Local food and drink directory

 
Fairfield Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Alphington
Municipality:
Darebin
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is allotment-based.

The garden has around 20 plots that are rented out annually by individuals or families who reside in the local area, or by community groups engaged in sustainable activities and which are able to contribute consistently to the garden culture.

The garden was established almost 20 years ago and is an initiative of Interact Fairfield Disability Services. It is a dynamic work space, all the time developing according to the energies and interests of participants.

Fairfield Food Swap
Category:
When:
3rd Saturday of the month, 11am-midday
Township/suburb:
Fairfield
Municipality:
Darebin
Notes (in their own words):

Organised by Transition Darebin.

FareShare
Name:
Township/suburb:
Abbotsford
Municipality:
City of Yarra
Notes (in their own words):

FareShare rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and cooks it into free nutritious meals for people in need. In Melbourne, with the help of 900 regular volunteers, it cooks around 5,500 free meals a day (i.e. around 1.3 million meals a year) for charities such as soup vans, homeless shelters, women’s refuges and community food banks. Its rescued food comes from supermarkets, wholesalers, farmers and other businesses (they have eight vans that collect produce from Woolworths stores and others). By avoiding food waste, and diverting surplus, edible food from landfill, it also reduces greenhouse gases. Its Melbourne headquarters is in Abbotsford.

Fareshare is a charity which relies on donations. Donate now.

Sourcing enough fresh vegetables to add nutrition to meals is one of FareShare's biggest challenges. It now has three sites in and around Melbourne where it grows its own vegetables, harvesting around 40 tonnes per year. One of those sites is in Abbotsford, which was previously disused VicTrack land but now grows a range of vegetables on 70 beds tended by volunteers, who are overseen by a Garden Manager. The choice of vegetables grown is dictated by the needs of the kitchen, which means that there is a focus on capsicums, carrots, celery, eggplants, leeks, parsnips, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, turnip and zucchini.

FareShare has written a manual to share their experiences of urban food production. Subjects covered include: crops grown and yield; soil; composting; integrated pest management; crop rotation; and companion planting. Click here to download.

Farm Raiser
Category:
Local outlets:
Farmgate - Fridays 10am-2pm and Saturdays 9am-midday, opposite 12 Perkins Avenue, Bellfield
Local brands sold:
Township/suburb:
Bellfield
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

Farm Raiser is a not-for-profit urban, organic vegetable farm run by five young farmers (Charlotte, Kirsty, Patrick, Caitlin and Eve) on land behind Waratah Special Development School in Bellfield. Whilst not certified, they follow organic principles and don't use any chemicals. Summer 2020/21 was their first season.

They have a farmgate stall on Fridays 10am-2pm and Saturdays 9am-midday, opposite 12 Perkins Avenue, Bellfield.

Fawkner Food Bowls
Township/suburb:
Fawkner
Municipality:
Merri-Bek
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is membership-based.

Fawkner Food Bowls is a resident-led group growing food, sharing skills, and socialising in a family-friendly space. It is based on a communal market garden model where members can learn about, and contribute to, growing crops that are then sold to support the running of the garden. They have a range of memberships, with general membership being $25 pa; this entitles people to discounts on produce, events and seedlings. Membership is open to anyone.

Work on the garden began in 2017 with the help of Moreland City Council, Fawkner Bowling Club, and the Neighbourhood Project. They have since received grants from Moreland City Council, CoDesign Studio, Moreland Energy Foundation Inc. and the State Government. The starting point was a disused lawn bowls green. Since that time, they have created social garden spaces, a children's play area and vegetable growing rows. They are now developing more space for people to bring and share seeds, seedlings, plants, food, and ideas plus they have plans to construct a shelter. Fawkner Food Bowls is an incorporated group.

A number of events, workshops and celebrations are organised at the garden including: soil, composting and companion planting workshops; the Fawkner Lane-way Festival and Fawkner Festas (where tomato seedlings are given away); passata making; and winter solstice celebrations.

The garden is open on Sundays for working bees, market stall, and socialising.

Finbar Neighbourhood Garden
Township/suburb:
Richmond
Municipality:
City of Yarra
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is open to the public.

The garden comprises 10 large garden beds, a compost exchange scheme, and a seed library.

The main purpose of the garden beds is to grow food to give away. Once harvested, the vegetables are put onto 'food is free' shelves which the public can access. People can also donate vegetables for these shelves.

The purpose of the compost exchange scheme is to turn kitchen scraps into usable compost. People drop off a bucket of kitchen scraps and take away an empty bucket to fill again. They can also take away compost - anyone can order up to three buckets of compost at a time by phone (9428 7668) or email.

The aim of the seed library is to encourage people to grow food at home. People are welcome to take, share or donate seeds.

Someone is in the garden every Monday from midday to 1.30pm - feel free to drop in for a chat, seek gardening advice, pick up some compost juice, or pick up some worms. There are also regular workshops.

First Choice Gourmet Catering
Category:
Products:
Full service catering
Township/suburb:
Eltham North
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

First Choice Gourmet Catering is a full service catering company, operating throughout North East Melbourne. It focuses on providing high quality food for both private and corporate clients at commonsense pricing and with highly personalised attention to detail. Its owner, Emmanuel Buchanan, has been in the catering business for 35 years.

View/download all of First Choice Gourmet Catering's menus.

Fitzroy Urban Harvest Food Swap
Category:
When:
1st Saturday of the month, 10.30am-midday
Township/suburb:
Fitzroy
Municipality:
City of Yarra
Food is Free Blackburn
Township/suburb:
Blackburn
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):

This is a social permaculture initiative to share resources, distribute surplus, create connection, help other people, and strengthen community ties.

Food is Free Hurstbridge
Township/suburb:
Hurstbridge
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This initiative is one of a number of related food-related initiatives at the site (others include a food swap, a community garden and a seed library).

The Food is Free table is situated under the verandah outside the entrance to the Hurstbridge Community Hub.

Anyone in the community can take from table and you don’t need to contribute anything or leave items in its place. Homegrown food and other items that are left over from the twice monthly food swap are placed on the Food is Free table for everyone in the community to access.

Individual donations of food and garden-related items can be left on the table at any time. Don’t throw those extras in the compost, red bin or recycle: share them with the community!

You can join their Facebook group for regular updates on what is happening.

Food is Free Nunawading
Township/suburb:
Nunawading
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):

Food is Free Nunawading aims to give back and build community connections through the sharing of surplus food and produce.

Food is Free Ringwood East
When:
Open 24/7
Township/suburb:
Ringwood East
Municipality:
Maroondah
Notes (in their own words):

People leave surplus from their pantry or garden. It is all about community and contribution. Generosity, in giving and receiving. All are welcome. It is all free. Located on the fence line and open 24/7.

Food is Free Warrandyte
Township/suburb:
Warrandyte
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

The food has all been donated— it’s fresh and free to anybody who needs it. There are gold coin donation boxes to help people feel more comfortable taking the food.

Food is Free, Kilsyth
When:
Open 24/7
Township/suburb:
Kilsyth
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

Give what you can, take what you can use. For all neighbours to share in: unopened pantry, toiletries & sanitary items; fresh garden veggies & fruits; and bakery items.

Forest Hill Urban Harvest
Category:
When:
3rd Saturday of the month, 10-11.30am
Township/suburb:
Forest Hill
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):
Fritz Gelato
Category:
Products:
Gelato and sorbet
Local outlets:
Own shop
Township/suburb:
Richmond
Municipality:
City of Yarra
Notes (in their own words):

Fritz Gelato sells low-fat, healthy, organic gelato. They currently provide 132 flavours of gelato and their range will continue to develop over time.

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