Nillumbik calendar of events

Facilitated by Kelly Meredith from Under The Pickle Tree. Learn how to dry out the pork belly before roasting to ensure the crispiest skin, learn to pickle your own Vietnamese vegetables to have on hand to add to salads and stir-fries, create your own Vietnamese sweet chilli dressing used throughout Vietnam as a dipping sauce, marinade and salad dressing and create your own pork marinade in a traditional mortar and pestle.

Dogs not permitted.

Regular working bee. Everyone welcome.

Click here to read about the garden.

Look for the large white ‘Local Food Connect’ marquee at the Farmers’ Market. Go along with your homegrown fruit and veggies, favourite seasonal recipes, spare jam jars, homemade labelled preserves, etc, and share and network with other local backyard growers.

Your tour, led by Nathan Stewart, a professional Doreen-based beekeeper from Maya ‘Xala Honey, will include suiting up in protective gear, lighting a bee smoker, and spending two hours as real life beekeeper. Initially, Nathan will give you some tips on what to look for inside a hive including how to spot the Queen and where to look to potentially witness the birth of a new worker bee. Then, together you will lift the lid of a busy hive, watch bees at work creating honey, pull out a frame of honey ready for extraction, and get up close with more than 100,000 bees! After the lid is closed, you will sample some of the honey direct from the hives while enjoying a refreshing honey tonic.

You will learn how to make quick and easy bliss balls, muffins and raw cheesecake. Working side by side in the kitchen is the perfect time to ask questions, mingle and be inspired by tasty treats.

Anyone is welcome to attend and no ongoing commitment to the garden is required.

Click here to read about the garden.

Dogs not permitted.

Regular working bee. Everyone welcome.

Click here to read about the garden.

A worm farm can be one of the best ways to dispose of food scraps and, at the same time, produce vermi-juice (worm tea) and vermicast (worm castings) for use on the garden. Learn how to set up a worm farm and the easiest methods to manage and care for these most hard-working of creatures.

This workshop will cover both the theory and practice of worm farming in a household setting. It will be useful for those wishing to recycle household food waste in order to produce worm products for use in the improvement of soil in gardens and pot plants.

Discounted worm farms will be available for sale on the day.

Your tour, led by Nathan Stewart, a professional Doreen-based beekeeper from Maya ‘Xala Honey, will include suiting up in protective gear, lighting a bee smoker, and spending two hours as real life beekeeper. Initially, Nathan will give you some tips on what to look for inside a hive including how to spot the Queen and where to look to potentially witness the birth of a new worker bee. Then, together you will lift the lid of a busy hive, watch bees at work creating honey, pull out a frame of honey ready for extraction, and get up close with more than 100,000 bees! After the lid is closed, you will sample some of the honey direct from the hives while enjoying a refreshing honey tonic.

First Monday of every month except for January and December. At all meetings, doors open 7pm for a 8pm start. There will be plants for sale, raffles, door prizes and supper.

2018 topics
1 Oct: olives and olive trees by David Strutt.
3 Sep: caring for daffodils by Joy Quinn.
5 Feb: summer vegetables by Alan Richmond.

2017 topics
6 Feb: succulent swap.

2016 topics
7 Nov: the local food community, with Guy Palmer.
3 Oct: how to weather proof your garden.
5 Sep: irises, with a speaker from The Iris Society.
1 Aug: sustainable gardening.
4 Jul: community gardens.
6 Jun: liliums.
7 Mar: geraniums and pelargoniums.

First Tuesday of every month except for January.

2020 Speakers and topics
4 Feb: Fiona Williams on irises and scented pelagonia.
3 Mar: Robert Boyle on landscape design.
7 Apr: Al & Hazelk Veevers on patterns in nature.
5 May: Travel gardens.
2 Jun: Angelo Eliades on pruning fruit trees – espalier.
7 Jul: Sandi Kogtevs on making scarecrows.
4 Aug: Chris Scrase on fuchsias; AGM.
1 Sep: Penny Woodward on tomatoes.
6 Oct: Sarah Watson on clematis and flowering climbers.
3 Nov: Hands on – sowing, maintenance, potting on.
1 Dec: Helen Lovel on neutrog and biological fertilisers.

2019 Speakers and topics
5 Feb: John Ferris on edible landscapes.
5 Mar: Kathleen Tants on wees and weed control.
2 Apr: Brendan Curtis on zoo horticulture.
7 May: Paul Gale-Baker on wicking beds.
4 Jun: Caleb Armstrong on pharmaceutical herbs.
2 Jul: Lyndall Shaw on proteas and flower arranging.
6 Aug: Barbara Marshal on colour theory and colour combinations in planting; AGM.
3 Sep: Kevin Ritchie on unusual hanging baskets.
1 Oct: Norm Gerraty on growing begonias.
5 Nov: Sandra Verdam on bee-related hands-on activity.
3 Dec: Garden Club on a succulent Christmas.

2018 Speakers and topics
6 Feb: Lydia Heap on re-creating Indigenous Panton Hill; Julie Temple on growing yam daisies.
6 Mar: Michael Tanner on soils – pH and restoration.
3 Apr: Paul Kirkpatrick on potagers – plus specialised tools.
1 May: Robyn Harris on African violets – care and propagation.
5 Jun: John and Joy Quinn on bulbs.
3 Jul: Titch – Flemings on bare-rooted trees.
7 Aug: Steven Wells on therapeutic gardens; AGM.
4 Sep: Hazel and Al Veevers on birds in the native garden.
2 Oct: Cade on beer – from hop seeds to drink.
6 Nov: Pat Anderson facilitating a tomato veggie herb swap.
4 Dec: Mitre 10 Diamond Creek on new garden products.

2017 Speakers and topics
7 Feb: Rachel Bishop on worm farming; Chloe Thomson on the organic products that OCP have on the market.
7 Mar: Bob Yeoman on growing dahlias from seed.
4 Apr: Ryan Young on habitat gardening.
2 May: Attila Kapitany on succulents.
6 Jun: Vaughn Greenhill on landscape design – working with nature.
4 Jul: Pete the Permie on berry fruits.
1 Aug: Jan Morris on protective garden accessories.
5 Sep: Maria Ciavarella on thrifty gardening.
3 Oct: David Redfern on natives grown at Cranbourne – suited to our local area.
7 Nov: Arja Toivanen on taking cuttings (hands-on propagation workshop).
5 Dec: Mark Ludlow on bonsai; Christmas party.

2016 Speakers and topics
2 Feb: Lydia Heap on frolicking frogs.
1 Mar: Ryan Young on healthy soils.
5 Apr: Sue Evans on healing herbs of the 1st Fleet.
3 May: Ian Culbard on permaculture design and practice.
7 Jun: Cheryl on miniature landscaping with succulents.
5 Jul: speaker from the Clivea Society on clivea clues.
2 Aug: short talks from local speakers; AGM and 11th anniversary.
6 Sep: Bill Aitchison on acacias for the home garden.
4 Oct: Maria Ciavarella on gardening on a shoestring.
1 Nov: pelargonium and geranium show’n’share.
6 Dec: Melissa Thomas on garden art; Christmas party.

2015 Speakers and topics
3 Feb: Peter Miller on mounting plants on boards.
3 Mar: Ken Walker on native & exotic bees.
7 Apr: Sue Aldred on native plants: why & how.
5 May: Maurice Kellet on bromeliads.
2 Jun: Loretta Childs on an iconic local garden.
7 Jul: Local speakers on learning From gardening mistakes.
4 Aug: Greg Bolderson on underground treasures / rare bulbs.
1 Sep: Geoff Crowhurst on a search for old roses around Victoria’s cemeteries.
6 Oct: Doris Pozzi on Nature’s supermarket.
3 Nov: Richard Lee on growing & using Asian greens.
1 Dec: Fun night with trivia games, DVDs & Christmas party.

Dogs not permitted.

What you will learn:

• Winter versus summer pruning.
• How to shape and improve fruiting with summer pruning.

Facilitated by Justin Calverley. Many of us focus on winter as the best time to prune our fruit trees but some fruit trees benefit much more from summer pruning (e.g. stonefruit). Learn how to best care for your fruit trees for health and to maximise your yield for next season. Bring your gardening gloves, a hat and a pair of secateurs.

Anyone is welcome to attend and no ongoing commitment to the garden is required.

Click here to read about the garden.

Regular working bee. Everyone welcome.

Click here to read about the garden.

Menu: samosa (vegan), chicken masala, mint chutney, raita and spiced rice. After cooking together, you will have a sit down meal. You will also receive a homemade spice pack to take home.

Limited to 6 people.

Book by email (cookindianbythecreek@gmail.com).

The morning class will cover beetroot kvass, sauerkraut, kimchi, carrot/ginger, viili yoghurt, honey mead and tepache. You will get a jar of fermented veggies & viili yoghurt starter to take home.

The afternoon class will cover water kefir, kombucha, coconut kefir, coconut kefir yoghurt, turmeric/honey ferment, ginger ferment, shrub and pear/apple cider. You will get a kombucha scoby and water kefir grains to take home.

To book, contact Tim by email (tim@creativecultures.com.au) or text (0424 978390).

The first beds in this urban garden were built in May 2018, They use permaculture principles and recycled materials where possible, but also believe that a garden can be beautiful as well as useful. It’s a garden full of whimsy including chickens that live in a Tardis, a pool to billabong conversion, and a new possum/bird free cat enclosure.

Organised by NERP.

Dogs not permitted.

Regular working bee. Everyone welcome.

Click here to read about the garden.

This hillside acre block has been transformed from a paddock into a productive ornamental edible garden over the last 20 years. They have established an orchard on a steep rocky slope. Mixed herb and veggie gardens are terraced with bluestone and sleepers. They have natives and deciduous trees, chickens, bees and an array of worm farms.

Because of current Covid-19 restrictions, visitors to this event will be limited to 15 adults and 0 children.

Organised by NERP.

Dogs not permitted.

Anyone is welcome to attend and no ongoing commitment to the garden is required.

Click here to read about the garden.

Your tour, led by Nathan Stewart, a professional Doreen-based beekeeper from Maya ‘Xala Honey, will include suiting up in protective gear, lighting a bee smoker, and spending two hours as real life beekeeper. Initially, Nathan will give you some tips on what to look for inside a hive including how to spot the Queen and where to look to potentially witness the birth of a new worker bee. Then, together you will lift the lid of a busy hive, watch bees at work creating honey, pull out a frame of honey ready for extraction, and get up close with more than 100,000 bees! After the lid is closed, you will sample some of the honey direct from the hives while enjoying a refreshing honey tonic.

Regular working bee. Everyone welcome.

Click here to read about the garden.

Specialising in stallholders that produce quality homemade, homegrown and handcrafted products, or selling fresh and tantalising produce.

The Eltham Community Craft and Produce Market is, and has been, a place where the local people can come and enjoy a community atmosphere, eat some tasty food, take home a gift, buy some fresh fruit and veg, listen to good music or find special artistic ornaments or craft work.

The market is situated in one of Melbourne’s most beautiful suburbs and is a perfect starting point for a day seeing the sights of the local Nillumbik Shire. With a bushland setting combined with the back drop of the historic trestle bridge, the market has a country atmosphere and only 25 minutes from the city.

There are stalls ranging from food and wine, to sculpture and local artists. You can wander amongst the stalls enjoying the atmosphere and then take a stroll to the park and have a picnic.

Visit a large fruit and vegetable growing garden. The soil here, although originally poor silty clay, is now a carbon enriched loam due to the addition of manures, minerals, compost and brown coal. Stuart has been composting coffee grounds on a large scale. Stuart follows many organic gardening ideas including avoiding pesticides, encouraging predators, working with the landscape, and on-site recycling. Soil improvement and practical aspects of low cost, low maintenance gardening will be discussed.

Because of current Covid-19 restrictions, visitors to this event will be limited to 15 adults and 0 children.

Read an interview with Stuart and Christine about their garden.

Organised by Local Food Connect and NERP.

On Tuesdays from 23rd February to 4th May. Includes some site visits.

Upon successful completion students will receive the Internationally recognised of PDC Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC).

The subjects to be covered include soils, water, food production, building design, integrated design, animals and disaster preparedness.

Anyone is welcome to attend and no ongoing commitment to the garden is required.

Click here to read about the garden.

Dogs not permitted.

Facilitated by Kelly Meredith from Under The Pickle Tree. Learn how to make your own wasabi mayonnaise in a blender. Learn how to make your own crispy whitebait to add to the top of Asian salads. Create a range of signature Asian salad dressings. Learn how to make your own tamarind for adding the sour element to your Asian dishes. Learn to turn your coriander roots into a versatile coriander pepper paste for use in stir fries and marinades.

This is a multi-generational household. A year in and they have harvested 250kg of veggies. They now have 40sqm raised beds, fully irrigated, in a mixture of apple crates (set up as wicking beds) and raised beds built (from the recycled hardwood frame salvaged when half the house was knocked down).

Organised by NERP.