Local food-related events
Community growers stall, Eltham Farmers’ Market
Home growers are now able to sell their surplus produce on the new community market stall at the Eltham Farmers’ Markets on 8th February, 8th March and 12th April. If you have too much surplus produce to swap at a food swap but not enough to sell through commercial channels, the stall offers you a great opportunity for selling fruit, vegetables or herbs which might otherwise be wasted.
Come along this Sunday and support your local home growers. See www.localfoodconnect.org.au/elthamfm/community-market-stall/ for further details. If you are interested, please contact Guy Palmer (guy.palmer1@gmail.com; 0416 203067; 9444 1400).
Gardens flourish with good bugs
At six free community workshops this February and March, local agricultural pest management experts will reveal how good bugs can be used in your own backyard to improve the health of you and your garden. Angelica Cameron, an entomologist and consultant with Integrated Pest Management Technologies who advises farmers across Australia on the latest methods to control insect pests in crops, will share her knowledge with Banyule residents at workshops at Buna Reserve Community Garden in Heidelberg West.
Funded by a Banyule City Council Environmental Sustainability grant, the workshops will target three audiences: the general public, kids and community leaders. Venue: Buna Reserve Community Garden, Corner Buna Street and Boyd Crescent, Heidelberg West.
www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=114650 for bookings; email bunagarden@gmail.com or call Yuki on 0414 489 814.
Dates:
7 February 2015 – General session 10am-1pm
8 February 2015 – Community Leaders session 10am-3pm
8 February 2015 – Kids session 1-3pm
28 March 2015 – Community Leaders session 10am-3pm
28 March 2015 – Kids session 1-3pm
29 March 2015 – General session 10am-3pm
Are you a fan of Eltham Farmers’ market?
Would you like to help at the LFC marquee … either on March 22nd or April 12th, or April 26th, or May 10th or May 24th? We’re looking for some new volunteers to help out at our marquee – for an hour or two at a time, … whatever time you can spare.
You would NOT be responsible for setting up the marquee. You would lend a hand on the stall and talk to shoppers about LFC events, or what happens at the market. It’s lots of fun and a great way to feel a part of the market.
Contact Fay at fay.loveland@gmail.com to find out more. Or 0405 790150.
Monty Food Group events in February and March
Are you growing tomatoes? You may wish to take part in the Great Tomato Taste Off on Sunday March 1. You will also notice that there is a Tomatorama workshop on Saturday Feb 28, a seed saving workshop on Thursday Feb 26 and a Tomato preserving workshop on March 14. All workshops require registration – contact Julie at 0438 115853.
Banyule edible garden tours
Once again these popular local garden tours are on in Banyule on the weekend of February 28 / March 1. Details are still being finalised, but if interested put the dates in your diary.
Preserving kit for loan
It’s harvest time and we are happy to announce that Local Food Connect members are welcome to borrow our new Fowlers Vacola Preserving Kit. We bought it with the prize money from the 2014 Nillumbik Community Group of the Year award! So it’s free to borrow, though a bond is required. Some jars and lids are available to purchase cheaply.
For all the details on how to book the kit, go to www.localfoodconnect.org.au/fowlers-vacola-preserving-kit.
If you want to become a member of LFC it’s only $10 per year, go to www.localfoodconnect.org.au/contact-us/shop/.
Other food growing activities
Eat Buy Grow rally + event, February 15
Join Regrarians Lisa Heenan, Isaebella and Darren Doherty, Polyface Farm’s Joel Salatin, Gardening Australia’s Costa, Nutritionist Cyndi O’Meara, Belinda Hagan – 2013 Victorian Farmer of the year, Su Dennett and David Holmgren from Melliodora, Tammi Jonas from AFSA and Pope Joan chef Matt Wilkinson at an afternoon rally in Melbourne and an evening discussion. More information here.