Hi everyone,

We had a fantastic and very busy week last week, and we’re happy to be settling back down into our normal rhythm again.

The barbecue is clean and packed back away (for the next few months) and we’ve done the tidying up …. so we’ll just be sitting back in our office chairs and kicking up our feet (haha - we can only wish!!!).

If you couldn’t make it to Alphington Open Studios last weekend, luckily it runs for two weekends. We’ll have 4 artists here again this Saturday and Sunday as part of this neighbourhood-wide event. Find the map here to check all the spaces and artists you can visit across Alphington. And a special thanks to the Community Bank in Queens Parade for supporting the event this year.

We’ve still got some fun things coming up … another Op Shop Tour on Thursday 4 December (come along and do some sustainable Christmas shopping), Christmas Lunch and Christmas Carols. Check out the posts below for details. Also John is feeling better and going to run a final Men’s Breakfast in December.

Also … we’re starting to focus on programming for next year. If you have a great idea for a program or workshop, have skills to share and/or are keen to volunteer to run something etc. please get in touch asap.

For example, we’re very interested in some more after school activities running here - music lessons, tutoring etc.

We love all new ideas. Email info@alphington.org.au or call us, 9499 7227.

Also coming up with week we have:

• Garden to Plate is on today from 11.30am-1pm. Book in online here!

• Our Toy Library is open Tuesday from 1-3pm. Book your toys by 11am for easy pick up.

• AAA Bowls at Alphington Bowls Club, Line Dancing at Alphington Scout Hall and Alphington Playgroup here at ACC all on Wednesday from 10am-12pm

• Armchair Theatre runs on Wednesday 1-3pm. We’ve been enjoying listening along with them to Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas recently. Such a great ‘radio’ play.

• Crunch on Thursday from 12.30-2pm. Book online here

• Community Gardening and Craft on Friday from 10am-12pm

• Community Lunch Friday 12-1pm

• AAA Art Friday 1-2pm

We can’t wait to see you.

Cheers Leanne

With the combination of rain and sunshine the winter silverbeet and kale is growing out of control, going to seed and ready to rip out. But … before you do this, here’s a recipe to consider …

This week in Garden to Plate we made a FABULOUS! pasta dish - inspired by Jamie Oliver.

it is fabulous because it uses HEAPS of dark leafy greens!!! Reducing food waste from your garden and good for your health - a real win/win.

Here’s the recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 packet of dried spaghetti or other pasta (500g)

• 8 cloves of garlic, peeled

• 600 grams of leafy greens, stems stripped out (eg. kale, silverbeet etc.)

• 90 grams of parmesan cheese

• 90 grams ricotta

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• salt and pepper

• water from the pasta

Instructions

• Boil a pot of water, add salt and cook the pasta

• With 10 minutes to go until the pasta is cooked, add the torn up leafy greens and peeled garlic cloves and cook until wilted.

• Add the olive oil to a blender, then use tongs to transfer the leafy greens and garlic to the blender as well, before whizzing until super-smooth. Add additional water from the pasta to thin out if needed. When silky smooth add the parmesan and whizz again … then add a good teaspoon of salt and lots of pepper to taste (and whizz again).

• Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add the sauce back into the pot too and mix it thoroughly through the pasta.

• Serve this very green pasta with lovely white ricotta dotted on top.

Bon Appetit! It’s really good!

Garden to Plate runs on Mondays from 11.30am-1pm. We cook a couple of recipes together each week … and then sit down to share a meal - it’s lovely! Book in online.

Tonight we have our AGM. 6pm for a quick overview of the year and some yummy dinner. We’ll be having duck curry for dinner which will be delicious. I’ll make a veg. option too of course. Yes … bribes to come along - it’s not too late just send us an email before lunchtime if you can make it.

Lots of great stuff last week. Check out the posts below for photos etc.

Coming up …

• Garden to Plate is proving popular (note you do need to book in as we only have 10 spots).

• We made some lovely art at Crunch on Thursday. If you enjoy sharing a meal and being creative this is a great program for you! You are very welcome to join us.

• AAA Bowls is back.

• AAA Arts is running.

• Community Yoga is back this term - book in online!

• Keiko is here running Sound Healing on Wednesday.

• Another Embracing Life and Death discussion session is on Thursday afternoon.

Please note that we’ll be taking the Monday off next week before Melbourne Cup Day holiday. Hard to believe it’s nearly November already!

Also, note our campaign for more funding … and please sign a postcard if you can. It’s been lovely to read some of the messages you have written about why the neighbourhood house is important to you! Warms the cockles of our hearts ♥️.

Hope to see you here soon.

Cheers Leanne

Thanks Meet for all your hard work and sharing your Diwali traditions with us all! Here are some great photos from Friday’s Community Lunch.

We’re looking forward to Thursday - our next Op Shop Adventure will be departing ACC at 10am … and then Alphington Arts is on at 7.30pm. Book in on our website.

Also, on Tuesday it’s Kalimna’s birthday 🎂 (pop past and say happy birthday!) AND we have all of grade 5 from Fairfield PS coming along to talk about what makes a great community space and the sorts of activities that can run here. And then they are going to go back to school and design their own community buildings and programs. We hope we can offer them some inspiration!

We look forward to seeing you soon and hope you can join us this week.

Our community morning on Friday includes crafty chats inside and gardening outside from 10am followed by Community Lunch at 12pm.

Cheers Leanne