Local food and drink directory

 
Buna Reserve Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Heidelberg West
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is becoming membership based, but membership is free. Any members of the public are welcome to attend working bees and other events and go into the garden whenever volunteers are there.

The garden comprises a number of raised beds. It is a safe and harmonious place for community to come together to learn and share gardening and other skills and develop friendships. Its main aim is to grow more than enough food so that they can share it with our community; for example, they share produce with the Aboriginal Foodshare at Barrbunin Beek Gathering Place.

They follow permaculture principles and crop rotation as much as they can. They are also interested in syntropic-agroforestry principles, mimicking nature and utilising nature’s services as best they can. They seed save and there are 6 compost bays. Often they will share some food and a cuppa together as well. Some local play groups are involved and sometimes they organise events.

The garden is open to everyone on Thursdays, 3.30-5.30pm. Anyone is welcome to visit the garden when it is open and lend a hand or just enjoy the space, and if you are keen to be more involved then please enquire about becoming a volunteer!

Bundoora Park Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Bundoora
Municipality:
Darebin
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is allotment-based.

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
Category:
Products:
Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Sangiovese
Local outlets:
Township/suburb:
St Andrews
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

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.

Caffe Strada
Products:
Gluten-free breads, cakes and pastries
Local outlets:
Own shop
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
Municipality:
Banyule
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.

Canterbury Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Canterbury
Municipality:
Boroondara
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is allotment-based.

The Canterbury Community Garden was created in 2006 and provides a focal point for members of the local community who are supportive of the general principles of sustainability in the growing and sharing of food. It is made up of 36 plots, ranging in size, with annual fees of $50 or $60 depending on the size of the plot. All the plots are currently allocated and there is a substantial waiting list. Plot holders generally grow vegetables or small flowers. There are also some communal areas where fruit trees are grown, along with herbs and shared items. Gardeners take full responsibility for the up keep of their plots and are also required to attend at least two working bees each year to address larger maintenance tasks.

The group is run by a committee and the garden is part of the new Canterbury Community Hub.

CareNet
Name:
Township/suburb:
Templestowe
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

Carenet is a food relief organisation that provides both pre-packed hampers and client-selected items for people who need them.

The hampers can contain a selection of fresh, frozen and non-perishable products including fresh fruit & vegetables, cleaning & hygiene products, frozen meals, and cat & dog food. They are available on referral, including self-referral, using a simple referral form. The hampers can be picked up from Manningham Christian Centre every Tuesday between 10am and 2pm.

They also have an initiative called The Social Grocer where customers can go to the Manningham Christian Centre and help themselves to whatever they would like and are encouraged to pay what they can. As at mid 2023, The Social Grocer is open every Thursday, 10am-midday.

Carenet also has a mobile pantry which gives out free food plus cleaning and hygiene products. As at mid 2023, the pantry's schedule is:

  • Doncaster Pentecost Church: every Thursday, 3-5pm; 8 Montgomery Street, Doncaster East.
  • Warrandyte Neighbourhood House: every Wednesday, 10am-midday; in the car park, Level 1/168 Yarra Street, Warrandyte.
  • Wonga Park Community Cottage: every other Wednesday, 12.30-2.30pm; Unit 1/9-13 Old Yarra Road, Wonga Park.

Finally, Carenet is part of The Food Collective, where they assist with food distribution, packing food hampers and pantry re-stocking.

CareNet is part of the Manningham Christian Centre.

Carlton Farmers’ Market
When:
Every Saturday, 8am-1pm
Township/suburb:
Carlton North
Municipality:
City of Yarra
CERES Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Brunswick East
Municipality:
Merri-Bek
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is allotment-based, mostly individual allotments plus a shared allotment area. There are around 50 garden plots which are rented out yearly to those with limited household space for growing.

There are regular working bees and social BBQs. These provide opportunities for gardeners to mingle, share freshly grown produce, swap seeds and pitch in to help maintain the site.

Chef’s Fine Food
Products:
Pies, pates, terrines, pesto, tapenade and relishes
Local outlets:
Own shop - Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5.30pm (recommend that you call first)
Eltham Gourmet Poultry
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Using locally-sourced, grass-fed beef and free-range chicken from the Yarra Valley, Erin and David Turnley have built a solid reputation over the last 10 years as producing some of the best family gourmet pies in the region. Their pie range includes chunky beef, chicken, scallop, roast vegetable and apple. At the local markets that they frequent, you can also sample their array of pates which includes chicken, duck, salmon and venison. Basil and coriander pesto and duck and chicken terrines are also available for sale. All ingredients are sourced locally, with grass-fed beef, and chicken, duck and venison which is free range and hormone free.

Chiron Health
Products:
Laundry powder, oils, soaps, etc. Also, some teas, chutneys, etc.
Certified Organic
Local outlets:
Chapkoun Pharmacy, Thomastown
Clifton Hill Pharmacy, Clifton Hill
Joe's Organic Markets, Northcote
Miller Gilbert Pharmacy, Preston
Pharmacy Select, Mill Park
Sprout Health Store & Organic Grocer, Hawthorn
Takis & Kathy's Christenings & Weddings, Northcote
Top of The Town Organics, Preston
Vasili's Organics, Coburg
Notes (in their own words):

Chiron Health's products include: prickly pear oil; olive and cactus gel laundry powder; olive oil soaps; shampoo; talc free powder; St Johns oil; olive oil; herbal teas; fig jams and chutneys; peach and nectarine chutney; grape molasses; and cold press honey (olive tree blossom).

Chiron Health's products are based on science, with formulas researched by Dr Natalie Alexopoulos. 99% of the ingredients are from their own certified organic farm. All the ingredients are grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides and, because their products are made in small batches, each product is made as soon as the associated herbs have been picked.

Chocolatier Australia
Category:
Products:
Affordable, premium, luxury chocolate
Local outlets:
Own shop
Township/suburb:
Ivanhoe
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

Chocolatier Australia make a wide range of affordable premium luxury chocolate, loose, seasonal and boxed. Their full range can be purchased from their shop in Ivanhoe but can also be found in major retail outlets across Australia, 5 star hotels, major international airlines, major sporting events and corporate hospitality venues. They also offer personalised chocolates for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries or any other social occasion.

Chocolatier Australia is one of a small group of Australian manufacturers who are licensed under the Fairtrade Labelling Organization of Australia and New Zealand. Fairtrade is an alternative model of international trade which aims to share the benefits of trade more equitably between consumers, producers and the environment. Their Fairtrade range currently comprises 2 gift boxes in milk and dark Chocolate and 2 Easter eggs in milk and dark chocolate. For more information about Fairtrade please visit www.fairtrade.com.au.

Coburg Common
Township/suburb:
Coburg
Municipality:
Merri-Bek
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is membership-based, but is also open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10am-1pm, at which times there are also plants for sale.

Membership is open to anyone who has an interest in gardening, for a nominal fee of $20 per annum or $10 for concession card holders. There are no individual plots and the produce is shared amongst the members.

Coburg Common first came into existence in 2020, when 6 garden boxes were rolled onto a barren site and slowly but surely the garden has taken shape since then.

Coburg Common is operated by a volunteer group called The Gardening Mob Inc (GMI). GMI was formed by some of the volunteers who previously ran Peppertree Place in Urquhart Street Coburg before it was taken over by Kevin Heinze GROW. The Uniting Church kindly allows the volunteers to utilise some land beside the church. GMI’s purpose is to enhance the opportunity for gardening for people of all abilities and to increase socialisation in the community through gardening, related activities and skill sharing and knowledge. They use sustainable practices and aim to be socially inclusive in all their endeavours.

Operations are partly funded through plant sales, many of which have been donated by the local community. The eclectic array of garden decor, pots and furniture is recycled or re-used hard rubbish rescues and donations. The artwork displayed in the garden was created by volunteers at various stages.

Coburg Common has formed relationships with the Coburg Community Library and the local University of the Third Age. They have also hosted a mental health day and run various workshops on propagation and tool maintenance and sharpening.

New members are always welcome.

Coburg Farmers’ Market
When:
Every Saturday, 8am-1pm
Township/suburb:
Coburg
Municipality:
Merri-Bek
Coburg Food and Garden Swap
Category:
When:
2nd Saturday of the month, 10.30am-12.30pm
Township/suburb:
Coburg
Municipality:
Merri-Bek
Notes (in their own words):

The food swap is held at the Reynard Street Community Garden and the garden is open at the same time.

Cocoa Rhapsody
Category:
Products:
Chocolate (some Certified Organic, some vegan friendly)
Certified Organic
Local outlets:
Apples and Sage Organic Wholefoods, Balwyn
Township/suburb:
Coburg
Municipality:
Merri-Bek
Notes (in their own words):

Cocoa Rhapsody sells Certified Organic chocolate, with much of the range also being vegan friendly. There are a wide range of flavours, including nectarines, strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, walnut, kiwifruit and peach. The cocoa beans are processed to a conch time of 72 hours to produce a smooth, silky textured chocolate (conching is essentially the grinding of the cocoa beans - the longer the conch time the smoother the chocolate).

The chocolate is made using organic, fair trade, cocoa beans grown in the natural rainforest environment in the Dominican Republic, where the farmers above the market price for their beans. They also receive a 2% royalty of all chocolate sold which is contributed directly to the 'hand in hand' fund for fair trade.

Collingwood Food Swap
Category:
When:
1st Saturday of the month, 10.30-11.30am
Township/suburb:
Abbotsford
Municipality:
City of Yarra
Condell Growers and Sharers Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Fitzroy
Municipality:
City of Yarra
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is open to the public.

The community garden comprises 36 garden boxes. These used to be allocated to individuals but are now mainly communal, with everyone invited to sample the bounty. The garden is maintained by local residents – providing access to fresh food and encouraging sustainability.

There are monthly working bees, usually on the 2nd Saturday of every month, 10.30am-12.30pm.

There is an active composting program which aims to be reduce the food waste that goes into Yarra City's rubbish bins and to create compost for the garden. If you would like to contribute your food waste, email them to arrange a time to participate in a 15-20 minute composting tutorial which will entitle you to participate in the program.

Craftwork Roasting Company
Category:
Products:
Coffee
Local outlets:
Own shop (Monday-Friday, 7am-2pm; Saturday, 8am-2pm)
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Craftwork Roasting Company roast coffee, which they then sell in bags online and at their shop. There are 9 choices across espresso and filter at any one time, including 6 single origins, sourced through select merchants who work ethically and sustainably with coffee producers.

Their cafe (aka brew bar) and retail space has windows looking into the roasting and production area. Customers can browse brewing equipment, ceramic cups and Craftwork beans while they wait for their takeaway coffee. Or they can sit down to drink their coffee together with house baked pastries, cakes and bread.

Creeds Farm Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Epping
Municipality:
Whittlesea
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is open to the public.

The garden is a communal garden where participants share both the gardening and the harvest. There are no fences, nor individual plots. The aims are:

  • To be a shared community garden where participants share the gardening and the harvest.
  • To provide space for the community to share knowledge and enhance social connection.
  • To act as a learning and demonstration centre for communal organic gardening.

There is a get together on the 4th Sunday of each month, 10.30-midday.

Croxton Community Garden / Marra Guwiyap Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Northcote
Municipality:
Darebin
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is membership based but all the beds are communal. Members share produce, seed collecting, propagating, planting and harvesting tasks.

The garden came into existence in 2021 on an abandoned tennis court adjacent to Croxton Railway Station.

Most of the vegetables, herbs and berries are grown in custom-built wicking beds. Tools and equipment are on-site and a composting and worm farm setup provides much of the nutrients required. As at 2023, a small fruit tree orchard is expanding, and an edible indigenous plant garden is being developed. A local kindergarten has a small, child-sized veggie bed just for them.

The garden is a place for growing food, eco-sustainability, sharing activities, fun and learning together. The vision is for a shared, accessible space, creating a safer, healthier and more resilient environment and providing an amenity where the broader neighbourhood can come together in shared social and educational events.

There is a working bee on the 3rd Sunday of each month, 10am-1pm, followed by a shared lunch. Everyone is welcome.

Croydon Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Croydon
Municipality:
Maroondah
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is allotment-based.

There are 76 allotments (with most being 36 square metres), plus 6 raised garden beds, for a total size of 3,000 square metres. Membership is $10-20 pa, which includes an allotment, water and access to equipment (spades, forks, barrows, mowers, etc).

The garden has been in operation since the 1980s. Its purpose is to enable each person to grow things on their own individual allotment, with any excess to be shared with other allotment holders. There is a diversity of cultures/nationalities within the gardens, including heritance of; Anglo Saxons; Italians; Greek; Malaysian; Burmese; Mexican; South America; and Baltics. Members members learn from each other and try different plants, methods of cultivation and how to grow plants.

Darebin Information, Volunteer & Resource Service
Township/suburb:
Preston
Municipality:
Darebin
Notes (in their own words):

Darebin Information, Volunteer & Resource Service (DIVRS) is a community organisation that connects people in Darebin to opportunity, community and support. DIVRS’s services, programs and information are free. For around 50 years, DIVRS has helped people experiencing personal and financial issues with information, referrals, support, advocacy, financial & bill help and material aid, including food.

DIVRS’s Urban Food Program promotes a vision of local food systems that are secure, sustainable and fair. Volunteers in the program grow and harvest fresh food in gardens and backyards across Darebin to be shared with people in the community experiencing food insecurity. On average, DIVRS supports 150 to 200 Darebin households each week.

The Darebin Fruit Squad is a community fruit harvesting project, also part of the Urban Food Program. A group of trained volunteers harvest excess fruit from registered households in and around Darebin. This fruit is then shared with people in the community experiencing food insecurity.

You can get involved by: donating fresh fruit; becoming a Fruit Squad household or picker; or volunteering in one of their community resource gardens to grow fresh vegetables and herbs to share.

Dark Horse Cafe, Wine & Produce
Category:
Local brands sold:
Coldstream Brewery
House of Gingerbread
Napoleone Brewery & Ciderhouse
Warrandyte Berry Farm
Township/suburb:
Watsons Creek
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

The Dark Horse Café, Wine & Produce is in Watsons Creek, on the road from Eltham to Yarra Glen. It overlooks two acres of landscaped gardens, along with an ornamental lake, and is surrounded by a natural bushland setting. Its cafe and store are open Wednesday to Sunday.

The store sells a variety of local produce, from baked goods and condiments to wines and ciders.

The cafe sells all day breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea. It is fully licenced. Read the menu.

Diamond Blue Catering
Category:
Products:
Full service catering
Township/suburb:
Mount Evelyn
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

Diamond Blue Catering are a catering service which operates throughout Melbourne. Their catering options range from gourmet finger foods to spit roasts and gourmet BBQs, with many more in between. Their services include event catering, dinner party catering, finger food catering, party function catering and wedding catering The owner, Todd Graham, established the company in 2006, having previously worked as a chef.

Diamond Creek Community Pantry
Township/suburb:
Diamond Creek
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This is one of 9 community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food. Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Diamond Creek Food Swap (Thrive)
Category:
When:
3rd Saturday of the month, 2-3pm
Township/suburb:
Diamond Creek
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

There is a community garden at the location.

Diamond Creek, Planter Boxes in Chute Street
Township/suburb:
Diamond Creek
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

The produce from these planter boxes is freely available to any members of public who pass by.

There are 7 planter boxes in Chute Street (5 on the north side of the road and 2 on the south side) plus a further 2 around the corner in Inglis Street. Each of these is a wicking bed. They were established in 2014.

Diamond Valley FoodShare
Township/suburb:
Greensborough
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

Every Monday to Friday between 1pm and 3pm, Diamond Valley FoodShare provides free food to Banyule residents in need of emergency assistance. Around 50,000 meals are given out each year, and around 400 individuals receive meals in any given month.

People are referred to the FoodShare after visiting either Diamond Valley Community Information Centre in Greensborough Plaza or Banyule Support & Information Centre (BANSIC) at The Mall, Heidelberg West. Recipients receive parcels containing enough food for three to four day periods. The food parcels can be accessed twice each month.

Most of the food comes from the two major Melbourne-wide food relief organisations, namely Foodbank and SecondBite. FoodShare’s volunteers visit Foodbank every fortnight and pick up around 200Kg of fruit and veggies plus some pastries and refrigerated goods. They visit SecondBite every week and pick up around 80Kg of fruit and veggies.

They also collect donations from a variety of local sources with the collection points including five local Woolworths supermarkets, Foodworks Ivanhoe and Diamond Village and Diamond Creek IGA supermarkets. Spoilable foods are collected in a refrigerated van which was purchased with the aid of a cash donation from Watsonia RSL.

Read an interview from April 2018.

Doncaster Community Gardens
Township/suburb:
Doncaster
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is allotment-based. It is currently full and with a waiting list.

Access to the gardens is via a rough private road which runs downwards through the car park between the Kevin Heinze GROW Centre and its commercial nursery.

Doncaster Community Gardens occupies a large tract of Ausnet Services land near power lines at the back of the Kevin Heinze GROW Centre. The land is leased by Manningham Council and it’s huge, comprising 2½ acres of land divided into many rows of connected plots. There are around 140 plots in total, most of which are 10 metres by 4 metres.

Each gardener pays annually per plot, they have access to town water, wheelbarrows, hoses and lawn mowers. It is the plot owner’s responsibility to keep the paths that border their plot maintained and failure to do so can result in the loss of the plot.

In March 2020, Judy Vizzari visited the garden. Read her writeup of the visit.

Doncaster Hill Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Doncaster
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is open to the public.

Set amongst the high rise of Doncaster Hill, this garden is an 'open backyard' where volunteers learn, play and appreciate growing local food. The emphasis is on collective fun, enjoying the space and coming together as a local community. Participants are rewarded with seed collections, skills workshops and food programs. There are no private plots. Most of the food grown is donated to local food banks and charities.

Regular working bees and skill development programs are run by Felicity Gordon. Join the Facebook group for dates and times.

Doreen Egg Farm
Category:
Products:
Free range eggs and Hyline Brown chickens
Local outlets:
Own shop - Monday to Thursday, 10am-4pm; Friday to Sunday, 8am-6pm
Local Fine Foods, Diamond Creek
Local brands sold:
Township/suburb:
Doreen
Municipality:
Whittlesea
Notes (in their own words):

Doreen Egg Farm sell a range of free range and farm fresh eggs to the local community from their shop premises in Doreen. Eggs are available in packs of 12 or 25.

Live Hyline Brown chickens are often available for sale for locals who would like to set up a chicken coop.

Doron Talmi Sweet-eez
Products:
Mandarins and oranges
Notes (in their own words):

Doron Talmi Sweet-eez is a 50 acre citrus farm which grows mandarins (including satsuma & imperial) and oranges (including blood, yellow, sweet-eez & summer gold). All products are sold at the farmers' markets around Melbourne from April to October.

Dougharty Baker
Products:
Organic sourdough bread
Local outlets:
Township/suburb:
Heidelberg Heights
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

Dougharty Baker's bread is ordered online and then delivered to the following suburbs: Bellfield, Heidelberg, Heidelberg Heights, Heidelberg West, Ivanhoe, Kingsbury, Macleod, Rosanna and Viewbank. There are also pickup points in Clifton Hill, Heidelberg Heights and Ivanhoe. Baking to order means that there is less waste.

Their breads include fruit loaf, rye, spelt/khorasan blend, multigrain, white, wholemeal and wholemeal spelt plus they also make buns and crackers. They are all slow-fermented and made from Certified Organic ingredients. They are real sourdough, made with just flour, water and salt. No commercial yeasts or bread additives are used.

Dynamic Vegies
Certified Organic
Local brands sold:
Seasonal, certified organic produce
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Certified Organic and Biodynamic fresh produce. Seasonal local organic produce such as Research raspberries, Wandin Valley blueberries, Coldstream lemons, Panton Hill garlic and Healesville free range eggs. Groceries, coffees and much more.

Eastern Food Rescue (formerly Food is Free Mitcham)
Township/suburb:
Mitcham
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):

Eastern Food Rescue (formerly Food is Free Mitcham) is an outdoor free access pantry for everyone who eats food, where locals can either donate goods or take things that they need. As well as the pantry in Mitcham, there is another in Ringwood, at the Salvation Army, 49-53 Wantirna Road.

The main aims are to avoid food and goods going into landfill and to help those in the community who may be struggling. An added bonus is that having the pantry in the community boosts morale and gives everyone a warm fuzzy feeling.

They collect donations from various local businesses to help keep the pantry full and also rely on community donations from neighbours. You can donate anything going unused in your pantry (no open packets), excess produce from your garden, or household items such as toiletries and nappies. If you donate fresh fruit, vegetables or bread, please post on their Facebook group to make sure that people can collect it quickly.

A special thanks to their regular donors: Bakers Bun (The Pines), Bakers Delight (Brentford Square, Wantirna Mall & Vermont South), Wendy's Bakery (Mitcham), Mylk Bar (Mitcham) and Two Brothers (Mitcham).

Easthill Estate
Category:
Products:
Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rose, Sparkling Chardonnay, Sparkling Cabernet
Local outlets:
Cellar door - 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, 11am-4pm
Township/suburb:
Kangaroo Ground
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Easthill Estate is a boutique cellar door in Kangaroo Ground that provides a unique rustic experience. Exquisite wines and a warm homely atmosphere provide a cellar door experience to remember. They have 'platters by preference' available to enhance your wine experience by selecting cheeses, crackers, dips and deli meats to create your own platter. In winter, they have a comforting wood fire inside their cellar door and, in the warmer months, tables and chairs in their grassed area overlooking the vineyard.

The vineyard has been planted in dark rich volcanic soil which nurtures and helps create exceptional wines.

Eastland Multicultural Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Ringwood
Municipality:
Maroondah
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is membership-based.

The garden provides a safe and welcoming space for people from different cultural backgrounds living or working in Ringwood and surrounds to come together to plant and grow edible crops, participate in other gardening activities, socialise with others and enjoy a communal garden space. There are currently 34 garden plots, some of which are available for rent.

The garden is managed by a management committee comprising office bearers from multicultural backgrounds, as well as representatives from the Migrant Information Centre, Eastern Melbourne.

Membership is $5 for one person, or $10 for a family. Plot fees are currently $25 per plot. Families with over 3 members can apply for two plots, otherwise one plot. Plots eligibility is limited to Health Care Card holders, who are unable to garden at home, and who live within a radius of 5 kilometres of Ringwood.

Edible Forest
Category:
Township/suburb:
Dixons Creek
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

The Edible Forest is a one acre, netted food forest where everything is planted for a reason, be it edible, medicinal, bird attracting or nitrogen fixing. Its areas include tea, wetlands, bush tucker, edible flowers, temperate rainforest and berry woodlands. In total, there are around 300 species of plants, herbs, flowers, trees and shrubs that offers year round produce and lots of permaculture possibilities.

Guided tours of the forest take place on Tuesdays (at 4pm), Thursdays (at 1pm), Fridays (at 11am and 1pm) and Saturdays (at 11am and 1pm). Read more and potentially book your place.

Adjacent to the forest is a little space where you can purchase jams, relishes and marinated goods, all made from items harvested from the forest.

The forest is located within the grounds of Yarra Valley Estate, which is a corporate and wedding event venue.

Edible Hub, 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 is free table, a twice monthly food swap and a seed library).

This garden is a communal gardening space which is open to the public. It includes numerous wicking beds, a compost station with three large bins, a small perennial food garden, a sensory garden and a picnic/eating area. It is managed according to permaculture principles.

The garden is under the care of group of volunteers whose aim is to provide an inclusive space for locals to connect and learn through topics of food growing, community resilience, and sustainability. The produce from the beds is free for everyone to harvest, promoting the concepts of a sharing economy, and the use of communal land for the production of fresh, local food.

A range of free/low-cost workshops and events are held regularly and advertised through the Edible Hub Facebook page.

Volunteers generally meet on the fourth Thursday of the month at 9.30am to plan or carry out work in the garden. Anyone is welcome to attend and no ongoing commitment to the garden is required. The associated food swaps are held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month from 10-11am.

Eltham Community Pantry
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This is one of 9 community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food. Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Managed by LINC on behalf of The Food Collective.

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