LFC News April 6 2016

Apr 062016
 

bootsforchange2Eltham Farmers’ Market 2nd birthday celebrations on 10th April

We want photos of you wearing your boots! Boots for Change is a national farmers’ market initiative asking people to show their support for their local farmers by wearing their boots when they shop at their local farmers’ market in April:

  • Before the market: Go in the draw to win a bag full of market food by taking a photo of you (and maybe your friends) in your boots. There will be a prize for the most creative photo plus a random prize for simply entering so everyone has a chance to win. You can email your photo to us or post your photo on your Facebook or Instagram account along with the hashtag #bootselthamfm.
  • On the day of the market: Wear your boots – we will be taking photos of shoppers in their boots at the market so you can enter the draw for a bag of delicious fresh market food!

bootscootContinuing the boots theme, at 10.30am, Caro from Bootscoot’n Basics in Diamond Creek will lead her group of country line dancers and then you can join in the fun!

Want some jars with lids?

Kathryn Larfield of Eltham has been saving jars with lids for relish and chutney making and now has a box and a half more than she needs for this year’s batch. If you would like these jars, email Kathryn. Be quick though: first in, best dressed.

‘Free range’ egg producers that you should avoid

As many of you will know, the state, territory and federal consumer affairs ministers met on 31st March and decided that ‘free-range’ can mean eggs produced by hens stocked at up to 10,000 birds per hectare, not the maximum 1,500 per hectare that the CSIRO Model Code recommends. Choice, who have been running a campaign on this issue, have put together a list of egg producers who you should avoid because, although they call themselves ‘free range’, their stocking densities are 10,000 birds per hectare:

  • Aldi Lodge Farm Free-Range Eggs.
  • Coles Free-Range Eggs.
  • Eco Eggs.
  • Farm Pride Free Range Eggs.
  • Manning Valley Free-Range Eggs.
  • Meggles Farm Free-Range Eggs.
  • Misty Mountain Free Range Eggs.
  • Otway Free Range Eggs.
  • Pace Farm Free-Range Eggs.
  • Pace Omega 3 Free-Range Eggs.
  • South Gippsland Eggs Free-Range.
  • Woolworths Select Free-Range Eggs.

50 resources to help you become more self-sufficient

As Lucinda Green says, there are lots of tips and ideas within this article.

10 steps towards greener cooking and eating

Read this article on Facebook.

New events

Permablitz 180 (Thornbury)

What: The Isaacs family have designed a productive garden, with espaliered fruit trees and raised beds. They would like a friendly bunch of blitzers to join them in bringing their new design to fruition, and help them install fruiting hedges, garden beds, a herb spiral, a pond, and espaliered trees. Lunch and snacks will be provided, as well as a safe place for kids to play/watch TV, plus how-to handouts for each task.
When: Saturday, 7th May, 9am-4pm.
Where: Thornbury.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Permablitz website.
Further information: Permablitz website.

Introduction to fruit trees workshop

What: Thinking about starting a small orchard? Are your fruit trees looking a little sad and neglected? Join the Mernda Community Gardeners and Craig Castree from Edible Gardens to discover what fruit trees need to stay healthy, happy, and most importantly productive and delicious! Placement, pruning techniques, soil, irrigation and common problems will be a particular focus. You’ll be outdoors in the garden so be weather smart, wear sunscreen, appropriate outdoor clothing and covered shoes. Bookings essential.
When: Saturday, 28th May, 10am-12.30pm.
Where: Mernda.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: by email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

All the other new events below (23 of them!) are from the Darebin Homemade Food & Wine Festival. Their web page includes a one-page pdf summary of all their events and their phone number is 8470 8593.

Samira El Khafir: cooking with love

What: Samira El Khafir’s (MasterChef) passion for Middle Eastern food comes from the heart and the home. Now based at her modern Middle Eastern cafe on the Merri Creek in Thornbury, Samira will join you to demonstrate three delicious Middle Eastern dishes made from common leftovers, and take you through easy ways to minimise food waste and save money. Bookings essential.
When: Monday, 9th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Delicious ajvar

What: Ajvar can be eaten on bread and is especially yummy with chevapi! Originating in Macedonia, Ajvar is popular right across Eastern Europe. Susan Stojanova will demonstrate a roasted pepper and chilli version of this delicious relish.
When: Monday, 9th May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Angie Chong: I love dumplings

What: Angie Chong is a fourth generation foodie, daughter of legendary celebrity chef Elizabeth Chong, and granddaughter to dim-sim pioneer William Wing Young. Passionate about sharing her rich food culture, she will show you how to roll, wrap and eat delicious handmade dumplings. Bookings essential.
When: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Introduction to homemade wine making

What: Become your own winemaker! The session, led by Home Make It, will cover wine basics & equipment, crushing & fermentation, pressing, malolatic fermentation & storage, racking, oak, finings and barrels, wine adjustments, faults and blending, filtration and bottling. Everything you need to know to get started. Bookings essential.
When: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-7.45pm.
Where: Reservoir.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Think health … think spelt!

What: Learn all about Italy’s most famous ancient grain – organic spelt (‘farro’ in Italian) – at this demonstration by one of Australia’s foremost experts on all things spelt, Alfred Abbatangelo of Classica International. Alfred will share the many health benefits of this ancient grain and take you step by step through two of his favourite spelt dishes. Includes tastings and recipes.
When: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Backyard honey workshop

What: With Benedict Hughes, from The Practical Beekeeper. Bees are incredibly important for our ecosystem – a third of all the food we eat is pollination dependent. In this two hour workshop, you will learn about backyard beekeeping and the pleasure of having your own supply of honey. You will also get to see the process of honey harvesting up close and take some home.
When: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-8.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Shop ethical

What: What are you supporting when you shop? Are you unconsciously supporting companies, practices and ingredients that you wouldn’t if you were aware of it? Join Transition Darebin and Shop Ethical for an ethical shopping ‘whodunnit’ as they look at how to buy with a clear conscience and for a healthy planet.
When: Tuesday, 10th May, 7.30-9pm.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: Donation at the door.
Bookings: Eventarc.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Sun Hyland: sensational sauces from scratch

What: Thornbury chef Sun Hyland self-published his first cookbook Loving Good Food after a successful crowd funding campaign. Passionate about sustainable food choices and the benefits of conscious living, Sun will show you how to make your own tasty and nutritious condiments with no dairy or saturated fats. They include raw green sauce and vegan mayo. Bookings essential.
When: Wednesday, 11th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

An African feast

What: With Desiree Ashitei, from Awo’s Kitchen. Expand your culinary horizons. Learn how to make authentic & delicious West African dishes cooked with love! Dishes include: agushi flo, a hearty vegetarian stew and kelewele, a popular street food from Ghana. A selection of West African delicacies will also be available to sample – including jollofe rice.
When: Wednesday, 11th May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Rita Erlich in conversation with Cameron Smith

What: Food writer Rita Erlich will discuss her book The Makers: A Story of Food Family & Foreigners with Cameron Smith (Eat It, Triple R). The Makers explores the intersections between food, family and the traditional methods that Melbourne’s Italian community continues to practice in the backyards and garages of our suburbs. Bookings essential.
When: Thursday, 12th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

A Tamil feast

What: Tamil cook Nigethan, from Tamil Feasts, will share the amazing food heritage of his Sri Lankan homeland. He will demonstrate traditional vegetarian and gluten free dishes – a rare opportunity to experience the rich colour, spice and flavour of authentic Tamil cuisine. Includes tasting.
When: Thursday, 12th May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Italian meat ball demonstration and tasting

What: With ancestors from the Abruzzo Region of Italy, Hilda and Laurie Inglese, authors of Wow, It’s Italian, are passionate about sharing their wonderful recipes before they are forgotten. Join them as they make traditional meatballs and learn more about how growing, storing and preserving food was done in their tiny, remote village in Italy. Includes tasting. Bookings essential.
When: Friday, 13th May, 7-8pm.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

A taste of Spain

What: Cooking paella is a spectacular sensory experience! Join them for a demonstration of this delicious traditional dish from Valencia in the east of Spain. The demonstration will includes a tasting and music.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 11am-midday.
Where: Reservoir.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Pasta making for kids

What: Ready, steady, spaghetti! Learn to make your own yummy orichette from scratch at this fun hands-on workshop led by The Travelling Kitchen and get inspired about ‘doing it yourself’ in true Italian style. Suitable for primary school aged children.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 11am-midday.
Where: Reservoir.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Make your own Vietnamese rice paper rolls for kids

What: Learn to make authentic Vietnamese rice paper rolls at this fun hands-on workshop led by The Travelling Kitchen. Rice paper rolls are crunchy and delicious and definitely the coolest way to eat your veggies. Suitable for primary school aged children.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 1-2pm.
Where: Reservoir.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Meet the Makers showcase

What: Homemade wine tasting and an opportunity to meet your fabulous local homemade wine makers, cooking demonstrations, information stalls, coffee, music and more. The awards ceremony for best local homemade wine, beer, passata, ajvar and olives will be at 3.30pm.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 1-4pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Cooking with quinces

What: Autumn is quince season and during this workshop, Meg Montague will show you how to make the most of this this unusual but beautiful fruit. Learn the art of making quince paste, jelly and jam, delicious accompaniments to cheese and antipasto. Includes recipes, tasting samples and some hands-on opportunities.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 2-3.30pm.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Olive preserving

What: With Darebin Fruit Squad and DIVRS. Mediterranean masters of home grown produce Ilias Papadopoulos (Greece) and Sam Ferraro (Italy) will show you how easy it is to preserve your homegrown olives in a fun and practical workshop.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 2-3.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Streetside brew

What: Northside’s own home brew club, Merri Mashers, are passionate about top-notch beer. Together with Home Make It, let them take you step by step through the process of brewing your own beer at home. This informal event is the perfect introduction to home brewing and will provide plenty of opportunity to have all your beer brewing questions answered over a glass or two from Carwyn Cellars’ huge selection.
When: Saturday, 14th May, 2.30-6pm.
Where: Thornbury.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Organic backyard chook keeping

What: Want healthy, happy and productive chooks as part of your sustainable backyard? Jessamy Miller from the ABC’s Organic Gardener and Australasian Poultry magazines will demonstrate how to set up your hen house, integrate chooks into the garden, and manage your flock using organic methods. Get the lowdown on what to feed your birds, and how to deal with some common issues.
When: Sunday, 15th May, 10-11.30am.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

A taste of Autumn / Winter home produce at the Plummery

What: Join Kat Lavers in her small-scale highly intensive food garden, the Plummery, where you will taste a range of delicious home grown autumn and winter produce such as Chinese quince, persimmon, feijoas, radicchio, minutina, daikon, kale, mizuna, wild rocket, perennial leeks and even quail eggs. Kat will provide tips on how to produce these delicious foods yourself, providing fresh food throughout winter and keeping your veggie patch productive all year long.
When: Sunday, 15th May, midday-1pm.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Fermented beverages workshop

What: Make delicious non-alcoholic fermented beverages kombucha, water kefir, and rejuvelac in this hands-on workshop. Darcy Watson-Russell, a fermentation enthusiast with many years’ experience facilitating community workshops, will guide you through the fermentation process, flavouring techniques, and how to use fermented beverages in a variety of recipes.
When: Sunday, 15th May, 2-4pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Tibetan soul

What: Learn how to prepare Tibetan momos with Samdup and Fiona in the warm and atmospheric surrounds of their Northern Soul Tibetan Cafe. Samdup was born in Tibet and has grown up eating and cooking momos. He will teach you how to make both the dough and filling. Delicious, healthy and hearty! Kids welcome.
When: Sunday, 15th May, 4.30-5.30pm.
Where: Thornbury.
Cost: $20.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week
Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events

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