LFC News September 27 2023

Sep 262023
 

Thanks to the people who have contributed to this week’s newsletter: Dan Ross, Megan Goodman and Robin Gale-Baker.

Foliar spraying (by Robin Gale-Baker)

Foliar sprays, such as Seasol or Maxicrop, are ones that are primarily absorbed through the leaves of a plant. They contain trace elements and minerals that are vital for the health of the plant and often not available from the soil. They are made from seaweed.

Foliar sprays are not nitrogenous. For a nitrogen-based liquid, buy Charlie Carp. Be aware that amendments containing primarily trace elements and minerals cannot be substituted for nitrogenous ones or vice versa. Rather, they do very different jobs. Read my previous article on this subject.

It is important to apply foliar nutrients by spraying rather than using a watering can. Spraying produces a mist of tiny droplets that adhere to the leaves and allow the plant to absorb maximum trace elements and minerals.

Foliar sprays should be applied to vegetables about every 3 weeks throughout spring and summer, and on garlic from August onward. Crops such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage like a regular dose during the winter months.

Want any more tomato or capsicum seedlings?

If you want any more tomato or capsicum seedlings, you may wish to consider buying them from Eltham-based Seeds of Plenty at Eltham Farmers’ Market on either Sunday, 1st October (i.e. next Sunday) or Sunday, 15th October. They have a huge range of tomato seedlings; for example, when I went to see them, they had the following varieties for sale:

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – Standard size – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Dwarf
Micro
Alices Dream
Amish Paste
Atomic Grape
Atomic Sunset
Beefsteak
Berkley Tie Dye
Black Beauty
Black Cherry
Black Russian
Blue Gold Berries
Brandywine
Chocolate Stripes
Costoluto Florentino
Dancing With Smurfs		 Giant Tree
Green Zebra
Grosse Lisse
Ice
Indigo Rose
Karma Apricot
Karma Purple Multiflora
Lucid Gem
Midnight Sun
Mint Julep
Oxheart
Pineapple
Prosperity
Red Current		 Red Pear
San Marzano
Santorini
Sugar Lump
Thai Pink Egg
Tigerella
True Colours
White Beauty		 Banana Toes
Bendigo Moon
Bendigo Rose
Clare Valley Red
Geranium Kiss
Golden Gypsy
Kookaburra Cackle
Metallica
Pepper Like Stripe
Saucy Mary
Shadow Boxing
Sneaky Sauce
Striped Antho
Uluru Ochre		 Bonsai
Fat Frog
Little Red Riding Hood
Micro Tom
Orange Hat
Regina Yellow
Window Box

 
Says Dan Ross, the owner of Seeds of Plenty: “I really love growing all these different tomatoes and am really happy to be selling them and actually meeting customers.”

   

This is the first year that Seeds of Plenty have grown and sold seedlings but they have been selling vegetable and other seeds online for many years. Their range is huge, covering most vegetables and herbs and, within this, many different varieties of each.

Another new repair cafe

North Carlton. 2nd Saturday of each month, 10am-midday. Book your slot. North Carlton Railway Neighbourhood House, 20 Solly Avenue, Princes Hill.

That makes a total of 13 repair cafes on our map of North East Melbourne.

What seeds to plant in October

Here is a list (see the planting guide for more detail):

Cucurbits

Cucumber
Gourd
Pumpkin
Rockmelon
Watermelon
Zucchini
Other warm season veggies

Beans
Okra
Peanut
Sweetcorn
Leafy greens

Lettuce
Mizuna
Mustard greens
Parsley
Rocket
Silverbeet
Roots

Beetroot
Carrot
Jerusalem artichoke
Parsnip
Potato
Radish

Other veggies

Asparagus
Celery
Chives
Globe artichoke
Rhubarb
Spring onions
Sweet potato

 
Compared with September, the solanums (capsicum, chilli, eggplant and tomato), basil and coriander drop out of the list, whilst the cucurbits (cucumber, gourd, pumpkin, rockmelon, watermelon and zucchini) stay in. Note, however, that these lists are the months that it is ideal to plant particular seeds and that you can sometimes plant in other months. So, for example, if your tomato seeds didn’t germinate in September, it’s better to try again in October (or buy some seedlings) rather than face the prospect of no homegrown tomatoes.

Helen Simpson has previously written ‘how to grow’ articles for us about many of the warm season veggies, namely: basil, chilli, cucurbits and tomatoes. Robin Gale-Baker has previously written about how to grow eggplants and capsicums, parsnips and potatoes. And Helen has written more generally about Spring veggie garden preparation.

Meg’s garden this month (by Megan Goodman)

It is time to blow the dust off the outdoor furniture, brush of the cobwebs and get ready for Spring. The grass is growing strongly but so are the weeds. I really need to get onto the weeding and spring cleaning. This leaves little time for the veggie patch but I have been emptying the herb pots, refreshing the potting mix and starting new seeds and seedlings ready for Spring growth.

It is so tempting to buy when you see the tomato seedlings already stocked in the local nurseries- but it is still too early in North East Melbourne. I am testing my patience and potting on my seedlings under cover. Along with the tomato seedlings, there is also the sparkle of Christmas decorations that have started to be displayed in store. Time to soak all my leftover packets of dried fruit to make a traditional Christmas fruit cake or a small pudding.

Small Christmas pudding

300g mixed dried fruit of your choice (use any leftovers you have)
100ml alcohol or orange juice
100g dark brown sugar
75g butter
100g plain flour
60g breadcrumbs
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 egg and one egg yolk
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon, grated
nutmeg
1 green apple, grated
1 tablespoon golden syrup

Soak the fruit in the alcohol or juice at least overnight but preferably a few days.

Beat the butter and sugar then add the egg and golden syrup. Sift over all the dry ingredients and then add the breadcrumbs. Add the fruit and apple. Mix well to combine. Spoon into your pudding bowl and cover well with foil tying it down.

Steam for at least 3 hours (place a pudding bowl in a large pot in water and keep topped up to about two thirds). Alternatively, use your slow cooker (about 8 hours). Remove and replace foil tightly before storing in a cool dry place.

Read more of Megan recipes on our website.

The Melbourne ‘Local Food Connections’ community radio show

This upcoming Sunday’s episode will feature Angelo Eliades talking about spring planting. Listen on 3CR (855 AM) on Sunday morning, 10-10.30am, by tuning into either the station (855 AM) or its livestream.

Audio recordings of previous episodes are available on their website.

Mitcham Community Meal

Mitcham Community Meal provides a free community dinner every Sunday evening, where each meal is cooked by a different local community group. During September, the cooking teams were Belmore Road Church of Christ (see photo right), Team Random, Team Terrific and Vermont Girl Guides. Look at some photos of these teams, plus those of previous teams.

Some things for you to read

An article on gardening habits by Duncan Cocking

Five habits of good gardeners. The five habits are:

  1. Watering your plants.
  2. Observing your garden.
  3. Fostering connection.
  4. Composting.
  5. Planning.
An article on olive harvesting by Angelo Eliades

Harvesting olives, a guide on when and how to pick them.

Read more food-related articles by Angelo.

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

The most popular link in the last newsletter was Angelo’s article on why bean plants develop white spots on their leaves.

b33e661f-c100-4ebe-9ffa-847952e0da4e.jpgJoke (or pun) of the week

A parent teaching their child some arithmetic asks: “if I had 4 chocolate treats and you asked for one, how many would I have left?”

The child replies: “As it is you, you’d probably still have 4.”

Read more food-related jokes.

 

Regular activities over the coming week

Farmers’ and other food markets
Food swaps
Community gardens

Not food-related but interesting

Loving our lizards through reptile-friendly gardening; Monday, 30th October, 7-8.30pm; free; Nunawading.

Ecologist David De Angelis will discuss how you can attract lizards to your garden. He will cover the features of a good lizard longue and the types of lizards we are likely to find locally. This event will be streamed live but not recorded.

Upcoming face-to-face events – not cooking

Summer veggies workshop (garden tour); Saturday, 14th October, 1-4pm; free; Park Orchards.

Visit a large suburban garden including around 500 orchids, 100 bonsai and a large veggie garden. Plant your own punnets of summer-growing vegetables under the guidance of experienced members of Waverley Garden Club. Organised by Waverley Garden Club.

Community soup night; Wednesday, 1st November, 5-7.30pm; free; Preston.

Share some soup, hear an update from the farm and taste what’s in season on Wurundjeri Country. Organised by Oakhill Food Justice Farm.

Nutrition and menopause – nourishing the transition; Wednesday, 8th November, 6.45-8.30pm; free; Hawthorn.

Understanding how to nourish your body during oeri-menopause and menopause is essential to positive health benefits through menopause and beyond. Join them for a free pilates session from 6.45pm followed by an information session at 7.30pm where a local dietitian will discuss: metabolic change at mid-life and your diet; nutrition for your heart and bone health; foods to support hormonal health; and where to access nutrition resources and support.

Grounded at TarraWarra; Friday, 10th November, 3-6.30pm; $88 ($25 per hour); Yarra Glen.

Begin in the vineyards, planted 40 years ago, for a guided look through the estate’s blocks of chardonnay and pinot noir. Then visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art, where new artworks from the Netherlands, Colombia, Indonesia and Wurundjeri Country are on display in an exhibition called The Soils Project. Gülsen Özer will then join you for a creative movement workshop, before TarraWarra winemaker Sarah Fagan leads you underground to the estate’s cellar door for some wine tastings. Finally it will be time to enjoy cheese and charcuterie, along with a glass of your favourite estate wine.

Chardonnay + fromage; Saturday, 11th November, midday-3pm; $60 ($20 per hour); Warrandyte South.

The ticket price includes a 75ml pour of 4 wines plus 4 matched cheeses. You will explore 4 vintage chardonnays from Rob Dolan Wines’ plus 4 matched cheeses from Stone & Crow Cheese Company. Meg Brodtmann will handle the pairings.

Urban wine walk; Saturday, 11th November, midday-4pm; $82; Fitzroy.

This is a self-guided wine tasting experience, where you choose the order in which you visit the various venues. The ticket includes complementary tastings, a $10 food voucher, a $25 voucher for wine orders and a tasting glass. The participating venues and winemakers: Bonny Bar with A.R.C. Wines; Ichi Ni Nana with Susuro Wines; La Vineria with Pizzini Wines ; Lost Boys Bar with Stappa Wines; Near & Far Bar with Konpira Maru; Odd Culture with Pool Wines; The Belfry with Meredith Wine; The Fitz Café & Rooftop with Alles Klar Wines ; and The Rochey with Patch Wines.

Awara open garden; Sunday, 12th November, 10-11.30am; $20 ($14 per hour); Pascoe Vale South.

Join Leila Alexandra, from Barefoot Food Gardens, on a tour of her 840m2 rental property. Leila will discuss how the lawn was transformed into a productive paradise, and the philosophy of forage gardening and how it translates in practice. Enjoy a chat and garden tea post tour.

Installing drip line irrigation with Angelo Eliades; Sunday, 12th November, 1-3pm; $15; Macleod.

Learn how lay out and install drip line irrigation systems, including: how drip irrigation works; what all the irrigation bits and pieces on sale are and what they do; the different ways to lay out irrigation systems; how to connect the pieces together to construct a working watering system; and how to use and repair these irrigation systems. Presenter: Angelo Eliades. Organised by Sustainable Macleod.

Food photography; Sunday, 12th November, 2-5pm;$109 ($36 per hour); Eltham.

This class is for food bloggers, bakers or restaurant/cafe owners. It will focus on taking great images of food using your own, or easily obtainable, equipment. It will cover such aspects as the right lens, composition, exposure, lighting and software.

Smart storage to reduce food waste workshop; Thursday, 16th November, 6.30-7.30pm; free; Ringwood.

This workshop will cover: tips to use your fridge and freezer wisely, to prolong the life of your food; pantry storage to minimise waste; know the difference between ‘use-by’ and ‘best before’ dates; storing and maximising herbs; and what you can do with commonly leftover ingredients. Presenter: Kirsty Bishop-Fox from Sustainability Pathways.

Kitchen medicine – garden farmacy; Saturday, 18th November, 10am-2.30pm; $120 ($27 per hour); CERES.

What you will learn: an introduction to herbal medicine making; plant identification; guidelines for foraging and wild-crafting; medicinal uses for plants; and how to introduce medicinal herbs into the kitchen for medicine. What you will get: a remedy and a seedling. Take a walk through the CERES garden beds and bring the wisdom of traditional herbal medicines into a modern context. You will explore traditional and modern uses of the plants and how to introduce these plants into the kitchen as medicine. Presenter: Naabi Methe.

Working with water with Dan; Saturday, 18th November, 10am-3.30pm; $15 ($3 per hour); Edendale.

The workshop will explore the human relationship with water, how it fits within our ecology and moves through the land. It will cover: principles and patterns for catching, storing and distributing water; reading water’s behaviour in the landscape; how to work with rainwater, grey water and mains supplies to bring more life to our surroundings; and principles and design approaches to improve your management of water at home. It will also involve walking, talking and designing to explore living examples of water management around Edendale’s buildings, gardens and nearby waterways. Presenter: Dan Milne.

Mushroom farm tour; Saturday, 18th November, 2-2.30pm; $27 ($54 per hour); Alphington.

Go on a walk-through tour of The Mushroomery, showing how the farm operates and how mushrooms are grown. Due to potential fungal contamination, it is important that you wear very clean clothes. Organised by The Mushroomery.

In September
In October
In November
Regular events

Upcoming face-to-face events – cooking

Japanese cooking class – curry; Friday, 13th October, 1-2.30pm; $15; Greensborough.

Chika will demonstrate how to make traditional Japanese curry. Organised by Greenhills Neighbourhood House.

Christmas cake workshop; Saturday, 11th November, 1.30-3pm; $56 ($38 per hour); Lower Templestowe.

Tish will show you how easy it is to make your own Christmas cake. Take a cake tin (20cm square or round tin) to take your cake home. Organised by Living And Learning @ Ajani.

Gingerbread house workshop; 2 occurrences on Tuesdays, 14th and 21st November, 7-8.30pm; $30 ($20 per hour); Greensborough.

Ros and Trudy will show you how to construct your own, decorated gingerbread house. You will then take it home. All materials will be provided. Organised by Greenhills Neighbourhood House.

Japanese cooking class – shiratama mochi rice sundae; Wednesday, 15th November, 1-2.30pm; $15; Greensborough.

Chika will demonstrate how to make shiratama mochi rice sundae. Organised by Greenhills Neighbourhood House.

Dumpling making workshop; Friday, 17th November, 6.30-8.30pm; $75 ($38 per hour); Park Orchards.

Make Chinese dumplings from scratch. The dough you prepare can be used for either boiled dumplings (shui jiao) or potstickers (guo tie). Then make vegetarian dumplings. Facilitator: Miki. Organised by Park Orchards Community House.

In September
In October
In November
Regular classes

 Leave a Reply

(required)

(required)