LFC News May 9 2018

May 092018
 

Do you know of any olive trees?

On the 16th and 17th of June, 3000acres are teaming up with Barfold Olives and the community for an olive harvesting and pressing extravaganza. There are so many olive trees in streets, backyards and gardens around Melbourne that just aren’t getting the love that they deserve – 3000acres want to change that. To make the most of this opportunity, they want to gather as many olives as possible to press into locally-produced olive oil for the community to enjoy. If you have a tree that is producing more olives than you can brine, or if you know of any olive trees in community gardens, streets, wherever, 3000 acres wants to hear from you. Contact them via either email or their online registration page. Read more on their Facebook event page.

Alphington Farmers’ Market

I went to the first of the weekly Alphington Farmers’ Markets last Sunday. Compact site. 35 stallholders. Gold coin donation. I renewed my acquaintance with Harper & Blohm’s wonderful melted raclette on steamed potatoes.

The Community Grocer Mernda

The Community Grocer Mernda have just released a video. They are a not-for-profit fresh fruit and vegetable market stall that takes place every Thursday, 9am-midday, during school terms.

The annual Feed Melbourne appeal

The annual Feed Melbourne appeal has now started. Read about it in the picture right. There are four ways to donate:

  • Via the Feed Melbourne Appeal website.
  • By phone (9428 0044), Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, using your credit card.
  • At the checkout at Woolworths stores.
  • By cheque (Feed Melbourne Appeal, FareShare Foundation, 1-7 South Audley Street, Abbotsford, 3067).

New free range egg labelling laws

New free range egg laws have just come into effect. From now on, eggs labelled free range must come from chooks that: have regular and meaningful access to an outdoor range; are able to roam and forage on an outdoor range; and are subject to a maximum stocking density of 10,000 hens per hectare. The bad news is that hens with a stocking density of 10,000 per hectare can be described as ‘free range’. The good news, however, is that the new rules require eggs labelled ‘free range’ to display the stocking density on pack, so you can easily distinguish eggs that come from hens with lots of room to move from those that don’t. Received wisdom is that you should be looking for a stocking density of 1,500 hens per hectare or less.

New kilojoule labelling laws

Dana Thomson, Health Promotion at healthAbility, has written in to say that new kilojoule labelling laws came into force at the start of May. The Department of Health and Human Services has also launched a complementary consumer education campaign entitled Kilojoules on the menu: check before you choose. Find out more by reading the picture right or by going to the Better Health website.

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

It was a close run thing, but in the end the most popular link was the picture of the naked female gardeners, with the naked male gardeners relegated to second place.

Joke of the week

How much does a pirate pay for corn? A buccaneer!

Read all the jokes.

New events

Big Vegan Market

What: Shop from the huge variety of 100% vegan products, with more than 200 stalls. The stallholders will include AVS Organic Foods (Watsonia North), Billy van Creamy (Fitzroy North), Curry Favour (Hawthorn), and PoppySmack (Warrandyte).
When: Saturday, 12th May and Sunday, 13th May, both 10am-6pm.
Where: Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton.
Cost: $2.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Food know how sustainability sessions – food gardens in small spaces

What: The average household in Australia throws away $2,000 worth of food every year. That means that one out of five bags of shopping that is purchased is never eaten. Join Karen Sutherland, from Edible Eden Design, to learn how to create a food garden in small spaces.
When: Monday, 14th May, midday-1pm.
Where: North Fitzroy Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Miso cooking

What: Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji (the fungus Aspergillus oryzae). This is a class for people who have no idea what to do with miso. You will make several miso dishes together as well as learning the benefits of having miso daily.
When: 4 times on: Friday, 18th May, and Saturday, 23rd June, each both 10am-12.30pm and 2-4.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $80.
Bookings: by email (hello.cookingwithkoji@gmail.com). In your message, please include your name, contact number, email, requested date and time.
Further information: their website.

Ramadan Iftar dinner

What: Break the fast together and learn more about Victoria’s diverse cultural and faith traditions. Buffet halal meal at sundown (vegetarian options also provided).
When: Friday, 18th May, starting 4.45pm.
Where: Heidelberg West.
Cost: free.
Bookings: TryBooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

How to grow bananas in Brunswick

What: Banana grower, Siffa, will lead you into the art of growing bananas in a cold climate as you help plant out a banana orchard. Siffa has grown bananas his whole life in Tonga and, when he moved to Melbourne, he started growing them in Edinburgh Castle car park.
When: Saturday, 19th May, 10-11am.
Where: Joe’s Market Garden, Coburg.
Cost: $10.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Minimising food waste workshop

What: Learn about how to reduce your household food waste. Learn skills and ideas around menu and pantry planning, how to get the most of the food you purchase, and what to do with leftovers and kitchen scraps. Facilitated by Lisa Moore.
When: Saturday, 19th May, 10am-midday.
Where: Murundaka, Heidelberg Heights.
Cost: $5.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Miso paste making

What: Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji (the fungus Aspergillus oryzae). You will make your own miso paste using all Australian organic ingredients and following traditional Japanese methods. It will be a fun, hands-on workshop which even kids can enjoy. You will take home around 1kg of miso to ferment.
When: 8 times on: Saturday, 19th May, Saturday, 26th May, Friday, 15th June, and Saturday, 16th June, each both 10am-12.30pm and 2-4.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $80.
Bookings: by email (hello.cookingwithkoji@gmail.com). In your message, please include your name, contact number, email, requested date and time.
Further information: their website.

Nuka duke – rice bran pickling

What: Nuka duke is a famous Japanese fermented pickling using rice bran. In this workshop, you will make your own Nuka bedding so that you can keep pickling at home (for years and years!) and share the knowledge how to maintain it.
When: 4 times on: Sunday, 20th May and Friday, 22nd June, each both 10am-midday and 2-4pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $80.
Bookings: by email (hello.cookingwithkoji@gmail.com). In your message, please include your name, contact number, email, requested date and time.
Further information: their website.

Shio koji making and cooking

What: Shio koji is a Japanese fermented seasoning made with rice koji (cooked rice that has been inoculated with the fungus Aspergillus oryzae). It is called ‘miracle seasoning’. You will make your own shio koji and also prepare some more to ferment at home. You will also cook some dishes using shio koji.
When: 4 times on: Friday, 25th May and Saturday, 30th June, each both 10am-12.30pm and 2-4.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Cost: $80.
Bookings: by email (hello.cookingwithkoji@gmail.com). In your message, please include your name, contact number, email, requested date and time.
Further information: their website.

Composting 101 with Audrey

What: Audrey will be delving deep into the world of compost, looking at how we can use our kitchen and garden waste and other easily found organic materials to make hot compost that kills weed seeds and can transform a pile of ‘waste’ into nutrient-rich compost thriving with biological life to enrich our soils, in as little as a month. By balancing your materials just right, you can encourage the fast decomposition of our wastes and provide the best possible habitat for the microbes that make all the magic happen. During the workshop, you will be making a hot compost pile from scratch while discussing the theory and practice behind different composting methods.
When: Saturday, 26th May, 10-11am.
Where: Joe’s Market Garden, Coburg.
Cost: $15.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Mexican spice for beginners

What: Ana and Gaby are Mexican Aussies with a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience in cooking Mexican dishes. This workshop will cover Mexican pickles (with or without chilies), 2 salsas and guacamole. Enjoy and learn more as part of a discussion on Mexican food culture, chilies and eating customs.
When: Saturday, 26th May, 10am-12.30pm.
Where: Living & Learning, Panton Hill.
Cost: $63.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Melbourne Italian Wine & Food Festival

What: Journey through Italy with 200 wines to taste, meet winemakers and importers, or attend an Italian wine masterclass. Feast on pizza, pasta and Italian snacks, while Melbourne’s top Italian chefs share their joy for cooking on the main stage. Taste your way through the Italian market, sip on an Italian cocktail from the Negroni Bar and relax in the festival wine gardens. The festival is all about celebrating wine, food and culture together in Italian style.
When: Sunday, 27th May, 10am-6.30pm.
Where: Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton.
Cost: various.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Cooking master class

What: Enjoy 3 tasting size courses cooked by chef Bek McMillan, from Gourmet Living, who will demonstrate step by step. All recipes are included. Menu: Indian dhal soup; Moroccan chicken; and banana & coconut tart.
When: Thursday, 31st May, 7-9pm.
Where: Gourmet Living, Templestowe.
Cost: $42.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Winter fruit tree maintenance

What: What you will learn: pruning – formative and maintenance of new and established fruit trees; selection and planting of new fruit trees; winter fruit tree maintenance practices for pest and disease prevention, control and treatment; and pruning tool maintenance. Presented by Angelo Eliades. The aim of this demonstration class is that you will leave it feeling confident to maintain your fruit trees. Learn all of the pruning techniques and needs of individual fruit trees from apples and plums to persimmons and pomegranates. And hear about what not to do. Discover how to reduce and prevent pest and diseases that compromise your fruit production. Learn how to treat problems with different methods – organic/permaculture and conventional. They will also cover buying new fruit trees and will demonstrate how to clean and sharpen your pruning tools and other edged garden tools (spades etc). You have the option to bring one of your own pruning tools along and learn how to sharpen it.
When: Saturday, 2nd June, 9.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Bulleen Art and Garden.
Cost: $45.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

DIY water-wise wicking beds

What: Wicking beds are a ‘fail safe’, low maintenance, water saving garden bed. Not only practical and sustainable, they can be used as a great teaching and learning tool. Join Richard Rowe from Worm Lovers for this practical workshop where you will help set up and plant a wicking bed in front of the Camberwell Library. Learn all about wicking beds, how they work, the best materials to use and how to make your own.
When: Sunday, 9th June, 10am-midday.
Where: Camberwell Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: WeTeachMe.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Food know how sustainability sessions – Winter warming soups

What: The average household in Australia throws away $2,000 worth of food every year. That means that one out of five bags of shopping that is purchased is never eaten. Join Gaby and Jen from Plan Buy Cook to learn how to make tasty winter warming soups that won’t break the budget or produce food waste.
When: Monday, 18th June, midday-1pm.
Where: North Fitzroy Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: EventBrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Backyard chickens

What: Always wanted to have your own chickens for pets or to enjoy your own fresh eggs? Join Maria McCarter from Sunset Valley Chicks and learn all about how to keep chicks in your very own backyard.
When: Tuesday, 19th June, 11.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Diamond Valley Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Authentic Indian cooking

What: Each region of India has its own style of cooking and distinct flavours: the north is known for its tandoori and korma dishes; the south is famous for hot and spicy foods; the east specialises in chilli curries; the west uses coconut and seafood; and the central part of india is a blend of all. Join cook, Anitha, as she blends spices and ingredients to prepare authentic Indian dishes.
When: Tuesday, 19th June, 7-8.30pm.
Where: Hawthorn Community House.
Cost: $20.
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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