Permaculture Out West

Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

Have a look at the map of Ground to Ground cafes

http://tiny.cc/leyyc

Ground To Ground

Map of participating cafes returning used coffee grounds to the soil.
Great for the garden!
For more information about this program visit http://groundtoground.org

Through the 3 Pillars Network a National Sustainable Food Summit was held in Melbourne on 5th and 6th of April 2011.

Speakers included:

Talks can be viewed through Vimeo link http://vimeo.com/23244839

A conference Report is also available through the 3 Pillars Network Website: http://www.3pillarsnetwork.com.au/p8_Knowledge-Base.html?&entry=444

Cultivating Community is pleased to  invite you to the launch of  ‘A  Guide for Community Food Enterprises in the West’. The guide is the result of the Western Region Community Food Enterprise Projectfunded by the Victorian Government’s Department of Planning and Community Development. Come and find out more about this  new guide that  offers interested communities and organisations in the western region of Melbourne a range ofuseful  information  to support them  in establishing a community food enterprise to address food insecurity.

Saturday June 11 9am – 12
Cost :$25 or $20 for Permaculture Melbourne members or concession card holders. BYO lunch.
Venue: Ballarat East (to be advised after registration)
Ian and Pat have built a simple aquaponics system using mostly salvaged and recycled materials. Rainbow trout live in a sunken 1000 litre tank; water from the tank is cycled up to four bathtubs full of ‘B’ grade blue metal into which vegetables are planted. After 15 minutes pumping up, the pump goes off and the water trickles back into the tank, aerating the water and keeping the fish happy. The system was built from scratch by Ian so this workshop will include his design tips as well as practical observations of how the system is working. We’ll discuss the general principles of setting up aquaponics systems, then
build a simple system on the day!
One of our members who wants a system will buy the pump and other articles, so we all get to actually put a system together. If you like learning by doing – this workshop is for you!

Everyone attending the workshop will be in the running for a door prize “Easy Aquaponics – Back Yard Fish and Food” donated by the Good Earth Book Club (the folks who bring you Earth Garden magazine) We will also have copies of the book for sale on the day for $20. The workshop will include print-outs of some useful articles. For address and any questions, please call Ian or Pat on 5333 2073. For bookings, email bpgworkshops@gmail.com to obtain a registration form

“Come along and discover how the food you eat can have a big impact on the environment, the economy and the community. Hear from expert presenters and local stories on some good choices that we can all make every day to eat more sustainably, eat well and save money. This workshop will give you practical information and includes hands-on activities.”

1st session: Ceres

2nd session: you can choose from one of the following:

Deep Green Permaculture How nature works and how to create a natural harmonious ecological system  using backyard orchard culture principles.with edible produce growing in abundance and all year round.

Or visit web-site- Deep Green Permaculture

It’s Autumn. Days are getting shorter. The weather is getting cooler. -and the last of the summer fruit is ripe, the pumpkins are nearly ready and the basil just might hold out for another couple of weeks. Its a time of plenty but with lean times ahead: Come and join us in cooking the best of what the season has to offer and do some planning for the cold seasons to follow.

Date 15th May

Time 10.30 – 12.30pm

Venue: Maidstone Community Centre
21 Yardley Street, Maidstone 3012.

Cost $20 for POW members, $25 for non members

RSVP please email workshops@powvic.org to register a place.

Working Bee #2 – Muck-up Day!

At Werribee Park we are lucky to have access to large ‘deposits’ of manure, courtesy of the many horses that visit the equestrian centre.

To prepare the ground for new trees that are in the nursery beds waiting to be planted out this winter, we would like to spread some of this fine fertiliser over the next few weeks.

Can you help muck in for our muck-raking? It will be down at the Orchard on:

Date: Saturday, April 9, 1-4pm.
Location: The orchard is part of Werribee Mansion Werribee Park, K Road, Werribee, 5-10 minutes walk from the carpark.
Map: http://www.werribeeparkheritageorchard.org.au/orchard/maps.html
BYO gloves and water bottle.

What?  NEIGHBOURHOOD STREET PARTY

Where? Whole of Radio Street, Maidstone (road closed for the afternoon until 4pm)

When? Sunday 6th March 2011, 12-3.00 pm (rain or shine)

You can be as involved or uninvolved as you want. This is organised by us for us!!

SAUSAGE SIZZLE

Organised games Kids AND adults.)

fun challenges
quizzes
limbo
egg and spoon race
street ball games Prizes!! Kids encouraged to ’dress up’ in fancy dress. Kids
bring your bikes, scooters, skate boards in the street which will be closed to traffic. Board Games (chess, scrabble …)And more …..

GAMES TABLES— Chess, Scrabble, Checker and other board games.

SHARED FOOD TABLE –bring a plate of food to share and your own chair

ABUNDANCE TABLE (bring any abundance of fruit and vegetables from your garden to share)

FREE STUFF TABLE (bring any small items you no longer want but is still good and/or help yourself to anything from the table you can use.)

GETTING TO KNOW YOU TABLE— grab a sticker and write your name and street name if you like—makes it easier for everyone to get to know you and for your to know your neighbours..

Bring a chair or picnic blanket. Nothing is for sale and this is a free event so please bring your own drinks. This event is organised by neighbours for neighbours. Can’t wait to meet you—see you on the 6th March.

Further info call :Edith Pringle 0415 24950/ 93469652 or Barry Armstrong 93177514, Europe Tokatlidis 93469744 or Susan Lau 93175390

Are you overladen with lemons? Or coveting your neighbour’s rhubarb perhaps? Too much worm tea or compost. Chooks laying like crazy and you don’t know what to do with the eggs? You can get into the spirit of sharing and swapping your surplus produce with friends and neighbours at this summer food swap.

First Saturday of each month – the Spotswood Farmers Market is just next door.

9.30 am to 10.30 am. 5 March – 2 April – 7 May – 4 June

Find us at the Spotswood Community House, cnr Melbourne Rd & McLister St, Spotswood.

Melways ref 41 J12.. (Next to the Spotswood Primary School).

Contact Madeleine on 0409 712 003 or Julie on 9391 2613.

Email coordinator@spotswood.com.au

An initiative of The Spotswood Community House & Newport Organic Collective Inc

WORKSHOP – THE ART OF MAKING A GREAT SUGO & GNOCCHI

Learn to make the mother of all tomato sauces – Sugo – with LouLou. LouLou has channelled generations of Nonna’s to perfect this super intense recipe. She will also demonstrate how to make Nonna’s home made gnocchi using a foolproof recipe.

It’s a small group, hands on, and everyone will get a jar of freshly made ORGANIC sugo to take home. We finish off with a bowl of freshly made gnocchi smothered in fresh, rich sugo, parsley and parmesan cheese. It doesn’t get any better.

COMPULSORY BOOKING FEE $20 Full refund with 48 hours notice.

DATE Saturday March 5, 10 am to 1 pm, includes light lunch.

VENUE Spotswood Community House,
Cnr Melbourne Rd & McLister Ave

BOOKINGS Contact Julie on 9391 2613 or email
coordinator@spotswood.com.au

An initiative of the Newport Organic Collective Inc & Spotswood Community House

10-11.30am (first saturday of every month)

Rotunda, Pilgrim St park (Bristow reserve) Seddon (see attached map thanks to Rob)

 

1) last month we learnt about the edible weed perselane which contains more omega-3 fatty acids than another other plant and is delish in salad …

2) some local cafes now have a Ground-to-ground sticker on there coffee machine. Ask them to take home their coffee grinds for your garden/compost. Plump, Feedback, Corner store…stay tuned

3) 12th of March is a Melbourne community swap meet at Fed square 11am – check it out

4) LOOKING for someone else to help host the urban swap meet … all you need to do is meet and greet people!

5) am thinking of making a western urban harvest flag/banner. is anyone interested in sewing a triangle with a letter on it? of bright, colourful, fruity flare

6) did I hear somebody mention figs?! oh boy

 

Whatever you’ve got to share – everyone and anything is welcome -

 

plums, figs, zucchinis, green yellow and red tomatoes, rocket, rhubarb, lemons & limes, eggs, honey, manure, coffee grinds, preserves, jam, homemade sourdough bread or biscuits, companion plants, seeds & seedlings, worm juice, herbs (think small bunches or root stock) and fruit and veg of course! and maybe a thermos of tea!

 

Hope to see you and your little urban harvest swappers for some community bonding and a great chat!

 

neesh

Where to find us