Permaculture Out West

Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

“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

 

Thanks to all who helped or came to visit at the POW stand at the Maidstone Sustainability Expo on Sunday. We had a good turn out despite the rain and many people asked for the recipes for the drinks we were giving out.

Local Lemonade: (2 buckets)

2kg white sugar
4 litres water
Zest from 12 local lemons
32 Litres cold water
4 litres fresh lemon juice (20-30 lemons)

Prep: Combine sugar, 4ltr water and
zest. Boil until clear. Allow to cool &
then strain. Refrigerate.
Service: add 32 litres water including
ice, between 2 buckets

Middle Eastern Mint:

5 litres boiling water
10 green teabags
~450g fresh local mint
1.25g white sugar
15 litres cold water

Prep: Add tea, mint and sugar to

boiling water. Simmer for ten minutes.
Strain and cool.
Service: Add 15 litres of cold water
including ice.

Lemon Balm and Lemon Verbena:

5 litres boiling water
~400g local lemon balm
~100g local lemon verbena leaves
15 litres cold water

Prep: Add herbs to boiling water.

Simmer for ten minutes. Strain and
cool.
Service: Add 15 litres of cold water
including ice.

The quantities are industrial but it’s easy to scale down and experiment with the herbs that you or your neighbours may have growing in the garden.

Enjoy!

Maribyrnong City Council are running FREE Green Lunchbox Sessions:

Come along to our FREE green lunchbox sessions, and listen to our great line up of presenters.
BYO lunch – healthy snacks provided.

February
Topic: Avoiding toxins in your home environment.
What are some of the most common household toxins and what are the alternatives?
Presenter:  Keith Loveridge,  Maribyrnong city Council Sustainability Officer
Date: Wednesday 23 February 2011, 12.30-1.30pm   Location: Functions Room

March
Topic: Reading your energy bills
Are you being ripped off?  Are there savings to be made? How smart is your Smart Meter?
Presenter:  Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd
Date: Wednesday 23 March 2011, 12.30-1.30pm Location: Functions Room.

April
Topic: Sustainable Clothing
A stitch in time saves money and the environment!
Discover the secrets of ‘Up Fashioning’, ‘Garment Re-birthing’ and ‘Jean-etic Modification’.
Live a less material lifestyle that could save the very fabric of our planet!
Presenter:  Fiona Sicurella, Maribyrnong City Council Sustainability Officer and Fashionista
Date: Wednesday 20 April 2011, 12.30-1.30pm Location: Functions Room

May
Topic: Eco-friendly travel
How to make sure that the planet is still there when you get back.
Presenter:  To be advised
Date: Wednesday  25 May, 2011, 12.30-1.30pm Location: Functions Room.

June
Topic: Cookery for the Weekday Vegetarian
A hot trend overseas!
Lessen the impact of meat-eating on your health and the environment while still enjoying your favourites.
Great tips and recipes that will reduce your footprint and your thigh print!
Presenter:  To be advised.
Date: Wednesday 22 June, 2011, 12.30-1.30pm Location: Functions Room

All FREE green lunchbox sessions are at Maribyrnong City Council Offices, corner Hyde and Napier Sts Footscray unless otherwise specified.

Have you seen a new sticker on the espresso machine at your local cafe? If it’s the Ground to Ground logo it means the cafe owner is happy to give away used coffee grounds, meaning –

* Free nitrogen boost for your compost!
** Making use of an abundant local resource!
*** Diversion of landfill, so curbing methane gas pollution!

Transition Hobsons Bay has been asking cafes to participate in the Ground to Ground program. Since we started in Williamstown & Yarraville, the earliest adopters have been:
• Feedback Cafe & The Corner Store in Yarraville
• The Picnic Table & Novel Kitchen in Williamstown

A google map of participating cafes (including some in the eastern suburbs) is available at groundtoground.org or Ground to Ground Map

Get along to one of these cafes and support their efforts to divert coffee grounds from landfill*!
Most likely if a cafe doesn’t have a magnet up, its because they don’t know about the program…
So ask Transition Hobsons Bay for a Ground to Ground magnet for YOUR favourite local cafe. (transitionhb@gmail.com)

* We suggest picking it up in a bucket.

Transition Hobsons Bay wants to develop a community composting scheme along the lines of Glenda Lindsay’s fabulous Compost Mates. Neighbours organise a roster to pick up all food scraps from a local cafe. Individuals compost at home. Ground to Ground is envisaged to be the first stage of this scheme that all cafes and everyone can participate in.

Cheers to the Cappucino

The Newport Fruit & Vegie swap has been very popular since the first in October 2010. Dozens of people have come together on each third Sunday of the month since.

Surplus resources are shared. Swapping the unusual, such as loqats, cape gooseberries, unusual salad greens and even ferments, builds knowledge. Gardening know-how is swapped. And everyone makes new connections in their community. All that sharing!

The Newport swap has taken off so fast. No doubt the established Western Urban Harvest swap helps. But mostly it’s people new to these swaps. Can you imagine one in every suburb? One every weekend?

Help to Start a new fruit and Vege Swap Up

Transition Hobsons Bay wants to help people set up a swap in their local area. If you are interested then get in touch! It doesn’t take much organising, but its worked well for us to have 4 organisers to share responsibilities. If you don’t already know other people who would be up for it, then we’ll try and play match-maker.

Contact: Find us on facebook, or send us an email to join the swap mailing list – transitionhb@gmail.com