Local food-related events
Tomato seedlings for sale
Stephen has about 80 potted tomato plants for sale (around 20-25 of each variety). They are about 30-12 cm tall and are available now. He will put them on tables in the car park area. Please help yourself to the plants and leave the money in the security box provided. Price: $2.00 each pot. Varieties:
- Kotlas – red, very early, good for cool climates.
- Big Yellow – large yellow, long season, low acid.
- Italian Plum – large flat slicing tomato, excellent flavour.
- Pixie – medium red fruit on compact plant, no staking required.
Stephen Onians, 9438 6702, 0433 647920, 220 Ironbark Road Yarrambat Melways map 184 J 11.
Fair Food Week, October 10-19
Some activities at Eltham Farmers’ Market this Sunday:
- Nicole Jones, dietician from Nillumbik Health will answer questions and bust some common myths.
- There will be an inaugural Nillumbik Health Cooking Challenge.
- Local cook, Michelle Hegarty from Home Grown Catering, will show us how to cook a simple healthy meal from produce sold at the market.
Special LFC Event – State Election Q & A
Wednesday Oct 22, 7pm, The Common, corner Pryor Street and Commercial Place, Eltham.
With the State election due, it is timely to bring our concerns about a local food economy and food security issues in general, to the local candidates. Steve Briffa, Leizl Shnookal and Vicki Ward will talk about their perspectives on local food and attendees will have a chance to ask questions. Commencing at 7pm, you will be provided with The Common’s homemade dips and canapes at a cost of $20 per head.
Gardening with Somalis in Heidelberg
The LFC team has been talking with the Somali community in Heidelberg West about some gardening opportunities.These projects may include assisting community members to establish food gardens in their homes, in a community garden or in planter boxes in community spaces. These ideas are exciting in terms of the potential they have to enrich the lives of the Somali women who would like to grow food as well as the cross cultural understandings they will encourage. If you are interested in joining this project please email Chris with your name and contact details.
Edible garden tour
We are planning a small local tour of three gardens in Greensborough and Diamond Creek on November 8. If interested, put the date in your diary and we will announce the details soon.
Small steps to a clean world
Subtitled ‘Food waste disposal, recycling and composting’ this small booklet was recently launched by the Olympic Education Centre in Heidelberg West. For more information, please contact Kathleen at kcranage53@hotmail.com.
Thrive Community Garden, Diamond Creek
Members of Thrive have taken possession of the land at 31 Watkins Street and plan to turn it into a community garden. The next working bee will be on Sunday October 26 at 10am and work will continue on building bays and brewing compost. For more information, email info@thrivecommunitygarden.org or seek out the Thrive stand at Practically Green Festival, Sunday October 19.
Cooking workshops
Over July and August, Carol ran a series of cooking workshops for men who had recently been bereaved. Over several weekly meetings at a fully equipped church kitchen in South Morang, the gentleman learned to cook simple but nourishing 3 course meals. After the cooking sessions they all sat down and enjoyed the food and even had leftover to take some home. It was such a success that the course is continuing later this year. Warm thanks go to Carol for her hard work and thoughtfulness in planning and presenting the lessons and for using as some of the ingredients, fresh produce picked from her own garden.
Other food activities/information
The Future of Food
Read about this in the Age Good Food guide this week.
Kevin Heinz Grow Centre
Spring plant sale, Saturday Oct 18, 9am – 3pm. Check details on the website.
Urban Bee Keeping
Sunday Oct 25. Join Melbourne City Roof top beekeepers and find out why bees are important to our gardens. Guests will be given a guided tour of Ripponlea garden to look at beneficial plants and the importance they play on the Heritage Orchard. Bookings required.