Local food-related events
Wicking bed workshop
Tuesday, May 20, at Diamond Valley Library, 11:30am -12:30pm. Kat Irwin will demonstrate how to set up the wicking beds with help from participants. The Diamond Creek Men’s Shed folks have already been preparing the boxes.
Gardening and permaculture talk
This Sunday, May 18, 2-4pm at Drew and Angie’s place in Wattle Glen.
This is an Eltham POD event, so please contact Meredith on 9439 8750 or 0438 398750 for more details if you wish to attend.
Supporting our farmers
I heard an interesting story recently of a local lady who lives next door to a vegetable farmer. The lady buys the farmer’s produce from the organic store in town. When asked by the shopkeeper why she didn’t just visit her neighbour and buy direct from him, she said “I know he would insist on me taking the veggies for free. This way, he is getting a fair price for his produce and hence an income with which to maintain his farm, buy new equipment, etc”.
Another of our local farmers has begun a scheme whereby a group of farmers local to her are donating a small amount of produce each week to a box scheme to help a small number of families going through hard times. This same farmer is working with other parents at her daughter’s secondary school to convert the canteen to only supplying organic food to the students.
Other food activities/information
Food Alliance celebration
Thursday, June 5, 2014 from 5:00pm to 7:30pm, Drill Hall, 26 Therry Street, Melbourne.
The Food Alliance invites you to join them in celebrating a year of exciting food initiatives that they and others have undertaken in Victoria. The night will feature some lightning talks from their partners as well as drinks, nibbles and networking. The talks will be followed by plenty of time to meet and share with one another other inspiring food related activity that is happening. They welcome you to bring along posters, flyers or any information you would want to share with others, to put on display. Please register quickly so you don’t miss out. Should you have any questions about the evening, please contact Kathy McConell on 0403 010677.
Free Trade Deal with Japan
As you may be aware, Australia has signed a ‘free trade deal’ with Japan. The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance argues: “As Japan is a net importer of food, the trade barriers and tariffs that Japan has in place are there to protect her own farmers and food sovereignty. If trade is meant to be mutually beneficial, how does the reduction in tariffs benefit Japanese farmers? It doesn’t. A very small minority of Australian farmers might benefit from this trade agreement, but the bulk of Japanese farmers will suffer. There is no mutuality or reciprocity in this trade agreement, other than the vague and untested assertion that ‘consumers will benefit’.”