A new food swap in Balwyn
Surrey Hills / Balwyn Produce Swap. 9-10am, 3rd Sunday of the month. Balwyn Community Centre, 412 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn, 3103. 3rd Sunday of the month, 9-10am. Facebook page. Contact Bill Oldham by email. Click here for the interactive map of all 22 swaps in North East Melbourne.
A few minor timing changes at other swaps: the Diamond Creek Food Swap is now 10-11.30am rather than 10am-midday; and the Greensborough Food Swap is now 10-11am rather than 10-11.30am.
An interesting Facebook page: The Common
Many Facebook pages are, shall we say, not worth the paper they are written on. But, as the Shovel’s page demonstrates, there are exceptions. One such exception is The Common in Eltham. Here are some of their posts over the last year:
- Beef.
- Beans.
- Chilli.
- Chocolate.
- Eggs.
- Fish.
- Milk.
- Quinoa.
- Preservatives and more preservatives.
- Salt.
- Turmeric.
New events
Planting indigenous cultural food, fibre and medicine plants in Bunjil
What: Wurundjeri’s ‘Narrap’ (land management) team and friends of Panton Hill Bushland Reserve System invite you to help re-vegetate the entrance to Bunjil Reserve with traditional indigenous food, fibre and medicine plants for use in an interpretation trail. Uncle Dave Wandin will welcome you to the country and discuss the importance and use of some local indigenous plants. You will need: gloves, sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, water.
When: Sunday, 17th July, 10am-1pm.
Where: Panton Hill.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Nillumbik Environmental Events Team by phone (9433 3316) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Wicking bed workshop
What: The Hurstbridge Sow and Grow Garden Club are hosting a free wicking bed workshop at the Hurstbridge Community Hub. Felipe and Michelle, from Food Garden Solutions in Hurstbridge, will demonstrate how to build and use wicking beds, as well as how they work. 6 wicking beds, to be completed on site on the day, will launch the first stage of the Hub’s ‘Edible Garden Project’. These beds will serve as an ongoing resource for the community. Please bring gloves.
When: Sunday, 24th July, 1-4pm.
Where: Hurstbridge.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Arja Toivanen by phone (0427 325576) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Winter herbal pantry – using food as medicine
What: Using food as medicine is an excellent way to keep you and your family well. Join Libby Shaw, Naturopath, Herbalist & Nutritionist, in exploring simple, traditional methods using herbs and spices to enrich and enliven your dishes. Notes and recipes included.
When: Saturday, 6th August, 3.30-4.30pm.
Where: Hurstbridge.
Cost: $24.
Enquiries/Bookings: Libby Shaw by phone (0407 338647) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Sourdough workshop
What: Yvonne Ashby hopes that her passion for sourdough will inspire others to enjoy a good quality homemade bread and a great way to re-live a past time. This will be a hands-on workshop on how to make traditional sourdough bread with the 3 basic ingredients of flour, water and salt. The class will be limited to 6-8 people with a hands-on approach to all aspects of making sourdough, including the tasting for lunch from different variations of sourdough bread that use the basic sourdough recipe being learnt in the workshop (e.g. spelt, fruit & nut, seeded, wholemeal). The cost is inclusive of Yvonne’s continued support whilst the participant is making their own bread at home. The workshop is suitable for beginners who want to expand their bread making repertoire. You will: learn about the required ingredients and tools of the trade; discover the fermentation techniques to optimise the open crumb texture; and learn about the Baker’s Percentage and hydration. During the workshop, you will: mix, knead and fold the dough; learn shaping techniques; learn to score and bake; and learn how to maintain a starter.
When: Saturday, 20th August, 10am-1pm.
Where: Yallambie.
Cost: $85.
Enquiries: Yvonne Ashby by phone (0409 225774) or email.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Feastival – moving feast entree demonstration
What: Join in the FEASTival! Your local libraries are bringing the flavours of the world to you with a two course progressive lunch. Join in for cooking demonstrations and tastings. 11am entree at Thomastown Library. 12:45pm main at Lalor Library. Bookings required.
When: Saturday, 10th September, 11am-midday.
Where: Thomastown.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Thomastown Library by phone (9464 1864) or email.
Bookings: Yarra Plenty Regional Library.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Feastival – moving feast main meal demonstration
What: Join in the FEASTival! Your local libraries are bringing the flavours of the world to you with a two course progressive lunch. Join in for cooking demonstrations and tastings. 11am entree at Thomastown Library. 12:45pm main at Lalor Library. Bookings required.
When: Saturday, 10th September, 12.45-2pm.
Where: Lalor.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Lalor Library by phone (9465 2353) or email.
Bookings: Yarra Plenty Regional Library.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Cooking for blokes
What: Men, brush up on your cooking skills and learn how to make delicious easy and nourishing dinners.
When: Sunday, 11th September, 10am-1pm.
Where: Alphington.
Cost: $25 (includes lunch).
Enquiries/Bookings: Alphington Community Centre by phone (9499 7227) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Summary of upcoming events
Over the next week
- Bees and beekeeping: Wednesday, 13th July, 7-8.30pm.
- Wicking garden bed workshop: Thursday, 14th July, 9am-1pm.
- Winter gathering at Petty’s Orchard: Thursday, 14th July, 11am-midday.
- Soil matters: Saturday, 16th July, 2-4.30pm.
- Planting indigenous cultural food, fibre and medicine plants in Bunjil: Sunday, 17th July, 10am-1pm.
- Winter fruit tree maintenance and pruning: Sunday, 17th July, 1.30-4.30pm.
- Creating Eden in small spaces: Tuesday, 19th July, 11.30am-12.30pm.
- Chinese cooking: Wednesday, 20th July, 6.30-7.30pm.
Over the next month
- Preserving basics – make your own jams, pickles and relishes: Friday, 22nd July, 10am-1pm.
- Introduction to fermenting foods – Kimchi workshop (Maribyrnong): Saturday, 23rd July, 10am-midday.
- Winter garden party: Sunday, 24th July, 11am-3pm.
- Wicking bed workshop: Sunday, 24th July, 1-4pm.
- Mindful eating: Tuesday, 26th July, 7-8.15pm.
- Maintaining your fruit trees over winter: Wednesday, 27th July, 7-9pm.
- Introduction to horticulture – 9 session course: from Saturday, 30th July, 9.30am-3pm
- Backyard chicken keeping: Saturday, 30th July, 11am-midday.
- Backyard chooks for beginners: Saturday, 6th August, 10am-midday.
- Yarra community growing spaces workshop: Saturday, 6th August, 10.30am-12.45pm.
- Yarra community growing spaces workshop: Saturday, 6th August, 2-4.15pm.
- Winter herbal pantry – using food as medicine: Saturday, 6th August, 3.30-4.30pm.
- Biodynamic course (two-day): Saturday, 6th August and Sunday, 7th August.
- Beekeeping – a taster: Saturday, 7th August, 1-3pm.
- Australian Community Food Hubs Conference: Monday, 8th August and Tuesday, 9th August.
- Preserving with citrus: Wednesday, 10th August, 10am-1pm.<
- Building a healthy economy from the bottom up: annual agribusiness dinner: Saturday, 13th August, 6-10.30pm.