This week at Preserves Group we made fig jam and eggplant pickle. So yummy. Thanks for the fig donation! Thanks Fiona, for leading this session. Thanks everyone who came along. And then … thanks U3A Armchair Theatre friends - who bought up big on Wednesday afternoon when they were here! Also thanks Elaine for making our preserves look extra pretty!

There’s still lots left, so pop past if you need some condiments to brighten up your life. Also great for a gift (of course). The sales of our preserves help us run our access all abilities programs.

Next month Fiona is going to teach up how to make ‘no sugar’ berry jam … and I think we’re on the look out for chokos (if anyone has them) - apparently their in season and Fiona has a recipe.

On Thursday we will be back with another of our awesome Thriftsavers Op-Shop Adventures! This time we will be heading over to Sydney Rd in Brunswick to peruse Savers, Vinnies and some of the smaller stores, before getting a coffee/cake together. It’s a great opportunity to connect with locals from our Alphington community and hopefully find a fashionable and sustainable bargain or two.

We had such a fun time running these tours last year and are very excited to be doing them again. Thanks Clifton Hill/North Fitzroy Community Bank for supporting these trips!

We will leave from ACC at 10am (please be here on time) and come back at 2pm on public transport (but no need to bring a myki because it’s still free for this month!). If you are interested in joining us you can book in here at this link. We would love to see you!

In Term 2 we have some great things coming up to book in to.

Our next Thrift Seekers Adventure is on Thursday 30th of April. Just $5 to explore Sydney Road together from 10am-2pm and share some morning tea. Book here.

And then we have some workshops in May for Clothes Mending and understanding microbes in our soils Living Soils, Living People. Learn how to fix your favourite jeans or other basics book here. $10 on Saturday 23rd of May from 10am-1pm. Or to understand the connection of plants, gut and mental health from our living soils book here. $10 on Saturday 16th of May from 10am-12pm.

Don’t forget that Rosie is returning with her Community Yoga classes. Join her at any level. BYO mat. Book your spot in her wonderful classes here.

And Clare’s Artful Painting and Drawing 8 week classes continue with more dates to choose from. Contact Clare directly on 0423 453 160.

We also have our 2nd Tuesday of the month Book Club starting up. Book in here. $70 for the year.

I was not able to capture everything that was happening on the fantastic community day of the Alphington Show.

But here are a few more photos to share.

Thank you to all the Makers Market stall holders that were her and the very friendly petting zoo people. It was lots of fun! We loved the beautiful face painting (by Jamari) and also loved seeing so many people making clay pieces that will contribute to the new garden totem sculptures being created under Clare’s guidance (using a process kindly shared by local artist Avis).

Kalimna

Hi everyone,

Last Tuesday was a super exciting day here as all things paused to watch the Oscars - because Lee’s sister-in-law Autumn won the award for cinematography for the movie Sinners. How amazing?!!! Lee is enjoying her ‘winning by association’ feeling! … and if you know Lee or even just read our newsletter or come to ACC I reckon you can also join in the degrees of separation ‘winning by association’ thing!

On Saturday … we had a lovely weekend with the Alphington Show. So many great entries, cute dogs, stalls, and to top it off blue skies….. really it was a recipe for a perfect day. Thanks everyone for coming along and for all your hard work in the lead up and on the day! So many volunteers … amazing.

This week - we’re back to business as usual. Come along on Thursday morning to Garden to Plate for another delicious, seasonal lunch. And in the afternoon we will have this month’s session of Embracing Life and Death where Ann and Andrea etc. will be talking about end-of-life planning.

To find out more about our other programs this week, as always you can visit our website at this link.

Cheers Leanne