Local food-related events
Home Harvest 2015
In 2012, we had our first Home Harvest Feast, conceived to launch the Home Harvest booklet and encourage home growing of fruit and vegetables. Following its success and community interest there has been a feast and Home Harvest Month each year since, guided by a committee supported by both Nillumbik and Banyule Councils. We are now starting to plan for 2015 and grower registrations will open in the next few days. During the month of March, LFC has encouraged or organised events related to growing, harvesting and eating local food. What events would you like in 2015? We are also looking for people to help run events. If you are interested please let us know.
Beekeeping courses
One of our members is offering a beekeeping course at Edendale Farm on the last Sunday of each month, 9:30am – 4:30pm. Each course includes a hands-on session opening and inspecting a beehive. To register or obtain more details, see this website.
Last week’s market produce
Here are a few ideas, sent in by an LFC member, of dishes to prepare with the seasonal produce sold at last week’s Eltham Farmers’ Market!
- Asparagus (first of the season), leek and free range egg frittata.
- Silverbeet and walnut (with a splash of lemon zest and juice) risotto.
- Grass-fed lamb burgers with coriander pesto.
- Apple and pear crumble with mint.
- A platter of pear, soft cheeses and walnut.
What did you cook with your purchases?
Hurstbridge Food Swap
The swap at Hurstbridge is being revived with much enthusiasm and should start on Sunday October 5 at 10:30 am. More news next week.
Growing parsnips
Do you like parsnips but have trouble growing them? I heard a great story this week. A lady who had tried to grow parsnips unsuccessfully from seed, bought a parsnip from her local greengrocer and planted it in her garden. It grew leaves/fronds and eventually went to seed, spreading the seed all around. From this the gardener had a successful crop of parsnips!
Panton Hill Community lunches
October 9, November 13 and December 11, 12 – 3pm. For more information and bookings contact the Living and Learning Centre on 9433 3799.
Cooking courses
Food courses at Nillumbik L&L venues in October and November – Italian, Indian, Thai and Christmas cooking.
Other food activities/information
Community spirit
A caring story from Brisbane’s Food Connect this week – “our favourite farmer, Franco has experienced a tragedy in the family this week. It has hit the whole family very hard, and they’re not finding the time or strength to harvest the broccoli this week. Can you help? We are planning a dawn harvest tomorrow at 6am at Franco’s property in Birkdale. Come for an hour or two and work the fields for one of our most loved and hard working farmers.
This reminds us of another story. An Eltham U3A group visited the Chocolate Apple Orchard in Shepparton last Friday. The growers had recently pulled out most of their apple trees because SPC could not reliably offer them a quota for their apples. This is very sad and we asked if communities from Melbourne could have helped to pick and distribute the apples. The grower said that there were just too many apples for this action to happen. Obviously the growers and consumers need to keep talking to each other to find ways around this type of problem.
Film for Seniors Week!
The Moo Man, at ACMI, Monday October 6, 12:30pm and Tuesday Oct 7, 10am. This intriguing documentary follows Stephen Hook, a pioneering organic raw milk farmer in East Sussex, whose commitment to quality over quantity faces economic and industrial challenges. 98 mins, PG, 2013.