LFC News March 21 2018

Mar 212018
 

Greta visits the garden of Jonathan Warren

Greta Gilles and Stevie Chy have visited the garden of Jonathan Warren, from Heidelberg Heights. Here is an extract from the write up: “As a chef, I like to try to grow things that perhaps wouldn’t be normally found in your standard veggie patch. I like to know how the food I cook grows. As much as possible, I try to plant edibles, or medicinal herbs and plants, and have tried growing chickpeas, sesame seeds, ginger and galangal because they add a point of difference and curiosity to my own cooking. It would be good to grow a curry – including all the herbs and spices!” Read the full write up.

Mac’s tip of the week

Last weekend was actually not quite as hot as was forecast but there still hasn’t been any real rain so continue to holding off on autumn planting.

It’s a good time to check your citrus trees and cut out any wasp gall before the autumn growth spurt.

Read all of Mac’s tips.

Really Really Free Market Preston

After a short hiatus, the Really Really Free Market Preston has re-started. It’s still on the last Sunday of each month but now at a new location: J.S. Grey reserve, corner of Regent Street and Gilbert Road, Preston.

As its name suggests, everything is completely free – no donation options or anything. It’s a community gathering where participants give away usable items, skills, food, entertainment, games and many others things that a community can come together and share. The market is a 100% free and non-commercial event (no bartering or advertising). It includes movie screenings, bowen therapy, clothes repair (sewing, etc), jewellery repair, bike repair, arts space, mosaic, music, clothes, bric-a-brac, yoga, veggie seedlings, zines, food, ‘class-less room’ and haircuts.

SecondBite

Having a spare evening last week, I decided to spend it reading the past newsletters. To my surprise, I noticed that I had never mentioned SecondBite. So, here goes.

SecondBite is a major Australia-wide organisation, headquartered in Heidelberg West, which “exists to provide access to fresh, nutritious food for people in need across Australia. We do this by stopping good food from going to waste. We rescue edible, nutritious food that was heading for landfill and give it to people in need, free of charge.” What they actually do is to make the food available to local agencies, such as Diamond Valley FoodShare, who then distribute it to individuals. Much of their food comes from Coles, and the majority of it is fresh fruit and vegetables, but some comes directly from farms such as Just Picked (based in Yan Yean).

Read about other local and Melbourne-wide food justice organisations.

Community gardening news

A new community garden in Coburg is being developed at Robinson Reserve and construction of the initial 6 raised garden beds has begun. If you are interested in being involved, email them.

A new mural has been painted at SEEDs Communal Garden in Brunswick.

‘Crowd harvest’ – tomatoes for Easter

At this time of year, gardeners everywhere often have more tomatoes than they can sensibly consume. Gardeners with excess tomatoes are invited to give them to one of the not-for profit organisations listed below, each of will preserve the tomatoes as passata, chutney or sundried and then distribute through their food relief programs. DIVRS in Preston or STREAT in Collingwood. The initiative is running from 19th March to 1st April. Any questions, contact Cath Lyons (aka Tiny Trowel) by phone (0401 814679) or email.

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

Duang’s house on RealEstate.com.au

Joke of the week

As seen at White Night, Ballarat: Why don’t eggs tell jokes? Because they’d crack each other up!

They also used two of the jokes from our previous newsletters: Why did the tomato blush? Because it saw the salad dressing. and What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? Nachos cheese.

Read all the jokes.

New events

CERES Harvest Festival

What: An annual event to celebrate food, farmers, the good earth and the cycle of the seasons. Food stalls, giant veg competition, face-painting, kids’ activities, music and local artisans. More specifically: farm tours; urban beekeeping; workshops and demos; all about seed saving; mandala making; Ethiopian coffee ceremony; Timor permaculturalist Q&A; jam making; kite flying; circus skills; Asylum Seeker Resource Centre food drive; batik making; eco house tour; seed planting & pot making for kids; Aozora Shokudo: traditional Japanese dancing; and henna painting.
When: Saturday, 24th March, 10am-3pm.
Where: CERES.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Meet the producers market

What: The stallholders will include: Australian Harvest / Bio Grape (from Coldstream); Coldstream Dairy; Cunliffe & Waters (from Coldstream); La Villa Salumi (from Kilsyth); Spice Fusion (from Ringwood); and Yarra Valley Gourmet Foods (from Mt Evelyn).
When: Sunday, 25th March, 10am-5pm.
Where: Ringwood Town Square.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Ringwood Highland Games

What: Ringwood Highland Games is a traditional Highland games, with pipe bands, highland dancers and heavy games combined with Celtic activities such as folk singers, sound healing, story telling, and clan history talks. Includes whisky tastings and haggis treats.
When: Sunday, 25th March, 10am-5pm.
Where: East Ringwood Sports Ground.
Cost: $15.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

David Moyle in conversation

What: Richard Cornish will host David Moyle in conversation, discussing all things food and wine, as well as David’s latest project Longsong, and his Hobart eatery Franklin.
When: Sunday, 25th March, 1-2pm.
Where: Ringwood Town Square.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Shane Delia – Middle Eastern inspiration

What: Richard Cornish will chef and owner of restaurants Maha and Biggie Smalls, Shane Delia, in conversation.
When: Sunday, 25th March, 4-5pm.
Where: Ringwood Town Square.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Food, health and sustainability seminar

What: From the affordability of Victorian Farmers Markets to the future needs of our food supply in Nillumbik, this seminar presents an opportunity to learn more about the intersection between food, health and sustainability in Nillumbik and beyond. Supported by local public health professionals, the seminar will feature Monash University Master of Dietetics student presentations, followed by an interactive panel discussion, followed by networking and nibbles.
When: Tuesday, 27th March, 7-8pm.
Where: healthAbility, Eltham.
Cost: free.
Bookings: contact Dana Thomson by phone (9430 9169) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Heritage apple tasting

What: Sample the seasonal flavours of the heritage apple collection at an apple tasting afternoon at 5pm. Around 15 varieties will be available for tasting, with limited quantities available for purchase. An orchard tour is included. All funds received go toward the maintenance and expansion of the collection.
When: Sunday, 22nd April, 5-7pm.
Where: Petty’s Orchard, Templestowe.
Cost: $15.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Olive magic – preserving olives

What: What you will learn: how to transform the raw olive into something deliciously edible; how to cure and pickle olives using a variety of different Mediterranean techniques; and how to cure olives to have them ready for an antipasto platter in less than a fortnight. What you will get: jars of olives ready to continue the pickling process at home; samples of olives that have been prepared ready to dress and eat; and recipes for the techniques covered in the workshop. Olives straight from a tree are inedibly bitter and must be cured and then pickled somehow to make them edible. In this workshop, you 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 you can decide which style is your preferred.
When: Saturday, 28th April, 9.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Donvale.
Cost: $90.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Home composting and worm farming

What: Maria Ciavarella, from My Green Garden, will show you how to set up a worm farm and the its environmental benefits.
When: Thursday, 10th May, 10.30am-midday.
Where: Thomastown Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Worm farming

What: Join Felicity Gordon as she shows you how to set up and maintain a worm farm to get the best results.
When: Tuesday, 15th May, 11.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Diamond Valley Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Turkish cooking

What: Led by Arzu Yilmaz. Four different dishes (three vegan, one vegetarian). Enjoy Turkish music, a feast at the end, and Turkish tea/coffee in special pots. Hands-on and demonstration.
When: Saturday, 19th May, 10am-midday.
Where: Span Community House, Thornbury.
Cost: $72.
Bookings: by phone (9480 1364) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Introduction to permaculture (two sessions)

What: Developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, permaculture (permanent agriculture) is a whole system approach to ecological planning and design for sustainable living. This workshop, spread over two weekends, will be beneficial to both those new to the concept of permaculture and for those thinking of undertaking a permaculture design course. You will be introduced to permaculture and gain a basic understanding of the principles and design methods associated with permaculture.
When: Saturday, 19th May and Sunday, 20th May, both 10am-4pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: $120 for the two days.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week
Over the next month

View the complete calendar of upcoming events.

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