Aumanns At Warrandyte
Quintons SUPA IGA, Warrandyte
Township/suburb:
Hurstbridge
Notes (in their own words):
800 Trees is a small olive grove planted around 20 years ago that produces delicately fragrant olive oil with a distinctive 'cloudy' appearance. It is rainwater-fed and guarded (and fertilised) by their resident alpacas. Their main olive varieties for producing olive oil are frantoio, corregiola and manzanilla, with giant kalamatas sold fresh for making table olives. The olives are cold pressed and filtered only once.
Ange's Fresh Fruit & Veg, Kinglake
Bridge 2 Eden, Hurstbridge
Kinglake Pub and Pantry
Rosewood Cottage, Kinglake
The Roundabout Cafe, Warrandyte
Township/suburb:
St Andrews
Notes (in their own words):
A Little Baker St Andrews produces traditional handmade organic sourdough breads plus a range of artisan croissants, cakes and savouries, all baked in a wood-fired oven. The process includes resting the dough for a minimum of 6 hours from mixing to baking, with this resting time giving the bread a unique flavour and texture and making it easily digestible. All the breads are both yeast and preservative free, using the Lactobacillus bacteria for fermentation. Local ingredients are used where possible, including: berries from Kinglake, honey from Hurstbridge, citrus fruits, mushrooms and olive oil.
Chef's Fine Food
City Larder
Cocoa Rhapsody
Cooking With Koji
Eureka Coffee
Gourmet Pies
KABUU
Kinglake Vegetables
Offaly Good Food
Plough To Plate
Sugarloaf Produce
Take Me Home
The Mushroom Co
The almond milk is made with just 4 ingredients: almonds, Medjool dates, water and a pinch of salt. There are two variants, one with 20% almonds and the other with 8% almonds. There are no additives or preservatives.
The almond milk can be drunk neat (either hot or cold), in coffee or as an ingredient in cooked dishes. It lasts around 3 weeks in the fridge although, once opened, it should be consumed within, say, 5 days.
This garden is membership-based but membership is free.
What: Darebin Council collaborated with members of the Northcote Library Food Garden and the local communuity to develop this visible and accessible urban food demonstration site. The All Nation Kitchen Garden design incorporates permaculture principles and is based on a multi-layered garden of fruit trees, edible understory and ground cover.
Who: A group of local residents care for and manage the site in partnership with Council. The goal is to sustainably produce local food and to provide opportunities for education and community building.
When: Community gardening days are held on the first Saturday of each month, from 10am.
Alot of Good Stuff's preserves, biscuits and loaves are all made from locally-sourced produce and high quality ingredients. They are handmade in small batches to assure peak freshness and maintain quality. They include gluten-free options.
Bee Rescue - Heidi Honey Hurstbridge
Gourmet Pies
Kinglake Vegetables
Kings of Kangaroo Ground
La Villa Salumi
Melbourne Gourmet Mushrooms
Offaly Good Food
Take Me Home
The Mushroom Co
The Mushroomery
The Practical Beekeeper
Under The Pickle Tree
The Veggie Empire
Alpine Walnuts sell walnuts, hazelnuts and chestnuts. The walnuts are sold in their shells, shelled, green, as oil and as flour. The hazelnuts are sold in their shells and shelled. The walnuts, hazelnuts and chestnuts are all harvested around April and are then available until sold out; typically, this means that the walnuts and hazelnuts are available for most of the year, whilst the chestnuts are available until early Autumn.
The Annie Borat Community Cupboards are a free food pantry, street library and a craft/games cupboard for everyone to use for free and open 24/7. Take what you need. You do not need to make an appointment, you do not need to provide ID or a bank statement and use of the cupboards is completely anonymous. Please ensure when using the cupboards that the doors are closed properly to keep the weather out.
Donations are what keeps the cupboards full and they welcome any unopened non-perishable food, fresh fruit & veggies and toiletries. Please do not donate any food that needs refrigeration or freezing.
The street library accepts any books, magazines or comics but not CDs or DVDs. The craft/games cupboard accepts any craft items and games but not toys.
Bolton Street Fruit Market, Eltham
Local Fine Foods, Diamond Creek
Township/suburb:
Arthurs Creek
Notes (in their own words):
Available February to November. Apted's Orchards is a family owned company. It operates an orchard and grazing enterprise from Arthurs Creek and Kinglake West north east of Melbourne that has spanned 5 generations. The farm gate sales at 864 Cottlesbridge-Strathewen Road Arthurs Creek are proving very popular, with 2kg bags of apples straight from the bin - that is, unwaxed and unsorted. Farm gate sales also operate from 1105 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake West. Wholesale marketing is done through the associated Melbourne Pear Company which operates out of the Footscray Wholesale Market.
Certified Organic, award-winning, handmade gourmet foods that not only taste great but are also good for you. Horseradish vinegar, mustards, jams, chutneys, sauces and a range of four Panforte di Australia (quince, sambucca, ginger, siena). BIO-GRAPE range of delicious fruit pastes to serve with cheese, red wine, and chilli sauce. They are a family business, with only family members working in the business, who have been hand making certified organic and functional foods for over 25 years under their AUSTRALIAN HARVEST ORGANICS and BIO-GRAPE Brands.
Aunt Maggies, Carlton
Aunt Maggies, Fitzroy
Best of Health, Greensborough
Eastfield Organic Natural Food Market, Croydon South
Leo's Fine Food & Wine, Heidelberg
Leo's Fine Food & Wine, Kew
Local Fine Foods, Diamond Creek
Naturally On High, Thornbury
Oasis Fairfield
Quintons SUPA IGA, Warrandyte
Sculli Brothers, Greensborough
Terra Madre, Northcote
The Cruelty Free Shop, Fitzroy
Vegan mini market, Abbotsford
Wholefood Merchants, Greensborough
Wild Things Food, Fitzroy North
Township/suburb:
Watsonia North
Notes (in their own words):
AVS Organic Foods (formally A Vegan Smiles) aims to create and provide tasty foods that are free from animal cruelty.
AVS focuses on non-dairy cheeses using different techniques that include culturing, ageing and fermenting. You don’t have to be vegan to enjoy vegan cheese.
AVS is a strong advocate for animal welfare and was founded on a desire to educate non-vegans that foods can taste great (even better without animal products), coupled with the frustration of the limitation in purchasing vegan-friendly or dairy-free products when out with family and friends.
Backyard Honey's raw, local, multi-floral and varietal honey is hand-harvested, unheated, cold extracted and permeated with local pollens. It retains all the beneficial nutritional and medicinal properties often lost in pasteurised commercial honey. Each harvest's colour, smell and consistency may be a little different as the foraging of bees is neither within the apiarist's control nor inclination. Some harvests may crystallise, which simply means that the bees have gathered pollens more likely to turn the honey solid. If you prefer a liquid honey, gently warm the crystallised honey on a sunny windowsill or in a warm bowl of water, remembering that temperatures higher than 40°C will reduce the honey's therapeutic properties.
The Backyard Honey ethos is simply to provide an effective and efficient service to ensure sustainable, healthy and mindful communities.
Backyard Honey beekeepers are qualified to provide apiary incursions to complement education programmes and have worked with many schools and Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden programmes. Their bee incursions are tailored to complement and/or extend the curriculum and include a fully enclosed perspex beehive, apiary equipment, bee suits, wax and propolis and pure, raw, unheated honey tastings. Backyard Honey incursions provide a catalyst for enquiry-based learning across the curriculum for both young and old. Phone them to discover more.
The Balam-Balam community garden comprises a number of communal plots, a market garden, herbaceous border, hot house and indigenous bushfood garden. The garden supplies produce to the local Community Grocer market held weekly at the Carlton public housing estate and to migrant and refugee students at Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre studying English.
The garden includes a community compost hub where you can contribute your food scraps to be recycled into nutrient-rich compost for the garden. Ask them for a food scrap container if needed. During business hours, enter via the back gate and deposit your scraps directly in to the compost hub. Outside business hours, place contents in the green bin (you will need to contact them to get the code to the lock).
Enquire about buying a bag of compost for $5 and seedlings for your garden grown in the Balam-Balam community garden when available.
Balashi Flowers grow a variety of seasonal cut flowers all year round. These include roses, bravadia, celosia, delphine, ester, gerbera, gyp, lisianthus, lilies and stacie. In 2018, they sold around 250,000 bunches of flowers.
The BANSIC Food Hub provides food assistance to residents of southern Banyule who are struggling with food security. Clients are provided with a range of groceries, such as fresh produce, eggs, meat, pantry items and bread, all free of charge.
The hub is open from midday to 3pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Members of the Banyule community who are in a financial crisis can access their service by ringing them on 9459 5959 to request a food parcel. The food parcels can be accessed generally every 2 weeks for eligible clients.
The hub's supporters include SecondBite, Foodbank, Aldi, Woolworths and Sustainable MacLeod. SecondBite, Foodbank and Aldi donate non-perishable pantry items, fresh fruit and vegetables. Woolworths in Heidelberg donate eggs. Sustainable Macleod donates locally grown vegetables.
This project began as a dream of the manager at the Central Ringwood Community Centre when she spied an empty unused sunny patch of grass that begged to be filled with plants and people. This site used to be a skateboarding park that was filled in and left. A group of volunteers (led by brother-and-sister team Robin Hallett and Jess Ness) have been working to develop it into a community garden. They aim to develop and maintain the site as the primary sustainability centre in the Outer East of Melbourne.
There is an open public space with fruit trees, herbs and a bush tucker garden whose fruitful harvest is free for all to enjoy. The communal garden beds are keyhole shaped and of an ergonomic height designed for up to 10 people each. There are companion herbs beneath the fruit trees to serve as organic pesticides, soil remediators, and pollinator attractors. Everything will be labelled so that the public can learn from what is growing, and members of the garden can share their knowledge and passion for gardening, thereby building a sharing economy. Their plans also include: wicking beds; a seed library; a covered area for teaching, potting, cooking, events, etc; and a play area for the children.
They run many workshops and classes at the garden. See their Facebook page for details.
The garden's partners include the local Rotary (TTM), Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place, Heathmont College, Ringwood Secondary College, The Box Hill Institute, and the social enterprise Elishacare. The inclusion of schools and community groups is helping to build a strong sense of community ownership.
A management committee has been established, in the form of a sub-committee of the Central Ringwood Community Centre’s Committee of Management.
Their honey is unheated and is without added rice or corn syrup. Seasonal varieties may include Grey Box, Messmate, Yellow Box, Red Gum and Manna Gum. The honey comes from hives which are migrated from Eltham and around the Green Belt, Yarra Valley to central Victoria, plus honey from rescued hives across Melbourne.
They also offer creamed honey, honeycomb, and a highly sought after local honey remedy for hay fever, sinus and pollen related asthma (see testimonials). Plus chai tea and bees wax candles.
Finally, as Bee Rescue, they also rescue bees across Melbourne from pest controllers.
Located on a scenic hillside with a beautiful view, Belleview Farm is a small boutique farm selling free range eggs. Their birds are raised and tendered to on the farm and Belleview Farm takes pride in their welfare. They ensure that the birds are fed a nutritious, vitamin-enriched diet including seeds, grains and canola. The farm is pesticide-free and chemical-free.
The garden was incorporated in November 2014, and is entirely run by volunteers. The three main aims are:
1. To develop an open space community fruit and vegetable garden for individual community members and community groups who want to engage in, and learn about, sustainable gardening practices.
2. To provide a meeting place for individual community members and groups to develop a community gardening identity.
3. To promote the Bellfield Community Garden within the Bellfield neighbourhood, and across the Banyule council area and neighbouring council areas, and to form strong community partnerships to enhance and influence the success of the garden.
Ben's Bees sell raw honey - honey that has not been treated in any way. It is taken from the hive in frames designed to hold honey, spun with centrifugal force, drained through a fine sieve to remove any wax particles, and bottled.
They also sell candles, beeswax, soap, hives, bees and clothing.
Their services include bee & swarm removal, beehive pollination and European wasp removal.
Croydon Farmers' Market
Colonial Fruit Company, Forest Hill
Toscano's Kew
Township/suburb:
Mooroolbark
Notes (in their own words):
Benny's Berries are well known for their fresh strawberries. In addition, their jams include blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, mixed berry and spiced fig with pear and walnut. These jams are cooked in small batches ensuring minimal cooking times, enhancing the fullest flavours and colours. They are made from a traditional classic family recipe using all natural ingredients sourced from the Yarra Valley. The philosophy is to keep it simple (only 3 ingredients are used) and natural, the way our grandmas use to make it.
Billy van Creamy's ice cream is made with a simple philosophy. It is based on the idea of home style cooking. The creaminess doesn't come from any secret ingredients, synthetic stabilisers or emulsifiers, or in fact anything that you wouldn't find in a regular pantry at home; rather, it simply comes from balanced recipes made with organic milk, fresh cream, raw sugar and free range egg yolks. They make everything from scratch using real, whole ingredients. This means roasting and grinding organic nuts, making honeycomb, jams, coulis, caramels in their own kitchen. Their aim is to bring people the childhood joy of eating ice cream but with some adult sophistication in flavours that aren't based on the body's reaction to sugar, rather the perfect balance of flavour and texture.
Billy van Creamy are committed to reducing their impact on the environment, which is why they use as much recycled or recyclable packaging as they can. They support organic and ethical farming to reduce the impact that their supply chain has on the environment. They also support the local art and culture scene, which is where the art in their shop comes from.
Laurimar Quality Meats, Doreen
M n M Fruits, Coburg
Moxie Cafe, Whittlesea
The Flying Tarts Bakery, Kinglake West
Township/Suburb:
Beveridge (Mitchell)
Notes (in their own words):
Bizzy Beehive sell raw, unpasteurised honey, including orange blossom and wildflower. The precise flavours of the raw honey depend on where the bees collect their nectar and pollen so every jar is distinctive.
Heathmont Farmers' Market
Leo's Fine Food & Wine, Heidelberg
Township/Suburb:
Mornington (Mornington Peninsula)
Notes (in their own words):
Cheeses and yoghurts are made by hand following traditional family recipes, which have been continually improved over the years. No chemicals, no preservatives, non-animal rennet are used, and the cheeses are suitable for vegetarians. Cow's milk produce: natural yoghurts and kefirs/probiotics, quark-soft cheese, bries and blues, hard cheeses/vintages - cheddar (tasty), romano, gruyere, tasty gouda, fettas. Goat's milk produce: kefir, chevre, marinated fetta, haloumy, tasty cheese (caprino), chevre with dill.
Boccaccio Cellars, Balwyn
Rose St Pantry, Fitzroy
Stir Crazy, Hawthorn
Two Tall Chefs, Fitzroy
Township/Suburb:
Mount Martha (Mornington Peninsula)
Notes (in their own words):
BoatShed Cheese are makers of artisan cheese from cow, goat, sheep and buffalo milk using traditional French methods. They never use animal rennet so vegetarians can be assured that their product is suitable for them.
Bolton Street Deli & Liquor provides a full range of groceries, from condiments and bread, through beverages and honey, to chocolate and wine. They also sell a wide range of cheeses, meats, dips and homemade produce in their deli section. Gluten-free and organic products are available.
They are THE major stockist of local food products in North East Melbourne, with products from around 20 local producers.
They also serve coffee, breakfast, snacks and lunch from 7am daily (8am on Sundays). Some examples of food options include soup, pasta dishes and moussaka.
Everything made from scratch, Bomba Wood Fired Pizza offers a mobile food catering experience selling gourmet vegan and vegetarian friendly wood fired pizza at events and functions around Melbourne. Fully equipped with a mobile wood fired pizza oven, 4x4 Kombi van and collection of antique & rustic decor, they offer a classy, fun, delicious and unique catering experience for your special event.
Their ingredients are fresh, locally sourced and organic where possible. For example, at markets, they source their veggies from other stallholders. They use 100% dairy free mozzarella style vegan cheese.
They are also available for catering at private events, birthday catering, party catering, wedding catering, corporate events, family fun days, sports events, expos, car shows, charity fundraisers, cultural events & more!
The garden is membership-based but is open to the public whenever the neighbourhood house is open (Mon-Thur 9am-4pm and Fri 9am-midday).
The garden is a communal garden which comprises a mixture of raised and wicking beds. It is a place to meet neighbours and have a chat. Everyone is welcome.
Bulleen Art & Garden (BAAG) is a nursery which specialises in edible, indigenous and low water use plants. As such, it has a large range of herbs, fruit trees and veggie seedlings. All of its seedlings are either Certified Organic or grown using Low Environmental Impact Practices.
BAAG is located along side the Yarra River. It is committed to helping to improve the local parks and has been actively revegetating the site in collaboration with Parks Victoria and the Friends of the Yarra Valley Parks for many years.
This garden is open to the public and membership is free.
The garden is in the new Bulleke-Bek park near Anstey station. In a small community park in a high-density neighbourhood, the garden is a space for the many local people who live in apartments to cultivate a little bit of green. It comprises around six wicking beds and a food forest, initially established planted in 2020. The harvest is for anyone and everyone in the community. The garden is open and there is substantial foot traffic, with children visiting from the playground close by and Brunswick folk passing through the park on their way to Sydney Road.
They meet once a month to discuss planting and projects, to share a cup of tea or coffee and the results of our home baking projects - see their Facebook page for dates and times.
Folks often garden or harvest between meetings, and their garden aspirations include: enjoying the park; linking up with other community groups; growing their gardening knowledge; engaging with council to understand and provide feedback about food security and community gardening in Brunswick; imagining a composting future for their high-density community; and what their food forest might look like in a few years' time.
What: The garden is located within the Bundoora Park Farm. Within the farm, there is a fruit orchard including an urban farm with chooks and bees. The farm also supplies tools, water and manure.
Who: There are garden plots available for rent to the general public. Annual fees are $79 for a raised plot and $105 for a standard plot. There is a waiting list for these plots.
Buttermans Track is the brand name for the wines made and sold by Queenstown Vineyards. They use a wild yeast (rather than sangioyeast), and thus have a natural fermentation. All of their wines are produced from their estate-grown fruit. They have been growing grapes for 25 years and making wine for 10 years.
Bitter Sweet Cafe, Ivanhoe East
Jefferies, Croydon Hills
Leo's Fine Food & Wine, Heidelberg
Max's Burger Bar, Montmorency
Pro-Health, Eltham
The Burger Lounge, Eltham
Were Street Foodstore, Montmorency
Township/suburb:
Ivanhoe
Notes (in their own words):
Caffe Strada makes a wide range of gluten free bread, which is available from both its own shop in Ivanhoe and a variety of other outlets in nearby suburbs.
Caffe Strada is also a cafe which focuses on producing healthy, flavoursome gluten-free food. The cafe is a 100% gluten-free environment and they bake all of their products. Their homemade sausage rolls are fructose-free.
Finally, Caffe Strada provides catering, with the options including finger food, sandwiches, salads, savouries and sweets. Read their catering menus.
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