LFC News July 24 2019

Home delivery by postcode and suburb

Recently, on my way to the William Ricketts Sanctuary, I called in at the Organic Empire shop in Mount Evelyn. It’s a lovely shop selling a wide range of Certified Organic food but it is sort of in the middle of nowhere. Importantly, however, they deliver across much of North East Melbourne (see map below) so you can obtain their food without having to go out to the Dandenongs.

    

There are at least 9(!) local organisations who are both local to North East Melbourne and who home deliver fruit and veggie boxes around North East Melbourne. Each has different delivery areas that it covers. To see who will deliver to you, go to the home delivery of fruit/veggie boxes by postcode/suburb page on our website and select either your postcode or your suburb.

Nina discusses goat milk skin care and household cleaning products

Are you looking for a healthy soap which is not full of chemicals and artificial colours or want to kick your garden along? Either way, Udderly Healthy Soaps has the answer.

Udderly Healthy Soaps make goat milk skin care and household cleaning products. The soaps and products are good for anyone but are particularly good if you suffer from allergies, eczema or dry and sensitive skin. To see their range of products, and to order online, go to their website. The soaps are produced by the founder, Orianna Edmonds, who manages a large herd of goats at her family farm in St Andrews. Working with her mum (who is very sensitive to chemicals and most soaps), Orianna experimented with different kinds of recipes for a year until she had a range of soaps that she was happy with. She now has a thriving online business – and a large happy herd of goats!

There is also have a very useful byproduct – large quantities of goat manure. We cover our garden in their goat manure twice a year.

You can contact Orianna by either phone (0478 709881) or email.

Community gardening news

Edible Hub, Hurstbridge

The Edible Hub, Hurstbridge now has its own page on our website. There are six wicking garden beds plus a compost station with three large bins outside of the Hurstbridge Community Hub. The produce from the beds is free for everyone to harvest. The compost program aims to capture organic waste from the local community and businesses, keeping waste out of landfill and providing compost to sustain the garden. Volunteers generally meet on the fourth Thursday of the month at 9.30am to plan or carry out work in the garden, so the next meeting is tomorrow. Anyone is welcome to attend and no ongoing commitment to the garden is required. Welcome Tracey!

The Dandelion Patch, Fawkner

Felicia Wylie has written in. Fawkner Community House is in caretaker mode and The Dandelion Patch located there is no longer running as a community garden. There is, however, still a community garden in Fawkner (Fawkner Food Bowls), which, inter alia, now hosts the Fawkner Food Swap.

Kensington Stockyard Food Garden

Nina Ceddia has written in. Kensington Stockyard Food Garden now has 45 members and 25 Friends of the garden. Their 26 wicking beds have produced around 200Kg of leafy veggies and herbs over the last year. Unfortunately the garden recently had an arson attack and they lost their shed and all their tools.

Cooking for healthy minds

SPAN Community House in Thornbury still have some vacancies for their Term 3 Cooking for healthy minds course, which started last week and will go on for the next ten weeks. On Tuesdays from now until 17th September at 1.30-3.30pm. Astonishingly good value at $67 for the ten weeks. Book by phone (9480 1364). The course description: “Low cost social inclusion activity. Experience and enjoy demonstration and hands-on cooking, sharing recipes and using seasonal produce. This class is for participants living with or recovering from a mental health illness, have a mild disability or a long term condition. Family carers looking for a social connection are also encouraged to attend.”

The reason that the course is so cheap is that it is ACFE subsidised, which has reduced the cost from $408 to $67, a reduction of 85%.

Another article from Angelo Eliades

This one is entitled How far do large tree roots extend?

Read more of Angelo’s articles.

A bit more self-spruiking (and then I promise I’ll stop it!)

Here are the three nicest appreciations I’ve received in the last week:

• “Just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy receiving your newsletter and think it’s fantastic! Thanks for all the effort you obviously put in. I appreciate it! I especially like the events listing and also find the most clicked item interesting. In gratitude.“
• “Another grateful newsletter reader here. I love to know what is going on out and about and love the way this is such a positive, sharing, informative read. I really like the style of the newsletter. Makes me feel good about life.“
• “If you’re a food growing fanatic in the North-East of Melbourne you MUST sign up for this newsletter. Here at 3000acres, we rely on it for all the updates on events and cool things happening in the way of food and growing.“

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

Permablitz’s article about murnong.

Joke of the week

What do you call a mischievous egg? A practical yolker.

Read more jokes.

New events – not cooking

Tomato – know, sow, grow, feast with Penny Woodward: Tuesday, 30th July, 10am-1pm; Lilydale Library.

What: Join Penny Woodward, horticultural expert and author of Tomato : know, sow, grow, feast and be inspired to learn how to grow, nurture and enjoy these colourful heritage gems! Book purchases on the day.
Cost: free.
Bookings: their website.

Winter fruit tree pruning with Chris England: Saturday, 3rd August, 10am-1pm; Richmond.

What: Presenter Chris England. Learn how to prune different types of fruit trees – apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums and citrus. Learn how to keep trees healthy and to a workable height and to recognise the different types of growth, and prune for maximum fruit. BYO secateurs.
Cost: $70.
Bookings: TryBooking.

Scion and tree sales day: Saturday, 10th August, 9am-midday; CERES.

What: Their current focus is on apple varieties. Limited amounts of stonefruit.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.

Making composting and worm farming easy: Thursday, 29th August, 7-8.30pm; CERES.

What: Learn the art of successful home composting and worm farming and learn how to turn your food scraps into a nutrient rich soil supplement.
Cost: free.
Bookings: by phone (9401 0509) or email.

Backyard beekeeping for beginners: Monday, 9th September, 6-7pm; Coburg Library.

What: Morgan from 3000 acres will discuss keeping honey bees in urban Melbourne and how to help bees even if you don’t keep them. Construct a simple native bee hotel for your garden. This session is for bee beginners.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.

Bush foods & herbs for courtyards & balconies: Thursday, 12th September, 6.30-9pm; Bulleen Art and Garden.

What: What you will learn: which native produce-plants are suitable for growing in pots and small spaces; what to harvest and when; and how to use bush foods and herbs to flavour your dishes. Presented by Karen Sutherland, of Edible Eden Design. Australian native plants have flavour and aroma profiles unlike any others, and can be easily incorporated into your kitchen. Also, a wide range of them can be grown in Melbourne in pots or small and difficult spaces. In this class, which is ideal for those with limited garden space or even just a courtyard or balcony, you will explore the world of edible native Australian plants that are easy to grow in such spaces, attractive to look at and can easily add flavour and interest to your home-cooked dishes. All plants covered are suitable for Melbourne’s climate, and will be discussed in terms of how best to use and grow them in your garden.
Cost: $$55.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.

Edible weeds walk: Saturday, 14th September, 10.30am-12.30pm and again at 1.30-3.30pm; Merri Creek Trail.

What: What if many of the weeds in our garden were just as edible as the vegetables we tend beside them? What if some of these free, all-too-easy-to-grow uninvited guests were so nutritionally dense that they are just about the healthiest things you could possibly eat? What if many of them also had medical traditions dating back centuries? Well it’s all true! And if you know what to choose, they also taste great. Join Adam Grubb, co-author of The Weed Forager’s Handbook, for a fascinating walk on the wild side, foraging for edible weeds.
Cost: $25 ($20 concession).
Bookings: their website (10.30am and 1.30pm).

New events – cooking

Kombucha workshop: Tuesday, 30th July, 7-9pm; Organic Fix, Eltham.

What: Learn how to make your own kombucha to brew at home. Take a jar home with your SCOBY and organic green tea solution ready to brew.
Cost: $70 (includes a take home kit).
Bookings: by phone (9424 1861) or by person at Organic Fix..

Fermenting community garden produce: Thursday, 12th September, 10am-1pm; Coburg.

What: Learn two basic fermenting recipes; sauerkraut (a simple sour cabbage dish) and kimchi (a spicy Korean cabbage dish) then take home your creation to ferment. Jars and ingredients provided or bring some of your own to recycle.
Cost: $30.
Bookings: by phone (9386 7128) or email (admin@rsnh.org.au).

Feastival cooking demonstration: Thursday, 12th September, 11am-midday; Thomastown Library.

What: Watch a demonstration of food and enjoy a free tasting.
Cost: free.
Bookings: their website.

Cooking seasonal produce with Julie French: Saturday, 14th September, 11.30am-12.30pm; Diamond Valley Library.

What: Join Julie French as she shows you how to best use the produce in your garden to reduce food waste, save money and enjoy the tasty food that she prepares in the library’s kitchen garden.
Cost: free.
Bookings: their website.

Asian-inspired cooking demonstration: Saturday, 14th September, 1-3pm; Chirnside Park.

What: Learn how to create Asian cuisine from a qualified chef and incorporate these skills into your cooking at home with a take home recipe. You will be able to experience the taste of the oriental flavours and learn how to make savoury pork and shrimp dumplings carefully wrapped and all made from scratch. Learn how to create a traditional pad thai dish.
Cost: $30.
Bookings: TryBooking.

Food for mind and gut with Mettle + Grace: Sunday, 15th September, 10am-4pm; CERES, Brunswick East.

What: What you will learn: foods which make your brain brighter; how to incorporate brain powering foods easily into your daily diet; and foods that can build and protect your gut microbiome and clear brain fog. Presenter: Melanie Leeson, from Mettle + Grace. Learn how to create healthier versions of your old favourites. The dishes will be packed with nutritionally dense vegetables and all will be gluten and dairy free. The menu includes: vegan cream cheese; oat + mesquite crackers; beet sauerkraut; chickpea salad with orange tahini; coconut + turmeric pie; and miso puffed balls.
Cost: $100.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.

Summary of upcoming events – not cooking

Over the next week

Over the next month

Summary of upcoming events – cooking

Over the next week

Over the next month

View the complete calendar of upcoming events.