LFC News September 28 2022

Sep 282022
 

Thanks to the people who have contributed to this week’s newsletter: Amanda Wheeler, Laura Nix, Lee Hirsh, Marina Bistrin, Megan Goodman, Nicholas Costanzo, Peter Wolff, Robin Gale-Baker and Sofiah Fauzi.

No cost veggie gardening (by Robin Gale-Baker, with assistance from Marina Bistrin)

[This is a shortened version of a longer article on our website.]

All veggie gardeners will be aware that setting up a veggie patch can be an expensive business. As more and more people strive to produce their own fresh produce in their home gardens, or on apartment balconies, finding ways of doing this economically are vital, especially if one of the purposes is to save money.

The material below discusses possible types of place that the various inputs can be obtained free, with links to relevant lists of local organisations.

Pots

Various nurseries have a recycle bin for used pots that they are more than happy for you to raid. To kill any soil borne pathogens, wash used pots thoroughly and then soak in a mix of water and vinegar for an hour at a ratio of 9 parts water to 1 part vinegar or spray the inside thoroughly with vinegar.

Seeds

Free seeds are available through some seed libraries and veggie swaps. For the veggie swaps, take something to contribute.

Seedlings

These are often available for free from veggie swaps.

Soil and compost

Your veggie growing success will be dependent on growing in good quality soil. This is generally the most expensive aspect of establishing a veggie patch. Rarely will digging over an area of the backyard, or filling a pot with garden soil, be sufficient to grow healthy vegetables. Soil needs to be aerated and well draining as well as nutrient rich and garden soil is too compacted for this. This means producing your own compost.

To learn how to make compost, consult the internet or go to a workshop. You will need what is known as ‘brown’ and ‘green’ materials:

  • Brown is anything dried – dry leaves, straw from stable litter, dry manure, coffee husks, dried material from your garden, shredded newspaper or cardboard, etc.
  • Green is anything living – fresh lawn clippings, vegetables scraps, coffee grounds, fresh manure, etc.

Here is a discussion of possible free sources of these various inputs.

  • Horse manure: Pony clubs often deposits stable litter containing horse manure outside their gates for the public to take. The litter and manure constitute both ‘brown’ (the straw) and ‘green’ (the manure).
  • Coffee grounds: Many local cafes are keen to get rid of their spent coffee grounds so approach them and ask. If they offer you a regular pickup, it is important to them that you pick up on time so they don’t have to store them in their limited space. This is ‘green’ material. Coffee grounds are also available in bulk from Reground Coffee.
  • Coffee husks: These are good brown material for the compost. Break up any clumps in them and spread in thin layers to avoid matting. Coffee husks are available from many coffee roasters.
  • Hessian bags: Hessian bags are often available from the same coffee roasters as give away coffee husks. Hessian sacks are useful to put round young or frost sensitive plants. Put in 3 stakes in a triangle shape and attach the hessian to form a windbreak.
  • Leaves: Dried leaves in autumn are a good source of ‘brown’.
  • Grass clippings: Grass clippings from your garden, the local mower person or anywhere you can reasonably mow (a neighbour may be delighted if you ask to mow their nature strip) are a good source of green and also heat up the compost pile, thus making it break down into compost more quickly.
  • Mushroom straw: Some of the mushroom growers at the Melbourne Food Hub in Alphington sometimes have spent mushroom straw from growing packs that they give away or ask you to do some cleaning up of buckets in exchange for it.
  • Wood shavings: Some furniture companies give wood shavings away.
  • Wood mulch: available from some community gardens.

Read the full article.

A new local pasta maker – Nick’s Gnocchi & Pasta

Nick’s Gnocchi & Pasta, who are based in Greensborough, make cut pastas (fettuccine, spaghetti, etc), filled pastas (cannelloni and ravioli), lasagne and handmade gnocchi. They also make bolognese and napoletana sauces. Their pastas are made fresh then frozen (this is the best way to preserve fresh pasta if not cooking within a few days from purchase). They don’t use any preservatives.

You can buy their products online (https://nicksgnocchipasta.com/collections) or at Eltham Farmers’ Market, Floridia Cheese in Thomastown, Granieri’s Food Services in Epping, Local Fine Foods in Diamond Creek, Rosanna Fine Produce or Sculli Brother’s in Greensborough.

Read their page in our Local Food Directory.

Nick was Nillumbik’s Young Business Achiever for 2022.

Welcome, Nick!

Have you ever grown tomatillos?

Peter Wolf has written in with an offer: he will pay you to grow some tomatillos for him.

“I am looking for someone to grow tomatillos (Mexican green tomatoes) for a local food project for me on a simple, private commercial arrangement. I have 90 seedlings that need to be planted at the end of October. You will need around 200 square metres of fertile soil and 1 litre of water per plant per day. I will also supply stakes, ties and help with planting and harvest activity. To manage your risk, I am happy to negotiate a rate that is independent of yield. If interested, call me on 0424 135 841.”

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

The garden is now dappled with puddles of wet blossom blown from the fruit trees. It has been a damp and cool start to Spring this year and the soil is yet to warm up ready for new plantings. Fortunately, the broad beans and leafy greens love this weather and are growing strongly. I am still harvesting winter spinach, which is yet to go to seed as it has in other years.

Spinach and chickpeas

1 red onion, finely sliced
3 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, all spice, coriander and cumin
400g can chickpeas, drained
spinach leaves

Fry the onion and garlic in a little olive oil until soft.

Add the spices and chickpeas and fry gently until the chickpeas have a little colour.

Add the spinach near the end to soften.

Serve warm.

Read more of Megan Goodman’s recipes.

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

The most popular link in the last newsletter was Karen Sutherland’s website.

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

Submitted by Lee Hirsh:
l scream
You scream
We all scream for ice cream!

Read more jokes.

 

Regular activities over the coming week

Farmers’ markets
Food swaps

Note that the Warranwood Food Swap has changed both its venue and its name. From henceforth it will be called the Ringwood Community Food Swap and will be at the Central Ringwood Community Centre, Rosewarne Lane, Ringwood. It will still, however, be on the 3rd Sunday of each month, 10-11.30am.

Community gardens

Upcoming face-to-face events – not cooking

Gardening for all abilities (6 sessions); on Wednesdays, starting 5th October, 1.30-4.30pm; $280 ($16 per hour); Preston.

You will learn the basics of gardening, urban agriculture, soil health and how to grow food in small spaces. Organised by Bridge Darebin.

Rushall Community Garden open day; Saturday, 8th October, midday-3pm; free; Fitzroy North.

See community gardening in action and pick up some homegrown goodies. The activities will include: a workshop on gardening in small spaces (at 1.30pm); seedlings and fresh garden produce for sale; baked goods, homemade jams and preserves; gardeners working their plots and sharing tips; and a BBQ, homemade lemon cordial, coffee and tea. Click here to read about the garden.

Intro to urban farming (4 sessions); on the weekends of 8th/9th and 15th/16th October, 9.30am-2pm; $112 ($6 per hour); Preston.

This course will provide an introduction to the principles and techniques of urban agriculture, including how to design, build and maintain a productive farm in a limited space. You will gain a range of skills and knowledge including: understanding production systems such as ground growing, wicking beds, mushroom growing and hydroponics systems; crop planning; water/soil/pest management; plant propagation; and education and employment pathways in urban farming. This course was designed in partnership with Sustain. Organised by Bridge Darebin.

Marra Guwiyap Community Garden celebration and launch; Sunday, 9th October, 1.30-5pm; free; Northcote.

To be launched by local MP Kat Theophanous. This garden, also known as Croxton Community Garden, is run by local volunteers who work together to grow vegetables, learn organic gardening, and enjoy each other’s company. Go and celebrate with them. Click here to read about the garden.

Smart gardening for Seniors; Monday, 10th October, 10.30-11.30am; free; Diamond Creek.

Learn some tips and tricks for how you can continue enjoying your garden for longer. Afterward, tour the Thrive Community Garden.

Kilsyth community compost hub workshop; Wednesday, 12th October, 1-2.30pm; free; Kilsyth.

Topics will include: intro to composting; what foods are compostable; home composting solutions; information on available composting rebates; and waste reduction and sustainability. Organised by Japara Living & Learning Centre. Supported by CAWRS and the Montrose Township Group.

Smart gardening for Seniors; Tuesday, 18th October, 10.30-11.30am; free; Hurstbridge.

Learn some tips and tricks for how you can continue enjoying your garden for longer.

Heal with food – bone health; Sunday, 23rd October, 2-4pm; free; Eltham.

Dr Gavin Levy will discuss the role of nutrition in bone diseases and how changes in your diet may help you with back pain and arthritis. Organised by Green Karma.

In September
In October
In November
Regular events

Upcoming face-to-face events – cooking

Sourdough workshop; Saturday, 15th October, 10am-1.30pm; $100 ($29 per hour); Kinglake.

The Fermented Mumma will break down this traditional bread making method into simple easy-to-follow steps. You will take home a ready-to-bake sourdough as well as instructions, electronic and hard copy, a jar of bubbly starter (natural yeast), a proving basket and ongoing online support from The Fermented Mumma. Organised by Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House.

Intro to nutrition and food (8 sessions); on Thursdays, starting 20th October, 0.30am-1.30pm; $98 ($4 per hour); Preston.

You will explore nutritional theory, healthy eating concepts and gain hands-on culinary skills. You will learn about the nutrients specific to each food group and their benefits, including how energy is balanced to maintain a healthy weight. The course will also cover how to decipher labelling on food packaging to build a healthy meal plan on a budget. Hands-on cooking and eating. The sessions will be led by a certified nutritionist. Organised by Bridge Darebin.

In October
In November
Regular classes

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