LFC News June 26 2019

Judy visits the garden of Paula and John McLeod

Some of you will know Paula and John from Hurstbridge Farmgate. Judy Vizzari has now visited their extraordinary garden in Hurstbridge, veggie patch and all. As Judy says in the introduction to her writeup: “As I enter the driveway, I see a formal garden to my left, a dam to my right and, beside it, is a long narrow paddock finishing at another, smaller dam further down, below which are rows of raised vegetable beds protected with fine white netting, a small enclosed orchard, berry patch, bee hive and chicken run … This is a 20 acre property.”

And later in the writeup, John demonstrates: “an unusual tool, a ‘broadfork’ or ‘u-bar digger.’ It’s a regenerative gardening tool rather like a wide fork but manufactured with rounded prongs according to an old design. He explains that it aerates the soil without turning it or disturbing the worms and their castings.”

Read the full writeup.

Robin’s tip of the month: a winter wonder – the persimmon tree

A persimmon tree is a winter wonder and well worth planting. At this time of year, its glossy green leaves will have turned orange and be falling, leaving beautiful orange baubles hanging on smooth, deep brown branches. It is often referred to as a winter Christmas tree.

Persimmon fruit is often underrated, for two main reasons: first, a lack of knowledge about how to use them; and, second, eating the raw fruit of the astringent varieties before it is sufficiently ripe (which leaves an unpleasant, chalky after taste).

Persimmons are either astringent or non-astringent. Check the label before buying as they are quite different in their use. Astringent varieties are more suited to a Melbourne climate than non-astringent varieties.

Astringent persimmons are ready to eat when their skin deepens to a rich watermelon colour, the skin is almost translucent, and the flesh wobbles inside the skin like a gel. They make wonderful desserts, either scooped out with cream or ice cream, or in pies or puddings. They also make great jams, cakes, breads and biscuits.

Persimmons grow in a wide variety of soils. They are deciduous, hardy, can live for centuries, need only a light prune as they fruit on current season growth and, while they will grow to 5 metres, can be kept at 3 metres for easy netting (birds love the fruit). They are generally impervious to insect attack.

Ideal conditions include deep, rich, well drained soil, full sun and protection from wind (as their branches, when heavy with fruit, can snap). Persimmons also thrive in our clay soils, producing 60-80 fruit per season. When planting, work the soil well, make sure it is moist, and plant the tree with a 10cm clearance above the graft. Keep the tree well watered until established. Apply fertiliser each winter.

Read more of Robin’s tips

Community gardening news

The Edible Hub Community Garden in Hurstbridge

They are meeting on Thursday, 27th June, 9.30-10.30am to brainstorm ideas and discuss future plans over a cuppa with like-minded souls.

SEEDs Communal Garden in Brunswick

The Winter Soup Festival on Sunday, 30th June, 11am-6pm at SEEDs Communal Garden in Brunswick will include stalls by locals One Man One Pan (paella), Patient Wolf Gin and The Good Brew Co. (probiotics).

Canterbury Community Garden

Canterbury Community Garden now has its own page on our website. Another lovely looking allotment-based garden, Canterbury was established in 2006. Welcome Jane and Marjory!

‘Crowd harvest’ – winter citrus

Lemon trees are often heavily laden in the middle of winter. Gardeners with excess are invited to give them during the first half of July to one of the not-for profit organisations listed below who will, in turn, provide them to those facing food insecurity. Croydon Hills Baptist Church in Croydon, DIVRS in Preston, Now and Not Yet Cafe in Warrandyte or STREAT in Collingwood.

In Moreland, you can now put food scraps into your green waste bin

From 1st July, Moreland residents can start putting their food scraps into their green waste bins. Free benchtop kitchen caddies are also available. The food and garden waste will be turned into compost and made available to local community groups at no cost.

In Nillumbik (but, I think, nowhere else in North East Melbourne), food scraps have been allowed in green waste bins for a number of years. See Nillumbik Council’s graphic right re rubbish do’s and don’ts and follow this link for more detail.

What veggie seeds to plant in July

Here is a list (see the July planting guide for more detail):
Beetroot
Coriander
Lettuce
Mustard greens
Onion
Peas
Radish

The shortest list of the year.

Not food but interesting – Plastic Free July is about to start

Penny Grose has written in to remind us all that Plastic Free July is about to start.

Did you know that Australians:

Take the Plastic Free July challenge to choose to refuse single-use plastics during July to avoid landfill waste, reduce your eco-footprint and protect the oceans.

Two local upcoming events in the next few days.

Reducing plastic in everyday life: Thursday, 27th June, 10-11.30am; Rosanna Fire Station Community House, 232 Lower Plenty Road, Rosanna.

What: Single use plastics are harmful to people and the environment but giving them up can be hard. Watch an inspiring short film about the impacts of plastic pollution on Port Phillip Bay and workshop alternatives to plastic for a simpler, healthier life. Presented by zero waste advocate Penny Grose from Transition Warringal.
Cost: free.

Proudly plastic free launch event: Sunday, 30th June, midday-2pm; Bargoonga Nganjin North Fitzroy Library, 182 St Georges Road, North Fitzroy.

What: Yarra City Council is starting a community program to get residents and food traders reducing their use of single use plastic packaging. Erin Rhoads, aka The Rogue Ginger, will share useful tips and tricks on how to reduce your plastic usage.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.

Cocoa vs cacao – what is the difference?

This is the subject of an article by the local chocolate maker Organic Times. Spoiler alert: the article says that they are synonyms(!) but it also gives some interesting additional info.

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

Angelo’s article about chop and drop composting.

Proverb of the month

Bread. Meaning: money. This is an example of rhyming slang, which apparently started in Victorian England. The basic construction of a piece of slang involves taking a common word (e.g. money), inventing a phrase which ends in a word which rhymes with that original word (e.g. bread and honey), and then using the first word of that phrase (e.g. bread) to mean the original word (e.g. money).

Here are some other food-related examples:

Slang	Meaning	Intermediary phrase
Apples	Stairs	Apples and pears
Bacon	Mind	Bacon rind
Britney	Beers	Britney Spears
Bread	Money	Bread and honey
Cheese	Wife (missus)	Cheese and kisses
Dog	Phone	Dog and bone
Have a butcher’s	Look	Butcher’s hook
Loaf	Head	Loaf of bread
Mincers	Eyes	Mince pies
Mutton	Deaf	Mutt and Jeff
My old china	Mate	China plate
Oxo	The Tube (London Underground)	Oxo cube
Plates	Feet	Plates of meat
Porkies	Lies	Pork pies
Taters	Cold	Potatoes in the mould
Rabbit	Talk	Rabbit and pork
Raspberry	Fart	Raspberry tart
Rosie	Tea	Rosie Lee
Ruby	Curry	Ruby Murray
Syrup	Wig	Syrup of figs

 
Here is an example sentence, as given in Wikipedia: “It nearly knocked me off me plates – the septic was wearing a syrup! I couldn’t believe me mincers, so I ran up the apples, got straight on the dog to me trouble and we had a Turkish.” meaning “It nearly knocked me off my feet – the Yank was wearing a wig! I couldn’t believe my eyes, so I ran up the stairs, got straight on the phone to my wife and we had a laugh.”

Read more proverbs.

Gardening quote of the month

“Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul.” The Koran.

Read more quotes.

Joke of the week

There are two types of people in this world: people who love chocolate and liars.

Read more jokes.

New events – not cooking

Bee a pollinator!: Monday, 1st July, 10-10.45am; Northcote.

What: In this school holiday workshop, families will be introduced to native bees, pollination and increasing urban biodiversity. Children will make a bee-friendly hotel with natural and recycled materials to take home. 4+ ages recommended. Parents or guardians are to remain at the event.
Cost: $10 per child.
Bookings: TryBooking.

Permaculture Design Course (100 hours): Wednesdays, starting 3rd July, 6-9.30pm; Blackburn.

What: This course has the time to go deeply into the core topics of permaculture. You will also have time to do some practical things as well such as making no dig garden beds, wicking beds, hugelkultur, swale-digging, pickle making, wild food foraging as well as going on many excursions to permaculture farms, communities and businesses. Students will receive a copy of Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture by Rosemary Morrow as well as membership of Permaculture Australia. A shared meal will be part of every class.
Cost: $1,245 ($775 concession). Pay as you feel available for those in need.
Bookings: by phone (0468 418277) or email.

Good gut health presentation: Friday, 19th July, 7-8pm; Surrey Hills.

What: Presenter: Joel Feren, who is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist with a background in biomedical sciences. This presentation will explore the vast eco-system of the gut microbiome and how to establish good gut health. It will also debunk commonly held nutrition myths.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: their website.

Permaculture Design Course with Pete the Permie (12 sessions): starting Thursday, 25th July, 9am-4.30pm; Central Ringwood Community Centre.

What: On 9 Thursdays and 3 Saturdays. Permaculture elder Pete the Permie and his team of tutors will conduct this 80 hour course covering the full PDC. The class will cover such subjects as the principles of permaculture, water, trees, soils, zones, sectors, site design, animals and the many social structures that apply. Students will be able to design a project of their choice to present to the class on the final day. There are no prerequisites for this class. Once you have completed this course successfully, you will be entitled to use ‘permaculture’ in your business name.
Cost: $495.
Bookings: by phone (9870 2602).

Grafting and tree sales day: Sunday, 4th August, 10am-1pm; Pettys Orchard, Templestowe.

What: Learn techniques for grafting or budding fruit trees. Select suitable rootstocks. Have new trees grafted or budded by Heritage Fruits Society members. Buy heritage fruit tree scion wood for home grafting. Buy one-year-old grafted trees. Discuss your fruit tree needs. Their current focus is on apple varieties but they will also have a few stone fruit trees for sale.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.

Supermarket tour: three occurrences – Monday 12th August at 10-11.15am, Monday 19th August at 4-5.15pm and Sunday 1st September at 10-11.15am; Surrey Hills.

What: Presenter: Joel Feren, who is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist with a background in biomedical sciences. Joel will provide you with the skills to read and interpret complex nutritional labels and identify how you can prepare quick and nourishing meals that will allow you to work smarter not harder in the kitchen.
Cost: $30.
Bookings: their website.

Living The Change (film): Thursday, 15th August, 7-8.30pm; Watsonia Library.

What: Living the Change explores solutions to the global crises that we face today – solutions that any one of us can be part of – through the inspiring stories of people pioneering change in their own lives and in their communities in order to live in a sustainable and regenerative way. Directors Jordan Osmond and Antoinette Wilson have brought together stories from their travels, along with interviews with experts able to explain how we come to be where we are today. From forest gardens to composting toilets, community supported agriculture to timebanking, Living the Change offers ways we can re-think our approach to how we live. This is a waste free event. Please bring your own cup/mug to enjoy a tea/coffee. They will be collecting donations (no pressure) on arrival to go towards future sustainability projects in the local community (organised by Transition Warringal).
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.

Growing fruit and veggies in small spaces: Saturday, 24th August, 9.30am-12.30pm; Bulleen Art and Garden.

What: What you will learn: which produce plants are suitable to grow in small areas; coping with shade and sun for produce growing; and how to make the most of any available space for growing produce. Presented by Angelo Eliades. Do you only have a small garden or no garden at all? Would you still like to grow your own food? This class will inspire you to get started. Topics will include fruit, vegetables and berries for small spaces, growing produce in pots and containers, maximising productivity in any size space and plant selection.
Cost: $50.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.

Healthy productive compost and worms: Saturday, 25th August, 9.30am-12.30pm; Bulleen Art and Garden.

What: What you will learn: the importance of compost for soil health; how to fix common composting problems; and setting up and looking after a worm farm. Presented by Diana Cotter. Learn how to make great compost, the essential ingredient for a thriving and healthy garden. Look at worm farms and Bokashi as other options. They will also show you how to make a DIY worm farm using recycled products.
Cost: $50.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.

New events – cooking

Kids cooking class: Thursday, 4th July, 10am-1pm; Hurstbridge.

What: Kids will make and then eat their own three course Italian meal: bruschetta; spaghetti & meatballs; and donuts.
Cost: $50.
Bookings: by phone (1300 468262).

Indian cooking and spices workshop: Friday, 2nd August, 6-8pm; Surrey Hills.

What: This workshop will demonstrate how to use commonly used spices in Indian cooking. You will also taste the dishes at the end of the workshop.
Cost: $70.
Bookings: their website.

Fermented foods – kombucha workshop: Friday, 9th August, 6-8pm; Surrey Hills.

What: You will learn how to make kombucha. Presenter: Dr Shakuntla Gondalia, who is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow from Swinburne University where she has been leading research into gut microbiota and its benefits in improving overall health and cognitive performance.
Cost: $70.
Bookings: their website.

Taste of the East cooking demonstration: Tuesday, 13th August, 1-3pm; Ringwood North.

What: 3 menus from 3 different parts of Asia: Malaysian cucur udang; pad Thai; and Filipino dessert ‘ginataan’.
Cost: $20.
Bookings: just turn up.

Sausage making workshop: Friday, 16th August, 5.30-7pm; Kitchen Warehouse, Preston.

What: Italian, German, Polish, Hungarian – so many European cuisines have their own take on the humble sausage. Discover the secrets behind making the best-tasting gourmet sausages with the right ingredient ratio, casing and flavour combos.
Cost: $30.
Bookings: their website.

Fermented foods – sauerkraut workshop: Friday, 23rd August, 6-8pm; Surrey Hills.

What: You will learn how to make sauerkraut. Presenter: Dr Shakuntla Gondalia, who is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow from Swinburne University where she has been leading research into gut microbiota and its benefits in improving overall health and cognitive performance.
Cost: $70.
Bookings: their website.

Tapas – taste of Spain: Saturday, 24th August, 10-11.30am; Kitchen Warehouse, Box Hill South.

What: Learn how to prepare and perfect the flavours of a variety of Spanish tapas, from the traditional to the modern.
Cost: $30.
Bookings: their website.

Basic knead – beginners to bread: Saturday, 24th August, 10-11.30am; Kitchen Warehouse, Preston.

What: They will show you basic bread recipes as well as the ingredients, tools, techniques, and tips needed to make a beautiful golden loaf.
Cost: $25.
Bookings: their website.

Seafood paella: Saturday, 24th August, midday-2pm; Kitchen Warehouse, Box Hill South.

What: Learn to develop Spanish paella using traditional ingredients and equipment straight from the experts at this workshop. Get to know the history of Spain’s most iconic dish and its place in Spanish culture while you indulge your senses in its flavours and aroma.
Cost: $30.
Bookings: their website.

Vegan brunch cooking class: Sunday, 25th August, 11am-3pm; Smiths Gully.

What: Learn how to create healthy, practical, everyday vegan dishes that look as good as they taste. It will include such dishes as plant-based milks, creamy lemon dream porridge, waffles, pancakes, scrambled tofu, chia puddings and smoothie bowls.
Cost: $100 (includes brunch).
Bookings: their website.

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.