Sep 212016
 

Another person who can build planter boxes for you

Frances Grech (ReBoxCo), Thornbury, www.reboxco.com.au. Contact by phone (0439 368018) or email (enquiries@reboxco.com.au). Click here for the full, updated list (7 people in total).

Do you know of anyone else who can build planter boxes, wicking beds or raised garden beds? If so, email me and I’ll add their details to the list.

Want some cheap fruit trees?

Pete the Permie from Telopea Mtn Permaculture & Nursery writes: “This year, rather than potting up our leftover trees, we have reduced them to bare roots and will be having a three-day sale at just $25 per tree: onsite at Monbulk (Invermay Road) on Friday, 23rd September, 10am-4pm; then at Slow Food Melbourne Farmers’ Market in Abbotsford on Saturday, 24th September, 8am-1pm; and finally Eltham Farmers’ Market on Sunday, 25th September, 9am-1pm.

Any shops selling certified organic produce around Donnybrook?

Someone has written in asking. If you know of anywhere, email me.

Home Harvest FEASTival

The Nillumbik and Banyule annual Home Harvest Festival has been re-badged as a ‘FEASTival’ and will be held at Edendale Farm on Sunday, 26th February. It will include workshops, entertainment and music, as well as the shared harvest meal. Click here to read about it.

Newsletter reader Yuki Cameron in the news

yuki-cameronNewsletter reader Yuki Cameron in the 21st September edition of The Weekly Review.

Mac McVeigh’s tip of the week

No rest for the wicked – it’s now weed and mulch time! Lock in that moisture in the soil by applying a good layer of mulch. 5cm min to 10cm max. Larger mulch particles (10mm plus) insulate the soil and still allow summer rain to get to the soil, whereas finer particles may lock in your moisture but block rainfall. When mulching, take care to clear mulch from stems/base of plants to prevent collar rot. For veggies, you can, if you want, wait until you plant your summer crops and then apply short term, but soil building, mulches such as pea straw or lucerne.

Not food, but still tasty

For those of you who fancy a trip to Nillumbik during Spring, two of the best non-food events of the year are coming up. If you have never been to them, you should.

Help to reduce food waste

Australian food service businesses, such as restaurants and cafes, produce around 250,000 tonnes of food waste every year that ends up in landfill. This generates around 400,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases (CO2 equivalents) a year. RMIT University’s nationwide Watch My Waste research into food waste is helping to create a previously little known picture of food waste in the food service sector. So far around 200 individual food waste audits have been completed, with 8,900kgs (8.9 tonnes) of food waste generated from 70,000 customers. On average, 120g of food waste was disposed of for every person served – equivalent to a whole large muffin or half a steak per person thrown in the bin.

Watch My Waste wants to hear from anyone who eats out. Anyone who has eaten out, grabbed takeaway or been served a meal by any food business in the last week is invited to complete a 10 minute survey, helping to uncover the secret life of food waste. Let restaurants, cafes and other food businesses know what you want, while at the same time contributing to the reduction of food waste.

Watch My Waste also wants to help more food businesses measure and reduce their waste. Most food service businesses do not know how much food they throw away each week. Businesses who participate in the Watch My Waste research measure their food waste over time and fill in a business operations survey that helps to identify the potential influential factors behind food waste creation. The good news is that participating businesses saw their food waste decrease by around 40% during the research period, which means significant savings. Food service businesses interested in participating can register online until December 2016.

New events – at the Practically Green Festival

The Practically Green Festival itself

What: This festival celebrates sustainable living and all things green with activities for the entire family. It will include: sustainable building and lifestyle exhibitors; market stalls; workshops; live music; children’s activities and entertainment; Edendale nursery and gardens; local food and wine; presentation of the Practically Green Sustainability Awards; not-for-profit and community groups; and sustainability art project. The stalls will include KABUU and The Veggie Empire Seedlings.
When: Sunday, 16th October, 10am-4.30pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Nillumbik Sustainability and Environment Team by phone (9433 3316) or email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Love food, hate waste cooking demo

What: Did you know Victorians waste 25% of the food they buy? Learn how to avoid food waste and use leftovers more creatively. Local chef Duang Tengtrirat from Real Food Catering will provide a cooking demonstration and tips’ session. Get creative, make the most of your leftovers and show them the love they deserve!
When: Sunday, 16th October, 11-11.45am.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Nillumbik Sustainability and Environment Team by phone (9433 3316) or email.
Bookings: by phone (9433 3316).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

The Rogue Ginger – zero waste living

What: Learn the basics of backyard chicken keeping with their farmer Stephen. This workshop will cover the characteristics of different breeds (in order to make a selection that suits your setting and needs) as well as the housing and care of chickens.
When: Sunday, 16th October, 12.30-1.30pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Nillumbik Sustainability and Environment Team by phone (9433 3316) or email.
Bookings: by phone (9433 3316).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Backyard chooks

What: Learn the basics of backyard chicken keeping with their farmer Stephen. This workshop will cover the characteristics of different breeds (in order to make a selection that suits your setting and needs) as well as the housing and care of chickens.
When: Sunday, 16th October, 1.45-2.30pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Nillumbik Sustainability and Environment Team by phone (9433 3316) or email.
Bookings: by phone (9433 3316).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Veggie seedling propagation

What: Go along and learn how easy it can be to grow your own vegetables from seed. Participants will learn the theory behind propagating from seed and plant a variety of seeds to take home.
When: Sunday, 16th October, 2-2.45pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Nillumbik Sustainability and Environment Team by phone (9433 3316) or email.
Bookings: by phone (9433 3316).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Worm farming

What: A worm farm can be one of the best ways to dispose of food scraps and at the same time produce vermi-juice (worm tea) and vermicast (worm castings) for use on the garden. Learn how to set up a worm farm and the easiest methods to manage and care for these most hard working of creatures. This workshop will cover both the theory and practice of worm farming in a household setting and would be useful for those wishing to recycle household food waste in order to produce worm products for use in the improvement of soil in gardens and pot plants.
When: Sunday, 16th October, 2.45-3.30pm.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Nillumbik Sustainability and Environment Team by phone (9433 3316) or email.
Bookings: by phone (9433 3316).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

New events – other

Wellbeing not weight

What: Jacinta Sherlock is a practicing dietitian and nutrition consultant. She will introduce you to the concept of mindful eating.
When: Tuesday, 27th September, 11am-midday.
Where: Rosanna Library.
Cost: free.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Artisan pasta – fettuccini

What: Learn how to make pasta like an Italian! What you will learn: how to make and knead egg-based pasta dough; use traditional pasta machines to roll and cut pasta; and how to use selected vegetables to make colourful fettuccini, including vegan options. What you get: fettuccini to take home to cook on the day or dry or freeze for future use; and a handout covering the techniques covered in the workshop.
When: Saturday, 8th October, 10am-midday.
Where: Donvale.
Cost: $50.
Enquiries: Maria Ciavarella by phone (0424 083057) or email.

Fermenting workshop

What: Local chef Duang Tengtrirat from Real Food Catering will show you her methods for fermenting and pickling seasonal vegetables.
Bookings essential.
When: Tuesday, 11th October, 7-9pm.
Where: Going Green Solutions, Hurstbridge.
Cost: free.
Bookings: Facebook event.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Preserving basics: make your own jams, pickles and relishes

What: What you will learn: how to bottle fruit and make jams, pickles and relishes; select and re-use suitable jars and how to sterilise them; and how to use a standard kitchen to make preserves, without needing to buy specialist items. What you get: recipes all of the preserves made; small (new) jars of the 4 preserves made on the day; preserving basics booklet, authored by Maria; and tastings of preserves.
When: Wednesday, 12th October, 10am-1.15pm and then again at Tuesday, 8th November, 10am-1.15pm.
Where: Donvale.
Cost: $70.
Enquiries: Maria Ciavarella by phone (0424 083057) or email.
Bookings / Further information (12th October): Weteachme website.
Bookings / Further information (8th November): Weteachme website.

Wild food and medicine walk

What: Join The Perma Pixie on an outdoor adventure that will focus on identifying edible and medicinal weeds and wild food. Discover the properties and actions these plants have to nourish and heal, and discuss recipes and ways to prepare these plants for palatability and practicality.
When: Saturday, 15th October, midday.
Where: Merri Creek, Northcote.
Cost: $20.
Enquiries: Taj Scicluna by phone (0450 375528) or email.
Bookings: Trybooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Eltham & District Wine Show

What: Australia’s largest amateur wine show. Will includes: many award-winning wines on tasting; artisan olive oil sampling and sales; artisan cheese sampling and sales; free tasting glass; and award presentation (at midday).
When: Sunday, 13th November, 10.30am-2.30pm.
Where: Veneto Sports and Entertainment Centre, Bulleen.
Cost: $15.
Enquiries: Eltham & District Winemakers Guild by email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Preserving basics: making preserves for Christmas

What: What you will learn: how to use different preserving techniques; select and re-use suitable jars and how to sterilise them; and how to pretty up jars of preserves to make them suitable to give away. What you get: recipes all of the preserves made; tastings of preserves; preserving basics booklet, authored by Maria; jars of the preserves made on the day; and the opportunity to dress up the preserves to make them suitable for giving as gifts, including tags.
When: Wednesday, 23rd November, 10am-1pm and then again at Saturday, 10th December, 10am-1pm.
Where: Donvale.
Cost: $80.
Enquiries: Maria Ciavarella by phone (0424 083057) or email.
Bookings / Further information (23rd November): Weteachme website.
Bookings / Further information (10th December): Weteachme website.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week
Over the next month

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events. Click here for help on how to view the calendar effectively (e.g. search for events in a given suburb).

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