LFC News January 11 2017

Jan 112017
 

Why was the mushroom invited to the party? Because he is a fun guy.

Was the Urban Orchard Food Swap at CERES the first ever Australian food swap?

As you know from last week’s discussion, the Montmorency food swap started in 2010, and was preceded by the Greensborough one. Meredith Plain, the organiser of the Veggie Swap at Bulleen Art & Garden Nursery, has written in to say that their food swap started in January 2009, just before that of Greensborough. She goes on to say that they were inspired to establish the swap by a visit to the Fitzroy Urban Harvest Food Swap in 2008. She has also provided a link to a 2008 article in The Age which discusses the establishment of a food swap in Footscray. Inter alia, that article says that the Urban Orchard Food Swap at CERES started in 2004 and was Melbourne’s first.

Following Meredith’s email, I spoke to Peta Christensen, the organiser of the Fitzroy swap. She confirmed that she, Glenda Lindsay and others started the swap in early 2008 and went on to say: “I think it is safe to say that CERES were the first official food swap followed by Fitzroy. My husband Chris Ennis actually started the Urban Orchard idea at CERES after noticing a lot of fruit from trees being wasted around our neighbourhood in Thornbury. He started thinking that perhaps the people who planted the trees had moved on and a new generation of people had moved in who didn’t know the value of their trees, how to care for the trees, or what to do with all the fruit. He wanted to develop an easy way to re-distribute that food and support people to keep their fruit trees and think of them as an asset rather than a burden. After talking to people at CERES, the idea for the Urban Orchard swap table was born. The CERES model is more about people dropping off their produce and taking something else whilst they are at CERES doing their Saturday shopping whereas the Fitzroy Urban Harvest is more about creating a monthly event that would bring people together with the sole purpose of swapping produce and also catching up with other gardeners in their neighbourhood.” Peta also sent me their original 2008 flyer (pictured right)!

So, the timeline is:
2004: Urban Orchard Food Swap at CERES.
2008: Fitzroy, then Footscray.
2009: Bulleen Art & Garden, then Greensborough.
2010: Montmorency.

Thanks to Peta Christensen, Meredith Plain, Julie French and Katherine Barling for taking the trouble of explaining the history. And also thanks for organising such successful food swaps for so many years!

Anyone else want to add anything? Just email me.

Another cafe in a residential area

Fay Loveland and Helen Simpson have both written in to say that Taffy’s on Looker in Montmorency is another cafe in a residential area and that it was previously a milk bar.

Do you currently have any home-grown surpluses?

At the Eltham Farmers’ Market on 12th February, we plan (as usual) to have a community market stall, where one or two people sell their surplus produce at a stall provided by us at zero cost to yourselves. However, no one has yet come forward to be on the stall. If you are going to have a surplus in February and want to combine some conversation with the public with making a bit of money, contact us by phone (0416 203067) or email. Read about the initiative here.

Getting involved in the ‘greening the mall’ project in Box Hill

You might have read about Permablitz 195 (Box Hill Central Shopping Centre) in last week’s newsletter. That event, which is booked out, is about the temporary installation of wicking beds in the Box Hill Mall. But The Neighbourhood Project are now looking for people to get involved in the wider project. For example, watering and maintaining the beds thru the summer and autumn and/or presenting a short talk or workshop about sustainable gardening topics for other interested community members. If you would potentially like to participate, contact Daniel Vincent-Smith by phone (9296 6269) or email.

Victorian Pleasurable Food Education Package – Whitehorse subsidies

Pleasurable Food Education is what the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation (SAKGF) call their food education program. In the 30th November newsletter, I gave details about how schools in Nillumbik can obtain subsidies for this program from healthAbility (click here). It now appears that schools in Whitehorse can obtain subsidies from Whitehorse City Council; email Amanda Swayn for more information.

Seeds Communal Garden food swap in the news

The Seeds Communal Garden food swap in Brunswick featured in 5th December Moreland edition of the Leader.

Another zucchini recipe

Zucchini slice. I can personally attest to its yumminess!

New events

Yarra Valley in Melbourne

What: Join them and taste the best of Yarra Valley wines, ciders, and beers, including from: Boat O’Craigo; Coombe Yarra Valley; De Bortoli Wines Yarra Valley; Elmswood Estate Winery; Giant Steps; Handpicked Wines; Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company; Helen & Joey Estate; Innocent Bystander; Mandala Wines -Yarra Valley; Medhurst Wines; Napoleone Beer and Cider; Oakridge Wines, Punt Road Wines; Rob Dolan Wines; Rochford Wines – Yarra Valley; Santolin Wines, Seville Estate; Soumah Wines; TarraWarra Estate; Tokar Estate Winery; Yarra Valley Dairy; and Yering Station.
When: Thursday, 9th February, 6.30-9.30pm.
Where: Melbourne CBD.
Cost: $43.
Enquiries: Wine Yarra Valley by phone (5962 7610).
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Beginner’s guide to backyard chooks

What: Go along to this beginner’s workshop to learn the basics of backyard chicken keeping with Maria Ciavarella from My Green Garden.
When: Tuesday, 28th February, 6.30-8.30pm.
Where: Kew Library.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Diana Vidovic from Boroondara Council by phone (9278 4347) or email.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Basic DIY Fowlers Vacola food preserving workshop

What: Learn all the basics about how to preserve seasonal fruit and veg with your Fowlers Vacola preserving kit. Includes tomatoes, stone fruits and basic pasta sauce. Presented by Lucinda Flynn. Bookings essential.
When: Tuesday, 28th February, 7-9pm.
Where: Going Green Solutions, Hurstbridge.
Cost: free.
Enquiries / bookings: Going Green Solutions by phone (9718 0126) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Sustainable living and gardening

What: Each month, an experienced facilitator will present on sustainable living and gardening topics such as zero waste, worm farms, keeping backyard chickens, natural soil management, responsible weed control, composting and sustainable garden design.
When: Wednesday, 1st March, 7-9pm.
Where: Watsonia Neighbourhood House.
Cost: gold coin.
Enquiries: Watsonia Neighbourhood House by phone (9434 6717) or email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Sowing and saving seeds

What: What you will learn: how to successfully save seeds from your veggies to re-use next season; seed sowing techniques; and tips and tricks for success. What you will get: seasonal seeds sown to nurture at home; biodegradable pots to use and keep; and seeds harvested on the night to store and use in the future. Go along and be inspired about growing edible plants the organic, old-fashioned and most inexpensive way. Learn how to confidently grow brand new plants from seed, and expand the range and variety of plants available to you. Seed catalogues will be your new passion. You will be able to grow for yourself to enhance the table of your family and friends. Learn how to also select the best seeds to save from your own crops and how to harvest and store the seeds. This workshop is as hands-on as possible. Presented by Maria Ciavarella.
When: Thursday, 2nd March, 6.30-9pm.
Where: Bulleen Art & Garden Nursery
Cost: $45.
Enquiries: Bulleen Art & Garden Nursery by phone (8850 3030).
Bookings / further information: WeTeachMe.

Children’s garden and worm farm

What: See their new children’s garden. Plant their seedlings and learn about their worm farm. Fun, stories and songs for everyone.
When: 4th March, 11am-midday.
Where: Whittlesea Library
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Coralie Kouvelas by phone (9716 3028) or email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Chinese cooking with Jenny

What: Join Jenny Chua, from Cooking with Jenny in Melbourne, as she explores some favourite authentic Chinese cooking techniques. Learn how to make dumplings, fried rice, noodles and more.
When: 4th March, 11am-midday.
Where: Doncaster Library.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Doncaster Library by phone (9877 8500).
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Soil improvement workshop

What: Learn about the soil food web and how you can recycle household and garden organic waste by setting up a worm farm or backyard compost system. This workshop would suit learners wanting to recycle household and garden organic waste in order improve soils. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the outdoors as part of the workshop will be hands-on around the farm. The tutor Dianne Gordon is a member of the environmental education team at Edendale.
When: Saturday, 4th March, 2-4.30pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: $15.
Enquiries: Edendale by phone (9433 3711) or email.
Bookings / further information: Edendale website.

Fermentation – an introduction to lactofermented fruit

What: What you will learn: all about lactoferments; improve your culinary knowledge; and how to ferment your own fruit. What you will get: recipes and samples. If you have tried your hand at sauerkraut and other vegetable ferments, fermenting fruits might be the next step in your fermenting journey. In this workshop, Monique will introduce you to next level fermenting. You will be sampling some fermented salsa/relish variations, discussing the subtle differences between fermenting low sugar vegetables and high sugar vegetables. You will be walked through the process before making your own batch to take home and ferment on your bench top.
When: Saturday, 4th March, 3-5pm.
Where: Ceres.
Cost: $55.
Enquiries: Ceres by phone (9389 0100).
Bookings / further information: WeTeachMe.

Beekeeping – a taster

What: Learn about one of the earth’s most amazing insects and its millennia-old bond with flowering plants. Honey bee-pollinated plants account for a large proportion of our diet. Understand the threats facing the bee and how these may affect our future food security. Consider how you can assist the bee by keeping a few hives and in return make your garden and those of your surrounding community more productive. Obtain answers to your questions on the practical aspects of beekeeping and discover why beekeeping is a relaxing and a rewarding hobby for all the family. The tutor Bob Owen has been keeping bees for 15 years and is the owner of Bob’s Beekeeping Supplies in Eltham. See Bob’s Beekeeping website.
When: Sunday, 5th March, 1-3.30pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: $15.
Enquiries: Edendale by phone (9433 3711) or email.
Bookings / further information: Edendale website.

The art of espalier

What: What you will learn: growing espaliered fruit trees; different techniques to make the most of all available space for espalier; and improve your general gardening skills. “Go vertical” is the cry when garden space is limited. Gardening in two dimensions is what espalier is about and this class will cover the different types and how to get them started and then continue to train them into the desired shape. Topics covered are suitable fruit trees, pruning and training techniques. Presented by Diana Cotter.
When: Thursday, 9th March, 6.30-9pm.
Where: Bulleen Art & Garden Nursery
Cost: $45.
Enquiries: Bulleen Art & Garden Nursery by phone (8850 3030).
Bookings / further information: WeTeachMe.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week
Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events. Click here for help in how to view the calendar selectively (e.g. search for events in a given suburb).

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