The Wonga Park, Eltham, Manningham and St Andrews food swaps
The Wonga Park food swap on Sunday, 20th March will not be taking place. Nor will the Eltham food swap on Sunday, 27th March.
Following discussions, we have starting including the Manningham food and seed swap in our calendar. It takes place in the evening of the last Wednesday of each month and is followed by a presentation of some kind. The next swap is on Wednesday, 30th March.
There will be a food swap at St Andrews on Sunday, 20th March.
Why don’t you ‘advertise’ in this newsletter?
We’ve decided to try and track what happens when people submit something to this newsletter along the lines of “does anyone want …?” On 2nd March, Sophie Miller wrote in looking for a new home for her ducks. She has now written in again to say that two newsletter readers have come and picked up four ducks each. “They promised that they would have good homes and we could visit them if we wanted! One place even has a pig to protect them.”
So, this newsletter is effective in helping you find a good home for things (admittedly from a sample thus far of only one!). And, of course, it is free. Why don’t you submit something?
New events
Free Easter egg hunts
What: Free Easter egg hunts will take place Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday at 10am, 11am, 12 noon, 2pm and 4pm. Yarra Valley Chocolaterie’s Easter Bunnies will help kids aged 12 and under search for a golden token to then claim their complimentary Easter egg. No bookings required.
When: Friday, 25th March, Saturday, 26th March and Sunday, 27th March.
Where: Yarra Glen.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery by phone (9730 2777) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Mooroolbark growers & weeders present: “bee-keeping for the beginner”
What: Learn the basics of keeping bees in your backyard with William Orange, a member of the Victorian Apiarists’ Association. The benefits of keeping bees are pollination, home-grown honey and increasing the number of bees in our environment. Without bees, many plants and fruits would not exist. Come along and ‘bee’ inspired, and ‘maybee’ motivated to join a beekeepers’ club, where you can enjoy the support, wisdom & experience of other beekeepers – not forgetting the opportunity to taste pure honey. Bookings essential. Tea and coffee provided.
When: Tuesday, 10th May, 2-3pm.
Where: Mooroolbark.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Mooroolbark Library by phone (9800 6480).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Keeping chickens in a suburban backyard
What: Chickens make great pets. They roam the garden and assist with maintenance of weeds and bugs, eat all the leftovers, make wonderful composters, and provide you with fresh eggs for breakfast. Learn how to keep and maintain chickens in a suburban backyard with Maria Ciavarella from My Green Garden.
When: Wednesday, 11th May, 7-9pm.
Where: Doncaster.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Manningham Council by phone (9846 0575).
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Olive magic – preserving olives
What: Olives straight from a tree are inedibly bitter and must be cured and then pickled somehow to make them edible. In this workshop, they will cover several different techniques to cure olives, each with a different waiting – or curing – period. In order to fully experience the stages of the processes, some olives will have been partially cured before the class for you to continue the process; as well as taking home fresh olives for you to start from scratch. Tastings will be available so that you can decide which style is your preferred. They will use both black and green olives. If you grow olives, bring along some samples so that they can suggest some ways to cure them.
When: Thursday, 19th May, 10am-1pm.
Where: Donvale.
Cost: $50.
Enquiries: Maria Ciavarella by phone (0424 083057) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Waste free, smarter living
What: Tamara DiMattina is the founder of the Buy Nothing New Month and the New Joneses campaigns. Influenced by her travels to Antarctica and Mumbai, India, Tamara has become an advocate for waste free, smarter living. Do more with less, think where stuff comes from and where it goes, maximise resources and minimise waste.
When: Wednesday, 25th May, 7-9pm.
Where: Nunawading.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Manningham Council by phone (9846 0575).
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Summary of upcoming events
Over the next week
- Decorating Easter treats – demonstration: Thursday, 17th March, 10.30-11.30am.
- Good food stories: Thursday, 17th March, 6-8pm.
- The great Italian passata cooking class: Friday, 18th March, 1-3.30pm.
- The great Italian passata community picnic: Friday, 18th March, 6.30-7.30pm.
- Introduction to horticulture – 9 session course: Saturday, 19th March, 9.30am-3pm.
- Herb and chilli festival: Saturday, 19th March, 10am-5pm.
- Soil matters: Saturday, 19th March, 2-4.30pm.
- Herb and chilli festival: Sunday, 20th March, 10am-5pm.
- Backyard chooks for beginners: Monday, 21st March, 10am-midday.
- Vietnamese cooking and costume show: Monday, 21st March, 10.30-11.30am.
- Montrose gardeners present “plant swap, chat & make”: Monday, 21st March, 10.30-11.30am.
- Preserves and relishes: Monday, 21st March, 11am-midday.
- Just4kids Easter egg decorating: Monday, 21st March, 4-5pm.
- Heal your gut: Tuesday, 22nd March, 7-8pm.
- Heide’s kitchen garden: Wednesday, 23rd March, 11am-midday.
- Creating sumptuous raw food & juices: Wednesday, 23rd March, 6.30-7.30pm.
Over the next month
- Free Easter egg hunts: Friday, 25th March, 10am-4pm.
- Free Easter egg hunts: Saturday, 26th March, 10am-4pm.
- Free Easter egg hunts: Sunday, 27th March, 10am-4pm.
- Unusual fruits to grow in Manningham: Wednesday, 30th March, 7-9pm.
- Heide’s kitchen garden: Thursday, 31st March, 11am-midday.
- Artisan pasta: fettuccini and ravioli: Sunday, 3rd April, 10am-1pm.
- Beekeeping – a taster: Sunday, 3rd April, 2-4pm.
- How to make sense of food labels: Monday, 4th April, 9.30-11am.
- Sue Evans on healing herbs of the 1st Fleet: Tuesday, 5th April, 7.15-9.15pm.
- Under the Pickle Tree – talk and tasting: Friday, 8th April, 11am-midday.
- Yarra Valley Beer & Cider Festival: Saturday, 9th April, 11am-5pm.
- Heritage apple tasting: Sunday, 10th April, 5-7pm.
- Cool season vegetables: Thursday, 14th April, 11am-midday.
- Health, wealthy & wise: making food fun: Thursday, 14th April, 4-5pm.
- Herbs for health: Thursday, 14th April, 7-8pm.
- Sustainable home-grown garlic: Saturday, 16th April, 2-3.30pm.
- Beekeeping taster: Sunday, 17th April, 10am-12.30pm.