Posts Tagged ‘local food’
Melbourne Farmers’ Markets: March
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on March 9th, 2010
Source: Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets
March 2010 Newsletter:
At last a little Autumnal respite from the heat and humidity of the last few months…now some gentle rain but not too much to affect grape ripening and soft fruits in season. Every season has it’s sensitive balances; when one variety needs a particular set of conditions, sure enough the next needs just the opposite.
So make the most of the most prolific time of year while we’re spoilt by it; stone fruit is sensational, berries are in with a vengeance, the quality of early apples is superb and the variety and quantity of tomatoes is staggering! On that note, the Kennedy family from Corop are back with their roma tomatoes for sauce and bottling at just two markets this year – Sat 6 Veg Out & Sat 20 Gasworks.10 kilo boxes are just $12 or $10 for over 5. Call Pat to order on 5484 8293.
Also at Veg Out will be Rippon Lea Estate having a stall with heritage apple tree display and sales. It’s leading up to the Open Day in Elsternwick on 14th March. That’s two weeks before Petty’s Orchard Open Day in Templestowe on the 28th. It may seem surprising that these two orchards are in the inner ‘burbs but not so long ago, before the sea of housing estates gobbled up farmland, there were many more. Melbourne itself, of course, was sensibly sited with easy proximity to the productive land. Makes you question the sense of all that housing sprawl now right on top of it as we have to bring food to the city from further and further afield…
In triumphs of the month, the fabulous Holy Goat Cheese and Gundowring Icecream have done it again at the Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Produce Show and walked away with Champion Cheese and Icecream respectiveley. Congrats also to Berry’s Creek (who are joining us from this month at Gasworks) for three gold medal blues and Boosey Creek for a swag of silverware.
The current Newsletter can be downloaded from our website in PDF format.
Tags: farmers' markets, local food
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Melbourne Farmers’ Markets: February
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on February 5th, 2010
Source: Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets
February 2010 Newsletter:
Our thoughts this month are will all those who suffered and are still grappling with the aftermath of last Summer. Not only the fires themselves but the extreme conditions of heat this time last year. We know it’s a long slow road to recovery and we’ll stick with you.
‘Tis the season to be bottling, preserving, jamming and pickling while things are plentiful which means buying in bulk. As well as simply sinking your teeth into fabulous peaches, plums and nectarines, they’re perfect right now to stew and freeze or make chutneys and jams. Raspberries, blueberries and Sylvan berries freeze beautifully too and will keep you smiling in winter.
It’s been fantastic to see so much Victorian garlic around this year…have you stocked up yet? A skein or two hanging in a cool spot will last for months…unlike the garlic from both China and Spain I saw in my local supermarket this week, otherwise boasting its Aussie pride! Other happy dark dwellers are the freshly dug onions and new season spuds which keep well in a cupboard. Then there’s zucchini, eggplant, beans and cucumbers for pickling (look up a CWA cook book or Pietro Demaio’s “Preserving the Italian Way” for hints). You’ll also find radishes, Asian greens, lettuces, rocket, kohl rabi, fresh pistachios, field tomatoes, corn, basil, coriander & much more in Summer spoils around the markets now.
The true season of apples starts this month with varieties such as Ginger Gold, Snow, Gravenstein and Jonathan strutting their stuff first. Nashi and pears will follow soon. To immerse yourself more and revel in all things pome fruit get along to the annual Petty’s Orchard Antique Apple Festival in Templestowe (yes, Templestowe) on Sunday 28th March 10am-4pm. You’ll find more info on facebook.
And on matters of modern networking, you can now follow the Victorian Farmers’ Market Association on facebook [http://tinyurl.com/VFMA-FB] & twitter [twitter.com/VicFarmrsMarkts] for interesting food articles, local food issues and events. MCFM needs to catch up with technology and will be along shortly!
The current Newsletter can also be downloaded from our website in PDF format.
Tags: farmers' markets, local food
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Melbourne Farmers’ Markets: January
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on January 13th, 2010
Source: Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets
January 2010 Newsletter:
Greetings and best wishes for a fabulous year to come.
Here’s a New Year resolution I prepared earlier…get to a farmers’ market every week in 2010 and bring someone new along as often as possible to help spread the word. Easy! No doubt you’ll be heading in some direction across Victoria this summer so check out the Victorian Farmers’ Markets Association website www.vicfarmersmarkets.org.au before you go so you can find the local spoils and make the most of supporting regional Victoria.
January will be overflowing with seasonal colour and flavour so revel in new season raspberries, capsicums, blueberries, beans, tomatoes, peaches, cucumbers, strawberries, potatoes, eggplant, pistachios, garlic, apricots, lettuce, plums and zucchini – what a sensational range we are spoilt by at this time of year.
This month has five Saturdays so note that there are no MCFMs on Saturday 30th but do find another on the VFMA website and get along.
Please give your feedback – this tick is the symbol which celebrates the 250+ accredited stallholders so far and, in 2010, is for markets themselves to apply. We need your help to make sure claims to be a genuine farmer, producer or farmers’ market are just that. If you don’t see this sign on a farmers’ market stall ask the stallholder directly…are you accredited as the grower or maker of what you sell? Let us know your feelings about how we are doing around the State because that’s the key to our integrity and our future. We’re farmers’ markets and proud of it! Cheers and thanks.
Tags: farmers' markets, local food
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Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets: December
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on December 4th, 2009
Source: Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets
December 2009 Newsletter:
What a year it’s been. It’s been very tough for so many and we sincerely thank you for your support. There’s plenty of good cheer now however…the VFMA accreditation launch saw around 200 producers and artisan makers awarded around Victoria. At our markets, thats over 75% so we are well on our way to the 90% required to gain accreditation for the markets themselves. This will be achieved early in 2010 when the few stallholders whose strength is not paperwork, get their application in! Please help us by spreading the word to look for the signs and support authentic markets…
So the summer spoils roll into the markets and are selling fast so put orders in or miss out! The season welcomes cherries, nectarines, peaches, onions, berries, lettuces, and zucchini with new garlic, basil, spuds, beans, peas, and capsicums just around the corner. Not too mention the free range meat & eggs, organic dairy and handmade cheeses. Then there’s also all the fabulous goodies so perfect for the pantry and as gifts; breads, mayonnaise, meringues, wine, nougat, bikkies, beers, juice, Xmas puds, mince pies and cakes, dips, pates, flowers, olive oil, olives, nuts, dried fruit and so much more.
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Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets: November
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on November 9th, 2009
Source: Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets
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Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets: October
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on October 16th, 2009
Source: Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets
View this newsletter online.
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Melbourne Community Farmers’ Market: July 09
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on July 6th, 2009
Source: Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets
July markets highlights include mandarins, ginseng, fennel, hazelnuts, all the brassica family, leeks, mushies, kiwi fruit and spuds. Hello to Leadoux free range turkeys at Veg Out and Slow, working up to all 4 in time for December.
Download the July newsletter.
Tags: Events, farmers' markets, local food
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The Food Gardeners’ Alliance – Grow your own food locally
Posted in Models, RDAG by Devin Maeztri on April 16th, 2009
The Food Gardeners Alliance (FGA) is an excellent example of a coalition that to lobby against the water restrictions for food gardeners in Victoria. FGA began in Summer 2007 when Melbourne gardener, Marika Wagner, was struggling to look after her vegetable patch.
Marika like many others, rents her inner suburban home and finds it particularly difficult to grow vegetables when water tanks are either out of reach financially or not worthwhile installing in a temporary situation. Marika decided that concessions were necessary for vegetable growing and so The Food Gardeners Alliance was formed.
Representing a collection of home-produce gardeners, horticulturalists, landscape designers and individuals, their first collective appeal collected over 3,000 signatures for the ‘Water for Producepetition that was presented to the Victorian State Government on 13 March 2008.
The FGA are currently working with community, government and other organisations to develop guidelines for sensible water use and to bring the needs and benefits of local food production to the forefront of the public consciousness.
To find out more about the FGA email foodgardeners@gmail.com.
This is from “Social Innovations in Victorian Food Systems”, case studies by Ferne Edwards.
Tags: community gardening, consumption, Food, Food Gardeners Alliance, local food, urban agriculture
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Sprout Community Market
Posted in Events by Maeztri on November 12th, 2008
What: Sprout Community Market
When: Thursday, 20 November/2.30- 7.00 pm (monthly market will start on Feb 09)
Where: Sprout Community garden (right next to Thornbury train station)
The market will provide fresh organically grown produce, seedlings, dried herbs, locally made crafts and arts, music, food, activities, etc.
Come and make it work! You can also help circulating the flyer! You are most welcome to put your excess produce on their community stall and to busk on the day.
To get involved or have a stall please contact Zanni Waldstein, Market Coordinator – Sprout Community Gardens at 9484 5565 or zwaldstein@mindaustralia.org.au.
Tags: community, farmers market, Food, fresh food, local food, market, organic grwon produce
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Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets
Posted in Events by Maeztri on November 6th, 2008
Melbourne Community Farmers Markets provide all you need to know about accessing genuine farmers markets weekly in Melbourne, managed by their own community group.
- Veg Out, St Kilda 1st Saturday every month
- Collingwood Children’s Farm 2nd Saturday every month
- Gasworks, Albert Park 3rd Saturday every month
- Slow Food Melbourne Abbotsford Convent 4th Saturday every month
For more information dowload the November newsletter And it’s plastic bag free!!!
Tags: community, farmers' markets, Food, local food, Melbourne
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