What do you think was the most clicked link in last week’s newsletter? The lead article on our boots for change competition? No. Maybe one of the recipes from the Little Drop of Poison? Nope. How about one of links to the ‘world record’ 54 local events that were listed? Wrong again. But, you might say, there weren’t any other links. Oh yes, there was. Buried somewhere was a one liner about our new market dog gallery and that was the most clicked link!
A new, weekly farmers’ market in Ringwood
Every Sunday from 24 April, from 9am to 2pm. Along Melbourne Street and the Town Square in Ringwood. Jointly operated by Melbourne Farmers’ Markets and Eastland. Read Maroondah Council’s ‘press release’.
Does your community garden need some soil?
The Green Centre in Keilor Park is currently offering free soil or compost to community gardens in North East Melbourne in return for a mention on a blog or equivalent (e.g. on the Local Food Connect website). Moreland, Newlands and Ringwood have already taken advantage of the offer and, earlier this week, the Eltham planter boxes were also grateful recipients. As I understand it, the minimum quantity is ½m3 and the maximum quantity is 3m3. The products on offer are three soils (Premium Veggie Mix, Turf Loam or Botanical Blend) and two composts (Composted Cow Manure or Dig in Compost). If you are potentially interested, email me and I’ll put you in touch with the right people.
A bee rescue caught on camera
At the last Eltham Farmers’ Market, someone called me over to take a photo of a bee rescue in action. This person, whose name I don’t know, had seen a bee become dehydrated (or equivalent), had got a smidgeon of honey (from Heidi Honey Hurstbridge), and was feeding it to the bee. The bee was drinking (or equivalent) and revived in front of my eyes. The photo on the right is the proof.
Some jars find a loving home
A couple of weeks ago, Kathryn offered up some of her surplus jars. You will be pleased to know that they have been snapped up by “a lovely lady who is going to make marmalade”.
A date for your diary?
Did you know that the first week in May is international compost week? See the Centre for Organic & Resource Enterprises website. Presumably, some dirty weekends will be organised!
Want to be on any more mailing lists?
The list below comprises those local newsletters that I subscribe to. Its purpose is twofold: first, to give you a checklist of newsletters that you might like to subscribe to; and, second, so that you can tell me if there are any other newsletters that I should subscribe to. In many cases, it is actually quite difficult to subscribe online so the links below are the email addresses from whom the newsletters emanate.
Banyule Sustainable Homes and Communities.
Banyule Council – Greenwrap.
Bulleen Art and Garden Sustainable Gardening and Living Classes.
Darebin Sustainable Homes and Communities.
Darebin Council – Sustainability News.
Going Green Solutions Newsletter.
Nillumbik’s Fringe Focus.
Sustainable Gardening Australia Open Gardens and Tours.
Sustainable Macleod Newsletter.
Transition 3081 – Grapevine.
Transition Banyule Events.
What’s happening at Diamond Valley Library.
Whittlesea Council – What’s Happening – Your Environmental Update.
New events
Gardening for habitat and biodiversity
What: Learn about the best plants and the best techniques to increase the habitat value of your suburban garden, from the experts at La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary, then take a tour of the Sanctuary, one of our region’s best natural assets. Morning tea provided. And a free plant to take home.
When: Saturday, 30th April, 10.30am-1pm.
Where: Bundoora.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Charlie Davie by phone (8470 8405) or email.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Permaculture design course (14 week)
What: Running for 14 weeks, this 98 hour (plus site visits) permaculture design course offers you the opportunity to delve into the world of permaculture. Suitable for people wishing to develop their own productive garden, planning a larger scale rural enterprise, or starting out in the world of design. Covering the ethics and principles underpinning permaculture, using zones, sector planning, reading the landscape, site assessment, small-scale home gardens to forest gardening, integrating animal systems, energy efficiency and much more. Guest tutors will enhance your learning experience, along with site visits to see examples of permaculture or related techniques in action. By the end of the course, students will have developed and presented one individual design and one group design.
When: Every Sunday, from 1st May to end August. Also, every Wednesday, from 4th May to end August.
Where: Mornington Peninsula.
Cost: $1,050.
Enquiries: Fleur Baker from Santosha Permaculture by phone (0425 785233) or email.
Bookings: Trybooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Composting workshop
What: The workshop is aimed at beginners and will cover how to set up and maintain a compost bin, worm farm and Bokashi bucket at home. Participants will receive a free kitchen caddy to take home and use in their kitchen for collecting food scraps. Bookings essential. The workshop is part of International Compost Awareness Week.
When: Wednesday, 4th May, 9.30-11am and Thursday, 5th May, 6.30-8pm.
Where: Ringwood and Croydon.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/bookings: Maroondah Council’s waste education provider (EnviroCom) by phone (9703 5288).
Further information: Ringwood event and Croydon event.
Autumn family fair at Yandell Kindergarten
What: A fabulous day of fun for the whole family. Kids’ activities, music, market stalls, a silent auction, craft, plant stalls, food & coffee. Includes a native plant sale.
When: Saturday, 7th May, 10am-4pm.
Where: Greensborough.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Linda Wong by phone (9435 9472) or email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Permaculture basics: planning your garden
What: Ian Culbard will introduce the basic principles of permaculture and demonstrate how you can apply them to your garden. Bring a sketch of your garden to assist with planning ideas.
When: Saturday, 7th May, 11am-midday.
Where: Watsonia.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Watsonia Library by phone (9435 2397).
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Dim sims and spring rolls workshop
What: Join in this hands-on workshop and learn how to make your own dim sims and spring rolls. Why travel anywhere else when you can make these at home? This is a practical workshop, there are no tastings. Bookings required as limited spaces. Not suitable for children.
When: Monday, 20th May, 1-2.30pm.
Where: Mill Park.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/bookings: Jack by phone (9437 8189) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Biodynamic course (two-day)
What: A 2-day course covering: Rudolf Steiner and the Biodynamic Movement – 8 Steiner lectures; biodynamic preparation 500 / burying cow horns / stirring and spraying; biodynamic compost – the preparations and making the compost; cosmic nutrition, seed saving and collecting; the planting calendar and nature’s rhythms, Gothean science; biodynamic peppering – plant, insect and vermin elimination; and elementals, intention, mycelium, weeds, mosses, lichen, tree paste.
When: Saturday, 11th June and Sunday 12th June, 9.30am-4.30pm. The course will be repeated on the weekends of 6th/7th August, and 15th/16th October.
Where: Warranwood.
Cost: $290.
Enquiries: Grit by phone (0477 408665) or email.
Bookings: Cheques, cash, electronic transfer, Paypal or credit card – see the LFC calendar entry for details.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Summary of upcoming events
Over the next week
Heide’s kitchen garden: Thursday, 21st April, 11am-midday.
Italian cooking workshop: Thursday, 21st April, 10am-1pm.
Permablitz 179 (Doncaster).: Saturday, 23rd April, 9am-4.30pm.
Soil matters: Saturday, 23rd April, 2-4.30pm.
Rejuvenate your soils after a hot summer: Wednesday, 27th April, 7-9pm.
Over the next month
Wicking bed workshop: Saturday, 30th April, 9.30am-5pm.
Sourdough bread making workshop: Saturday, 30th April, 10am-1pm.
Gardening for habitat and biodiversity: Saturday, 30th April, 10.30am-1pm.
Preserving olives (Alphington): Sunday, 1st May, 9.30am-midday.
Ian Culbard on permaculture design and practice: Tuesday, 3rd May, 7.15-9.15pm.
Composting workshop (Ringwood): Wednesday, 4th May, 9.30-11am.
Olive magic – preserving olives (Donvale): Wednesday, 4th May, 10am-1pm.
That sugar film: Wednesday, 4th May, 7-8pm.
How to make sense of food labels: Thursday, 5th May, 9.30-11am.
Home composting and worm farming: Thursday, 5th May, 10-11.30am.
Living longer the Mediterranean way: Thursday, 5th May, 2-3pm.
Composting workshop (Croydon): Thursday, 5th May, 6.30-8pm.
Setting up and maintaining a worm farm: Friday, 6th May, 3-5pm.
Permablitz 180 (Thornbury): Saturday, 7th May, 9am-4pm.
Autumn family fair at Yandell Kindergarten: Saturday, 7th May, 10am-4pm.
Permaculture basics: planning your garden: Saturday, 7th May, 11am-midday.
Samira El Khafir: cooking with love: Monday, 9th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
Delicious ajvar: Monday, 9th May, 6.30-8pm.
Mooroolbark growers & weeders present: “bee-keeping for the beginner”: Tuesday, 10th May, 2-3pm.
Angie Chong: I love dumplings: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
Introduction to homemade wine making: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-7.45pm.
Think health … think spelt!: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-8pm.
Backyard honey workshop: Tuesday, 10th May, 6.30-8.30pm.
Shop ethical: Tuesday, 10th May, 7.30-9pm.
Sun Hyland: sensational sauces from scratch: Wednesday, 11th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
An African feast: Wednesday, 11th May, 6.30-8pm.
Keeping chickens in a suburban backyard: Wednesday, 11th May, 7-9pm.
Rita Erlich in conversation with Cameron Smith: Thursday, 12th May, 6.30-7.30pm.
A Tamil feast: Thursday, 12th May, 6.30-8pm.
Italian meat ball demonstration and tasting: Friday, 13th May, 7-8pm.
Backyard chooks for beginners: Saturday, 14th May, 10am-midday.
A taste of Spain: Saturday, 14th May, 11am-midday.
Pasta making for kids: Saturday, 14th May, 11am-midday.
Make your own Vietnamese rice paper rolls for kids: Saturday, 14th May, 1-2pm.
Meet the Makers showcase: Saturday, 14th May, 1-4pm.
Cooking with quinces: Saturday, 14th May, 2-3.30pm.
Olive preserving: Saturday, 14th May, 2-3.30pm.
Streetside brew: Saturday, 14th May, 2.30-6pm.
Tibetan soul: Sunday, 15th May, 4.30-5.30pm.
Organic backyard chook keeping: Sunday, 15th May, 10-11.30am.
A taste of Autumn / Winter home produce at the Plummery: Sunday, 15th May, midday-1pm.
Fermented beverages workshop: Sunday, 15th May, 2-4pm.
Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events.