Thanks to the people who have contributed to this week’s newsletter: Ben Wrigley, Bev Middleton, Carmen Bruest, Cecilia Macauley, Megan Goodman, Natalie Nigol and Robin Gale-Baker.
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Bordeaux Mix has been banned in the UK and 17 EU countries! (by Robin Gale-Baker)
Bordeaux mix was first discovered in France in the 19th century by a botany professor from the University of Bordeaux who was studying downy mildew on grapes. He noticed that road side spraying of grapes with a mix of copper and lime, carried out to prevent theft of grapes by passers-by, also prevented a range of fungal diseases. Since then, Bordeaux mix has been a staple spray in French vineyards, and in vineyards and orchards around the world.
Bordeaux mix is a combination of copper sulphate and quick lime. As these are both natural ingredients, Bordeaux mix can be marketed as ‘organic’ and used on Certified Organic farms. However, when it builds up over years of use, it becomes a heavy metal pollutant, and it does not break down in soil.
Bordeaux mix is a preventative only – that is, it is sprayed on the bare limbs of fruit trees in winter to prevent diseases developing in spring such as powdery mildew, downy mildew, leaf curl, blight, canker, apple scab, black spot, brown rot and (on raspberry leaves) raspberry rust . Spraying it after leaves have appeared will burn them, burn any developing flowers and kill beneficial insects. Of course, should there be any fruit developing, it will coat these and, because it adheres despite rain, there is a risk that if there is a lack of rain during the growing season, you will ingest copper when the fruit is ready to eat. It is also sometimes sprayed on fruit and vegetables including potato, tomato, peas, beans, celery and cucumber, and on grapes, strawberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, walnut, olives and cherries.
Bordeaux mix has been banned in the UK and 17 EU countries. This is because it is highly toxic to wildlife, particularly earthworms, livestock, fish and beneficial insects including bees. Furthermore, there is concern about copper leaching into waterways from contaminated soil or run-off. It also degrades fertility and soil microbiology. Copper application to crops exacerbates some pests, including mites, nematodes and some fungi that attach to insects as a parasite (entomopathogenic fungi).
Should you choose to use Bordeaux mix:
- Wear protective clothing, including gloves and glasses, during both the mixing and spraying.
- Cover the soil and understory with thick newspaper or cardboard and dispose of it in the waste bin after spraying.
- Keep chooks locked up both during spraying and afterwards, until you are sure there is no mix on the ground or in their reach.
There is apparently considerable opposition to the banning of Bordeaux mix in Europe, particularly from the viticulture industry, and this is the reason that 10 EU countries are still permitted to use it. In Australia, regulations allow organic farmers to use copper sulphate at a regulated rate per hectare.
Various alternatives to Bordeaux mix are being explored in Australia. As summarised in a Review of impacts on soil biota caused by copper residues from fungicide application by Lukas Van-Zwieten, Graham Merrington and Melissa Van-Zwieten: “‘A recent review of alternative fungal control agents has recently been published (Van Zwieten et al. 2004b), with products including: selected biological control agents; compost; inoculated compost; surfactants and biosurfactants; antifungal compounds; compost tea; pH modifiers and bicarbonates; foliar calcium and silicone; milk products and other organic amendments (e.g. molasses); essential oils (e.g. tea tree) and polymer coatings all showing promise as alternatives to copper for disease control.”
In the home garden, fruit trees can be sprayed with lime sulphur when bare. Lime sulphur is both an anti-fungal and pesticide. It is regarded as organic because it is a mix of sulphur and builder’s lime (not garden lime). It is used in the same way as Bordeaux mix and, in my experience, is very effective. For more information on how to use lime sulphur, refer to this article by Angelo Eliades.
References Bordeaux mix:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/bordeaux-mixture
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7481.html
https://www.rhs.org.uk/prevention-protection/withdrawn-chemicals
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13593-018-0503-9
http://www.regional.org.au/au/asssi/supersoil2004/s3/oral/1573_vanzwieten.htm.
References lime sulphur:
“https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2020/01/23/winter-pest-and-disease-control-with-lime-sulphur/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/using-lime-sulfur-in-gardens.htm.
Food storage
I recently came across these handy food storage charts produced by Moreland Council. The left hand chart is for vegetables and the right hand one is for fruit.
Jpg images are never really good enough quality for printing purposes. If you want to print off the charts, use this high resolution pdf version.
Want to identify a plant?
Carmen Bruest has written in to point out that, since iOS 15, iPhones have had the inbuilt facility to identify plants (or other things). Read this page for a demonstration and instructions.
Android phones have a similar capability using Google’s Lens app.
My (Guy) experience, however, is that specialist plant identification apps are better at correct identification. After trying many of the apps, I think that the best one is PlantNet, which is available in both Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store.
The Zoe Behind Greasy Zoes
Read this interview with Zoe Birch, the chef and owner of the Greasy Zoes restaurant in Hurstbridge.
Greasy Zoes is a unique restaurant and a unique experience: an ever changing set menu of multiple (my memory is around 8-10) courses, using seasonal ingredients; tiny/intimate, with a current seating capacity of only 8(!); and a mouth-watering cost ($175 per head). Like Coober Pedy, it is something you should do at least once if possible. Ideally, try and find someone who will shout you the experience!
Podcast of the month
The Urban Plant Health Network, which is part of Agriculture Victoria, publish around 6 podcasts a year on gardening matters. There are currently 17 podcasts available.
Meg’s garden this month
We have had the first hint of frost here on our south facing block and the broad beans are starting to lean towards the lessening light. Like the broad beans, we move the chairs on our deck outwards chasing the autumn sun as the days grow shorter. It is a good time to get some tasks done in the garden and I will spend time constructing supports for the broad beans so that they are strong when they have the weight of their pods to bear. I will also construct some extra frames ready for peas which I will plant this month.
The rain has assisted the growth of the root vegetables sown last month and the seedlings now need to be patiently thinned to provide space for growth. The tops of thinned seedlings can be used in a mixed salad with the rocket which has self-seeded amongst the broad beans.
The light fades and it is time to head inside. We are missing those late summer days already. This slice is one where you can open a jar of summer preserves such as apricots to give you a little taste of sunshine.
Coconut and jam slice
The base
1¼ cups plain flour
125g butter, chopped
90g cream cheese, chopped
Beat all of the ingredients until well combined (will be a little crumbly) and press into a 20cm slice pan. Bake at 180degC for 20 minutes and allow to cool.
The topping
½ cup of jam (I like apricot)
¾ cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup shredded coconut
50g melted butter cooled
Spread the jam over base.
Then beat together the sugar, egg and vanilla until light and fluffy. Stir in the coconut and butter. Spread the coconut mix on top of the jam. Bake at 180degC for 15-20 minutes.
Cool well before cutting.
Note: if using homemade jam, add a little lemon juice to maintain colour.
Read more of Megan Goodman’s other recipes on our website.
What veggie seeds to plant in June
Here is a list (see the June planting guide for more detail):
Broad beans
Coriander
Garlic
Lettuce
Mizuna
Mustard greens
Onion
Peas
Radish
The list is pretty short. It’s your last chance to plant broad beans and garlic, and arguably too late for them.
Some of our articles you might have missed over the last month
- The Medlar tree (by Jaimie Sweetman).
- Vegan gado gado (by Jian Liu & Julian Merkenich).
- The under-rated turnip! (by Robin Gale-Baker).
- Egyptian walking onions (by Simone Boyd).
- Some unusual pumpkins (by Simone Boyd).
Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?
The most popular link in the last newsletter was Simone Boyd’s online veggie seed shop.
Joke (or pun) of the week
Every loaf of bread is a tragic story of a group of grains that could have become whisky but didn’t.
Regular activities over the coming week
Farmers’ markets
- Saturday: Abbotsford and Coburg.
- Sunday: Alphington, Carlton and Eltham.
Food swaps
- Saturday: Bayswater North, Brunswick East, Fitzroy, Heidelberg West, Pascoe Vale and Warrandyte.
- Sunday: Blackburn, Montmorency and Regent (Reservoir).
Community gardens
- Thursday: Diamond Valley Library (Greensborough), Edible Hub (Hurstbridge), SEEDs (Brunswick) and Whittlesea.
- Friday: Reynard Street (Coburg) and West Brunswick.
- Saturday: Links (Lalor), Macleod and Thrive (Diamond Creek).
- Sunday: Fawkner Food Bowls, Northcote Community, Pentridge (Coburg) and Regent (Reservoir).
- Monday: SEEDs (Brunswick) and Whittlesea.
- Tuesday: Watsonia Library.
- Next Wednesday: Living & Learning Eltham, Macleod, Newton Street (Reservoir), Sylvester Hive (Preston) and Span (Thornbury).
Not local but interesting
Zen permaculture, starting at the kitchen sink; Sunday, 5th June; $280 including lunch; Hepburn Springs.
Learn patterns from nature for setting up productive areas inside your home and life, and expand from there. The things you should do become the things you want to do, and this changes everything. It will be a playful, regenerative day where you will use your body and re-wire your thinking. Featuring Cecilia Macauley and located in a Japanese guesthouse. Cecilia is also holding an event on Sunday, 4th September entitled Declutter your body, create a garden of food in your fridge.
Upcoming face-to-face events – introduction
You can view various calendars on our website by type of event: All once-off events, Cooking, Everything else and Free.
You can also view various calendars on our website by Council area: Banyule, Boroondara, City of Yarra, Darebin, Manningham, Maroondah, Moreland, Nillumbik, Whitehorse, Whittlesea and Yarra Ranges.
Upcoming face-to-face events – not cooking
Introduction to home brewing; Wednesday, 8th June, 7-9pm; $5; Hurstbridge.
The purpose of the meeting is twofold. First, for those interested in starting brewing beer at home, go long and learn how it’s done and what types of kits are available on the market. Second, for more experienced home brewers, discuss the possible formation of a local grain brewing group. The event is sponsored by Hurstbridge Men’s Shed.
Winter wine and cheese night with Boat O’Craigo; Friday, 10th June, 6-8pm; $75 ($38 per hour); Croydon.
Explore a range of French-made cheeses paired with condiments and local wines from Boat O’Craigo. Chris Downes from Calendar Cheese and Travers Graham from Boat O’Craigo Wines will be hosting the evening. Organised by Platter Pantry.
Men – top foods to keep your motor running; Tuesday, 14th June, 11am-midday; free; Warrandyte.
What you put into your engine (your body and brain) does make a difference. Find out which foods help your engine to run smoothly and with full power. The presenter will be a qualified dietitian from Access Health. Organised by Warrandyte Library.
Wine tasting and regenerative agriculture; Thursday, 16th June, 6.30-9pm; $50 ($20 per hour); Rosanna.
The Kangaron range of wines from Crittendens’s Estate on the Mornington Peninsula are grown using regenerative agriculture practices. The ticket price includes a tasting of three of the wines, namely Chardonnay, Rose and Pinot Noir. There will be finger food, and a (short) discussion on regenerative agriculture and the importance of carbon in building healthy soil. Organised by Soil Week Alliance.
Growing mushrooms at home; Saturday, 18th June, 10am-12.30pm; $95 ($38 per hour); Alphington.
Presenter: Julia Laidlaw from Sporadical City Mushrooms. This hands-on, beginners workshop will cover basic oyster mushroom growing. It is a skill sharing ‘tips and tricks’ lesson from an experienced commercial mushroom grower who started growing very basically at home in a small space with no technical equipment in the inner city. You will take home your own mushroom growing kit that you have prepared during the workshop, the materials and instructions needed to prepare a kit at home (re-purposed plastic bucket & lid, oyster mushroom grain spawn, enough straw for a grow kit, bag for pasteurising straw, small bottle of isopropyl alcohol for sterilisation).
Meet the maker – Nerida, the PavQueen; Saturday, 18th June, 3-4pm; $19 ($19 per hour); Alphington.
Go along to hear about what Nerida, from Pav Queen, loves about pavlovas and taste from her range.
Meet the maker – Nerida, the PavQueen; Saturday, 18th June, 4.30-5.30pm; $19 ($19 per hour); Alphington.
Go along to hear about what Nerida, from Pav Queen, loves about pavlovas and taste from her range.
How to prune your fruit trees with Angelo Eliades; Sunday, 19th June, 10am-midday; $51 ($26 per hour); Preston.
You will learn how to: carry out formative pruning to shape young trees; maintenance pruning to maintain the size of established trees; and renovation pruning to tidy up overgrown trees and reduce their size. For gardeners of all experience levels, this session will cover: the basic theory and fundamentals of fruit tree pruning; how to prune trees with special pruning requirements such as figs, pomegranates and persimmons; and winter fruit tree pest control. Organised by Oakhill Farm.
DIY hot compost with Kelly Gillespie; Sunday, 19th June, 1-3pm; $51 ($26 per hour); Preston.
Learn how to get your compost living life in the fast lane. Organised by Oakhill Farm.
Worm farming with Angelo Eliades; Saturday, 25th June, 10am-midday; $51 ($26 per hour); Preston.
Learn everything you need to know to set up and maintain worm farms. This workshop is for all ages and will include demonstrations on how to set up a new worm farm, construct an in-ground worm farm from recycled materials, and build your own worm farm from recycled foam boxes. It will also cover what to put in your worm farm and what not to, how to harvest and use the worm castings and liquid from the worm farm, and how to care for worms during hot summers and wet winters. Organised by Oakhill Farm.
Berries and vines with Angelo Eliades; Sunday, 3rd July, 10am-midday; $51 ($26 per hour); Preston.
Learn how to grow a range of berries and vines in the garden and in pots, including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries (and their hybrids), grapes, passionfruit, kiwifruit, goji berries, and some native bush foods. The session will cover: their growing and feeding requirements; harvesting, pruning/maintenance; and protection from pests. It will also include instructions on propagation. Organised by Oakhill Farm.
Growing micro greens at home with Sustainable Gardening Australia; Thursday, 14th July, 6.30-7.30pm; free; Box Hill.
Learn how to grow microgreens on your own kitchen window sill. This class will cover both indoor and outdoor growing as well as crop selection, planting, growing conditions and harvesting. Participants will learn: how to select and sow seeds; growing strategies to produce an optimal crop; and how to care for and harvest microgreens. Organised by Box Hill Library.
In June
- Looking after our bees with Melbourne City Rooftop Honey; Thursday, 2nd June, 6.30-7.30pm; free; Watsonia.
- Step to employment in hospitality (7 sessions); 7 consecutive Fridays from 3rd June, each 11.30am-5pm; free; Brunswick.
- Grazing board making workshop for women; Saturday, 4th June, 2-4pm; $189 ($95 per hour); Warrandyte.
- Home composting for beginners; Saturday, 4th June, 2-4pm; free; Edendale.
- Herb planting workshop; Sunday, 5th June, 10-11.30am; $55 ($37 per hour); Park Orchards.
- Beeswax wraps; Sunday, 5th June, 10am-midday; $55 ($28 per hour); Park Orchards.
- Introduction to home brewing; Wednesday, 8th June, 7-9pm; $5; Hurstbridge.
- Winter wine and cheese night with Boat O’Craigo; Friday, 10th June, 6-8pm; $75 ($38 per hour); Croydon.
- Wicking bed workshop; Saturday, 11th June, 11.30am-1pm; $15; Macleod.
- Men – top foods to keep your motor running; Tuesday, 14th June, 11am-midday; free; Warrandyte.
- Wine tasting and regenerative agriculture; Thursday, 16th June, 6.30-9pm; $50 ($20 per hour); Rosanna.
- Beginners guide to backyard chickens; Thursday, 16th June, 7-8.30pm; free; Mill Park.
- Growing mushrooms at home; Saturday, 18th June, 10am-12.30pm; $95 ($38 per hour); Alphington.
- Marvellous mulch – dive into the magic; Saturday, 18th June, 1-2.30pm; $59 ($39 per hour); Ringwood.
- Growing veggies in a wildlife garden; Saturday, 18th June, 1.30-3.30pm; free; Forest Hill.
- Setting up a worm farm; Saturday, 18th June, 2-3.30pm; free; Edendale.
- Meet the maker – Nerida, the PavQueen; Saturday, 18th June, 3-4pm; $19 ($19 per hour); Alphington.
- Meet the maker – Nerida, the PavQueen; Saturday, 18th June, 4.30-5.30pm; $19 ($19 per hour); Alphington.
- How to prune your fruit trees with Angelo Eliades; Sunday, 19th June, 10am-midday; $51 ($26 per hour); Preston.
- DIY hot compost with Kelly Gillespie; Sunday, 19th June, 1-3pm; $51 ($26 per hour); Preston.
- How to control the Queensland Fruit Fly, with Angelo Eliades; Tuesday, 23rd June, 7-8pm; free; Watsonia.
- Worm farming with Angelo Eliades; Saturday, 25th June, 10am-midday; $51 ($26 per hour); Preston.
- Growing berries; Saturday, 25th June, 10am-3pm; $115 ($23 per hour); CERES.
In July
- Winter fruit tree maintenance; Saturday, 2nd July, 9.30am-midday; $55 ($22 per hour); Bulleen Art & Garden.
- Food photography; Saturday, 2nd July, 2-5pm; $109 ($36 per hour); Eltham.
- Berries and vines with Angelo Eliades; Sunday, 3rd July, 10am-midday; $51 ($26 per hour); Preston.
- Pruning and care of fruit trees; Saturday, 9th July, 10am-3pm; $115 ($23 per hour); CERES.
- Urban food gardening (8 sessions); 8 consecutive Wednesdays from 13th July, 10am-2.30pm; $60 for all 8 sessions (Government subsidised fee); Eltham.
- Growing micro greens at home with Sustainable Gardening Australia; Thursday, 14th July, 6.30-7.30pm; free; Box Hill.
- Winter fruit tree pruning workshop; Saturday, 16th July, 9am-1pm; $75 ($19 per hour); Edendale.
- Much ado about compost; Saturday, 16th July, 10-11.30am; $59 ($40 per hour); Ringwood.
- Growing mushrooms at home; Saturday, 16th July, 10am-12.30pm; $95 ($38 per hour); Alphington.
- Organic propagation of vegetables and herbs; Saturday, 16th July, 10am-3pm; $115 ($23 per hour); CERES.
- Complete urban farmer (14 sessions); weekly, starting Thursday, 21st July, 9am-3pm; $880 ($10 per hour); CERES.
- Beeswax wraps; Saturday, 23rd July, 10am-midday; $75 ($38 per hour); CERES.
Regular events
- Bakery Hill whisky distillery tour and tasting; various Sundays, various times; $64 ($43 per hour); Bayswater North.
- Carlton aperitvio food tour; various Fridays, 5-7pm; $89 ($45 per hour); Carlton.
- Cocktail workshop; Saturdays, at 2pm and again at 6pm; $55 ($37 per hour); Northcote.
- Flavours of Coburg food tour; various Saturdays, 10am-1pm; $49 ($16 per hour); Coburg.
- Ratio Cocoa Roasters behind the scenes chocolate factory tour; various Fridays and Saturdays; $15 ($10 per hour); Brunswick.
Upcoming face-to-face events – cooking
Fruit bottling; Saturday, 4th June, 11am-2pm; $11; Abbotsford.
Members of the CWA will show you the fundamental techniques for bottling fruit. They will be working with what is currently in season – apples, pears and pineapples – but you’ll be able to use the skills gained in this workshop to preserve other fruit. Take home the jars that you prepared. Organised by Collingwood Children’s Farm.
Waste minimisation cooking; Saturday, 11th June, 11am-1pm; $16 ($8 per hour); Abbotsford.
This workshop will be a part demonstration / part hands-on workshop sharing ideas about waste minimisation, with recipes using random veggies, cheese, bread, pasta and milk. The focus will be on ideas and recipes about how to use up vegetables, herbs, random bits of cheese, tail-end bags of pasta, stale bread and close-to-date milk for some seasonal dishes. Following this, participants can sample the food prepared. Presenter: Melanie Ryan. Organised by Collingwood Children’s Farm.
Sourdough bread making; Saturday, 18th June, 9am-midday; $61 ($20 per hour); Panton Hill.
Learn how to make sourdough bread. You will take home both a crusty loaf and you own sourdough starter. Tutor Jenna Farrington-Sear. Organised by Panton Hill Neighbourhood House.
Bush foods; Saturday, 18th June, 11am-1pm; $11; Abbotsford.
The workshop will provide a cooking demonstration using some popular native foods and introduce participants to: the native foods that will thrive in Melbourne gardens; their tastes, aromas and health benefits; tips on growing the plants; culinary uses; and possible garden designs. Presenter: Julie Weatherhead and Anthony Hooper from Peppermint Ridge Farm. Organised by Collingwood Children’s Farm.
Waste-free lunchbox ideas; Sunday, 26th June, 2-3pm; free; Reservoir.
Learn some tasty ideas on how to make your lunchbox waste-free and get ready for Plastic Free July! Learn to make healthy and yummy lunch recipes (without all the packaging) that can be made quickly and easily and share ideas on what you can make at home. Organised by Friends of Regent Community Garden.
A Devonshire tea workshop (thermomix); Saturday, 9th July, 2-4pm; $15 ($8 per hour); Eltham.
The menu will include: Butter; Buttermilk Scones; Whipped Cream; Jam Drop Biscuits; Chai Tea Powder; Chai Latte; and Strawberry Jam. Presenter: Tess Murray.
Middle Eastern cooking; Thursday, 14th July, 10.30am-1.30pm; $80 ($27 per hour); Park Orchards.
Learn about the flavours of Middle Eastern cooking. Try out recipes and cooking methods while preparing a three course menu. Stay and share your freshly prepared dinner with the group. Organised by Park Orchards Community House.
Asian dumplings class; Sunday, 24th July, 2-4.30pm; $106 ($42 per hour); Fitzroy.
Dee Williams will show you how to make a pork-based dumpling, which may also be modified into a vegetarian version. You will also learn how to make a black spiced vinegar dipping sauce. You will then plate and devour your creations with your new found foodie friends!
In June
- Truffle and praline workshop; Wednesday, 1st June, 6-10pm; $180 ($45 per hour); Blackburn
- Ladies in the kitchen; Thursday, 2nd June, 9.30am-midday; $32 ($13 per hour); Yarra Glen.
- Italian kids cooking class; Thursday, 2nd June, 10am-3pm; $35 ($18 per hour); Surrey Hills.
- Fruit bottling; Saturday, 4th June, 11am-2pm; $11; Abbotsford.
- Fire cider tonic making; Saturday, 4th June, 2-4.30pm; $75 ($30 per hour); CERES.
- Artisan bread making; Sunday, 5th June, 8am-2pm; $220 ($37 per hour); Abbotsford.
- A master class in Thai cooking on charcoal; Sunday, 5th June, 10am-2.30pm; $160 ($36 per hour); Panton Hill.
- Vegan cooking Italian style; Sunday, 5th June, 10am-3pm; $115 ($23 per hour); CERES.
- Gnocchi making masterclass; Sunday, 5th June, 11am-1.30pm; $106 ($42 per hour); Northcote.
- Men in the kitchen; Monday, 6th June, 6.30-9pm; $32 ($13 per hour); Yarra Glen.
- Masterclass – make your own pizza and pasta; Tuesday, 7th June, 6.30-8pm; free; Coburg.
- Sourdough basics; Thursday, 9th June, 6.30-8pm; $100 ($66 per hour); Collingwood.
- How to create almost vegetarian recipes; Saturday, 11th June, 10am-12.30pm; Forest Hill.
- Waste minimisation cooking; Saturday, 11th June, 11am-1pm; $16 ($8 per hour); Abbotsford.
- Vegan pizza making masterclass; Sunday, 12th June, 11am-1pm; $106 ($53 per hour); Northcote.
- One pot wonders of the World – Malaysian curry laksa from scratch; Friday, 17th June, 5-10pm; $85 ($17 per hour); Panton Hill.
- Sourdough bread making; Saturday, 18th June, 9am-midday; $61 ($20 per hour); Panton Hill.
- Bush foods; Saturday, 18th June, 11am-1pm; $11; Abbotsford.
- Triple cream brie cheese; Sunday, 19th June, 10am-4pm; $170 ($28 per hour); CERES.
- Truffle workshop at Ratio Cocoa Roasters; Sunday, 19th June, 11am-12.30pm; $75 ($50 per hour); Brunswick.
- Cannoli making cooking class; Sunday, 19th June, 11am-1.30pm; $106 ($42 per hour); Northcote.
- Truffle and praline workshop; Wednesday, 22nd June, 6-10pm; $180 ($45 per hour); Blackburn
- Sourdough bread; Saturday, 25th June, 10am-12.30pm; $65 ($26 per hour); Park Orchards.
- Gluten-free kitchen skills; Sunday, 26th June, 10am-3pm; $115 ($23 per hour); CERES.
- Waste-free lunchbox ideas; Sunday, 26th June, 2-3pm; free; Reservoir.
- Sri Lankan street food experience; Sunday, 26th June, 2-4.30pm; $99 ($40 per hour); Fitzroy.
- Pickling and fermentation workshop; Thursday, 30th June, 6.30-8.30pm; free; Watsonia.
In July
- Mozzarella making class; Saturday, 2nd July, 10am-midday; $120 ($60 per hour); Thomastown.
- Authentic Mexican; Saturday, 2nd July, 10am-3pm; $115 ($23 per hour); CERES.
- Tortelloni and ravioli class; Saturday, 9th July, 10am-1.30pm; $125 ($36 per hour); Thomastown.
- Chocolate discovery class; Saturday, 9th July, 11am-midday; $48 ($48 per hour); Yarra Glen.
- A Devonshire tea workshop (thermomix); Saturday, 9th July, 2-4pm; $15 ($8 per hour); Eltham.
- Middle Eastern cooking; Thursday, 14th July, 10.30am-1.30pm; $80 ($27 per hour); Park Orchards.
- Food for mind and gut; Saturday, 16th July, 10am-3pm; $115 ($23 per hour); CERES.
- Artisan bread making; Sunday, 17th July, 8am-2pm; $220 ($37 per hour); Abbotsford.
- Truffle workshop at Ratio Cocoa Roasters; Sunday, 17th July, 11am-12.30pm; $75 ($50 per hour); Brunswick.
- Truffle and praline workshop; Wednesday, 20th July, 6-10pm; $180 ($45 per hour); Blackburn
- Sourdough bread baking; Saturday, 23rd July, 9am-5pm; $180 ($23 per hour); CERES.
- Feta and haloumi cheese making; Sunday, 24th July, 10am-4pm; $170 ($28 per hour); CERES.
Regular classes
- Al dente cooking (Italian); most Saturdays, 9am-1pm; $155 ($39 per hour); Chirnside Park.
- Become a junior chocolatier; various days and times; $40 ($53 per hour); Yarra Glen.
- Beginners bread making; various Sundays, 8am-2pm; $220 ($37 per hour); Abbotsford.
- Chocolate making workshop; various Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; $152 ($38 per hour); Blackburn.
- La Cucina di Sandra (Italian); various evenings, 6.30-10.30pm; $105 ($26 per hour); Richmond.
- Nonna & Mum’s cooking class; monthly on the 4th Thursday, 6-10pm; $20 ($7 per hour); Thornbury.
- Otao Kitchen (various classes); various dates, times and prices; Richmond.
- Rosa’s traditional Italian cooking class; various Fridays and Sundays; $155 ($39 per hour); Bundoora.
- The ultimate biscuit class; various Tuesdays, 10am-3pm; $162 ($32 per hour); Blackburn.