Meanwhile down on Hazeldean Forest Farm / Fair Wood at Darebin Pitch IT Finals
Meanwhile down on Hazeldean Forest Farm Jason Alexandra is just back from a ute-ride around the farm checking on quince, persimmons and the last few fuji and jonagold left to ripen on the trees. Jason (that’s him enveloped by fruit above) reckons there’s just one more day of picking before they say goodbye to the crew of two backpackers and four locals who […]
Give us a sign Youbi / Never a better time to be Australian
Give us a sign For months at the new Fair Food warehouse in Preston disorientated delivery drivers have been tentatively sticking their heads in the front door asking if they’re in the right place. The confusion has arisen due to the huge plumbing supplies sign above our roller door, a leftover from the previous tenants. Clearly something had to be done. First […]
A delicate balance / Milk in glass
A delicate balance Every year around this time Jenny Indian emails from Stanley with an update on her and partner, Steve’s, chestnuts and quinces. This year I’m sharing Jenny’s message because it so honestly and humbly reveals what farmers are going through with the drought and a never-ending fire season. It also gives an insight into the constant […]
Quick spelt & pear muffins / Making Easter great again
Our hot cross bun tradition began with pagan Saxons honouring the goddess Eostre. The cross represented the rebirth of the world after winter, the four quarters of the moon, the four seasons and possibly how many pieces a bun could be feasibly cut, toasted, buttered and shared for afternoon tea. As paganism gave way to […]
Apple, fennel & radish salad-slaw / Hot cross bun regret
Rebirth, renewal & hot cross bun regret Easter with its themes of renewal and rebirth may seem as incongruous with our southern hemisphere autumn as the Sexyland Superstore that’s located near the Essendon off-ramp on the Tullamarine Freeway. But when it comes to produce this time of year there is a kind a renewal, a changing of the guard; gone are the bold stone fruits of […]
Shane O'Dea and his fresh pistachios / Boxes at 61%
The picture above is Shane O’Dea cuddling his family’s harvest of fresh pistachios (that’s right, fresh). Last year Shane wandered into the Fair Food warehouse with a five kilo box of shiny pink nuts and asked if we were interested. Needless to say we said yes and asked him if he would come back again this year. Shane’s family planted 2000 pistachio trees […]
