Your Autumn plantings (continued)
Helen’s article for April is on how to grow a) broad beans and b) Chinese cabbage. It complements her article from last month on brassicas and leafy greens, as well as her earlier article on how to grow garlic.
Broad beans, Chinese cabbage and garlic are all relatively easy crops to grow so, if you have never grown them before, now might be a good time to start. Read the article.
A new food swap at Mooroolbark
2nd Saturday of the month, 10-11.30am. Red Earth Community Park, Brice Avenue, Mooroolbark, 3138. For more info, contact Claire by email or phone (0425 700280).
That makes a total of 19(!) currently active food swaps in North East Melbourne. Have a look at our food swap page for the complete list, including where, when and contact details. Alternatively, see the same information in a different format in our calendar
New events
Fruit tree pruning workshop
What: Learn to prune apples, pears, plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines and a host of other fruit trees plus theory on the best time to prune depending on what size you want your trees to be. Afternoon tea provided.
When: Saturday, 16th April, 1-5pm.
Where: Macleod.
Cost: $15.
Enquiries/Bookings: Robin by email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Wicking bed workshop
What: The workshop will give you hands-on experience of building a wicking bed. It will include theory as well as practical experience and tips. It will be led by Paul Gale-Baker, member of Sustainable Macleod. Please bring lunch to share. Morning and afternoon tea provided. Not sure what a wicking bed is? It has a reservoir of water below the plants so that the roots receive consistent moisture. It uses 50% less water than the equivalent raised garden bed.
When: Saturday, 30th April, 9.30am-5pm.
Where: Macleod.
Cost: $15.
Enquiries/Bookings: Robin by email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Living longer the Mediterranean way
What: Mary Valle teaches Mediterranean-style cooking and consults to a cafe, assisting in creating menus, recipes and new dishes. Her style of cooking is seasonal, simple, healthy and delicious. She is the author of the cookery book My Greek Kitchen and contributes to magazines regularly. Mary will talk about her work and her cookbooks, with her latest being Everyday Mediterranean Cooking: food, life and living longer the Mediterranean way with healthy oil.
When: Thursday, 5th May, 2-3pm.
Where: Balwyn.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Bees, beekeeping and a bee-friendly garden
What: Bernie Heinze has been a beekeeper for fifty years and is the chairman of the Melbourne sector of the Victorian Apiarists’ Association. Bernie will answer your questions about bees and beekeeping. He will also talk about native plants and other strategies for maintaining a bee-friendly garden. Bookings preferred. Refreshments provided.
When: Saturday, 28th May, 1.30-2.30pm.
Where: Lilydale.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Lilydale Library by phone (9800 6457).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Summary of upcoming events
Over the next week
- 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.
Over the next month
- 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.
- Backyard chooks for beginners: Wednesday, 13th April, 10am-midday.
- 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.
- Setting up and maintaining a worm farm: Friday, 15th April, 3-5pm.
- Fruit tree pruning workshop: Saturday, 16th April, 1-5pm.
- Sustainable home-grown garlic: Saturday, 16th April, 2-3.30pm.
- Beekeeping taster: Sunday, 17th April, 10am-12.30pm.
- Introduction to horticulture – 9 session course: Monday, 18th April, 9.30am-3pm.
- Artisan pasta: fettuccini and ravioli: Wednesday, 20th April, 10am-1pm.
- Heide’s kitchen garden: Thursday, 21st April, 11am-midday.
- Italian cooking workshop: Thursday, 21st April, 10am-1pm.
- Permablitz 179 (Doncaster).: Saturday, 23rd April, 9am-4.30pm.
- Soil matters: Saturday, 23rd April, 2-4.30pm.
- Rejuvenate your soils after a hot summer: Wednesday, 27th April, 7-9pm.
- Wicking bed workshop: Saturday, 30th April, 9.30am-5pm.
- Sourdough bread making workshop: Saturday, 30th April, 10am-1pm.
- Preserving olives (Alphington): Sunday, 1st May, 9.30am-midday.