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Creative Harvest
There's an artist in my food garden.
23 and 24 January, 2021
10am to 4pm
$5 per garden or $20 for all gardens. (Children free.)
Tickets available online at bbsn.org.au/events or at any garden
Productive and inspirational food gardens in West Gippsland are opening to the public, teaming up with local artists and food artisans. The event is designed to show people gardens that grow food well, so they can learn from the experiences of others. It's a great opportunity to meet like-minded people to share ideas. The gardens range from suburban house backyards to large acreages. Gardens will feature working artists and food artisans with their work for sale.
For more information visit bbsn.org.au/events or ring Wendy Savage, 0428 422 461.
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The Grow Lightly herb garden is growing apace.
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We have loads of expertise here in southern Gippsland, and Grow Lightly will resume its workshops for growers in the near future. Meanwhile, here is the education website of Grow Great Fruit, based in Harcourt, offering a very comprehensive and varied program of advice about organic fruit growing for home gardeners.
https://growgreatfruit.com/
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My summer garden is alive with butterflies. Mainly Cabbage Whites, plus a few Common Browns and the occasional Grapevine Moth.
The Cabbage Whites don't seem to do much damage to the sturdy maturing cabbages, red or green, and I've protected the small Brussels sprouts seedlings with insect netting supported simply by fruit tree prunings. I can lift the netting progressively as the sprouts grow.
Kale plants (Red Russian) are a bit chewed but they have self sown copiously so there are plenty, and their other name, Ragged Jack, both reflects their oak-type leaves and allows for a bit of additional insect-induced leaf tracery. They still taste good.
Anyway, I love all the butterflies. In the sun they dance through the whole bowl of the garden right to the tops of the surrounding trees. I've watched them carefully, and Iooked them up on the internet, and here are some of the things I found out.
The Cabbage White Butterfly was accidentally introduced into Australia. It was first recorded in Melbourne in 1929. The caterpillars eat mainly the leaves of cultivated and introduced plants in the family Brassicaceae (such as cabbage and cauliflower), but adults feed on nectar from a variety of plants - so they're part of the army of garden pollinators. Indian Mynas were introduced into Australia to control caterpillars in market gardens but it didn't work and now we don't know how to get rid of the Indian Mynas.
Here is a link to a fascinating short video of the life cycle of the Cabbage White. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL_3Hmaf3-I
Common Brown Butterflies are Australian. They lay their eggs directly onto several introduced and native grass species to ensure an immediate food supply when the larvae emerge. That is, they won't eat your vegetables. Mating occurs during October or November and the males die shortly after. Females live for three months or more, waiting for the heat of summer to pass and the grass to grow before laying their eggs in early March.
The Grapevine Moth is also native to Australia, and feeds on several native plants as well as grapevine leaves. Along our verandah, blackbirds and grey shrike thrushes graze on the handsome caterpillars. (Our grapevine variety is Fragola, which the moth seems to like less than some others.)
Other things labelled 'common' in our garden
Common Garden Skink
Common Eastern Froglet
Common Brushtail Possum
Common Ringtail Possum
Common Blackbird
Maybe more about them another time.
Lastly, get your Brussels sprouts seedlings in now. It's a bit late to sow seed.
Meredith
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Click on any of the planting suggestions below for a snippet of extra information.
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UP TO DATE
Grow Lightly Greengrocer, 25 Commercial St Korumburra
Current opening hours
Wednesday 10.00am to 4.00 pm
Thursday 10.00am to 4.00pm
Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm
Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm
Grow Lightly Grab
Phone your order through any time the shop is open, pay online and organise a pick-up time.
Phone: 5655 2893. Email: shop@growlightly.com.au
Weekly vegiebags
Please get your orders in early. Each week orders close 8pm Thursday.
What's in the bag?
Produce is local and seasonal, so we can't tell you exactly what's going into the bag even a couple of days ahead. We can say that there will be a range of produce, including some fruit, some vegies for cooking, and some leafy greens. Scroll up to the top for this week's details.
Apples and potatoes are also available as extras, along with a few pantry items such as preserves.
Online bulk orders
The online shop is open on Monday from 12pm until 8pm. If there are changes and you are a regular customer you will be notified. If you have questions, please email produce@growlightly.com.au .
Here is the URL for the on-line shop.
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Vegie-bag Pick-up Points
- Korumburra - weekly
Bags are available for collection from the back of the Grow Lightly Green Grocer at 25 Commercial Street, Korumburra on Sunday - between 9 and 10 am or by arrangement, via the shop during opening hours.
- Inverloch - weekly
Bags are available for collection normally after 11.30am on Sundays.
- Wonthaggi - weekly
The bags are available for collection from 11.30am on Sundays.
- Mirboo North - weekly
Bags are available for collection from midday on Sundays.
- Foster/ Fish Creek - fortnightly
Collect bags from Manna Gum Community House Sundays and Mondays.
- Phillip Island - weekly
Bags are delivered each Wednesday by courier to the island and left at The Store, Ventnor. The bag cost includes a $2 delivery fee to cover the courier.
- Leongatha - weekly
Bags are available for pick up from the Rusty Windmill at 45 McCartin Street, Leongatha on the Thursday morning after the chosen Sunday date.
- Loch - weekly
The Old Print Shop Cafe - 27 Victoria Road, Loch
Bags are available from Wednesday between 2pm and 4pm or Thursday between 8am and 4pm.
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Do you have questions about growing your own?
Meredith won't know all the answers but will have fun looking for them and sharing what she finds. Send queries to info@growlightly.com.au . Pictures too, if you like and you don't mind seeing them in this newsletter.
Would you like a reminder for our weekly vegie bags?
We all get busy and sometimes forget things. If you would like a reminder when it’s time to purchase your vegie bag and you aren’t already subscribed, send an email to Saffi at vegiebags@growlightly.com.au with a subject ‘Please subscribe me to the reminder email’ and Saffi will put you on the list. There’s no commitment and you can unsubscribe at any time
Do you have surplus produce?
Email produce@growlightly.com.au to let us know what you have and when you can bring it in; and to have your name included on our suppliers list. That way Andy can keep in regular touch. Remember, small quantities are fine.
Do you have comments or suggestions about some aspect of Hub activity?
Email Christine Millane, our Hub Coordinator, at events@growlightly.com.au
If you have some spare time, or suggestions, or just want to wish us all the best, email info@growlightly.com.au and the message will be passed on to the right person.
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