Yarra Ranges calendar of events

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

Learn how to make the most of the food you already have in your fridge and pantry, making the most of your leftovers and food scraps by turning them into meals. The session will cover: menu planning tips to avoid wasting food; how to maximise leftovers; know the difference between ‘use-by’ and ‘best before’ dates; using commonly left over ingredients to make quick meals; how to make vegetable stocks with food scraps; and how to make vinegar with waste or second quality fruit.

Facilitator: Kirsty Bishop-Fox, from Sustainable Pathways.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

You will learn what materials, processes and tools you need to get started plus what can and can’t go in a backyard compost.

Facilitator: Kirsteen Macleod, from the Compost Depot.

You will learn what materials, processes and tools you need to get started plus what can and can’t go in a backyard compost.

Facilitator: Kirsteen Macleod, from the Compost Depot.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

You will learn how to make sourdough bread from start to finish, from mixing and kneading the dough to proofing, shaping and baking. You will also cover how to maintain a sourdough starter. You will take home starter culture and a loaf of freshly baked bread.

Presenter: Fei from Munchen Bakery.

In a 45 minute ‘parent-free zone’, children aged 6–12 years can learn from their chocolatiers how to make their very own chocolate creations. Includes personalised badge, chef’s hat and apron, graduation certificate plus take home three chocolate creations to enjoy.

In a 45 minute ‘parent-free zone’, children aged 6–12 years can learn from their chocolatiers how to make their very own chocolate creations. Includes personalised badge, chef’s hat and apron, graduation certificate plus take home three chocolate creations to enjoy.

In a 45 minute ‘parent-free zone’, children aged 6–12 years can learn from their chocolatiers how to make their very own chocolate creations. Includes personalised badge, chef’s hat and apron, graduation certificate plus take home three chocolate creations to enjoy.

In a 60 minute ‘parent-free zone’, children aged 9-14 years can learn from their chocolatiers how to make their very own chocolate creations.

In a 60 minute ‘parent-free zone’, children aged 9-14 years can learn from their chocolatiers how to make their very own chocolate creations.

For children aged 6-12. Go learn to mix, bake and create pastries.

Children are to be accompanied by an adult. Your kids will learn how to make a quick and easy ‘cheat’ pizza, with a scone style base. You will also be shown some tips on how to use up bits and bobs in your fridge to avoid wasting food waste and save money at the same time.

Note that you will need to bring: a mixing bowl; a baking tray; a wooden spoon (or regular spoon or butter knife); a board or mat for rolling (cutting board is fine); a rolling pin (if you have one); a spatula (if you have one); a container (should there be leftovers to take home); and an apron (recommended).

Facilitator: Kirsty Bishop-Fox, from Sustainable Pathways. Organised by Zero Waste Victoria.

For children aged 6-12. Go learn to mix, bake and create pastries.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

Louise Ward will lead you through the techniques of wild fermentation and the 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 tour of the Edible Forest.

Please take 3 washed jars to take you made items home, 1 litre jars being ideal.

Learn how to construct garden beds and the required hand and power tools. The session will include: square and rectangular raised garden bed construction; hexagon raised garden bed construction; the tools, fixtures and fastenings required to take control of your own garden construction; a demonstration of drills, drivers, drop saws, mitre saws, circular saws, angle grinders, hammer drills and reciprocating saws; and what safety gear you need and how to equip yourself in a cost effective manner.

Presenter: Brendan, from Big Little Farm.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

Learn how to identify wild mushrooms and gather them safely. Take a guided walk to search for mushrooms in their natural habitat. The Fermented Mumma will show you how to use field guides, spore prints, and other tools to identify mushrooms by their colour, shape, texture and scent. You will also learn about the different parts of a mushroom, including the cap, stem, gills and pores, and how to distinguish between edible and poisonous species.

After the foraging expedition, you will have the opportunity to taste and smell a variety of mushrooms, including some that are safe to eat and others that are not.

To finish off, the Fermented Mumma will cook up a feast of fermented mushrooms.

Organised by The Food School Yarra Valley.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

This workshop will cover: soil enrichment techniques; crop selection and planning; seed starting and transplanting; green manure; fruit tree planting and maintenance; nutrient management; and composting.

Organised by The Food School Yarra Valley.

This class includes indulging in a range of chocolate and truffle tastings, the chance to learn about how chocolate is made, and finding out about the inspiration behind each of their specialty ranges with their European Chocolatiers. Your chocolate education concludes with the chance to create your own personal chocolate bar and delve in giant lollipop making fun.

You will learn how to make sourdough bread from start to finish, from mixing and kneading the dough to proofing, shaping and baking. You will also cover how to maintain a sourdough starter. You will take home a starter culture and a loaf of freshly baked bread.

Presenter: Fei from Munchen Bakery.

Organised by The Food School Yarra Valley.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

Learn from the owners of Big Little Farm who are a living example of self reliance and community building. The class will include: growing your own food (vegetables, fruit, berries and the infrastructure and seasonal requirements); developing closed loop systems; strategies to capture, store and move water without paying a cent to water companies; developing and maintaining healthy soil; how to compost for maximum harvest returns; animal integration and how to raise animals for meat; building and maintenance, reclamation methods; home economics (preserving food, home-made toiletries and basic medicines); becoming your own maintenance and repair man or woman; and how to live well on less, the economics of self reliance and community building.

Organised by The Food School Yarra Valley.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

Discover the medicinal properties of elderberries, their rich antioxidant content, and the essential vitamins and minerals they offer. Explore the history and folklore surrounding elderberries and their traditional use in natural medicine. Learn to properly identify, harvest, and prepare elderberries for creating various forms of elderberry medicine, including syrups, tinctures, teas, and more. Take home both a bottle of elderberry syrup and a little elderberry plant.

Fire cider uses vinegar as its base you create a tonic that is circulatory enhancing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral. Its fermentation/extraction takes 6 weeks but in this class you will learn how to make it. You will takes home a bottle of your own fire cider.

Presenter: Miranda Mueller.

Organised by The Food School Yarra Valley.

Louise Ward will lead you through the techniques of wild fermentation and the 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 tour of the Edible Forest.

Please take 3 washed jars to take you made items home, 1 litre jars being ideal.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

Frank will show you how to make sausages, from selecting the finest cuts of meat to grinding, seasoning and casing. Lunch will be provided (sausages, a glass of wine, water, tea and coffee) and you take home some sausages.

Organised by The Food School Yarra Valley.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the mushroom cultivation process from start to finish. You will learn the essential techniques, including substrate preparation, inoculation methods, environmental control, and proper harvesting practices. With hands-on activities, you’ll have the opportunity to practice these techniques. You will also learn about the symbiotic relationship between mushrooms and the environment, as well as their role in soil regeneration, waste reduction and sustainable agriculture.

Organised by The Food School Yarra Valley.

FoodStop creates a safe and positive environment for those needing a meal and/or social interaction.

Whilst FoodStop is usually located at the entrance to the Lilydale Showgrounds, in the colder months (mid May to mid September), it is in The Chapel at 42-44 Castella Street, Lilydale.