Grater good

9th November 2020

Grater good

The passing of The Donald and Melbourne’s Ring of Steel in the same weekend has been something to celebrate but it also left me feeling edgy and empty.

Like emerging from a cyclone with part of the roof gone, street trees down and the chickens missing – my celebrations are tempered by what remains in their wakes.

For me, Melbourne is a liveable city not because of our world class cuisine, our arts or our sports but simply because we look after each other.

In the face of this pandemic Melbournians accepted the loss of our freedoms and livelihoods for our greater good.

That some of us have lost everything to keep others safe will require that care to continue long after the restrictions have lifted.

To this end Fair Food customers have been paying forward fresh food boxes to local not-for-profit, Open Table’s food relief program.

In two weeks 1590 fresh cook-at-home produce packs have been paid forward to people who have been impacted by the lockdown – including people on temporary and student visas who have lost jobs and don’t qualify for Jobkeeper or Jobseeker support.

Giving, however, is a virtuous cycle and Alanna from Open Table is warmly inviting Fair Food customers to join her for two festive season cooking workshops.

Over two Sunday’s Alanna is holding her popular hands-on cooking workshops focusing on zero-waste cooking that make the most of what you have in your fridge and garden.

These workshops are on Zoom and run for around 60 minutes. You’re welcome to cook along at home or simply join with a cuppa.

Tickets are free but spaces are limited to 30.

22nd November – DIY Chutney using excess produce (ideal for gifts)
29th November – Re-imagining leftovers to make delicious dips (on-trend for summer picnicking)

BTW if the sessions fill up, there’s a waitlist you can put your name on.

Want to know more contact Alanna at workshops@open-table.org

You can find the pay-it-forward box here

Have you said … Hello Vegetable?

Back in September at the height of COVID cabin fever we invited you to photograph, draw, write or sing about your favourite vegetable.

Pictures, paintings, poems, video and torch songs poured into the inbox of brilliant animator, Leonie Van Eyk, who with the help of composer, Dave Evans, conjured a short film called, Hello Vegetable.

Get ready for a galactic journey with sauteed silverbeet, sensuous dancing dutch carrots and corn transmogrified into magnificent migratory birds.

You can find Hello Vegetable here.

Have a great NAIDOC week,

Chris