Hi Kalimna here.

I just booked myself a place in the upcoming Chai Tea Workshop which is on Saturday 8 May (the day before Mother’s Day).

I am a huge fan of chai tea so the idea of learning how to make it myself is really appealing.

Watch out friends - I suspect Kalimna’s Chai Blend may become the Christmas gifts for those I most love!

I am particularly interested in this workshop because I am fostering a beginners interest in Ayurveda, the worlds oldest holistic healing system. Developed in India it is the belief that health and wellness depend on the delicate balance of mind, body and spirit. I may never master yoga - but I am keen to embrace the understanding of eating for better health.

Here is a link to chai and why it can be good for you to drink according to ideals in Ayurveda.

I know Manu who is running the workshop from her volunteer work at the Community Centre and can attest to what an excellent cook she is through the Preserves Group (and sometimes she even brings us lunch - very lucky us!).

So I hope to see you there as we learn to blend and brew some lovely chai together.

Inspired? You can book in here.

Hi Kalimna here.

When taking photos of our ‘honestly ‘ letter project recently, our neighbour Glen struck up a conversation with Lee and I about two wonderful books he said were the best gifts he had ever received.

The books he was referring to are Living on Stolen Land by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Kindred by Kirli Saunders.

He noted that Living on Stolen Land should be mandatory reading for all Australian children. I was convinced, and will be sharing this book with my children; heartfelt recommendations like this don’t come along everyday.

You can find out more via this link to Magabala Books.

Thank you Glen for sharing these book recommendations with us.

University of the Third Age U3A Darebin is an organisation for people over 50 who are not in full-time paid employment and who wish to keep their minds and bodies active.

U3A is about sharing skills and interests, enabling people to enjoy low cost educational, creative, social and leisure activities in a relaxed environment.

U3A runs a host of activities across the neighbourhood catering for a wide variety of interests - from history walks to play reading (like Armchair Theatre that runs here at ACC each Wednesday afternoon).

If you are keen to find out more, you might like to attend the upcoming U3A Darebin afternoon tea. It is on at 2pm on Monday 12 April at 16a Bent Street in Thornbury.

This is a catered event so please register to ensure there is enough food for everyone to eat.

Email here to confirm you attendance or ring the office and talk to someone or leave a message.

The U3A Darebin office is at Fairfield Station and is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:15am-12pm.

Keen? Please BYO cup.

Our seed library has been restocked lately and there are lots of lovely daffodil bulbs you can collect, and a variety of herbs and leafy greens as well.

If you are contemplating some gardening in the school holidays why not pop past and take a look at the seeds our community is sharing?

And don’t forget to collect seeds from your own garden to share with others. Drying them out and packaging them up could be a lovely project to do with you kids (or grandkids) in the school holidays!

Hi friends, you can still book tickets to the CWA climate emergency talk coming up on Monday night at the Gleeson Centre in Darebin Parklands (just at the end of Separation Street).

After the extreme weather of the last week across Australia it’s a pretty good time to find out more about the implications of climate change if you’re not sure what it means and what we could do to make a difference.

For further info and to book in just click here. And remember, there’ll be yummy food provided - thanks CWA!