LFC News February 10 2016

Feb 102016
 

Want some coffee grounds?

Two Darebin cafes are running a trial giving away coffee grounds to the public. The coffee grounds are available free from Tasties Cafe, 356 High Street, Preston (phone 9470 2260) and The Kiln Cafe, 85 Clyde Street, Thornbury (phone 0403 089408). Call to check first, then bring your own container and let staff know before helping yourself.

Silverbeet seedlings wanted

Robyn Currie reports that the most popular vegetable from the planter box in Main Road, Eltham outside of healthAbility (aka Nillumbik Health) is silverbeet. The silverbeet is always picked, whilst the lettuce is often left to go to seed! Does anyone have any silverbeet seedlings that they could donate to the planter box so that a supply can be kept going? If so, you are welcome to plant them in the planter box yourself, or leave them at the reception desk, or call Robyn on 0431 037810 and she can collect them.

Warrandyte food swap in Weekend Notes

Click here for the full article. As you may see from the pictures, they are allowed to swap eggs because, contrary to what some people believe, Warrandyte is in Manningham rather than Nillumbik (Nillumbik Council forbids it).

Wonky veggies, here we come

Here is an interesting article about ‘wonky’ veggies in the UK. Here is an equally interesting article on the same subject in Australia. If you want to know more, just google ‘wonky veggies’.

On the subject of interesting articles, Sustainable Gardening Australia’s most popular Facebook link thus far this year was to this article about how to make seed pots from old newspapers.

Some features of the website calendar

Did you know that the website calendar is searchable by suburb? Hover your mouse over the word ‘Tags’ top left and then select one or more suburbs from the list of suburbs that pops up. If you then save the resulting url as a favourite/bookmark then this link will always show these suburbs. Pressing the cross next to the word ‘Tags’ clears the filter.

When filtering by suburb, you may want to look at the results as a list rather than the monthly calendar. To do so, click the word ‘Month’ top right and then select ‘Agenda’.

In similar ways, the calendar can be filtered by type of event (e.g. markets, food swaps, etc) by hovering over the word ‘Categories’ top left.

The calendar has a number of other nifty features. For example, you can add the calendar to your Gmail, Outlook or Apple calendar using the button bottom right labelled ‘Subscribe’; it will henceforth keep your copy of the calendar in sync with the website version. Or, if you are looking at a particular event, you can add that event to your Gmail, Outlook or Apple calendar using the button top right labelled ‘Add to Calendar’.

Random fact of the week: although the calendar software is used on websites throughout the world, one of the main technical support people actually lives in North East Melbourne. I found this out when I contacted them about some technical problems and he started telling me which of the events in our calendar he was planning to go to!

New events

Making your own organic sprays

What: Learn how to make effective organic insect and pest sprays for your veggie garden using ordinary household products, with Natasha Grogan from The Sage Garden. Phone bookings are essential.
When: Thursday, 11th February, 9.30-10.30am.
Where: Doncaster.
Cost: $10.
Enquiries/Bookings: Manningham City Council by phone (9840 9129).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Creating sustainable communities using permaculture techniques

What: Come along to learn what is required to live in sustainable communities in Australia. There is no reason that we should not live in communities that work together towards a common goals. Part of the Sustainable Living Festival.
When: Saturday, 13th February, 2-6pm.
Where: Northcote.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Bela Beke by phone (0438 049177) or email.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Seed harvesting and saving

What: Learn how to harvest and save seeds for future harvests with Maria Ciavarella from My Green Garden. Phone bookings are essential.
When: Thursday, 18th February, 9.30-10.30am.
Where: Doncaster.
Cost: $10.
Enquiries/Bookings: Manningham City Council by phone (9840 9129).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Heritage apple tasting

What: Join one of the Heritage Fruits Society’s apple tasting evenings at Petty’s Orchard. Around 15 varieties will be available for tasting. Limited quantities will be available for purchase. An orchard tour is included. All funds received will go toward the maintenance and expansion of the collection.
When: Sunday, 21st February, 5-7pm.
Where: Templestowe.
Cost: $15.
Enquiries: Ross Pinniger by phone (9458 2603 or 0422 811441).
Bookings: Heritage Fruit Society website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Home grown food swap and kids’ lunch box garden activity

What: Join the home grown food and seed swap. Everyone is welcome to bring along some home grown food or seeds from their garden to share with the rest of the neighbourhood. During the swap, learn how easy it is to grow your own healthy lunch box snack garden with Natasha Grogan from The Sage Garden. This is a free event but bookings are essential.
When: Friday, 26th February, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Doncaster.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Manningham City Council by phone (9840 9129).
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Pesto making fun

What: Learn how to make your own basil pesto with Maria Ciavarella from My Green Garden. There will be some basil provided on the day, but also feel free to bring along your own to make your own pesto. Phone bookings are essential.
When: Thursday, 3rd March, 9.30-10.30am.
Where: Doncaster.
Cost: $10.
Enquiries/Bookings: Manningham City Council by phone (9840 9129).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

How to make sense of food labels

What: Tour a supermarket and learn how to read and make sense of food labels so that it is easier to make healthy choices. The tours are led by healthAbility’s qualified dietitian, and open to anyone interested in healthy eating. Bookings essential as places are limited.
When: Thursday, 3rd March, 9.30-11am then again on 4th April, 5th May and 6th June.
Where: Eltham.
Cost: $15 (includes a healthy shopping guide booklet).
Enquiries/Bookings: healthAbility by phone (9430 9100).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

The great Italian passata cooking class

What: Learn how to make your own passata pasta sauce with Maria Ciavarella from My Green Garden. At the end of the day, take home a bottle of the freshly made passata. This cooking class will be followed by a free community picnic in the evening. Phone bookings are essential.
When: Friday, 18th March, 1-3.30pm.
Where: Doncaster.
Cost: $10.
Enquiries/Bookings: Manningham City Council by phone (9840 9129).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

The great Italian passata community picnic

What: Come along and enjoy a small plate of pasta made with freshly cooked homemade passata pasta sauce from seasonally grown tomatoes and herbs. Bring along a home grown salad made with some ingredients from your own garden to share with the rest of the neighbourhood. Don’t forget to bring your own picnic rug, plates and utensils. The MC² Community Garden is a waste-free zone. This is a free event but bookings are essential. Places are limited to 80 people.
When: Friday, 18th March, 6.30-7.30pm.
Where: Doncaster.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Manningham City Council by phone (9840 9129).
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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