Your local marmalade champion
Did you know that J.B. Shackleton’s, a local marmalade maker from Wonga Park, has just won two Gold medals in the 2015 World’s Original Marmalade Competition in the UK? Their winning marmalades were a) Lime and b) Tangelo. Read more …
Guy’s guide to local cheese
As a (near) vegetarian, I eat a lot of cheese. As discussed in the article on the website, I have gradually worked out which cheeses I like and where I can buy them from.
My diet includes cheeses from two local producers:
- For Italian cheeses: the Wholemilk Continental Cheese Company.
- For soft cheeses: Yarra Valley Dairy.
It would be great if there is anyone who would like to write something about local produce for the website. If you would be willing to write something/anything sometime/anytime, send us an email.
Eltham Farmers’ Market first birthday on Sunday, 12th April
The market is celebrating its first year of operation on 12th April and we would love you to come and share the day with us. We are still finalising the programme but it will include:
- A free competition, with hampers as prizes.
- Free cake.
- David Paul, magician.
- Pablo Naranjo, our favourite guitarist.
Although you can only enter the competition on the day itself, here are the four questions for you to ponder:
- What is the name of the Nillumbik apple business that has a stall at the market?
- Name the two stallholders who sell bread at the market?
- What suburb is the Wholemilk Continental Cheese Company factory in?
- Name one of the musicians who has sung at the market.
Testing the pH of your soil
It has just come to my notice (thanks Fay!) that Milkwood posted a comprehensive article on how to test and balance your soil’s pH.
The difference between a pH of 6 and and a pH of 7 might not sound much but remember that it is a logarithmic scale. So, for example there is a tenfold difference in the number of hydrogen ions between pHs 6 and 7 and a hundredfold difference between pHs 6 and 8.
The picture at the top of the article is of a pH test kit. If you find these fiddly to use, I would be happy to lend you my pH & moisture meter. Simply stick it into the soil and read the results. Drop me an email if you you like to borrow it.
While we are on the subject of borrowing:
- To borrow our dehydrator, click here.
- To borrow our preserving kit, click here.
New events
Launch of the Food and Beverage Growth Plan
What: the launch of a report on the growth potential of the food and beverage manufacturing sector in Melbourne’s North.
When: Friday, 17th April, 10-11.30am.
Where: RMIT University.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: d.redmond@latrobe.edu.au.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Some other dates for your diary:
- Plastic Free July: 1st to 31st July.
- Fair Food Week: 16th to 25th October.
If you know of any events that should be included in the newsletter and website, email us. If you have a flyer, we can also include that. Just one request: please make sure that the details are in a form that we can copy/paste (i.e. not just a jpg).
Upcoming events from previous LFC News
Over the next week
- Reaping the rewards in the kitchen: Wednesday, 1st April, 7-9pm.
- Hurstbridge Gardening Club: Tuesday, 7th April, 7.15-9.15pm.
Over the next month
- Open day at Outback Farm: Saturday, 11th April, 10am-2pm.
- An evening with Joel Salatin: Sunday, 19th April, 5.30-9pm.
- Mariam Issa – refugee and community gardener: Tuesday, 21st April, 11.30am-12.30pm.