OZ TUCKER

Sustainable Seafood Day on March 16, 2912

2012-01-17T14:09:00.000+11:00

Seafood sustainability is one of today's major issues. Australians need confidence that our magnificent supply and range of seafood will be there for generations to come. Duncan Leadbitter reports on an eco label which is helping consumers make the right choice to ensure that sustainability, and alerts us to the inaugural Sustainable Seafood Day on February 17, 2006.

Seafood is health food and consumers want more - and the Federal Government is urging Australians to eat more - but there are limits to what the ocean can provide. For many fisheries around the world, those limits have been breached. Over the past 30 years the number of overfished stocks has tripled and now one in four fish stocks are overfished.

At the end of last year the Federal Government announced a major restructure of the south-east fishery, with a $220 million buy-out to secure fish stocks and guarantee a profitable industry. According to a recent survey by the Bureau of Rural Sciences, the Australian Federal Government's main research arm, 40% of Australian consumers think that commercial fishing is unsustainable, and 57% of the consumers surveyed believed that the provision of a sustainability label would influence their purchases.

One solution is third-party verification of sustainable fishing practices, such as the eco-labelling certification provided by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an international non-profit organisation. Through the work of the MSC, Australia is taking steps towards producing a global solution to a global problem. Politicians, scientists, food industry educators and high-profile chefs have all pledged their support.

To carry the MSC logo - a tick of approval - a fishery must undergo a rigorous certification process. This blue oval logo is a way for concerned consumers to see at a glance whether the seafood products they buy are sourced from sustainable fisheries, which are commercially-driven partnerships delivering both community benefits and sustainable ecological benefits. The MSC now has 14 fisheries certified to the MSC Standard globally. This may not sound like much but it includes the world's largest managed fishery (for pollock in Alaska), and covers Alaska salmon, pollock, New Zealand hoki and South African hake. There are also smaller-volume and higher-value species available such as Western Australian rock lobster. Indeed, there are now about two million tonnes of fish available globally which could carry the MSC's sustainability label - which is 10 times the entire Australian catch.

European retailers are avidly catering to consumer interest. The MSC's blue trade-marked logo is currently displayed on more than 280 products in 24 countries. In Australia there more than 30 MSC-labelled products for sale - mostly frozen and canned offerings - and there are plans for more. The world's first fishery certified to the MSC's strict environmental standard was an Australian fishery, the Western Australian Rock Lobster Fishery, and several other Australian fisheries are currently undergoing the certification process. Food service remains an area where consumer interest is not yet being satisfied, despite the availability of sustainably certified hake and hoki.

While acknowledging the Federal Government's recent initiative of a national seafood education campaign, "What's so healthy about seafood?", in response to research which shows that Australians are eating less seafood at home, from the Marine Stewardship Council's perspective, ensuring that consumers can buy tomorrow the fish that was available today is critical to the health of the industry and the environment.

The MSC is urging Australians who love their seafood to participate in the inaugural Sustainable Seafood Day to be held in Australia on February 17 to raise awareness of responsible fishing practices by demanding evidence of sustainable fishing practices from their seafood suppliers. Increasingly, the MSC will become the name associated with a global solution to this problem by establishing an environmental standard for well-managed and sustainable fisheries.

Duncan Leadbitter is a respected Australian marine biologist and an FMCA member.

"The seafood industry has long had the reputation of being high on the list of anti-environmentalists in the food industry, and while sadly this can remain the case in certain fisheries and individual enterprises, the actions of the MSC are proving that the industry must, and can, change. The commercial benefits of providing sustainable, environmental supply in the contemporary seafood world are real - a third party independent certification of this provides consumers, end-users and the trade with the security that this is a genuine endeavour. Like never before, there is a need for the MSC to be encouraged, respected and endorsed by the seafood industry, not only for the absolute moral position we must take for the future of our planet, but clearly if we plan to be a growing part of modern food supply." John Susman, Bizzfish, Sydney

"Gone are the days when we could consider our wild-caught fish as a limitless resource. In the 23 years I've been involved in the food industry, it has been obvious that fish populations are dwindling. The Marine Stewardship Council's work goes a long way in assuring all of us as consumers that the management of fish stocks is being handled in a sustainable manner, so that we can continue to enjoy our seafood." Steven Manfredi, Manfredi Enterprises

"I commend the whole blue-label MSC accreditation system which allows consumers to make an informed decision on buying fish that they know have been environmentally responsibly managed. The social and environmental cost of overfishing is a very real and sobering issue. Ensuring that a sustainable supply of our local fish will be there for future generations to enjoy in their diets is an imperative legacy." Catherine Saxelby Consultant Nutritionist

"If we as Australians are to continue to enjoy the beautiful fresh and healthy harvest of our waters in the years to come, we must ensure that our fisheries are managed sustainably. I congratulate the Marine Stewardship Council - it has an important job ahead of it. It would be irresponsible to endanger any of our marine life because of thoughtless human greed and myopic management of this precious and delicious natural resource, which we take for granted will always be on our plates." Margaret Fulton OAM

Further reading:

Australia's Sustainable Seafood Guide

(get an app for your iPhone here)

The Australian Marine Conservation Society

Thanks for all the fish

All about your tea, your coffee, Fair Trade and how to grow your own

2011-12-02T07:50:00.001+11:00

Dear Tucker Lovers,

While this post has come from the newsletter of a company, I am not promoting nor am I benefitting from this company. I do, however, like to share good stuff and that can come from anywhere. I hope you find this as enjoyable and informative to read as I have.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The tale of how coffee was discovered is an intriguing one, apparently about 1,000 years ago in the hills of Ethiopia a goat herder found that his goats would keep him awake at night after they had been feasting on the red coffee berries. The story goes that the goat herder shared his discovery with a local monastery and it was the monks who first brewed the beans into a hot drink. The beans were traded into Yemen where coffee culture flourished and the Arabian Peninsula became a hotbed for cafes, known as kaveh kanes. Coffee was introduced into Europe in the 1600's and cafes quickly became popular social meeting places just as they are today.
Coffee is vital to as many as 25 million small farmers who grow and sell the beans for a living, however as many as 500 million people are employed by the coffee industry worldwide. Coffee is the world's second most valuable commodity - oil being the first, so coffee has become more popular than ever before, coffee shops, internet cafes and the expansion of fashionable eateries that specialize in coffee see us consume 400 billion cups of coffeeevery year, there is however one drink that is more popular than coffee and that is tea.

After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. It is drunk as a hot drink that is enjoyed for its cooling and slightly bitter flavour. Camellia sinensis is a tree that will grow to 16m if left undisturbed; however it is usually pruned to waist height to make harvesting easy, the name sinensis means "native to China". There are six different types of tea that are processed from the tea plant, white tea, yellow tea, green tea, oolong, black tea, pu-erh, the difference between them is way the leaves are processed. The most unusual type of tea is possibly Monkey Picked Tea; the story goes that Monks trained monkeys to gather the tips from the top of wild trees, today Monkey Picked Tea refers to the best quality Oolong tea available, it is not however picked by monkeys. It is only the fresh new tip of the tea plant that are picked, the leaves are then wilted and bruised to promote oxidation, they then go through fermentation, fixation, sweltering, rolling, shaping, drying, aging and curing before they are packaged for the pot. Tea bags were invented in 1907 by a merchant who wanted to distribute samples of his product; they did not take off until 1953, when Tetley launched the tea bag. Black tea is the most popular of the different types of tea and there is a culture that surrounds the brewing and serving of this well-known favourite beverage. Black tea is usually brewed at around 99°C, since the temperature of boiling water drops with increasing altitude it is very difficult to brew black tea in high mountainous regions. Experienced drinkers of tea insist that the tea should not be stirred while it is brewing, this does not strengthen the brew but only releases tannins in the same way that the tea bag should not be squeezed, if a stronger brew is desired use more leaf in the pot.

Fair Trade & Growing Your Own

As consumers become more aware of where our money goes we face economic and social decisions every time we spend our hard earned money. Both tea and coffee are industries that are controlled by big business that exploit local communities and their farming land, we do however have a choice to support fair trade companies such as Trade Winds , by choosing a fair trade product you will ensure that your money is going back to support a farming community and that the farmers are being paid a fair price for their product and labour.

The other option is to grow your own tea and coffee.
Here is a link to our blog describing how to produce tea at home
http://blog.daleysfruit.com.au/2011/11/tea-production-home.html

A quick and easy technique for making coffee from your home grown beans can be found in the 2009 Rare Fruit Review.

Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery
Phone: (02) 66 321 441

We've been going bananas! Now we're normal

2011-11-23T11:49:00.001+11:00

!Bananas are back!

here is what Australians have been putting up with

Banana prices are now returning to normal

I can now afford to buy multiple bananas

instead of one or two occasionally!

Buying or Baking this year? Consider Bumblebee and its good causes for Christmas Cakes, Shortbreads and Gift Hampers

2011-11-17T15:47:00.001+11:00

Vintage Baking Skills, Vintage Cookbooks and Barbara Russell at Kallista Community House

2011-11-15T12:59:00.001+11:00

Picture from here

The season is creeping up on us again. Advent Sunday is almost here. This is when the excitement starts. At church, the Advent wreath comes out and with it the first candle...and each Sunday a candle is lit for four Sundays and then....

But before then the cooks and the crafty ones are about their business. Barbara Russell will be at Kallista Community House in the Dandenong Ranges just east of Melbourne on 27 November to impart wonderful Vintage Baking Skills.

For those who aren't familiar with Barbara, you may recall that I posted recently about the wonderful Vintage Cookbooks. Barbara is the person responsible for those shelves of cookbooks of yesteryear, so who better to impart the traditions of Christmases past to those who want to enhance their Christmas celebrations. Enrol now and starting putting on your apron!

More Mellah Mum

2011-11-12T12:49:00.001+11:00

Over at Miscellaneous Mum, Karen is indulging herself with Chocolate Mousse. For me, chocolate mousse always brings back memories from my long ago childhood in the 1950s of what may be one of Australia's first 'instant' desserts, Mellah. You can pop down to the comments of Karen's post to see my comment. Mellah used to be advertised on the radio with a child saying More Mellah Mum.

I went searching the net for Mellah and there is barely a mention - but I did find this...

Click to enlarge

Vintage Cookbooks and Miss Schauer

2011-11-05T19:42:00.000+11:00

I have recently discovered the wonderful Vintage Cookbooks at Kallista in the Dandenong Ranges just east of Melbourne. Now, Vintage Cookbooks are open only three days a week - so you can't always take advantage of those bookshelves jam-packed with cookery treasures. However, you can shop at their site on line any time you like. Books have pictures and extensive descriptions. However, remember that you are entering the world of collectibles and items are priced accordingly.

The standard of the treasure impressed me because - guess what? - they have an old, old, copy of Miss Schauer's Cookery Book looking nothing like the photograph on this blog.

Click to enlarge

Non-stunning slaughter - Animals are counting on you to be their voice

2011-10-27T12:38:00.000+11:00

As you know, a big decision will be made this week when primary industries ministers from around the country meet in Melbourne to decide whether to close the loophole on non-stunned slaughter in Australia.

I'm writing to invite you to an important rallyorganised by Animals Australia on Thursday evening at the MCG, where the ministers are due to discuss their decision on this issue. Already 14,000 Animals Australia supporters have written to these ministers imploring them to show mercy and remove the exemptions that are allowing some abattoirs in Victoria and South Australia to cut the throats of fully conscious sheep. We need your help to send one last and all-important reminder as the ministers arrive for their dinner meeting, that caring Australians are depending on them to make the right decision.

Where: Gate 2, Melbourne Cricket Ground
When: 5:45pm, Thursday, 27th October (finishing 7pm)
What to bring: Just yourself, we will have plenty of posters for people to hold
More information: Call the Animals Australia office on 1800 888 584

Miss, of all the cruelty I have seen inside abattoirs, non-stunned slaughter of animals represents the single greatest cause of distress, pain and suffering I have born witness to.

Fortunately we understand that several ministers are already of the opinion that non-stunned slaughter is unacceptable, which means there is real hope to end this brutal practice in Australia. This rally may be the tipping point that gets the others over the line.

Please join our experienced campaigners for a peaceful gathering on Thursday evening and help us ensure that all animals in this country are extended this most basic legal protection.

I hope you can join us,

Lyn White
Campaign Director

P.S. You may be aware that the official meeting of the primary industries ministers will be held on Friday morning. We are rallying at their Thursday evening dinner meeting as it is expected that their position will be determined at this time. I hope you can attend, but even if you can't, you can have your say on our website right now.

Local Harvest

2011-10-21T13:34:00.000+11:00

LOCAL FOOD BENEFITS COMMUNITIES & THE ENVIRONMENT

Local Harvest is a new national initiative aiming to help people find local sources of food and grow their own.

A national directory for finding food co-ops, swap meets, community gardens, farmers markets, box systems, organic retailers and more by simply entering your postcode.

DIY alternatives for food production and meeting essential needs, including resources for growing and making your own.

Take up the Local Harvest Challenge, where for one week you attempt to reduce the 'degrees of separation' from your food. Based on the Household Action Challenge run in previous years.

There is a fantastic similar resource existing for the USA found at www.localharvest.org on which this project has been based.

 FOR MORE INFO 

ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE

PLEASE GO HERE

Oz history in food: Australian Family Recipes 1868 to 1950

2011-10-05T10:17:00.001+11:00

I love a bit of food history. Food history is not only quaint and historic recipes. Possum Pie, Beetroot Beer and Lamingtons: Australian Family Recipes from 1868 to 1950 by Victoria Heywood is a social history of lives gone by. As of the first of this month, a wonderful contribution to Australian food history has hit the bookstands.

Click to enlarge

Victoria came across many weird, supposedly edible, things in 17 years travelling the world as a journalist, but none so strange as some of the dishes she encountered back home in Australia when researching Possum Pie, Beetroot Beer and Lamingtons. In a writing career spanning 20-odd years, Victoria has written extensively about food, sex, health and travel for magazines and newspapers both here and abroad, and is the author of numerous other books. One that would be of interest to Oz Tucker lovers is:

More about this book here

Bring the family down for a FREE sausage sizzle and

some other tasty treats from original Australian cookbooks

and hear Victoria Heywood chat about her new book:

Where - Westgarth Books, 77 High Street, Northcote
When - 12-1 pm, Saturday, October 15, 2011
Phone - 9482 7117

GARAGE SALE : RINGWOOD, VIC: FRI-SAT 7/8 OCTOBER 2011

2011-10-03T19:52:00.000+11:00

Favourite Focaccia ... alla Pugliese

2011-10-01T08:38:00.000+10:00

This is a detour of Oz Tucker into a favourite recipe of mine -

from the Italian genre.

@tammois is looking for a good excuse to start the fire to-day. I suggested Focaccia alla Pugliese was an excellent excuse and offered to send the recipe. She has taken me up on the offer, so I scanned the pages and thought I would post them here as well. Please pop over to her site Tammi Tasting Terroir. I think you'll love her.

Click to enlarge the scanned pages below

The Story of Meetup

2011-09-12T07:31:00.002+10:00

Those of you who have your own blogs may know about meetup. It is a wonderful net tool for organising people to get together for meetings, a drink, whatever. And while bloggers may love to communicate on their blogs, many of them like to meet up with similarly interested bloggers in their neighbourhood...so there's a tendency to use meetup. In my mail box to-day dropped the wonderful and somewhat emotional story of how it all started............

Fellow Meetuppers,

I don't write to our whole community often, but this week is special because it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many people don't know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.

Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought local community doesn't matter much if we've got the internetand tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I hoped they wouldn't bother me.

When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they'd normallyignore. People were looking after each other, helping each other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being neighborly.

A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet -- and grow local communities?

We didn't know if it would work. Most people thought it was a crazy idea -- especially because terrorism is designed to make people distrust one another.

A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months after 9/11.

Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it's working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups, Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups... a wild variety of 100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common -- except one thing.

Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me. They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and motivate each other, they babysit each other's kids and find other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace together. They make friends and form powerful community. It's powerful stuff.

It's a wonderful revolution in local community, and it's thanks to everyone who shows up.

Meetups aren't about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it weren't for 9/11.

9/11 didn't make us too scared to go outside or talk to strangers. 9/11 didn't rip us apart. No, we're building new community together!!!!

The towers fell, but we rise up. And we're just getting started with these Meetups.

Scott Heiferman (on behalf of 80 people at Meetup HQ)
Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup
New York City
September 2011

--
Add info@meetup.com to your address book to receive all Meetup
emails

To manage your email settings, go to:
http://www.meetup.com/account/comm/

Meetup, PO Box 4668 #37895
New York, New York 10163-4668

2011-07-30T17:15:00.001+10:00

Last Sunday afternoon, a gracious friend of mine took me
to a High Tea at

St Stephen's Bayswater.

The afternoon was organised by an NGO called

Australia Aids South Africa.

As the name implies, the organisation works to assist

AIDS victims in South Africa.

The hall at Stephen's was packed.

There was wonderful music from talented local people.

As well as my friend and her lovely family,

I also enjoyed the presence at our table of

St Stephen's vicar, Father David.

Each table had its own host.

The host (or hostess if you prefer) provided
all the beautiful napery and tableware.

I thought this was a great idea -

since it split so much of the organisation, responsibility and work.

Beverages, it should be noted, were not limited to coffee and tea!

I did enjoy the champers in beautiful fluted glasses -

and the flowers and chocolates, too.

I think the afternoon was a marvellous social success.

I am sure the hard work was rewarded, as well, with financial success.

Thank you, Australia Aids South Africa.

There's more to cooking than 4 Ingredients. #food #cooking #4ingredients

2011-01-17T08:33:00.000+11:00

Almost four years ago, I did a post in regard to the 4 Ingredients phenomenon. The phenomenon goes on - but I don't see the point. If your great necessity is to make things quickly, then I don't think good food is your goal or your thing at all. Not that the good cook doesn't have to be able to prepare good food quickly from time to time. Reliance on speed and short cuts is not conducive to good food or good cooks.

Anyway, I have at last come across another person who calls into question the phenomenon. Melissa over at Frills in the Hills has written about it too. If you want to get a handle on some good cookbooks by some cooks with long and great reputations, go over to the sidebar; scroll down to the tags/categories and click on "Books". After a browse through that lot, you might get an idea of the difference between the great cooks and the goals of the authors of 4 Ingredients.

BTW, make sure you have a good browse around Melissa's blog while you are there. Well worth your time!

Abundance and scarcity : Food distribution, logistics, prices, quality #scarcity #food #prices #quality

2011-01-06T12:43:00.000+11:00

Picture from here

I am grateful to Liz McLellan of Hyperlocavore for drawing my attention to this post.

I have long complained about the emphasis of Economics on scarcity. I have never turned my head in the same way as Roberto Verzola to thoughts about abundance, its meaning, its impact, its consequences. From hereon, however, I will set about doing so.

The first thing one learns when studying Economics is that it is concerned with the allocation of scarce resources. I prefer to ask what would have happened to Economics as a science and (as it is said) a dismal one if it had been based on the premise that there is sufficient on the planet for our need but not for our greed. My view is that this would have/could have opened up a wholly different sets of questions and discussions from those that have given us our modern knowledge together with the current Global Financial Crisis (GFC). I said a lot in a comment on Liz's Amplify post which you can find here.

I am not denying that scarcity does exist - but it usually does not exist across the whole planet at the same point in time. This means that in times of scarcity - and in times of abundance, too - distribution comes to the forefront.

My view is that there has been too little attention given to distribution as an integral economic factor and a vital factor when it comes to human life and well-being.

I want to keep this simple so I will start close to home. In Australia, there are two major food distributors in Australia: Coles and Woolworths. I said I was trying to keep this simple so I have omitted IAG, Aldi, and the up and coming Costco. Most Australians would think of Coles and Woolworths as retailers, predominantly of food but also of other necessities of daily life.

Coles and Woolworths have a greater role than merely making their shelves available to us for selection of goods and trolley-ing them through the check-out. They are logistics operators.

They are a vital link in Australia's trade - from grower, manufacturer, wholesaler - whether these are nationally or internationally based - through their logistics operations into Coles and Woolworths stores to the families in your street. If you live in Queensland at the moment where the floodwaters are the size of New South Wales, you might have an understanding of the vital logistical role that the major duopoly of Australian retailing has.

This huge logistical enterprise is central to food security and food quality in this country. I once lived in Mount Isa in north-west Queensland at a time when the roads in and out were closed by floods for six weeks. Milk and bread could be air-freighted in and out. Everything that modern people and families need could not be - and, even if it could be, the price to the consumer would be prohibitive. It was interesting to watch the cabbages - which have a rather long shelf life when need be - growing smaller each day. Why? As the external leaves of these long lasting cabbages turned brown and unattractive, staff would remove them. Thus the ever-smaller cabbage.

I was at at this conference in Gippsland last year. At a workshop, a speaker got up to spruik his recently formed company specialising in logistics. He was telling of all the clever things his company could do. I told him the story of Mount Isa, the floods, being cut-off, and the cabbages and asked what his company could have done in such circumstances. The answer was that his company could not have done anything either. In short, they would not have got through.

That is food security in Australia at its most basic. It was not that there was insufficient food in Australia for us. It just could not reach us in any practical way. In other parts of the world, food security is challenged by famine. There is no food to be had. Right across the world, even in the rich developed world, food security can be challenged by personal poverty. Food is available but it is out of reach because of high prices or low or nil incomes.

Food quality is a matter of logistics too. Why is there not more organic food in Coles and Woolworths? Why is organic food not priced more reasonably so that if I have a household with six children, I can still include organic food in my shopping list? There can be a few reasons for this.

First: Availability and dependability of supply and quality. Food farming is a huge enterprise. Broadscale food farming sustains the major distributors of food. Organic food production is still, more or less, in its infancy. A lot of organic food growers can not guarantee availability of sufficiently large quantities even if they can guarantee quality.

Second: A lot of organic farmers can not guarantee quantity with any sort of dependability. Large logistical operations demand reasonable continuity of supply. The advent of Farmers Markets is good for smaller farmers and consumers demanding quality products at affordable prices. This avenue is where smaller producers can begin their journey. However, as a national food distribution mechanism, Farmers Markets just don't cut it.

Third: Quality. These days we are asking ourselves in respect of our food - What is Quality? In an age of terminator seeds; genetic modification; pesticides; growth hormones and so on and so on, what is quality? And what about the visual? A blemish on a banana or a spot of fungus on the fuji and the consumer is likely to turn up his or her nose. Why are capsicums so huge these days? Why is it a red-letter day for me to discover my favourite Ellendale mandarines in store? Woolworths and Coles are not fools. They have come to know what consumer preferences are and they trade accordingly.

Fourth: Price. I reckon that Woolworths and Coles know precisely what the consumer is prepared to pay for what at any given time. So if our duopoly knows we will only purchase organic food if it is competitive with mainstream chemically produced food, this is going to make it difficult to get organic food on the shelf in any sort of reliability, availability, etc.

If you go here, you will find some of my posts connected to the matters under discussion here. You will also find that I have written from time to time about Roger Corbett, the person I consider to be most influential in Australian public life; more even than the Prime Minister, the Governor-General or the Governor of the Reserve Bank. If you read the posts, you will understand my reasoning.

So while the bankers are getting boosted by governments and making glittering ~~prizes~~ profits, let's turn away from their sort of economics to considering the subject of distribution: how it is done, what are its outcomes, how can it be done better, how can it be done to benefit the whole population of the planet, how can we distribute the sufficiency efficiently to all instead of allowing a few aggressive and self-centred people to indulge and support a system which can leave significant proportions of the planet's people to die or survive in inequitable, personality-stunting, health-denying circumstances.

Except for a few landmark examples, Economics has not acquitted itself well in the service of humanity and the service of the environmental circumstances of the planet. In fact, one is able to see frequently that it is not merely the dismal science. It is, in its mainstream form, the science of death and destruction.

So why don't we turn our heads around. Let's think deeply and broadly about our human and environmental circumstances and the needs that abound them. If we can do this in the knowledge that the planet has sufficient to supply the needy but not the greedy, who knows what ideas might not become abundant.

The 1999 GE Food Debates: The Turning Point.(genetically engineered food): An article from: Synthesis/Regeneration - Roberto Verzola

Gifts and understandings

2010-12-28T11:39:00.000+11:00

To one and all - all the rich blessings of the Christmas season

2010-12-25T11:09:00.000+11:00

From Drop Box

Food & Advocacy: Tony Bilson & The Intervention: Evelyln Bilson & her Christmas Pudd

2010-12-16T10:16:00.000+11:00

Picture from here

There's nothing like mixing politics and food. My Aunt Bina used to mix her Marxism with interior decoration and dressmaking. Thanks to Cheryl and Michele for passing on this letter of protest from well-known Sydney chef, Tony Bilson, to Jenny Macklin the Minister responsible for the horrors of the Intervention.

As well, I am taking the opportunity because of the Season to pass on a recipe for Christmas Pudding. Behind every great man is a mother and behind Tony Bilson (Bilson's) is his mother Evelyn who makes the most wonderful Pudd. I have Evelyn Bilson's recipe from the Good Living magazine of The Sydney Morning Herald of Nov 23-Nov29 1999. The recipe was republished at a reader's request from Good Weekend sometime in 1995. I make Evelyn's Pudd and highly commend it. Tony is serving the Pudd on his Christmas Lunch menu at his wine bar number one.

So first, Tony's letter; then Evelyn's wonderful Pudd. BTW, the links inserted in the text are done by me.

~~~~~~

----- Original Message -----

From: Tony Bilson

To: jmacklin.mp@aph.gov.au

Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2010 3:19 PM

Subject: Indigenous Racial Disrimination Act and NT Intervention

Dear Minister,

I write as an extremely concerned Labor supporter of many years standing.

I have been working with the One Laptop Per Child organisation and other activities including a dinner in Parramatta to celebrate Indigenous culture at the time of Govenor Macquarie.

My time spent with the Yolngu in Arnhem Land and on the homelands has given me the highest degree of respect for the complexity and moral strength of their culture.

I am currently involved in two programs to try to promote their culture in a contemporary context.

One is with Professor Bob Holman of Columbia University NY who will be coming out to Australia to work with Yolngu poets and musicians to formulate a celebration of Alan Ginsberg's time spent with them in 1972 for the 'Ginsberg Year' next year. From this collaboration will emerge a celebration to tour here and the USA.

Secondly I am doing a small Australian cultural/trade festival in Dhaka, Bangladesh for two weeks in February featuring new music from Yolngu musicians.

At the same time I have been working with financial benefactors to provide training at the highest technological levels to allow the production and export of high quality food products from the community at Yirrkala.

My wife Amanda and I attended last night a screening of the film Our Generation, produced by Sinem Saban and Damien Curtis and were shocked by the proposals of the 'intervention' and the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act.

We had previously been totally unaware of the campaign of falsehoods used to justify the intervention policy of the previous Liberal and Labor Governments and the cynical misuse of accusations of systemic pederasty to justify this inhumane and socially destructive policy. We now know these accusations were totally without foundation. A lie of Goebellian proportions.

We appeal to you in the strongest possible terms to abandon this policy and to institute a genuine dialogue with Indigenous representatives of the communities so as to guarantee theintegrity and continuity of their culture.

If you have not seen the film I ask that you do so as a matter of urgency. Here is the link : www.ourgeneration.org

Please Minister do not let our nation be further shamed by these proposals to treat our Indigenous peoples and cultures with what may be a final blow to their very continuity - in a word, genocide.

Yours sincerely

Tony and Amanda Bilson

~~~~~~~~~

Picture from here

Evelyn Bilson's Christmas Pudding

(serves 12)

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cups suet

3/4 cup plain flour, sifted

1/2 cup almond meal

4 cups soft breadcrumbs

1 cup white granulated sugar

1 teaspoon mixed spice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

4 and a half cups mixed fruit (raisin, sultanas, currants, figs)

1/3 cup mixed peel

1/2 cup stout

4 eggs

2 tablespoons marmalade

1 lemon, zest and juice

1 fresh tart apple, grated

4 tablespoons of rum or cognac

1/4 cup plain flour, sifted.

Method:

Rub suet into the flour and add remaining dry ingredients. Mix well. Add stout, stir in eggs and add marmalade. Add lemon zest, juice, and apple and finally the rum or cognac. Let stand in a cool place overnight for the flavours to amalgamate. Take a wet pudding cloth (use a 75cm square of unbleached calico) and wring it out. Sprinkle liberally with the extra flour and place the pudding on top. This helps give the pudding a better skin. Gather corners and sides of the cloth around the pudding and pull tightly to give it a good, round shape. Tie tightly with string about 2.5cm above the top of the pudding to allow for expansion. Steam pudding in a bowl sitting in boiling water in a large saucepan for 4 hours and then hang it in the pantry for at least 2 weeks, until Christmas. This pudding must not touch anything. In hot weather, it is better to store it in the refrigerator.

~~~~~

Thinking about your food: a school grows and kills its own turkeys - and the ramifications

2010-11-24T07:57:00.002+11:00

I don't know how many schools in Australia operate like the Arthur Morgan School, in North Carolina, USA. I found this article about growing and killing your own turkeys for Thanksgiving - and the ramifications of this decision - of great interest.

The issue of raising and killing animals, for those at Arthur Morgan School, turned into controversy, discussion, in-school politicisation and became "a rich experiential tool" to teach children about ethics, economics, health, and the environment.

What I took from my reading of the article was how deeply the students and school community thought about their food - and the violence that is attached to eating animals for their meat.

I know there are people in Australia working in schools to turn attention towards food - not least of whom is Stephanie Alexander through her Kitchen Garden Foundation. I don't know whether there is in-school experience of raising animals for food except for the sort of program similar to Ironbark, which is part of St Peter's Lutheran College. My daughter had a wonderful term at Ironbark when she was at St Peter's.

Do Tucker Lovers know of Australian schools where this is happening?

If animals are being raised, what occurs in regard to slaughtering the animals for food? How is this handled? Is there the same level of discussion about killing and violent death as has occurred within the Arthur Morgan School community?

As someone who wants people to think more about

what they eat
where it comes from
how it is produced
how it comes to store and table, and
the ethics involved in all of this

I would be interested to hear of the experiences of others. Just drop me a line at misseaglesnetwork(at)gmail(dot)com.

The coal miners of Pike River, NZ and their families are in my thoughts

2010-11-22T09:53:00.002+11:00

Please go here to leave a message.

Mine says:

Thinking and praying for those below the ground and those above.

Peace be to you and may your men come home to where they belong

2010-11-17T12:57:00.000+11:00

OSAMA - Inspired by a true story, this film which centres on three generations of women, deeply affected by the advent of the Taliban's rule in their land. "Osama," is a Golden Globe award winning film. It was the first feature film to be made in post-Taliban Afghanistan. Some review comments: “a powerful film”…. “ offers valuable insights into a foreign culture that few of us have more than a cursory knowledge about” …. “great films like Osama, thoughtfully considered, give us the ability to withhold blanket judgments and come that much closer to the truth” · Note: The film is rated M. It is not suitable for children under 15 years of age.

Picture from here

· John Tresidder is TEAR’s Pakistan coordinator. He will have been back from Pakistan from less than one week. He will give an up-to-date description of the post-flood situation in Pakistan, how TEAR is involved in the re-development of communities and how future funds will be spent. · Pakistan Christian Fellowship has kindly offered to supply supper for the evening, so there will be plenty of tasty snacks to enjoy during the evening. · Suggested donation: $15 (all funds go to TEARs Pakistan and North India Flood Appeal)

WHO:

ETAG (Eastern TEAR Action Group) are organising the night
.

WHERE:
Blackburn South.

Because this is being held at a private address,

Miss Eagle is not including this in the post.

If you are keen to come and need more information,

please email misseaglesnetwork(at)gmail(dot)com
.

WHEN:

Saturday 20 November, 7:30pm – 10pm

WHY:

“In the past I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this”

(UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon).

In the worst flooding in 80 years, up to 2.6 million people in Pakistan have been made homeless. The waters have swept through 124 districts and have led to the widespread loss of houses, crops and livestock, as well as civil infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water and irrigation systems and schools. While the world’s media has largely moved on from the situation in Pakistan, the reality of re-building from one of the worst natural disasters in history continue for millions of people. This night will help raise much needed funds as well as provide an opportunity to hear an on-ground account of the current situation.

NOTE:

BYO Bean bag or comfy cushion (not essential but will help with seating arrangements!)

Further reading:

Pakistan floods and the timber mafia

Pakistan flood damage 9.7 billion dollars: World Bank, ADB

Will the Pakistan floods strike again

Pakistan's floods are not just a natural disaster

Pakistan's floods: is the worst still to come?

International Union for the Conservation of Nature Pakistan

Monbiot and apples: pressing, pasteurising and putting away.

2010-11-02T19:09:00.000+11:00

George Monbiot wants us to know how to press, pasteurise,

and put away pressed apples and their juice.

Here's what to do.

Pictures of the doing here.

Fair Trade is getting fairer: Tim Tams are moving it ahead.

2010-10-29T18:40:00.000+11:00

Arnott’s ensure Tim Tams are free from child labour October 29, 2010
Josette Dunn

World Vision Australia today welcomed Arnott’s announcement that it will source ethical cocoa that has not been made with the use of child labour for all of its chocolate-based products, including the iconic Tim Tam biscuit.

In response to a public campaign by World Vision earlier this year, Arnott’s said on 30 March that it was “committed to playing its part by sourcing sustainable cocoa that avoids the use of child trafficking and unacceptable forms of child labour” by the “end September 2010″.

World Vision’s CEO Tim Costello met with Arnott’s last night and said he was pleased to hear the company had now committed to ensure its cocoa supply chains were free from child labour.

Arnott’s sources 24 percent of its cocoa from Ghana in West Africa where there is widespread use of child labour in the cocoa industry. As CEO of World Vision I have visited the cocoa fields in West Africa where kids use dangerous machetes and pesticides, work long hours and often don’t go to school, he said. World Vision understands that Arnott’s has signed an agreement to source its West African cocoa until 2012 through Fairtrade’s independent certification scheme. We are very pleased with Arnott’s commitment to source ethical cocoa. The lack of a fair and stable price for cocoa farmers is a root cause of the exploitative labour problem. Farmers typically receive only a very small proportion of the final retail price for their cocoa, which means they are forced to produce it below the fair cost of production. It’s these conditions that often lead farmers to use child labour. By sourcing its cocoa through the Fairtrade certification system, Arnott’s is helping farmers get a fair price for their cocoa. It will also protect Arnott’s supply chain from exploitative labour practices.

The US Department of State’s June 2010 Trafficking in Persons report said a majority of modern slaves were in agriculture and mining and that forced labour was prevalent in many products including chocolate.

The report also said reputable companies could profit from abuse when they did not protect their supply chain from modern slavery. World Vision Australia’s Don’t Trade Lives campaign is calling on the global chocolate industry to guarantee farmers a fair price for their cocoa and to eliminate all exploited labour from cocoa production by 2018. “If you want to enjoy your chocolate guilt-free, join World Vision’s Don’t Trade Lives campaign or contact chocolate manufacturers and ask them to commit to buying cocoa that is independently and ethically certified,” Mr Costello said.

Cadbury and Green and Black’s recently agreed to clean up their cocoa supply chains. The Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate block is now Fairtrade certified and 90 percent of Green and Blacks product's will be Fairtrade certified by the end of 2010.

Alice Waters and Australian women foodies - ancient and modern

2010-10-23T16:41:00.001+11:00

I have just come across here a marvellous article by Tom Philpott acknowledging women's role in the sustainable food movement. He mentions Alice Waters, she of great fame and pictured above, along with other influential women.

This set me to thinking of great female Australian foodies and I offer up a small but not all selection. Tucker Lovers may forward their own contributions and favourites. Perhaps not all are as politically astute and culturally sensitive as Alice and the younger ones are yet to fully develop for us to assess their mark on the nation's culinary tastes and knowledge. But here goes....

The first is the woman to whom this blog is dedicated, Amy Schauer. One can find references to and recipes from Miss Schauer in this blog here. And then there is a wonderful mixture ...

From top left clockwise:

Poh Ling Yeow, Margaret Fulton, Kylie Kwong,

Stephanie Alexander, Gay Bilson, Maggie Beer

The one who is impacting me most at this point in time is Poh. Poh is a multi-talented bright spark. What really endears her to me is her love (and that of her aunties) for Nonya food. I have found Nonya food little known among Australians. However, long ago in the last part of the 20th century, I was living in the Northern Territory. A couple of times a year, I used to go to Darwin and the place I stayed at on Daly Street had a restaurant named Victoria's (is it still there??) which specialised in Nonya food. I loved it. Clay pots, spicy, different. The meals at Victoria's were the highlight of the trip and live long in the memory - and Poh helps me to relive the memory of that food.

Poh's Kitchen

The New Mrs. Lee's Cookbook: Nonya Cuisine

Nonya Favourites (Periplus Mini Cookbook)

The Schauer Australian Cookery Book

Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden Companion

The Cook's Companion: The Complete Book of Ingredients and Recipes for the Australian Kitchen

Kitchen Garden Cooking for Kids

The Margaret Fulton Cookbook

Margaret Fulton's Encyclopedia of Food & Cookery: The Complete Kitchen Companion from A to Z

Plenty - Gay Bilson - Digressions on Food

Maggie's Harvest

Maggie's Table

Simple Chinese Cooking

My China: A Feast for All the Senses

Kylie Kwong: Recipes and Stories

Welcome to the Blogosphere, Sam

2010-10-18T06:40:00.000+11:00

This is a post of record.

Sam Walker has entered the Blogosphere.

Sam is an expatriate Australia currently living and working in London.

He is a keen foodie and a keen photographer

which bodes well for a blog.

He comes from a long line of

excellent cooks and Tucker Lovers.

Oz Tucker wishes Sam well

as he explores new food scenes

and tells the world about them.

You will find his blog here.

Blog Action Day on WATER : Global Handwashing day - The Wiggles & Nelson Mandela

2010-10-15T10:02:00.001+11:00

To-day, as you can see, Tucker Lovers, from the post below is Blog Action Day and the theme for this year is WATER. I am trying to kill two birds with one stone so I am combining the Water theme of Blog Action Day with a little soap because to-day is Global Handwashing Day. A little water and a little soap can make a huge difference in saving lives and helping us to ward off disease. I love the emphasis on the kids because we want them to grow up strong and resilient, don't we.

The first Global Handwashing Day was in 2008.

Our very own Wiggles wrote a special tune.

It is catchy and easy to teach to your kids.

And here is the video for 2010

Please value water.

It is our life.

Please support the human right to water and its understanding.

Article 31

In Australia, water was unbundled from land

by a COAG Agreement in 1994.

This made water a tradeable commodity -

when once it was part of the Commons -

it belonged to all of us.

This definition of water rights comes from Wiserearth:

Definition: Water rights are the legal rights that define ownership of water and water sources (surface and subsurface), the use of water and the priority of water use. Water rights allocate water to different users and can be contentious in areas where water supplies are insufficient for the demands upon the supply, and where people are denied or deprived of access to water. The right to water is increasingly considered as a basic human right that has to be reconciled with legal water rights already in existence. Unfortunately, privatization and commodification of water often undermine this right by cutting off supply to those who cannot afford to pay.

Blog action day on Friday 15 October : we’re blogging about WATER

2010-10-13T07:44:00.001+11:00

Blog Action Day 2010: Water from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

I wanted to let all bloggers know about an important online event I'm taking part in on October 15th, called Blog Action Day.

Each year bloggers from more than 100 countries come together and blog about a single important issue, and this year's topic is clean water.

The event includes thousands of blogs - including the White House blog and The Official Google Blog - and they're looking for as many blogs to participate as possible, regardless of their size and focus.

So, Tucker Lovers, if you blog I hope you'll think about joining me for this event. If you want more information, check out the Blog Action Day site at http://blogactionday.change.org/.

So to those of you who blog - look forward to seeing your post on this coming Friday.

GM Free Week of Action: World Food Day: Unite Against Hunger

2010-10-11T17:54:00.006+11:00

Picture from here

This is the GM Free Week of Action and if you pop over here, you will find that Jessica Harrison has provided all sorts of information to keep you on the go and committed.

FOOD COMPANY LOBBY DAY

Wednesday 13 October 2010

Take 3 minutes out of your busy day

to email or phone the big food companies -

telling them

"We want our food to stay GM free".

To ask Pfizer/Wyeth for an immediate recall of GM contaminated infant formula S-26 Soy, ring their toll free number 1800552229
To lobby Health Minister Nicola Roxon asking her to fix our "rigorous" labelling laws so they really protect us.
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/issues/GE/taking-action
Contact Woolworths on 1300 767 969 http://www.woolworths.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/website/woolworths/contact+us/ contact-us
Contact Coles: 1800 061562 or http://www.coles.com.au/Coles/Coles-Feedback.aspx
Other companies http://www.truefood.org.au/takeaction/?action=FOODCO
Lobby the WA Agriculture minister on GM wheat at http://www.geneethics.org/actnow

Free copies of the 2010 True Food Guide

which lists the companies committed to keep

their products GM free

are available from

support@au.greenpeace.org or 1800815151

SPEAK OUT AGAINST MONSANTO
Friday 15 October 2010
Meet at Flinders Street Station, Melbourne
Under the Clocks

Monsanto has begun a campaign to "change the opposition many Australia consumers have to genetically modified food". If you feel outraged, come along to speak on the open microphone and hear speeches from La Via Campesina representatives, angry mums and farmers.

One of the things the Week of Action does is act as bridesmaid and usher in the really big United Nations event, World Food Day organised by the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The theme in 2010 is United Against Hunger

So now it's over to you.

2010-10-11T16:33:00.001+11:00

Picture from here

You're invited to attend a Live Export Forum

organised by the City of Fremantle.

At the event you'll hear from a panel of speakers discussing the progress being made to end live export, why they're personally against the trade, and the effects it has on animal welfare, our overall economy, employment and Australia's reputation.

You'll also have the opportunity to participate

in a unique public action to help end the trade!

Where:

Fremantle Town Hall, 8 William Street, Fremantle

When:

Tuesday 12th October 2010, 6pm, for a 6.30pm start

RSVP:

Email humanechain@wspa.org.au by 11th October and let us know if you and any of your friends would like to attend.

Panel speakers will include:

Brad Pettitt, Mayor of Fremantle
The Hon. Melissa Parke, Federal Labor MP for Fremantle
Representatives from the meat processing industry and meatworkers union
The Hon. Lynn MacLaren, Greens MLC
Jessica Borg, Campaign Manager, WSPA
Jodie Jankevics, Campaign Manager, Stop Live Exports

We hope to see you there! If you are unable to attend please check back here on the Humane Chain blog for event updates, or follow our tweets from the forum. Please help us promote the event by re-posting this story on Facebook.

Tweeting our Tucker

2010-10-07T10:07:00.003+11:00

Thanks to Jeroxie I now know something else that Twitter is for. Over at Slashfood they are reporting on The World’s First Twitter Cookbook.
Apparently some of the tweeted recipes put up by the tweeps need a bit of decoding. Pop over to the Twitter site of Maureen Evans to get the gist of a Twitter coded recipe or three.
Here’s an example. It is for Whisky Applies.

Whisky Apples: Boil2c h2o&sug; +4c slicdapple/cinnstick. Simmr4m; rmv apple to 4 8oz jars. Boil syrup 5m; +½c whisky. Fill jars; boil5m.

What it says is:

Boil 2 cups of water and sugar
Add 4 cups of slice apple together with a cinnamon stick
Simmer for 4 minutes
Remove apple and place in four 8oz jars
Boil syrup for 5 minutes
Add half a cup of whisky.
Fill jars.
Boil for 5 minutes.

Simple really. Tisn’t it amazing what can be put in 140 characters/spaces or less. Clever Maureen. Cleve Tweeps. See what you can do, Tucker Lovers

Related reading:

Eat Tweet: 1,020 Recipe Gems from the Twitter Community's @cookbook

Interview with Maureen Evans here.

The day no birds would sing…

2010-10-04T18:03:00.001+11:00

…and no bees will buzzz.

Picture from here

It seems this week that I have a focus on the birds and the bees. Perhaps it is just spring. I think that’s the reason. Spring has an expectancy, a longing. We love to see the blossoms, we love to hear the birds coming out from the rain and singing, and we do like to know that the bees will do their vital part in the continuation of this precious cycle.

I would ask you, Networkers, to pop across to Duncan’s blog where he says

As I walked through the bush I saw and heard no birds, and failed to see the flowering shrubs and plants that used to delight the eye, and as things stand I can only see the situation getting worse with further losses of biodiversity.
Birds and plants are not the only groups suffering of course, In the sixty five years I’ve been observing nature in the local area, native mammals have disappeared, frogs and reptiles have declined, and native fish and other aquatic life have taken a big hit from reduced stream flows and the introduced European carp.

Have we done this or is this just nature doing its thing? Is this changing climate or a change in the cycle? Let’s not ask questions. Instead, let’s put our energies into thinking about our behaviours, what we consume from the planet – to the extent that there is not enough water, air, food for the birds, the bees, the fish and us. And please read Duncan’s blog.

Locusts, sprays and bees: impacts on our food chain

2010-10-03T10:05:00.000+11:00

In the last few days, I have posted here and here about the so-called locust plague and Eris O'Brien's viewpoint. The Stateline story is now up on their website. You can look at it - and particularly note Eris O'Brien's thoughtful presentation - here.

My interest began with my friend Denis over at The Nature of Robertson who has done quite a number of posts on the locust situation which you will find by going here. Denis's postings are quite extensive and explicit and I won't attempt to comment - but please read his posts. They are important.

I do want to say that it is about time that we of the human species woke up to ourselves. Who/what is the greatest threat to our wildlife, our food and water sources, our environment? It is us. Not the locusts. Us. We are a plague to our planet. And we are not considering wiping ourselves out are we? What we do have to do, though, is ask ourselves a few questions about what we are doing and what direction we are taking. And we have to learn from the mistakes of our past. And the most eloquent voice in all this was Rachel Carson. Perhaps Carson was not the first. However, in our times her voice has been the most significant, far-reaching and followed.

Australians, in particular, need to look at their own track record. Point me in the right direction if I am wrong but I think we could take the cake for the biggest environmental vandals on the planet. We are up there with extinctions. We are brilliant at land clearing. We have a penchant for importing animals which become feral: the rabbit, the fox, the cane toad, etc. They are the highly visible ones. Go here for more information on our toxic importations. Australians' use of pesticides, particularly in our food chain, continues with only limited abatement. You might like to have a look at the article below.

Over at The Nature of Robertson, Denis asks:

I have a view about this which might not be popular, but if the Victorian Government told their electors that they were going to spray vast areas of the State with many different chemicals, nearly all of which are highly toxic to bees - what would the reaction be?

Finally, I would like to draw your attention to the bee.

The blue-banded native bee with a tomato blossom

Much is made of the European honey bee and the fact that Australia is now the only country in which there is a wild population. In fact, did you know that European honeybees collect 90% of available nectar and pollen but pollinate only about 5% of our plants? In short, European honeybees are bludgers, free-loaders. They can take their food without doing anything useful in return - like pollination. The really hard yakka in the bee world in Australia is done by our very own native bees.

One of the things we might all consider is our gardens and how our small urban and suburban patches can make a positive contribution to Australia's ecology. Here I would like to put in a word for that great native bee attractor, the Native Frangipani.

When I lived in tropical North Queensland in the shadow of the World Heritage listed rainforest, I grew a beautiful specimen. My neighbours were busy planting foreign palm species - and had to ask what my huge and beautiful (yes, it did get to be huge) tree was. I believe it can be grown in quite diverse regions - besides the tropics. Its beautiful, tiny, fragrant blossom attract those little black native bees well - like bees to a honeypot.

I would ask that you have one more look at the Stateline program. Look and listen and analyse what is being told to you in images and words in this locust segment. It begins with Victoria's premier, John Brumby. He doesn't say much - but it is clear that his presence gives this segment his imprimatur and adds to its stature. Because of Brumby's presence, this gives status and stature to the locust story. But how detailed is the information provided by the proponents of spraying? I would say insufficiently detailed. Insufficiently describing and circumscribing safety. This contrasts with the detailed argument put forward by Eris O'Brien.

Related reading:

Australian Bee Lore and Bee Culture: Including the Influence of Bees on Crops and the Colour of Flowers and Its Influence on Bee Life [ 1912 ]

BEES FROM THE AUSTRALIAN REGION

Bees and honey (Australian industries series ; no. 16)

A classification of the bees of the Australian and South Pacific regions (Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History)

Commercial honey bees (Apis mellifera) reduce the fecundity of an Australian native bee (Hylaeus alcyoneus) [An article from: Biological Conservation]

BEES, CHIEFLY AUSTRALIAN SPECIES, DESCRIBED OR DETERMINES BY DR. H. FRIESE

A cluster of bees;: Sixty essays on the life-histories of Australian bees, with specific descriptions of over 100 new species,

The effects of the introduced honeybee (Apis mellifera) on Australian native bees (Occasional paper / National Parks and Wildlife Service)

The visual book of Australian bees (Bees in Australia)

Some Australian bees (Acad. of Nat. Sci. Proc)

On a collection of Australian and Asiatic bees (Bulletin / American Museum of Natural History)

Tree fern and honey bee: A study of aboriginal Australian ancestors of the Mapleton District

Further reading:

Beetle's big threat to bees and farmers

The exotic bee threat

Bee battle

2010-10-02T08:02:00.001+10:00

Senator Rachel Siewert has spoken out about Food Labelling and instancing some disturbing trends in what some might be feeding to their babies. Please go here to follow what she has said. Rachel is also speaking out - along with Senator Nick Xenophon - about the use of genetically modified ingredients in baby formula.

One of the problems in getting truth and useful and usable information into food labelling, is here. The Australian Food and Grocery Council is monolithic and influential. Food consumers have to work at increasing their organisatsional constituency and find ways to add power and clout to their voice. Please let Rachel know of your support for what she is doing.

Victoria, the food chain, & the coming chemical kill-off of locusts....wildlife & other insects

2010-10-02T06:00:00.015+10:00

Eris O'Brien

Further to my post below on Eris O'Brien and the locusts, Eris was part of a segment on the locusts on Victoria's Stateline to-night. Eris uses the term locust migration instead of locust plague. He also speaks of other options. He spoke of the experience of long-ago farmers in the Wimmera district who used repellent methods other than chemicals to deal with the periodic extremes of numbers of locusts.

I find amazing some omissions from the public information.

Firstly, we are not told exactly how organic farmers - agricultural and horticultural - are managing or what their views are. Organic food production is on the rise. There is an increasing demand for it from consumers. I would like to know what organic food producers are planning to do in their part of the food cycle. It is said there is not ready availability of organically suitable pesticides. Is this correct? Will these types of insecticides be in widespread or limited use? What assurances do we have to their safety both for humans, for wildlife and beneficial insects?

Secondly, I have not heard from any food activists (ones that you hear from in regard to genetic modification of food or in discussion about ethical consumerism) of their views on the chemicals about to enter our food chain.

Nitrothion 1000 appears to be the chemical of choice for killing the locusts and I have above published a document which can be downloaded in this regard. Go here to follow up on a document relating to Nitrothion and locusts. On Statewide, all sorts of assurances were given: there will be buffer zones; no spraying near waterways, beehive sites, and environmentally sensitive areas - so we are told. The manner of conveying this information was brief and offhand.

Where Eris O'Brien is clear and detailed in explaining the situation from his viewpoint, the proponents and deliverers of death by insecticide to locusts and, I believe, other wildlife were not trying to convince anyone really.

Their words were placed - as far as I could assess - as an afterthought and merely as a matter of form.

There was little or no attempt to explain, convince and assure. And the whole Stateline segment appeared to have the imprimatur of John Brumby, Premier of Victoria, who participated in the beginning of the segment. He did the reassuring with a well spoken version of "she'll be right - we have the sprays" attitude.

The only one who put forward a point of view based on reason, experience, and science was Eris O'Brien. He was convincing. A pity the dominant view couldn't be bothered. The dominant view clearly doesn't believe it has to convince anyone - and that everyone will just fall in behind their point of view and their execution of what is required to do a chemical kill-off of the locusts. I would advise them to think again. I for one am not convinced.

I am new to Eris O'Brien's arguments - and, at the moment, I find his argument convincing. Most convincing indeed!

Save locusts & our wildlife : no enforced chemical spraying : give farmers choice

2010-09-30T13:44:00.000+10:00

This image is from here

I have had an email from The Network's

dearest and most faithful friend,

Denis Wilson of The Nature of Robertson.

Links in the letter are by Miss Eagle. Please go to Denis's post on this matter. He has numerous links which interested Networkers will be sure to follow up.

Bird painting of a 'Brown Hawk' by Alfred May (1862-1948) Tasmania

Hi Miss Eagle

I first posted about Locust spraying madness after I came back from a bird-watching trip to West Wyalong - 450 Km each way, through wheat-growing country (mostly), and I realised I had hardly seen a small hawk all the way. That was several months ago.

Locust map from here. Click to enlarge.

I vividly recall driving through wheat country as a child and as a young adult, and it was normal to see a Kestrel or a Brown hawk on every second or third telegraph pole. On that trip I saw just two such birds.

Where have they gone?

You would be familiar with Silent Spring, no doubt.

Your John Brumby has now come out and declared war on Locusts

Why?

They supposedly pose a threat to the Melbourne Cup! "Locust plague threat to Melbourne Cup"

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/16/3013214.htm

Anyway, there is a Victorian farmer who is being roundly vilified for his environmental campaign against COMPULSORY SPRAYING FOR LOCUSTS.

His brother wrote to my blog, sticking up for his brother Eris O'Brien (you've got the love the Irish!).

Anyway, his video is compelling.

http://peonyden.blogspot.com/2010/09/plague-locusts-mad-use-of-poisons.html

Have a look at the list of chemicals registered for use on CEREAL CROPS - to make them poisonous enough to kill Locusts - but we eat the crops (and feed it to our mean animals) after the "withholding period".

How stupid are we?

I would appreciate some support on this, plus also for Eris O'Brien's website, [Save the Locust.com] and You Tube video.

Cheers

Denis

www.peonyden.blogspot.com

Eris O'Brien, Mitiamo

The picture came from this site.

Related reading:

Silent Spring

Lilydale chicken & racism claims: racism and chicken do not go together

2010-09-28T07:36:00.002+10:00

Miss Eagle is vegetarian - but occasionally cooks for her carnivore family. At these times, Lilydale Free Range Chicken is often on the menu. However.......

Over at Facebook, the National Union of Workers is campaigning...

The National Union of Workers is standing behind a Lilydale chicken worker who it suspects was sacked after he raised concerns to management about racist behaviour in the workplace. This is a community group dedicated to spread the word that this type of intolerance is unacceptable. The NUW strongly suspects that this reflects a pattern of workers' rights abuse.

A little racism with my chicken? I don't think so.

STORY UPDATE - 22 October 2010

Free chickens, caged workers

Poultry producer's workers claim intimidation

Poultry producer under investigation for worker mistreatment -

Lateline video clip

Poultry producer under investigation for worker mistreatment -

Lateline transcript

A kindred spirit: Vegetable Vagabond

2010-09-23T09:34:00.000+10:00

Tucker Lovers, isn't it a lovely feeling when we meet a kindred spirit - someone whom you want to ask home to play, have a cuppa, pull up a chair for a chat. Thanks to my dear friend Belinda, of Belinda's Place, I have discovered Kate living at Cygnet, in Tasmania. Her most recent post is called A Brief History of the World - and it is brilliant. Of course, Miss Eagle is a sucker for anyone who loves and lives community and works at it - as clearly Kate does as her blog links attest. So please pop over and say hello and say that Miss Eagle sent you.

THE TREE: A FILM FUNDRAISER FOR PEACE BRIGADES INTERNATIONAL

2010-09-11T12:04:00.000+10:00

Picture from here

THE TREE

A great film for a great cause!

Peace Brigades International.

All funds to help us protect human rights defenders

in Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, Guatemala and Nepal.

6.30pm - Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon Street, Carlton, Victoria

Thursday 7 October 2010.

Tickets: $18 full / $15 Concession

Festival De Cannes, Official Selection Closing Night Film Director Julie Bertuccelli’s adaptation of Judy Pascoe’s bestseller Our Father Who Art In The Tree.

Filmed in the open Australian bushland,The Tree will open your mind. Alternating skilfully between the supernatural and down-to-earth reality, the filmmaker immerses us in the lives of a devastated family, with grace and a delicacy that is illuminated by the presence of Charlotte Gainsbourg. - Marine Cluet, La Tribune

Join us for drinks and refreshments at the Back Bar at the Cinema Nova before the film starts.

Bookings essential!

Pre order your tickets at fundraising@pbi-australia.org or 9016 3769

Our Father Who Art in the Tree

Tobie Puttock and Cook Like an Italian come to Readings @ Hawthorn

2010-09-09T12:38:00.001+10:00

Picture from here

Dear Tucker Lovers,

Please get out your diaries. We're off to Readings, 701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn again on Monday 27 September for a 6.30pm assignation with the delightful Tobie Puttock.

To welcome the beginning of Foodie Month at Readings Hawthorn, they have Tobie Puttock talking about his third cookbook, Cook Like an Italian.

I love Italian cuisine. While I am vegetarian, unless the dish specifically features meat - like Osso Bucco - Italian food is easily converted to meat-free. A lot of the cuisine is derived originally from self-sufficient and sustainable home-garden produce and is easy to replicate at home and so it is good to see Tobie bringing his personal passion for cooking Italian food, and more importantly, for cooking simple Italian food – perfectly – to our very own kitchens.

For the past few years while teaching people to cook in his kitchen at Fifteen Melbourne, Tobie has been yearning for something more… something to inspire him. So he went to Italy!

Cook Like an Italian is the result.
An amazing culinary journey through wonderful Italy.

$20 per ticket includes tastes from his cookbook, and wine by Scorpo.

Tickets from Readings Hawthorn.

Heritage, Food and the Future

2010-09-08T20:31:00.002+10:00

Picture from here

Isn't this the most gorgeous vegie patch you ever did see?

I love to wander over to Casaubon's Book, the blog belonging to Sharon Astyk. She has fled the farm and is off to this vegie patch at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello to do something useful - like low-energy food preservation, complete with tastings. She will also be speaking about Jefferson's idea of a nation of farmers under the title of A Nation of Farmers: coming home to our land. Here follows an abstract of her talk. Her abstract and that of others can be found here.

Our present agricultural system depends on heavy inputs of increasingly expensive and scarce fossil fuels, and is exacerbating our current world food crisis. It warms the planet and depletes soil and water and contributes to every major problem we face. Meanwhile, 100 million people have joined the starving and one in every 10 Americans requires food stamps to sustain them. But that doesn’t have to be the case – agriculture could help us regenerate our society. We explore the possibility – and urgent necessity of creating a truly sustainable food system.

Now I'm sure the patch is not maintained by part-time gardeners. It displays investment of labour, knowledge and dollars. In many ways, it is a garden that is not easily replicated.

And I have to confess.

I love the lushness of the jumble of things growing together -

be it ever such a humble and ill-informed project.

Arabella Forge and Frugavore: eating well and understanding where your food comes from

2010-09-02T06:19:00.001+10:00

Tucker lovers, I want to draw attention to a new book which will hit the bookshops next month. You might like to put in your request to your local Public Library to purchase the book hot from the press. Publication details are:

Pub date: September 2010

RRP: $29.95

ISBN: 9781863954891

Imprint: Black Inc.

Format: PB

Size: 180 x 180mm

Extent: 240pp

In this book Arabella Forge covers all the territory of good, sensible, affordable and ethical food and eating. She is well qualified. Arabella is a Melbourne-based nutritionist. She teaches regular cooking classes at CERES Environmental Park and Organic Wholefoods, focusing on traditional techniques. She has featured as a speaker at Slow Food forums and speaks frequently on radio about issues relating to food and health.

Mark your diaries, Tucker lovers, because Arabella will be in conversation with Catherine Deveny at Readings Hawthorne bookshop on Thursday 16 September at 6.30pm. The event is free but Readings do like you to book so please RSVP by email: events@readings.com.au or phone: (03) 9819 1917.

There is a Frugavore website here and a Facebook page here.

Grow your own heirlooms, organically and simply - with Belinda's help

2010-09-01T15:00:00.000+10:00

I first posted the words and picture below nearly six weeks ago. I decided to do a 'reprint' because Belinda has to-day done a marvellous post on Community Supported Agriculture. Community Supported Agriculture in the form of 'food in boxes' operates in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne. In addition to these links, The Organic Food Directory tries to cover a fair bit of Australia. Now I am certain to have omitted other 'food in boxes' schemes and organisations - so please email me at misseaglesnetwork(at)gmail(dot)com if you want to get linked from this blog.

What Belinda is writing so refreshingly of is how extensive the Community Supported Agriculture project can be. She says that "every single product traditionally sold at a farm gate or farmers market has the potential for adaptation to a Community Supported Agriculture model."

Certainly, Belinda is working her darnedest to carve out her own niche within this growing economy - as you will see below.

That friend of mine Belinda from Belinda's Place is something. This organised, organising, methodical woman is in the category of Urban Homesteader. She does it all from the Mud Palace at Ferny Creek in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia. You can follow her doings and don't-ings in the aforesaid blog. So for all you need to know, the contact details are above. For the rest follow her on her blog.

Edgar's Mission needs help and voluteers. Please help.

2010-08-23T14:05:00.004+10:00

Mahatma Gandhi got it right when he stated "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." And if you’ve ever visited Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary, you’ll know exactly what I’m referring to. As many of you will know, Edgar’s Mission is run solely by Pam Ahern.

Surviving on the smell of an oily rag, Pam and all the animals at the Sanctuary, rely heavily on the support and much appreciated assistance from their volunteer network in order to continue to spread the message of compassion and kindness. We’re calling on you to lend us a much needed hand.

In a little under 6 weeks, on Sunday October 3, 2010, Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary will celebrate World Animal Day. Recognised all over the world, World Animal Day is the day when the world celebrates humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom. And at Edgar’s Mission, we love to do it in style! World Animal Day is our biggest open day of the year.

But to get the Sanctuary looking spick and spam in readiness for the big day, we need your help! Aside from our regular monthly volunteer days - the second Sunday and third Saturday of every month – we’re putting on a few extra volunteer days if you can possibly spare the time to assist us. And really, what better way is there to get up close and personal with such wonderful creatures like Hamish – the handshaking porcine, Ryan - the cheeky comical goat, Timmy - the friendliest sheep in the world and of course, Tippi – the most gentle cow you will ever meet!

As someone, who two years ago was touched by the compassion and spirit that transcends that of Edgar’s Mission, I can assure you that Volunteer days give you such wondrous opportunities to really get to know these animals. But they also give so much more. They give you an opportunity to learn new skills, meet like minded people and give back to the community. As such, we are looking for volunteers to assist on:

Saturday 28th August (extra)
Sunday 12th September
Saturday 18th September
Saturday 26th September (extra)
Friday 1st October (extra)
Saturday 2nd October (extra)

And of course, if you can spare any time on any second Sunday or third Saturday of any month of the year, we certainly won’t turn you away! (Check out ourwebsite www.edgarsmission.org.au for more details). If you can assist on any of the above listed dates, or on any other volunteer day throughout the year, please contact me via e-mail
- tash@edgarsmission.org.au or phone 0419 729 902. And of course, if you are free on Sunday October 3rd, we’d love to see you at the Sanctuary.

Come support our day! And, thanks for all you do for the animals.

Cheers,
Tash

Natasha Reus Volunteer Coordinator

If we could live happy and health lives without harming others ...why wouldn't we? www.edgarsmission.org.au

KOFI BEANS AND HARIRA SOUP AT CROYDON

2010-08-20T09:04:00.005+10:00

Yesterday, was Dentist Day and I was in Croydon. It is becoming something of habit to pop into Kofi Beans after my appointment to recover from all that drilling and poking before setting off full of (well not really - much diminished) anaesthetic to drive home.

Kofi's signage is not well seen from a distance. If you come down Mount Dandenong Road and turn left into Main Street and look for the better signed Red Cargo, you will find Kofi's next door on the northern side.

You will see Kofi's footpath dining area.

The weather has not been conducive to outdoor dining lately

and, while yesterday was sunny, it was still quite cold.

However, I haven't been in Kofi's during the lunching hours

when the indoors has not been packed.

On the right as you walk in, there are comfy couches for curling up with friends and coffee. Well, it wouldn't be Moroccan would it if there were not space and comfort for curling, reclining, slouching? And then there are the homewares - stacks and stacks of Moroccan homewares. Everything you can think of - almost - is there for the browsing and buying.

While coffee is the specialty of the house, I have to admit that I haven't got that far. I get stuck on the hot chocolate. Yesterday, I ordered orange and cinnamon. It was a delight to warm the cockles of my heart and pour comfort into a body which had suffered the vicissitudes of the dentist, lovely though Andrew is. The chocolate was so thick I am sure if I had put the teaspoon into it, it would have remained vertical.

Above is the menu board for the day,

but the menu at Kofi's is quite extensive

and has thoughtful menu markings

for dairy, vegetarian, and gluten free.

I ordered Harira Soup. Find out more about this traditional Moroccan dish here. There is a link to a recipe which includes meat - but Kofi's soup did not include meat and I think a really good rich vegetable stock would suffice well to provide a strong base for the chick peas, lentils, tomatoes, celery, and coriander. The Harira was served with Phillippa's Bread which will always be my favourite.

The cake cabinet is a veritable assortment of culinary jewels. But I have never ordered from there. You see, atop the cake cabinet are trays of cholates - all sorts: champagne, caramel, lavender, tia maria and on and on. I select three to take on my way. And I leave well satisfied.

BTW, on Friday nights Kofi's opens their courtyard - covered and heated - for dinner.

First Nations food from Australia's past

2010-08-18T08:10:00.002+10:00

At the moment there are various events commemorating the ill-fated expedition of Burke and Wills. I have posted about these here. Because Burke and Wills perished through arrogance and ignorance, I wanted to draw attention to this post.

Food blogs are quite sophisticated things these days but we need to keep reminding ourselves of how humanity has nurtured itself in the past. I think the big lesson to learn is to encourage an inward humility which is willing to learn from the past and to learn from other cultures. This humility was lacking, by and large, from the Burke and Wills experience and they died in their ignorance and arrogance.

Further reading:

Ancient philosophy of food

What price for Aboriginal food sources?

Laneway leads to Aboriginal careers in food

Charcoal Lane by Jeroxie

Benjamin Christie's Aboriginal food tags

Outback Pride
C

GIRLS' DAY OUT AT MORNINGTON : BAY HOTEL

2010-08-17T18:38:00.000+10:00

Herself and I had a girls day out to-day. We drove to Mornington. First of all, we stopped for lunch at the Bay Hotel. You can see the bistro section - which was beautifully warm and toasty - on the right of the collage above. We checked out the menu:

We had certainly picked our day because we were able to avail ourselves of the Monday/Tuesday Special which meant that if we picked a "starred" item we got it for $15 with a complimentary glass of wine. I know I don't dine out often these days, Trad Padders, but I hadn't come across a cleverly marked menu such as this. Along with the stars, the menu sported tiny 'v's for vegetarian and 'gf's for gluten free. I am vegetarian and I appreciated this thoughtful touch and I am sure the gluten free brigade would too. I ordered Mediterranean Pappardelle which, ordinarily according to the menu, has chicken. I asked for the dish without the chicken and they were happy to oblige. So my pappardelle came with roasted vegetables, pan seared with olive oil, tossed through the pappardelle and sprinkled with feta and toasted pine nuts. Herself - who is a carnivore - ordered the Hopkins River Beef Burger. I didn't have the wine. Herself had mine and I had a coke. She seemed well pleased with her vino. I noted that The Bay promotes local Mornington Peninsula wines with other Australian wines bringing up the rear. So, as you can see, we had good provender.

If you want to get the rest of the story about what we did in Mornington, please go here.

Bias in the kitchen as discovered by The Wheeler Centre

2010-08-16T11:46:00.001+10:00

This book accompanied The Australian Women's Weekly

March 8 1967.

Have just discovered that I blogged about this book

here over four years ago. And there is a recipe there too.

Bias in the kitchen as discovered by The Wheeler Centre here in Melbourne. The Wheelers have a lot to say about the Top 50 Best Cook Books as listed by The Observer.

As Tucker Lovers know, Miss Eagle does not stand on ceremony and Posh Nosh is not really her thing unless it can be brought to manageable household proportions and method.

I learned to cook in Domestic Science classes as the Bowen State School. Added a bit more to the repertoire when I had to cook meals for everyone when I was on night duty at the Bowen Hospital. But the real crunch, for most of us, comes when we marry and have a family and we have to learn, produce, and budget meals day by day, week by week, month by month, year in and year out. We balance likes and dislikes, time and reality. So my two nominees are never going to make it on to The Observer list but I need to express my undying and unflagging gratitude to them.

Coming in at Number 1 is Miss Amy Schauer and her Schauer AustralianCookery Book. No surprises there, eh, Tucker Lovers.
I am also indebted to The Australian Women's Weekly Test Kitchen Team/s. In his review of Kitchen, Benjamin Christie says: Many of you would have grown up with those thin 60 page Woman’s Weekly cookbooks in your kitchen. Well, I am so antique that I precede those. I come from a period when the books (and their were craft books as well which taught me to knit for babies, toddlers and children - yes my skills grew with the kids thanks to The Weekly) were rectangular affairs of about 14 pages stapled into the inside of The Weekly - which really was a weekly back then, not a monthly as now. I kept heaps of these for many years but eventually, after shifting around half Australia, I parted with them. I still have a couple which are not just yellow but brown with age and the pages are decidedly tattered. And I just remembered, after the rectangular affairs came a sort of B5 size one which was sophisticated by comparison.

VICHYSSOISE - WONDERFUL WARM OR COOL

2010-08-15T16:09:00.001+10:00

It is cold, rainy, bleak here in Melbourne - as it has been so often in weeks past. I have blessed myself with some vichyssoise and included recipe and picture. Please note: the last word in the recipe says "Chill". I haven't. Vichyssoise is beautiful warm too. I didn't use chicken stock because I am vegetarian - and I didn't have any vegetable stock, so I did without.

Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza ! 13 and 14 August 2010 - AND MRS BEETON'S COOKBOOK

2010-08-12T17:21:00.001+10:00

Tucker lovers

Let me tell you about the Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza.

Well, to-day was move-in day.

Don't ask me if Tamara (who is organising all this) and her dearly beloved Matt slept last night. I know that Herself (my daughter) was over there until well after midnight helping put up wonderful white tissue paper balls on the rafters of the Ashburton Scout Hut in High Street Road, Ashburton. The Scout Hut is still a Scout Hut but now it is a Scout Hut with pizzaz and quite a large helping of swish.

To-day, I saw wonderful stuff being unpacked and displayed.

There are ten stalls but a cornucopia of variety.

Shabby is there in spades

with all that would gladden Rachel Ashwell's heart.

Vintage and retro is there in all shapes and colours.

Wonderful linens and handcrafted stuff -

that would delight not only the modern woman

but her mum and grandma - are all over.

And junk is there as its glorious self

and re-jigged in marvellously creative ways.

Talk about re-jig, re-use, recycle.

And for those of you who love your food,

I have singled out for special attention

Mrs Beeton's Cookbook

which comes complete with

handwritten recipes and etcetereas.

Just look...

So please come to-morrow and Saturday.

8am until 5pm Friday

8am until about 3pm or so on Saturday.

There are not many opportunities like this to purchase

from a multiplicy of specialist stall holders.

Please ecourage the efforts of

Tamara, Alicia, Sam,

Shelley, Andrea, Robyn,

Callee, Jane & Kaz

See you when you are shabby shopping

at the Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza

Farmers Markets : Grow Local

2010-08-01T07:10:00.001+10:00

Just a reminder to Tucker lovers,

to check out their local farmers' markets.

In Victoria, you are never far from a farmers' market and there is a website to check your market of choice. It may be a market close to home or you may decide on a pleasant drive to a pleasant location. Have fun - and buy your food, as far as possible, close to home to support the Grow Local idea and make sure your victuals have as much of the good stuff in them as possible when you get to eat them.

And if you want to swap stuff or meat like-minded people, please pop over to the net site, Grow Local.

OZ TUCKER

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Non-stunning slaughter - Animals are counting on you to be their voice

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Tobie Puttock and Cook Like an Italian come to Readings @ Hawthorn

Dear Tucker Lovers,

Please get out your diaries. We're off to Readings, 701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn again on Monday 27 September for a 6.30pm assignation with the delightful Tobie Puttock.

Heritage, Food and the Future

Arabella Forge and Frugavore: eating well and understanding where your food comes from

Grow your own heirlooms, organically and simply - with Belinda's help

Edgar's Mission needs help and voluteers. Please help.

KOFI BEANS AND HARIRA SOUP AT CROYDON

First Nations food from Australia's past

GIRLS' DAY OUT AT MORNINGTON : BAY HOTEL

Bias in the kitchen as discovered by The Wheeler Centre

VICHYSSOISE - WONDERFUL WARM OR COOL

Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza ! 13 and 14 August 2010 - AND MRS BEETON'S COOKBOOK

Farmers Markets : Grow Local