We’re very lucky to have such a generous community here in Alphington, willing to share their skills and talents. Our local friend Manu grew up in India, but has lived in Australia for quite a while now and she is super keen to share some of her cooking knowledge. She is starting off with a chai tea making workshop.

It will run on Sunday 9 May from 2pm. In this workshop Manu will take you through the properties of ingredients of masala chai tea, and will show you how to make the basic mix and also give you some options to customise the flavour. You will make and try a number variations and then take home a jar of your favourite blend so that you can make it at home yourself.

Just click here to find out more and book in.

A few ideas to further your gardening knowledge today.

Did you know that Yarra City Council is part of the My Smart Garden program? The program is a multi-Council collaboration that supports residents to adapt to a changing climate and to resource scarcity by turning outdoor spaces into productive, functional gardens.

The My Smart Garden program promotes ‘smart gardening’ through workshops, events, online resources, incentives and community connections. It takes a holistic approach to sustainable home gardening across five elements: food, shelter, waste, water and habitat.

Just click on the link above to access the wide range of great resources.

In addition, you may also be interested in the free webinars that Council is running …

Love your soil! – Tuesday 2nd March 6:30 – 9:00pm

Understanding soils and how to build their health and fertility, increase their water and nutrient holding capacity and balance pH, and nutrients is the most important step you can take towards a continual good harvest! Join Kat Lavers as she discusses why soil health has many implications for the health of your plants, levels of pest damage and even the exposure to heavy metals. This is a free online workshop, however registration is essential. Book in here.

Seed saving and propagation 101 with Kat Lavers – Tuesday 9th March 6:30 – 9:00pm

Join passionate gardener and facilitator Kat Lavers and be guided through the basics of seed saving and propagation. This webinar will explain how to save your own strong, locally adapted seeds, discuss methods of effective storage, and also outline a few ways to propagate plants easily at home, including growing from seed without spending a cent on seed raising mix! This is a free online workshop, however registration is essential. Book in here.

Laki Sideris - Suburban Vintage

Early last year Darebin Council merged its major arts events into a new arts festival called FUSE, with a program designed to showcase the richness and diversity of Darebin’s arts community twice a year, in autumn and spring. Unfortunately COVID put a bit of a dampener on things in 2020, but this year (fingers crossed) it is full steam ahead and the Darebin arts team has put together a wonderful festival ready for us all to explore.

Running from 11th to the 28th March, you can visit art exhibitions, attend live music and theatre, participate in workshops or art walks, and discover the hidden events and unexpected happenings that are part of FUSE.

Program highlights include:

• The Art of Storytelling in Song, a performance in conversation with Mick Thomas and Jessie Lloyd at Preston Reservoir Bowls Club, Friday 19 March.

• Suburban Vintage, an exhibition at Darebin Arts Centre by award winning photographer Laki Sideris, illuminating the traditions and personalities behind the Darebin amateur homemade wine competition. (20-27 March.)

• Women of Soul, a special ten year anniversary musical event celebrating the resilience of female artists in Darebin.

• The premiere screening of Ganbu Gulin: One Mob, a moving documentary that tells the story of Darebin’s decision to cease celebrations on 26 January. Preston City Hall, 13 March.

• Paradise Lots, a live theatre experience from experimental theatre company Pony Cam, and a group of young artists. See an urban carpark transformed into a large-scale performance space and challenge your unchecked assumptions about youth. 19-21 March (location details on registration)

To see the full program, book in and find out more visit www.fusedarebin.com.au. Note that most events are free.

No matter who you are, you’re bound to discover something that moves, intrigues or connects you. Sounds great hey? Aren’t we so lucky to have this on doorstep, and to live in a community that values and celebrates the arts.

Women of Soul

Are you interested in community-led climate action?

Do you want to skill up and work with others in your area to take climate action?

Yarra, Darebin and Moreland Councils are partnering on a new program to support people across our cities to take climate action. This could be running campaigns, advocacy, community projects, conversations, arts projects and more!

The nine-session program will run from late April and then again from early September and include a range of speakers. Participants will:

• Build relationships with others who are committed to taking climate action

• Hear from people who are active in climate action 

• Explore what collective local action and advocacy can look like and how to reach out within and beyond your networks

• Gain skills to plan and run effective campaigns, including using social media and other online tools 

• Explore working effectively with others, sharing the load and self-care

Up to 75 people will be able to take part in the program — 25 from each Council area.

Applications for the 2021 program are now open. Click here to register your Expression of Interest  by Sunday 14 March.

Hi Leanne here.

Do you follow the local restaurant Facebook group Northcote, Thornbury and Fairfield Takeaway?

If so you will know that lots of local restaurants had already stocked up on food for one of their busiest days of the year (Valentine’s Day) and have now had to cancel the bookings at the last minute.

So, if like me, you have a valentine (or 1 adult valentine + 3 valentine children as the case may be) in your house, and are feeling a bit lazy on the home cooking front, this weekend is the ideal time to grab some fancier restaurant takeaway and support the businesses that would usually be full.

And, don’t forget the florists. I saw the Bivianos florists working hard Friday morning, and can imagine how disappointed they will be feeling this weekend … (I am assuming they are still open?).

Anyway, we may be stuck at home … but we can still be romantic right? Right. For sure.

Fancy food from Estelle on High Street … one of the local restaurants going back to takeaway this weekend. Make the most of this non-cooking excuse, get out your fancy tableware … and maybe rope your kids into serving (unlikely at my house, they’ll just want to eat for sure, but I can live in hope for a second or two).