Gowanbrae Community Garden launch celebration

A good crowd of local residents turned out on a cool and blustery day in September to launch the new Gowanbrae Community Garden!

Located on Gowanbrae Drive, down the hill from the Gowanbrae Community and Childrens' Centre, the garden is a place where the community can grow productive and ornamental plants as well as meet, share, connect and learn about food and gardening together.

The launch celebrated the completion of the basic garden infrastructure (landscaping, pathways, table and chairs, garden beds). Local residents, Council staff and Councillors pitched in to plant a huge array of culinary plants, vegetable seedlings and food trees during the morning. Mayor Cr Natalie Abboud made the official speech culminating in the ceremonial planting of a lemon myrtle tree.

The design includes additional features and plants which will be implemented as funding and the capacity of the community garden group allows.

We’re calling for anyone interested in being involved in the garden to get in contact with Andre at andre.braakhuis(at)exemail.com.au

Tamil Feasts Market Stall Launch

We have expanded our Tamil Feasts family!  

Tamil Feasts is a social enterprise that provides employment for recently settled asylum seekers.  9 new participants who are all seeking asylum have started a hospitality training program with us at CERES. 

For 8 weeks this Spring, our Tamil Feasts trainees will be holding a food stall at the CERES Saturday Market.  And they would love to share their food with you. 

We will be serving up a variety of yummy street food to send your taste buds on a journey.  Think dosa’s, freshly made chai and sweet treats.

So come finish off your week, support our new trainees and enjoy a plate of life changing goodness.  

Our first market opens

Market Stall Launch

Saturday 7th September 2019

9am – 2pm

Tamil Feasts Market Stall will run from 7th September until 26th October 2019.

For more information please contact CERES on 9389 0100.

Tamil Feasts - More than just a meal

tamilfeasts.ceres.org.au 

Highlights from the Moreland Local Food Networking and Autumn Celebration on 4 April.

About 40 residents got together to network and hear local food groups tell interesting and inspiring stories about their local food projects at the Merlynston Progress Hall, Coburg on April 4, 2019.

Here are the highlights as well as copies of the presentations and contact details to find out more about each initiative:

• Claudia and Angela from Open Table talked about the nutritious meals they make from surplus food to hold monthly or fortnightly community lunches in Brunswick, Fawkner, Coburg and Glenroy.

If you would like to volunteer to help at any of the community lunches in your area, please email hello@open-table.org or register at www.open-table.org/volunteers

• Rani, Emma, Jane and Bec from the Upfield Urban Forest described how they have transformed three different sites in the Upfield bike track from barren wastelands to cool, shady, beautiful spaces that improve the commuter experience immeasurably and at the same time reduce the urban heat island effect, store water and carbon and increase food security for local residents.

If you would like more information and to get involved in this fantastic initiative, click on this link

• Jen from Fair Share Fare introduced the exciting and innovative new Community Graft project which is all about preserving our food heritage and supporting food security by preventing the loss of existing food and fruit trees and establishing new urban orchards. In the process, the project will foster the intergenerational and intercultural transfer of food growing knowledge and skills. Free grafting workshops have already been held in March and April this year to create a community of ready ‘grafters’.

To find out more and to get involved, contact jenrae@fairsharefare.com

Links to the presentations from the event are provided below:

Local Food Network Presentation 4 April 2019

The Community Graft Presentation 4 April 2019