Nillumbik calendar of events

Nina Trinquet and J?enny Cameron will discuss the role of nutrition in balancing hormones. They will discuss women’s common health conditions, including PCOS, heavy painful periods, endometriosis and menopause.

These meet ups happen during school terms only. You have to become a member, but membership is free and you can join at any time. Bother experienced gardeners and absolute beginners welcome.

Each week, a horticulturalist will talk about some aspect of edible gardening.

First Tuesday of every month except for January.

2023 Speakers and topics
Feb: Jane Tonkin on winter and spring bulbs.
Mar: Barbara and Dee on preserving the harvest.
Apr: Fiona and Rown Williams on West Australia wildflowers.
May: Emma Powell on a winning garden design.
Jun: Jenny Lau on local birds.
Jul: Matt Barnes on living soil and biochar.
Aug: Rod Heather on growing and grafting fruit trees.
Sep: Charlotte Harrison on indoor plants.
Oct: Miriam Ford on prostantheras.
Nov: Fiona Williams on pelargonium and geranium swap night.
Dec: Christmas themed evening.

2022 Speakers and topics
Feb: Ben Waite & Barbara Marshall on summer pruning & espalier.
Mar: Robert Dobson on streptocarpus and hosta.
Apr: Jane Tonkin on bulbs.
May: John Harris on Eltham copper butterfly.
Jun: Ravi Sommerhalder on sharpening garden tools.
Jul: Chris Scrase on fuchsias.
Aug: Dusty on rock walls in landscaing & AGM.
Sep: Paul Kirkpatrick on tools for sale.
Oct: Penny Woodward on pest repellent plants, herbs & other organic solutions.
Nov: Flowering plant and veggie seedling swap night.
Dec: Jennifer Sheridan on Christmas wreaths.

2021 Speakers and topics
May: opening your garden/fruit trees and espalier.
Jun: pest repellent herbs and other organic solutions- Penny Woodward.
Jul: garden craft e.g. stone painting – labels, animals.
Aug: AGM and fuchsias – Chris Scrase.
Sep: tomatoes – Penny Woodward.
Oct: inspiring gardens visited.
Nov: seeds, in house/hands on.
Dec: a plant delicious Christmas.

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.

Feel free to drop by to have a look at the garden, to find out more and to meet the garden volunteer coordinator, Trevor.

Click here to read about the garden.

This is a two-session workshop, with the two sessions being on Wednesdays, 7th and 14th June, both 6.30-8.30pm.

The food of South India features the use of tamarind, shredded coconut, coconut oil, coconut milk, mustard seeds, kari leave and dried red chillies. Dishes include plenty of rice and lentils often powdered and cooked by steam.

Tutor Taariq Hassan.

Looking to feel productive, stay healthy, and contribute to local food resilience? Go along to the community garden on any Thursday morning to meet others for an informal catch up and low-energy gardening session. No experience is required, just a willingness to get your hands dirty and help your fellow community members to sow, plant, harvest, weed, compost, and chat (heavy on the chatting, really). Take yourself, a pair of gloves, and learn how you can help grow food and community.

Click here to read about the garden.

Meet their volunteer gardeners to share tips and ideas, contributing to the maintenance of the community garden.

Click here to read about the garden.

Learn how to grow vegetables all year round, without harmful chemicals, in whatever space you have. Learn how to select a location for a veggie garden, prepare and improve the soil, work out what to plant when, grow produce from seedlings and seeds, care for your growing plants and protect them from pests, as well as how to grow vegetables in pots and containers.

Dogs not permitted.

Learn how to make ricotta, feta and halloumi cheese. You will make enough to take some home and also to taste test at lunch.

Take along an apron, a glass jar and several plastic containers to take your cheese home.

Regular working bee. Everyone welcome.

Click here to read about the garden.

These meet ups happen during school terms only. You have to become a member, but membership is free and you can join at any time. Bother experienced gardeners and absolute beginners welcome.

Each week, a horticulturalist will talk about some aspect of edible gardening.

Dig in the garden, pick fresh veggies and prepare dishes to share and enjoy. Part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program.

Click here to read about the garden.

Feel free to drop by to have a look at the garden, to find out more and to meet the garden volunteer coordinator, Trevor.

Click here to read about the garden.

Looking to feel productive, stay healthy, and contribute to local food resilience? Go along to the community garden on any Thursday morning to meet others for an informal catch up and low-energy gardening session. No experience is required, just a willingness to get your hands dirty and help your fellow community members to sow, plant, harvest, weed, compost, and chat (heavy on the chatting, really). Take yourself, a pair of gloves, and learn how you can help grow food and community.

Click here to read about the garden.

Meet their volunteer gardeners to share tips and ideas, contributing to the maintenance of the community garden.

Click here to read about the garden.

Dogs not permitted.

On both 17th and 18th of June.

Visit any or all of the family-owned wineries in Nillumbik. This is a chance to sample wines at wineries not always open to the public. You will also find 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, Hildebrand Ridge Organic Vineyard, Kings of Kangaroo Ground, Nillumbik Estate, Panton Hill Vineyard & Winery, Punch Wines, Shaws Road Winery, Wedgetail Estate and Yarrambat Estate Vineyard.

Regular working bee. Everyone welcome.

Click here to read about the garden.

What you will learn: how to compost at home; simple to follow composting steps; and common problems and solutions.

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.

On both 17th and 18th of June.

Visit any or all of the family-owned wineries in Nillumbik. This is a chance to sample wines at wineries not always open to the public. You will also find 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, Hildebrand Ridge Organic Vineyard, Kings of Kangaroo Ground, Nillumbik Estate, Panton Hill Vineyard & Winery, Punch Wines, Shaws Road Winery, Wedgetail Estate and Yarrambat Estate Vineyard.

Feel free to drop by to have a look at the garden, to find out more and to meet the garden volunteer coordinator, Trevor.

Click here to read about the garden.

Looking to feel productive, stay healthy, and contribute to local food resilience? Go along to the community garden on any Thursday morning to meet others for an informal catch up and low-energy gardening session. No experience is required, just a willingness to get your hands dirty and help your fellow community members to sow, plant, harvest, weed, compost, and chat (heavy on the chatting, really). Take yourself, a pair of gloves, and learn how you can help grow food and community.

Click here to read about the garden.

Meet their volunteer gardeners to share tips and ideas, contributing to the maintenance of the community garden.

Click here to read about the garden.

Dogs not permitted.

Make a hands-free cross-body bag to fit your drink bottle and phone.

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.

This class is for food bloggers, bakers or restaurant/cafe owners. It will focus on taking great images of food using your own, or easily obtainable, equipment. It will cover such aspects as the right lens, composition, exposure, lighting and software.

Feel free to drop by to have a look at the garden, to find out more and to meet the garden volunteer coordinator, Trevor.

Click here to read about the garden.

Looking to feel productive, stay healthy, and contribute to local food resilience? Go along to the community garden on any Thursday morning to meet others for an informal catch up and low-energy gardening session. No experience is required, just a willingness to get your hands dirty and help your fellow community members to sow, plant, harvest, weed, compost, and chat (heavy on the chatting, really). Take yourself, a pair of gloves, and learn how you can help grow food and community.

Click here to read about the garden.