Summary

Nov 302013
 

Join a vibrant food culture, growing and eating local

Covering all matters food across North East Melbourne

Whether you are a local food producer, want to eat local food, grow veggies in your garden or just want to meet like-minded folks, Local Food Connect is for you. Join now.

Eltham Farmers’ Market, a Local Food Connect initiative, is held every Sunday.

The purpose of this website and associated newsletter is twofold: to promote all aspects of local food around North East Melbourne and to make people around North East Melbourne feel part of a local food community.

The material is centred on 5 databases:

  1. Upcoming local food-related events: all the upcoming events of various types, around 200 per month.
  2. Local food producers: pages on each of around 130 producers, both farmers and makers.
  3. Local community gardens: pages on each of the 60 community gardens in the area
  4. Local food swaps: details of the 30 food swaps in the area.
  5. Local food justice organisations: including ‘food is free’ sites, free food distribution organisations and free community meals.

These databases are brought together into an overall Local Food Directory which contains pages for each of 300 or so local food organisations.

In addition, there are articles written by a variety of local people on:

LFC News April 17

Apr 162024
 

Thanks to the people who have contributed to this week’s newsletter: Anna Matilda, Bil Brosch, Cath Lyons, Edie Schmutter, Eve Fraser, Janelle Dunstan, Marcela Santos, Melissa Houselander, Pat Natoli, Pauline Crosbie, Sim Ritchie and Vanessa Veldman.

Montrose Community Cupboard

Montrose Community Cupboard is much more than a community pantry and undertakes a wide range of activities in pursuit of its mission to rescue food from landfill and re-distribute it to the local community.

They have two community pantries, a weekly Saturday market and monthly community meals. Whilst one of their community pantries has been around for some time, the other initiatives are all relatively recent.

Like many local pantries, their motto is “give what you can, take what you need“.

The two community pantries are located at Japara Bridge House, 49 Durham Road, Kilsyth and Montrose Church of Christ, 7 Leith Road, Montrose. The Kilsyth pantry is open 24/7 and has been around for some time, whilst the Montrose one is open Monday-Saturday 7am-9pm and Sunday midday-8pm and is newly opened. Members of the public can take what they want and are also invited to leave veggies, fruit, herbs, plants, seeds, seedlings or any non-perishable items.

The weekly market is on Saturdays, 3-4pm at either Japara Bridge House, 49 Durham Road, Kilsyth or Montrose Scout Hall, Unit 2/950, Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Montrose. See their website for which markets will be at which locations. All the food at the market is free.

The free, monthly, two course, community meals are usually on the 4th Sunday of each month, 6-7.30pm, at Montrose Public Hall, 1B Leith Road, Montrose. Everyone is welcome, as are donations of non-perishable food. Occasionally, due to holidays etc, the meals are sometimes at lunch time or don’t happen so check their Facebook page for details. Read an article about the meals in the Lilydale Star Mail.

Finally, they have a street library (books, dvds, etc) at 16 St James Avenue, Montrose.

Great work Pat and Sim!

More on warrigal greens

Following last week’s article on warrigal greens, Bil Brosch has written in: “I recently attended a workshop entitled ‘growing bush tucker’ with Aunty Jo Russell. A Wiradjuri woman, Aunty Jo spoke about the way that she uses warrigal greens – small leaves are picked and used fresh while the bigger leaves and stems are steamed. Steaming warrigal greens was a revelation to me and something that I’ll definitely try. I usually turn warrigal greens into pesto, my kids love pesto/pasta and it’s an awesome way to get more greens into them.”

SEEDs Communal Garden were on Gardening Australia

SEEDs Communal Garden, in Brunswick, featured on last Friday’s Gardening Australia program. Watch the 8 minute video.

An exhibition of old style kitchen equipment

As part of Australian Heritage Festival 2024, Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society has organised an exhibition of kitchen implements, tools and appliances used from the mid-1800s through to the early part of the 20th Century. On Sundays, 21st April, 28th April, 5th May and 12th May, each 2-5pm. At Schramms Cottage, Rieschiecks Reserve, Muriel Green Drive, Doncaster East.

‘Crowd harvest’ – seeds for Mother’s Day

Gardeners with excess seeds for edibles are invited to send them by post with a greeting for Mother’s Day to the Therapeutic Horticulturalist, Odyssey House Lower Plenty, 28 Bonds Road, Lower Plenty, 3093. Please send viable, open pollinating seeds and package them in individual and labelled packages. The people at Odyssey House will then grow them. The program runs from 1st May to 15th May.

Odyssey House has recently employed a therapeutic horticulturalist trained in permaculture approaches to assist residents on a journey towards healing. There is a large hot house, raised garden beds and land to commence a full horticultural therapeutic coaching program to assist the residents towards healing and healthy lifestyles.

Dan’s flower garden at Alphington Farmers’ Market

Someone called Dan apparently regularly does some gardening in the front garden of the Alphington Farmers’ Market. Here is a little blog piece that he has written about it.

Another article from Angelo

Beetroot growing guide.

Read more of Angelo’s food-related articles.

Cornstarch versus cornflour

In Australia and the UK, the words cornstarch and cornflour are used interchangeably to refer to the starch derived from corn grain.

In the USA, however, the word cornflour is used to refer to a flour made from corn kernels.

Chicken and veg frittata (by Pauline Crosbie)

[This week’s recipe by newsletter reader Pauline Crosbie is from Diamond Valley Community Support’s recently published Creative community cookbook – fighting waste and fighting hunger, which focuses on using leftovers and zero-waste cooking.]

Serves 4. Prep time: 30 minutes. Cook time: 20 minutes.

Ingredients

6 large eggs
1 cup leftover dip (e.g. Greek yoghurt or hummus)
250g leftover cooked chicken pieces without bones (thighs, breasts, tenderloins) or shredded chicken
3 cups cooked leftover vegetables, cubed
1 cup fresh chopped herbs (any combination to your liking)
½ cup grated leftover cheese (any) or more to taste

Method

Pre-heat oven to 180degC.

Place the eggs in a bowl and whisk lightly.

Add the dips and whisk to create a creamy mixture.

Mix through the cheeses.

In an oven proof baking dish, spread evenly the cooked chicken and vegetables. Pour over the egg mixture and decorate with herbs.

Cook for 20 minutes or until the top is golden.

The Melbourne ‘Local Food Connections’ community radio show

On next Sunday’s show (21st April), Ann Stanley will interview Murnong Mummas on Indigenous food connections. Listen on 3CR (855 AM), 10-10.30am, by tuning into either the station (855 AM) or its livestream.

Podcasts of all previous episodes are available on their website, the latest being Regan Defoe on Fawkner Food Bowls (7th April).

Which link was clicked most times in the last newsletter?

The most popular link in the last newsletter was the CERES olives to oil page.

The most popular event link in the last newsletter was the grow your own garlic event on 19th April in Bayswater North.

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

What does it take for a cucumber to become a pickle? A jarring experience.

Read more food-related jokes on our website.

 

Regular activities over the coming week

Farmers’ and other food markets

Note that The Food Collective Market, Epping is now on Tuesdays rather than Thursdays.

Food swaps
Community gardens

Note that the weekly sessions at Panton Hill Community Garden have moved to Fridays.

Upcoming face-to-face events – not cooking

Sustainable living for renters; Sunday, 21st April, 1.30-4pm; free; Box Hill.

Anna Matilda, aka The Urban Nanna, will help you upskill on lots of small sustainable actions that you can use in your daily life. Learn about: reducing waste (and lowering costs) in the kitchen; budget ways to grow your own food; simple steps to cutting your energy bills down; and ways to manage your water usage.

There will be lots of giveaways at the event including: a worm farm; a compost bin; a zine containing simple sustainable skills from Catie Payne and Su Dennett; a weed zine from permaculture art activist Brenna Quinlan; and copies of some of Anna’s own educational booklets.

Composting – a different approach with Diana Cotter; Tuesday, 23rd April, 11.15am-12.15pm; free; Fawkner.

Diana Cotter will introduce you to the concept of compost bins and worm farms, what happens inside them and how to keep bacteria and worms happy. Learn about different types of compost bins to suit gardens of all sizes, recycling the contents of your green bin and exactly what you can put in the compost.

Compost … nature’s climate champion! (family event); Saturday, 4th May, 10-11.30am; free; Ringwood.

Celebrate the start of International Compost Awareness Week. Take part in interactive activities and games as a family and learn what makes the perfect compost recipe as well as why compost critters are so important.

Farm Raiser community day and morning tea; Saturday, 4th May, 10am-2pm; free; Bellfield.

Many immigrants to Australia find it challenging to cook their recipes because the crops they treasure at home aren’t easily available here. Farm Raiser would like to help and try to grow some of these crops. They are therefore launching a new project to diversify the crops that they are growing. They have already introduced taro, cassava, 5 types of sweet potato, oca/NZ yam, yam beans and chinese yam to their fields, but they want even more variety. You are invited to the farm for a tour and morning tea where you can discuss what crops you miss from your home country. The Farm Raiser team encourages you to bring seeds, seedlings and cuttings of plants, as well as growing instructions, recipes and stories from home. They will then propagate the plants in their nursery and plant them out in a dedicated space which you will be able to visit. You will finish the day with a short working bee to prepare the space for the new crops. Feel free to take a plate to share for morning tea.

The photo right is of the taro and cassava that Farm Raiser are currently growing.

Coloured pencil persimmon workshop; Saturday, 25th May, 10am-4pm; $120 ($20 per hour); Park Orchards.

This workshop is tailored for individuals at an advanced beginner to intermediate level in drawing and beginner level in coloured pencils. Delve into the rich palette of persimmon. Work on various angles of presenting persimmon fruit for drawing, and investigate tools which will allow you to draw the specimen correctly and not rely on photographic material. Explore unique perspectives and angles to depict leaves and fruit, enhancing your drawing skills. Tutor: Miffy Gilbert. Organised by Park Orchards Community House.

Open Cellars of Nillumbik; Saturday, 15th June and Sunday, 16th June, both 11am-5pm; free; Nillumbik.

Visit any or all of the family-owned wineries in Nillumbik. This is a chance to sample wines at wineries not always open to the public. You will also find food to complement the wine, as well as live music and artworks from local artists at some venues. There is no entry fee, or tasting fee, at any of the venues. The participating wineries usually include: Buttermans Track, Easthill Estate, Hildebrand Ridge Organic Vineyard, Kings of Kangaroo Ground, Nillumbik Estate, Panton Hill Vineyard & Winery, Punch Wines, Shaws Road Winery, Swipers Gully Vineyard, Watson’s Creek Wines, Wedgetail Estate and Yarrambat Estate Vineyard.

Design your own garden; Saturday, 15th June, 10am-3pm; $145 ($29 per hour); CERES.

So you want to create your own edible oasis, but you just don’t know where to start? This workshop will focus on: defining what you really want from your garden; understanding your garden through site analysis; developing a base plan; plant choice and how and where to grow them; and incorporating animals into the garden design. Presenter: Donna Livermore.

In April
In May
In June
Regular events

Upcoming face-to-face events – cooking

Bulleen Heights School cooking class (8 sessions); on 8 consecutive Wednesdays from 1st May, 11.15am-12.45pm; $192 ($16 per hour); Lower Templestowe.

This course is for teenagers. Each week you will learn to make a main course. Take an apron and tea towel. Organised by Living And Learning @ Ajani. Run in partnership with Bulleen Heights School.

Raw food treats cooking workshop; Saturday, 4th May, 1-4pm; $175 ($58 per hour); Camberwell.

Jo-Anne Grist will demonstrate how to make: raw pistachio slice; raw chocolate brownie with pistachios; raw mini mango cheesecakes; lemon and coconut bliss balls; and fresh summer berry rocky road, You will take home a box of raw treats.

Zero waste cooking; Saturday, 25th May, 11am-midday; free; Forest Hill.

Learn how to cook sustainably with minimal waste and using an induction cooktop. Presenter: Alice Zaslavsky. Organised by Strathdon House.

Veggies in desserts; Saturday, 15th June, 10am-3pm; $150 ($30 per hour); CERES.

Learn how to create healthier versions of your old favourites. The desserts are dairy-free and gluten-free using a variety of ingredients: nuts, seeds, vegetables, whole grains, fats, spices, legumes and unrefined sugars. The menu will include: chocolate kidney bean slice; spiced pumpkin donuts; rich chocolate beetroot truffles; lime + spinach cake; strawberry + cauliflower cheesecake; and sweet veggie mousse. Presenter: Melanie Leeson, from Mettle + Grace.

In April
In May
In June
Regular classes

Greenbrook Community House in Epping have made their ‘let’s get cooking’ events a weekly Monday event during term times, midday-2pm. $10 per session.

Greenhills Neighbourhood House in Greensborough have made their ‘pickle party’ events a weekly Friday event during term times, 9-11am. Free. No need to book – just turn up.