You can make a difference to the Maribyrnong riding environment right now!

Maribyrnong City Council funded only $2.85 per resident on bike related infrastructure last financial year. In comparison, surrounding councils spent on average $11.95.

With the City of Maribyrnong now a member of IMAP (Inner Melbourne Action Plan) the expectation is now upon them to step up and proactively fund bike facilities to the same degree that the Cities of Melbourne, Yarra, Port Phillip and Stonnington provide.

As a ratepayer and rider in the City of Maribyrnong now is the time for the Council to hear from you if you want more funding to improve the Maribyrnong riding environment.

Click here to tell Maribyrnong City Council you want more expenditure allocated to bike infrastructure in the 2012-13 budget

Saturday 12th May 10 am – 1pm

Yarraville Community Centre, 114 Blackwood St

Join the Urban Bush Carpenters to learn how to make the most of materials at hand, get to grips with hand tools and utilise recycled timber. Gain new skills to construct these items in your own backyard. (Note: items constructed on the day will be donated to Yarraville Community Centre and other community initiatives.

For more information and to RSVP email goodseeds.garden@gmail.com

All you need to bring is sturdy shoes and a gold coin donation!

Six months ago, Greg Karen and Amy moved into the new, ‘green’ home they built on the site of a derelict house in West Footscray.They have the mixed blessing (big project, blank canvas) of starting their new garden from scratch!

Greg is working with Very Edible Gardens on the evolving design which will include a chicken run through an orchard, six raised beds including some bordering a decked area with seating on the edges of them and a pond and rockery with running water.

The blitz will include attaching chicken wire to the chook run and strawyard, making wicking beds and planting them with veggies  and planting fruit trees in the orchard.

We are planning to run workshops on wicking beds and intensive backyard orchard culture.

Feel free to bring any tools you think will come in handy. Please remember to bring your gumboots or similar as out work-in-progress is quite muddy.

Of course, a hearty lunch will be provided and you can stay for drinks and nibbles after.?The house is 10 minutes walk from West Footscray station.

Location : West Footscray
Contact : RSVP to the host for address details – Greg: gjenkins1@hotmail.com Mob: 0407 841 850

The house is 10 minutes walk from West Footscray station.

For more details on Permablitzes head to http://www.permablitz.net/

Just how do you maximise your harvest in a minimum of space? And which plants will do best in pots or other tight spaces? We look at various ways of gardening in containers, choosing suitable fruit and vegetable varieties that not only taste great but will beautify your balcony or courtyard.

FREE workshop. Bookings required at www.mysmartgarden.eventbrite.com or call 9932 1142.

Moonee Valley and Hobsons Bay City Council’s My Smart Garden program helps residents use their backyards or balconies to grow their own food, shade their homes, use water wisely and recycle wastes. For more free events, gardening advice, prizes and discounts from local nurseries join My Smart Garden at www.mysmartgarden.org.au

Calling all west-side knitters/ crocheters or wanna be-s!
Our May Wild West Woolies Meet Up is this Sunday 13 May

Please note revised time and venue details:
May’s meet up Sun 13 May 1pm-4pm will be at Incineratior Gallery, 180 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds
and check out POW member Rayna Fahey’s “It’s Never Too Late To Mend” exhibition whilst you’re there!

RSVP on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/288969634511388/

Bring along a small plate of something to share for afternoon tea

Male knitters/ crocheters most welcome too!

Feel free to invite your other west-side pals who might be interested too.

Maribyrnong Council has opened for submissions on the proposed Kindersmith Reserve redevelopment. The significant change will be the demolition of the old Howard Kingham Lodge retirement home in order to create more green space.

Whilst it is great to see this well-used park having a thorough clean up, it is a pity to see there is no plans to introduce any edible components to the park.

Submissions are due Monday 7th May (which is today!) so get in quick.

Full details on the City of Maribyrnong website.

Darebin Homemade Food and Wine Festival – Backyard Harvest events

POW has started a Mamabake group for the west – MEOW! Mamabake Epicurean Out West
(Dads most welcome as well as Mama’s welcome despite the name!)

If you’re not familiar with Mamabake check out the website and Facebook page -
http://www.mamabake.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MamaBakeHQ

Basically it’s a genius idea to make busy family’s lives better. The concept is to share wholesome big batch cooking amongst a group that families can freeze and eat. There are a few ways to do it:
- get together on a designated day for some big batch cooking and divvy it up amongst the attendees to take home to their families
OR
- each member does their big batch cooking at home and everyone gets together to dish up and swap

MEOW is primarily being organised via a Facebook Group page at the moment which you can find here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/363796557005412/

But if you’re not on Facebook and interested in being kept in the loop please contact Angela via achiew [at] me [dot] com or call 0488 54 9922.

MAY MEAL SWAP

Our very first MEAL SWAP has been scheduled for Sun 27 May. Bring your pot of cooked veggie delicious delights to share, something to dish it up with, and enough containers to fill for your family. We’ll line em up and dish up!

To be apart of it, RSVP by 8pm Friday 18 May to the event on Facebook OR if you’re not on Facebook please email achiew [at] me [dot] com or call 0488 54 9922. Remember to let us know how many adults/ kids there are in your family. We’ll tally how many adults and kids are involved and let everyone know total quantities to cook for.

So what’s in season? Cumquats, feijoa, lemons, limes, passionfruit, persimmons, rhubarb, chestnuts, walnuts, beetroot, eggplants, fennel, garlic, leek, lettuces, olives, pumpkins, silver beet, chillies, bay leaf, parsley, mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage & much more!

Other goodies to swap & share… Fresh eggs, something you’ve baked – perhaps some bread, cake or biscuits? What about some delicious homemade jam, chutney, cordial or ginger beer? Don’t forget worm wee, compost, coffee grounds, seeds, seedlings, cuttings & flowers and more…

Anything and everyone welcome!

When
Saturday 5th May 2012 10:00am to 11:30am

Where
Bristow Reserve, Pilgrim St, Seddon (Corner of John St)
Walk from Middle Footscray or Seddon station (map)

From The Good Seeds