of wine, from how to taste to the processes behind your favourite drop. The session will include 8 very different wines to demonstrate the difference in grapes and wine making techniques.

What you will learn: how CERES produces certified organic microgreens; how to grow pea shoots, radish, and sunflower sprouts at home; and how to plan for a continuous supply of these (enough for all your salad needs).

Presenter: Daniel O’Farrell. Organised by CERES.

Next to the Northcote train station.

There is some sharing of food and drink after the working bee so feel free to take a plate of food to share.

Click here to read about the garden.

Click here to read about the garden.

A drop-in gardening session, facilitated by the DIVRS Urban Food Program, which everyone is welcome to attend. There is always plenty of weeding, watering, planting and harvesting to do!

Click here to read about the garden.

No garden of your own? Would you like be able to share some fresh produce? Go along and join Span’s gardening team. Wheelchair accessible, fun and supportive. You just need your skills, or want to develop skills.

Click here to read about the garden.

Learn about native bees and how you can help support biodiversity, as well as make your own bee hotel. Presenter: Katrina Forstner from Buzz & Dig.

Registrations essential. Register with East Preston Community Centre by either phone (8470 8107) or email (epcc@darebin.vic.gov.au).

6 sessions on Wednesdays, starting 5th October, 1.30-4.30pm.

You will learn the basics of gardening, urban agriculture, soil health and how to grow food in small spaces.

During the year, the start time varies from 6pm to 7pm. Before going, therefore, check with them by email.

Take something to share at their communal meal.

Click here to read about the garden.

Go for a lunch and stay for the conversation and activities.

4 sessions, on Saturday 8th October, Sunday 9th October, Saturday 15th October and Sunday 16th October, each 9.30am-2pm.

This course will provide an introduction to the principles and techniques of urban agriculture, including how to design, build and maintain a productive farm in a limited space. You will gain a range of skills and knowledge including: understanding production systems such as ground growing, wicking beds, mushroom growing and hydroponics systems; crop planning; water/soil/pest management; plant propagation; and education and employment pathways in urban farming.

This course was designed in partnership with Sustain.

You will get a hands-on go at inoculating your own mushrooms. You will also be given a tour of the mushroom farm. Take a clean 2-10L bucket with a lid and some gloves.

Next to the Northcote train station.

There is some socialising after the working bee.

Click here to read about the garden.

Broc Willems will discuss what makes chocolate and wine taste so good together. Tickets include a selection of sweet and savoury chocolate canapes, specially created for the chosen wines.

You will learn the growing methods for oyster mushrooms, including inoculation, sterilisation and be introduced to basic mycology. You will undertake practical sessions and learn how to start master cultures. You will also be given a tour of the mushroom farm. Take a clean 5-10L bucket with a lid and some gloves.

Click here to read about the garden.

‘Jen the chef’ makes meals which always includes a main and dessert. Why not go down and join in, eat something, and have a chat with some new friends.

A drop-in gardening session, facilitated by the DIVRS Urban Food Program, which everyone is welcome to attend. There is always plenty of weeding, watering, planting and harvesting to do!

Click here to read about the garden.

No garden of your own? Would you like be able to share some fresh produce? Go along and join Span’s gardening team. Wheelchair accessible, fun and supportive. You just need your skills, or want to develop skills.

Click here to read about the garden.

A two course home-cooked meal is shared in their dining room with other friendly community members. Go along for company, conversation and support. A great opportunity to find out what’s available in the neighbourhood. RSVP Span Community House by phone (9480 1364) or email.

During the year, the start time varies from 6pm to 7pm. Before going, therefore, check with them by email.

Take something to share at their communal meal.

Click here to read about the garden.

Go for a lunch and stay for the conversation and activities.

Presenter: Julia Laidlaw from Sporadical City Mushrooms.

This hands-on, beginners workshop will cover basic oyster mushroom growing. It will be a skill sharing ‘tips and tricks’ lesson from an experienced commercial mushroom grower who started growing very basically at home in a small space with no technical equipment in the inner city. You will take home your own mushroom growing kit that you prepared during the workshop, plus the materials and instructions needed to prepare a kit at home (re-purposed plastic bucket & lid, oyster mushroom grain spawn, enough straw for a grow kit, bag for pasteurising straw, small bottle of isopropyl alcohol for sterilisation).

In front of Reservoir Library.

Manu will show you how to make Indian condiments.

Click here to read about the garden.

A drop-in gardening session, facilitated by the DIVRS Urban Food Program, which everyone is welcome to attend. There is always plenty of weeding, watering, planting and harvesting to do!

Click here to read about the garden.

No garden of your own? Would you like be able to share some fresh produce? Go along and join Span’s gardening team. Wheelchair accessible, fun and supportive. You just need your skills, or want to develop skills.

Click here to read about the garden.