Calendar of once-off events
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All events All once-off events (Cooking, Everything else, Free) Community gardens Food swaps Free meals Markets Farmers’ markets Garden clubs
A day filled with yoga, workshops, permaculture, food science, seedlings for sale, visual art installations, crafts, speakers and live music. Rescued vegan food will be available throughout.
The workshops will include:
- Cake and Bake with Compost Crooks. 60 minutes. $5. Hot composting can make useable compost in as little as 5 weeks versus months with cold composting. Go and learn the ins and outs of the technique and some secret recipes.
- Permaculture in the City with Clare. 90 minutes. $10. This workshop will give you a quick understanding of the history and ethics of permaculture and simple ways that it can be integrated into your urban life. It will be partly theory and partly practical, so prepare to get your hands dirty! Plus, there will also have a quick walk & talk and taste of some local edible weeds.
Organised by Urban Garden Collective in collaboration with Lentil As Anything and Food Without Borders.
Morgan from 3000 acres will discuss keeping honey bees in urban Melbourne and how to help bees even if you don’t keep them. This session is for bee beginners.
Registration essential.
Beeswax wraps can be used to cover food and keep it fresh, plus they’re reusable and can be easily refreshed if the wax starts to wear.
Book by phone (9898 8270).
For families with children aged 2-4.
Learn about the life of plants, animals, and their interactions with the environment, cultivating wonder and wisdom from nature play. The activities will vary with the seasons, incorporating sensory play with seeds, leaves, crafts and music, as well as the micro world of mini beasts and soil. Led by Sofia Sabbagh.
Pay at the event.
For children aged 5-13.
Learn about the life of plants, animals, and their interactions with the environment, cultivating wonder and wisdom from nature play. The activities will vary with the seasons, incorporating seed saving, planting, weeding, transplanting, herbal remedies, paint making, puppet making, finding grubs, climbing trees, making shelters, tying knots, spotlighting, bird watching, sensory play, singing and fire-side story telling. Led by Sofia Sabbagh.
Pay at the event.
Learn how to recycle your organic waste at home with a compost bin or worm farm. Recycling organic materials has environmental and gardening benefits including: improved soil quality; reduced waste going to landfill; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; improved water savings; and cost savings. You will also learn how you can get 60% off the retail price of a compost bin, worm farm, or bokashi bin plus free delivery.
Louise will lead you through the techniques and importance of incorporating good gut health into your diet. You will sample and learn how to make fermented foods such as pickling, exploring the art of fermenting your own vegetables, and how to easily introduce these and other fermented foods such as miso into your diet for better gut health. After the class, enjoy a guided Edible Forest tour.
Penny Woodward will share her knowledge on the many varieties of heirloom tomatoes available to gardeners, and tips on how to ensure you get a bumper tomato crop this summer.
On Thursdays from 24th October to 12th November (8 weeks), 12.30-3pm.
Do you wish you could grow your own food but you’re not sure where to start? This course is designed for people wanting to gain the practical skills necessary to design, plant and maintain productive gardens. You will learn all the steps involved in creating a garden, from how to select the best site, through to soil preparation, different types of growing methods, organic pest management, companion planting, irrigation, maintenance and harvesting.
Book by phone (9480 1364), where you can also check your ACFE eligibility.
There will be around 40 wines and bubbles on taste. The evening will also include discounts on purchases, giveaways and light refreshments.
What you will learn:
- A range of common and heirloom tomatoes for a variety of growing situations.
- How to best prepare your soil, including the option of vegan soil additives.
Presented by Karen Sutherland, of Edible Eden Design and author of the upcoming book Tomato – Know, Sow, Grow, Feast. Homegrown tomatoes are a world away from bland supermarket fruits, no matter whether they are common or heirloom. And growing heirloom tomatoes opens up a rainbow of possibilities. Growing your own from seed to harvest in Melbourne will earn you serious gardening cred. Learn some tricks to help you growing your own from seed to harvest.
This event is also happening on 25th October, with different booking arrangements.
Enjoy 3 tasting size courses cooked by chef Bek McMillan, from Gourmet Living, who will demonstrate step by step. All recipes are included.
Menu: chilli sesame chicken salad; lamb fillet & roast veg salad; and banana, caramel & meringue salad.
A behind-the-scenes tour of the 10 step chocolate making process at Ratio Cocoa Roasters. Followed by a guided chocolate tasting.
Tasting plate can be adapted to non dairy / vegan, please advise on arrival.
Menu: dahl vada (yogurt and lentil dumpling with chutney, mint and coriander); and chaat and dahl chaat (chickpea salad and yogurt-based street food).
Cook Indian by the creek came into existence with the idea of breaking the myth that Indian cooking is complex and difficult to nail. In each session, they will share their traditional recipes and go through the step by step cooking process. The classes are held in a private kitchen.
Book by email.
This event is also happening on 24th October, with different booking arrangements.
Enjoy 3 tasting size courses cooked by chef Bek McMillan, from Gourmet Living, who will demonstrate step by step. All recipes are included.
Menu: chilli sesame chicken salad; lamb fillet & roast veg salad; and banana, caramel & meringue salad.
Children and their families are invited for a morning of gardening, healthy food and learning about sustainable living.
Click here to read about the garden.
What you will learn:
- How to identify edible weeds.
- How do use them in your everyday life.
What you will get:
- Detailed handouts.
- Samples in class of prepared edible weeds.
Presenter: Monique Miller. Learn about seasonal edible weeds that thrive in Melbourne inner north, and gain knowledge about the plants’ culinary, medicinal and ecological uses.
Time to broaden your culinary expertise and meet pasta’s famous pillowy brother: gnocchi! They will show you how to make gnocchi at home through simple ingredients. From traditional potato to creamy ricotta and spinach, learn every nook and cranny that makes this classic Italian dish a favourite.
They will show you how to make pasta dough by hand and turn it into a variety of pasta types. They may even throw in sauce-making secrets for good measure.
Learn to develop Spanish paella using traditional ingredients and equipment straight from the experts at this workshop. Get to know the history of Spain’s most iconic dish and its place in Spanish culture while you indulge your senses in its flavours and aroma.
A behind-the-scenes tour of the 10 step chocolate making process at Ratio Cocoa Roasters. Followed by a guided chocolate tasting.
Tasting plate can be adapted to non dairy / vegan, please advise on arrival.
They will be looking at six of Australia’s best vegan-friendly wines to show that you can have a cruelty-free glass of wine.
Learn how to roll, wrap, tuck and steam. Sample your masterpieces at the end. All proceeds will go towards the Treak community centre in Cambodia.
There are groups of vegetables that comprise the spring/summer veggie garden. Each needs different soil preparation and pH, some are planted from seedlings and some direct, and they have different watering requirements. This workshop will cover soil preparation which is a key to success, demonstrate how to test and rectify pH problems and give tips for the successful growing of each family of spring/summer vegetables. The workshop will be led by Robin and Paul Gale-Baker.
For families with children aged 2-4.
Learn about the life of plants, animals, and their interactions with the environment, cultivating wonder and wisdom from nature play. The activities will vary with the seasons, incorporating sensory play with seeds, leaves, crafts and music, as well as the micro world of mini beasts and soil. Led by Sofia Sabbagh.
Pay at the event.
The Watsonia Community Garden is continuing their tradition of giving away tomato seedlings for you to take home and grow, compliments of the garden volunteers.
For children aged 5-13.
Learn about the life of plants, animals, and their interactions with the environment, cultivating wonder and wisdom from nature play. The activities will vary with the seasons, incorporating seed saving, planting, weeding, transplanting, herbal remedies, paint making, puppet making, finding grubs, climbing trees, making shelters, tying knots, spotlighting, bird watching, sensory play, singing and fire-side story telling. Led by Sofia Sabbagh.
Pay at the event.
Enjoy 3 tasting size courses cooked by chef Bek McMillan, from Gourmet Living, who will demonstrate step by step. All recipes are included.
Menu: coconut prawn salad; coriander spiced seared salmon salad; and pannacotta ‘trifle’.
Learn how to make Chinese dumplings. The class will cover selection of ingredients, preparation and cooking. Meat, vegetarian and gluten-free options will all be covered.
Pay at the event.
Enjoy 3 tasting size courses cooked by chef Bek McMillan, from Gourmet Living, who will demonstrate step by step. All recipes are included.
Menu: coconut prawn salad; coriander spiced seared salmon salad; and pannacotta ‘trifle’.
Holly from Holly’s Backyard Bees will show you how to make bees wax wraps and will have a selection of Christmas fabrics for you to choose from.
Book by phone (9736 1177) and pay at the event.
Tutor: Holly from Holly’s Backyard Bees. Learn how to use beeswax to make your own food wraps and candles. Holly will teach you the skills to be able to make these items at home in any shape or size you like. You will take home a beeswax wrap and a beeswax candle.
A behind-the-scenes tour of the 10 step chocolate making process at Ratio Cocoa Roasters. Followed by a guided chocolate tasting.
Tasting plate can be adapted to non dairy / vegan, please advise on arrival.
Hargreaves Hill are a brewery in Lilydale. Taste their beers at Nillumbik Cellars – free to attend, free to taste, and no bookings required.
Menu: aloo tikki (potato, peas and dahl plus spices); and vegetarian korma.
Cook Indian by the creek came into existence with the idea of breaking the myth that Indian cooking is complex and difficult to nail. In each session, they will share their traditional recipes and go through the step by step cooking process. The classes are held in a private kitchen.
Book by email.
This workshop will help you to reduce food waste at home. You will cook a vegetarian lunch together and learn to save money, get creative with veggies, be more adaptable in the kitchen, and learn about the wonders of compost.
If you are not able to attend the workshop in the morning, you are welcome to share a free lunch with them afterwards at 1pm.
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.
A behind-the-scenes tour of the 10 step chocolate making process at Ratio Cocoa Roasters. Followed by a guided chocolate tasting.
Tasting plate can be adapted to non dairy / vegan, please advise on arrival.
Time to broaden your culinary expertise and meet pasta’s famous pillowy brother: gnocchi! They will show you how to make gnocchi at home through simple ingredients. From traditional potato to creamy ricotta and spinach, learn every nook and cranny that makes this classic Italian dish a favourite.
Learn how to prepare and perfect the flavours of a variety of Spanish tapas, from the traditional to the modern.