Hurstbridge Farmgate in Hurstbridge, Victoria, Australia | Home improvement

Hurstbridge Farmgate

Locality: Hurstbridge, Victoria, Australia

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24.01.2022 Planners say pandemic shows farmland on Melbourne’s fringes is cruciala 1/4 of Australia’s food production comes from city fringe land. New research published this month from RMIT. Hi Farmgate Friends Don’t say much these days unless it’s important!... We know so many of you who are committed to a fair, secure, local food system & are working passionately to make that a reality where you live Do you remember that time in lockdown when you made heartfelt promises to yourself that you’d do things differently when this pandemic was over, cause the world had changed & you weren’t letting it go back to where it was...... well here’s your chance! Its local election year - WHAT ALREADY ? you say. To most of us they are all a bit whatevs just get the vote in the mail to avoid the fine & as long as they collect the bins I’m happy That works nicely in most years but not in this one. This year of all years in the history of our planet is the one where lots of us need to step up & actually make a difference, especially to the local food system where we live & work. Why the food system? ..read on In recent weeks we have seen our traditional food supply chains falter & accessing hyperlocal, nutrient dense food has been uppermost in many of our the minds. More than ever we need to elect a local government that is NOT going to comfortably slide back into business as usual while its citizens & local businesses are pivoting with amazing innovation & determination that is already re-shaping our collective future. You don’t need to stand for Council as you can make a difference by demanding truth & transparency from your post pandemic Councillor or budding Candidate about where they stand on local food security, provenance & the availability of clean, locally grown fresh produce. In a post pandemic Nillumbik we will be done with greensheening Councillors, Candidates & Administrators who talk endlessly about local & sustainable but struggle to translate that into meaningful action. Folks just imagine if our local government prioritised the health & well being of its communities by ensuring hyperlocal, sustainably grown, nutrient rich food was available every, single day for the plates of all its citizens.

24.01.2022 Share your Edible Waste and become part of the local soil food web! Help create some delicious soil for the Hurstbridge Edible Hub Community Garden Deets

22.01.2022 Hi Farmgate Friends A few of you have told me you’ve started growing veggies in your backyard & I even seen some so as the transition to cool season veggies starts now I thought I’d share a few thoughts with you I’ve been planting my cool season seeds & even tho it’s hard to think about Winter atm you’ll need to get planning now if you are growing them from seed. Although it’s still hot & very dry the daylight hours are decreasing & plants are responding to this sea...sonal shift by slowing down. Seedlings that you buy are generally advanced to about 6 weeks so that’s how far ahead you’ll need to start planting your seeds at home. From today that will be a planting out in the garden time of late March. Like me you probs don’t have a lot of spare room in the garden atm as the Summer veggies are still kicking on So starting in seed trays gives you the option of getting veggies going early & while it’s still hot you can move seedlings into shade as needed & keep them well watered until space is ready to plant out. ALL brassicas & Asian Greens will need exclusion netting from the moment they pop thru the soil, never ever leave them uncovered as White Butterflies & Small Grey Cabbage Moth are around for awhile yet. This also means u won’t resort to spraying Succession,succession,succession is the key to having a steady supply of winter veggies so don’t plant 30 caulis all at once, just remember to plant a few seed trays with a mix of veggies every few weeks. Also if something eats your veggies or they die it isnt a disaster as you know you’ve got a succession coming along. The good thing about Late Sumner & Autumn is the soil is nice & warm. Many Winter veggies have long growing seasons thru the cooler weather but they do like to get a strong start in warm soil.Just don’t let them dry out or that will send them racing to seed. Happy planning & planting

22.01.2022 Hi Farmgate Friends We’re handing over our food garden to these awesome humans for as long as they need it Follow Greasy Zoes to find out all the exciting deets.....

21.01.2022 We’ve got a beaut story in this weeks Local Food Connect - Melbourne newsletter about our garden. We had the pleasure of spending a morning walking & talking with writer and storyweaver, Judy Vizzari She also met our friends and newbie gardeners who we are mentoring & sharing our 30 years of knowledge & skills with-you’ll have to click to see who it is If you haven’t signed up for this free newsletter then jump on line & join over 2,500 other people. Its got heaps of... local food info for NE Melbourne,stories of local gardens, short food & gardening courses, market deets & more -it’s free! https://localfoodconnect.org.au/comm/paula-and-john-mcleod/ See more

21.01.2022 Sounds familiar..........

18.01.2022 That’s us sharing food stories today at the Alphington Farmers Market with food advocate Devita Davison visiting from Foodlab Detroit for the Sustainable Living Festival. A great free presentation about the challenges of changing the food system at the grassroots level. Foodlab is powered by a strong belief that good food is local,seasonal & accessible to everyone. Inspiration from others is always energising & thx to Sustain Australia & Melbourne Farmers Markets for making innovators like Devita Davison accessible to everyone in the community.

18.01.2022 It’s Sprinter time in Australia...... The season in August/Sept between Winter/Spring when all sorts of random things happen in the garden-like the asparagus which have been popping up erratically for a few weeks. These plump spears weathered a polar blast last Sunday Want to delve further into it all then check out botanist & Royal Botanic Gdns Vic Director- Tim Entwisles take on Sprinter and Sprummer here:... https://blog.csiro.au/five-seasons-in-australia-meet-sprin/ #timesarechanging#savourtheseasonalshift#asparagus#inmygarden

16.01.2022 Today’s view is the Draft Green Wedge Management Plan & finalising a draft response for edits for a community food group What’s food got to do with it everything really! In Nillumbik we are without a Sustainable Food Strategy. Ratepayers of Nillumbik are demanding clean,nutrient rich food, transparent regenerative farm practices,localised structures of food production and their basic human right to access a healthy diet. To achieve this a Sustainable Food Strategy that ...includes strong underpinning policies that take a whole systems approach to regenerating the agro-eco system (soil,water, biodiversity,climate change)is critical. A robust strategy that is not hidden in a Health and Well Being Plan but can do the heavy lifting needed to navigate the uncertainties of the future. If it is intended as stated that the GWMP is to be one of the most important in Council’s strategic planning hierarchy & will be intrinsic to its way of doing business (pg 43) then the absence of a Sustainable Food Strategy as one of the protections for the Green Wedge is a disappointing oversight. Time for lunch - better get something to eat

15.01.2022 Lost for words as Colesworth dump plastic into the environment in the shape of toys during #plasticfreejuly - how insulting

15.01.2022 It’s Deep Winter & taking a moment to reflect on our connection to the subtle seasonal shift of the solstice. This linocut that I bought at St Andrews market a few years ago is a favourite of mine. ‘’The Wishmakers by local artist Megan Campbell will be familiar to those who visited farmgate.

15.01.2022 Hey Farmgate Friends February is a big month for inspiring conversations & festivals about the future of food. I know many of you are passionate about all things local /sustainable & there are so many amazing initiatives happening around Melbourne supported by local councils,individuals & organisations. A lot is happening so if you want to get blown away by all the grass roots action,see what is possible & keep up to date with events,visiting speakers & interesting snippet...s then I’d recommend following the not for profit Sustain: The Australian Food Network As well as the massive month long National Sustainable Living Festival check out these other happenings in Melbs in Feb festival21 our future thru food on Feb 1&2 mix of free +$ sessions at The Meat Market Alphington Farmers' Market - the Melbourne Food Hub is hosting a free talk by food advocate Devita Davison of FoodLab Detroit on Feb 10 @ 10-11am

15.01.2022 Hi Farmgate Friends Tomato season is definitely in full swing & so it’s time to start getting creative & bottle the delicious flavour of Summer tomatoes into a Homemade Tomato Sauce Talking to Kelly from Under the Pickle Tree we came up with the idea of a fun hands on class at her gorgeous new cooking school in Panton Hill... Not a passata making class but a real homemade tomato sauce to have on the table to use throughout the year Imagine having your own bottles of a traditional flavour or maybe spicy or even a Middle Eastern blend sauce. If you have your own tomatoes then bring them to use but if you don’t have any you can still come as I will be donating as needed from my garden What a great chance to experience the cooking school & be guided by Kelly’s preserving expertise & learn sterilising & sealing bottles in a relaxed small group Ideal if you are a beginner & even if you are experienced it’s always so much more fun cooking tomatoes with others! It’s on Saturday 17 March from 1-5pm $80 be quick for this one, only 8 places. Jump onto the @underthepickletree fb page or contact Kelly 0418534511 or [email protected] to book!

13.01.2022 Very sad farewell recently to our beautiful much loved piggy friend & helper of 18 years- TIggy Thanks to Vet David for such gentle final care. Here’s a few snaps of Tiggy’s favourite things especially eating tomatoes,apples, swimming & hanging with his brother Poppy! He was in our family from just a piglet & brought such joy to us & to many of our Farmgate friends. Age eventually caught up with him & he is greatly missed by Poppy

13.01.2022 Hey Farmgate Friends We’ve been pretty quiet for awhile about Hurstbridge Farmgate & for those who remember it’s now 18 months since we were slammed shut by our Council with an $180,000 fine if we sold one more carrotWe were also advised that we grew more food than we could consume ourselves & could be required to dismantle our food growing garden beds. We live in strange times that’s for sure... But hey anyone who knows us will understand how super excited we are that Hurstbridge Farmgate is one of several case studies that have been selected for new research being undertaken by Sustain Australia of 26 peri-urban Councils to identify the barriers & enablers to growing food. Ours is a critical test case & it will now be fully researched in the context of planning & the food system on the peri urban fringe. Of course we’d love to have been an example of an enabler but as our Council chose to close us we’re an example of the barriers, but that’s totally ok because it’s the reality of Council’s approach that needs to be examined. The final research will be presented at the national Urban Agricultural Forum in Melbourne in October 2020.

12.01.2022 Know your baker, know your bread ..... Thanx A Local Baker St Andrews for ditching the takeaways

11.01.2022 Hi Farmgate Friends This is a great story about our very local food system It’s a fact that we all have to eat everyday & so are part of the worlds massive food system. We also now get it that how we each choose to shop for our food impacts this system in a multitude of ways... The growing,raising,processing,packaging and then transporting to markets or as supermarket home delivery contributes about 1/4 of the greenhouse gases humans generate each year Farmers Markets go a long way in helping us buy local,sustainably produced food and to support Victorian small scale farmers But even that food has to get to market Eltham Farmers' Market have begun offsetting the CO2 emissions generated by their stall holders travelling to market thru forest regeneration Check out this great short article about how they are doing this,a list of where their stall holders come from & other ways they are working to make the market as sustainable as possible. ` The Eltham Farmers Market is weekly and that means fresh food is available from local producers for the community every single weekend EFM is powered by volunteers & is one of the many not for profit initiatives supporting the local food system through Local Food Connect - Melbourne https://localfoodconnect.org.au/e/offsetting-co2-emissions/

10.01.2022 243 days from seed to plate.... That’s an aha moment about tonight’s Roasted Capsicum soup. Seeds were planted on August 2nd 2018 & the red capsicums picked from my garden today April 1 2019 & roasted for soup. If you value food and the extraordinary journey it takes to get on your plate then please make sure you have your say about the future of food production in Victoria. Everyone in the community can contribute to the Victorian Gov consultation about protecting strate...gic agricultural land within 100km of Melbourne CBD. Those of us living in the Green Wedge & Peri Urban areas may not be aware that 59% of Victoria’s vegetables are grown in both those areas. So tell them what u think before 23 April because this is important. https://engage.vic.gov/protecting-melbournes-ag-land

07.01.2022 LOVE living in the Green Wedge LOVE visiting the Green Wedge LOVE working in the Green Wedge I heard all these responses at a community info meeting this week but didn’t hear many say I love the Green Wedge so much that I am putting in a response to the draft Green Wedge Management Plan Well time is running out to show your love................. Did you know that only 1 in 13 people usually respond to community consultations Don’t be one of the 12 who just love the ...Green Wedge but leave it to others to save it for the future - get onto it as your chance to have a say runs out on AUGUST 11 participate.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/gwmp that’s a kookaburra in my green wedge(RCZ) garden!

06.01.2022 Hi Farmgate Friends did you know it requires 370 sq metres of land to feed one person on a well balanced vegetarian diet for one year* We don’t really need to say anymore but as you listen to this current SBS report don’t let the the irony of our closure escape you........... * John Jeavons is a world leader in bio intensive growing methods-well worth googling him & his books The Sustainable Vegetable Garden & How to Grow More Vegetables (than you ever thought possible on less land with less water than you can imagine)

04.01.2022 Hi Farmgate Friends Food is political & as we know local governments can make or break their local food systems. Let’s get local food back on the table in the Oct council elections. ... How would you change the local food system in Nillumbik? What would you like to ask your candidates about their commitment to ensuring Nillumbik residents have access to a fair, safe & sustainable local food system. Would appreciate your thoughtful contribution to this short survey from local community food group Local Food Connect. Pls share with your friends

04.01.2022 It’s midsummer tomato time and as usual the cherry ones are winning the abundance race When I’m working among the veggies I often think about what I’m going to make with them so here is a delicious idea for cherry tomatoes. Now you will need to trust me on this one as I know your mind will tell you otherwise before your tastebuds and tummy get a chance to vote It’s sweet honey and cherry tomato frozen yoghurtdon’t stop reading ‘cause tomatoes are fruit. Whack it in a cone...,sprinkle something on top & yes it’s a yum dessert. What you absolutely must do is use ripe, sweet homegrown or farmers market cherry toms as the store bought plastic ones won’t work I used Jaune Flamme yellow variety only because I had a lot of them & so named the recipe Yellow Flame Frozen Yoghurt this is my tweaking of an on line recipe Ingredients 325gms sweet ripe cherry tomatoes (should make 3/4 cup of purée) 1/4 cup honey 2 cups thick Greek yoghurt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Small pinch each, ginger,cinnamon & nutmeg Method (makes approx 1 litre) 1 Halve the tomatoes & place on a baking paper lined tray(leave skins on) 2 Roast @ 180C until soft,juicy & just turning golden brown. Don’t over cook as they will taste bitter 3 When cooked,cool & then purée including skins & the sweet juices on the tray. 4 If after purée you can see seeds push through a strainer to get a smooth mixture 5 Chill for 10 minutes then mix with yoghurt,honey,vanilla & spices. 6 Churn in ice cream maker or use your own manual method. 7 If you don’t want to freeze the yoghurt the tomato mixture can just be swirled thru the yoghurt Well I liked it so would love to know if you make it & what your tweaks were

02.01.2022 FREE live sesh Sunday 13th Sept @ 10 am. Register to reserve a spot! This is just one of a heap of live sessions dropping on line for the Grow it Local Festival running Sep 1 - Nov 30 2020