WELCOME TO WINTER 2014

Thanks to member Aly for the new poster for our next garden clinic.  Come down for BYO lunch on Wednesdays to keep up with all the garden news. Next monthly meeting 12.30 on Wednesday 4th June.

(Near Queen Elizabeth Park, South Casino 2470)

NEWSLETTER MAY 2014

CASINO COMMUNITY GARDEN

Monthly Newsletter #14 MAY 2014

Around Casino Community Garden this Month

Gardening:  Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 8.30am

BYO Lunch:   Every Wednesday 12 noon 

Monthly Meeting: First Wednesday of month.  Lunch 12 noon.

Meeting 12.30 for about an hour.

Interesting to see a balloon come into view and hover in the direction
of Casino Airport on a recent Saturday Morning

News from our May meeting at the Garden
Wednesday 7th May 2014

Topics and Speakers for our next Garden Clinic

  Saturday 14th June.  1.00pm to 4.00pm

"Welcome to Winter"

1.00 Pm Tour of Garden with Mark
1.15pm   Intro to Garden Clinic, Jo Nemeth - Co-Ordinator
1.20pm   First Speaker
2.00 pm  Second Speaker
2.45pm   Offiicial Opening and Thankyous Solid Entrance Path donated by business and generous people of Casino, Novaskill and Jobfind.
3.00pm Chat with Speakers and friends, and Produce / Plant Stall
3.15pm Afternoon tea.  Gluten free food/ pizza will be available.

Topics
Home Cheesemaking
Talk on home cheesemaking by Louise Woolbank.  Louise is from The Wicked Goat Dairy at Coraki and has years of experience producing different dairy products from her home business.

Louise will run through the basics of making different cheeses at home.

Louise offered to bring two goats along on the day.

Second Topic and Speaker to be Advised
Please watch for details on Facebook, and on Aly's "Welcome to Winter" poster when it is put up around town.

Info Sheets and Recipes for Lend-a-Hand

We have had a request for info sheets and recipes for the veggies that some people may not have used before.

Andrew offered to prepare the sheets to send along when those items of produce are taken to Lend-a-Hand.

Free  Volunteering Expo 10.00am to 4.00pm Thursday 15th May

Several Casino Community Garden members will be on duty at our "stall" at the Expo, at the Casino Community Centre, to answer queries about the garden, and others will be attending.

Weekday Workshops
Mark has mentioned he gets queries from people wanting help with their home gardens. Is there enough interest to run weekday workshops?

Picking Veggies

Thanks to those who responded to our appeal for help on Tuesdays from 8.30am to 10.00am to pick veggies for Lend-A-Hand. Still needing helpers, anyone who has some time.

Casino High School Students

Preparations finalised for several students to be involved at the garden on Thursdays from 11.00am to 1.00pm, starting in May with Linda Brooks supervising.

The Crew with Stage One of the new path completed.

Preparation for final section.

May Feature - Seed Saving

Seed saving: an important aspect of gardening.

Mention seed saving at the Garden and Mark brings out a box with various brown paper bags of saved seeds, and he is very willing to share his extensive knowledge on the subject, and show us through the seeds that he has collected, for use in seasonal propagation. Look out for Seed Saving at a future clinic.

However one of the issues at the garden is that some veggies that have been chosen to set seed, and not be harvested, are being picked by casual visitors to the Garden. 

Milkwood.net  No doubt seed saving has been going on as long as there has been agriculture, but it is interesting to read about the seed-saving network founded by Jude and Michel Fanton of Byron Bay. They started The SeedSavers in Australia in 1986 to preserve local varieties of useful plants and have since played a crucial role in over 37 countries, within communities and networks motivated to preserve seed sovereignty.

Today there are over 100 active seedsaver network nodes in Australia, still actively swapping, preserving and growing many local, heirloom and adapted varieties of the food we eat every day, ensuring their ongoing availability with the small but huge gesture of seed saving.

They also wrote the definitive book on Australian seedsaving "The Seedsavers Handbook", which should be in every public library as it contains invaluable, do-able information on how to save seeds to ensure future harvests of every scale.  Since then Jude has written "Seed to Seed: Food Gardens in Schools".       Pic Internet.

Meet the Seedsavers

Fact Sheet: Seed Saving by Jerry Coleby-Williams 

Jerry says the most important seed saving rule is to save seeds from the best plants and eat the rest.  It is important to only save seed from non-hybrid plants and these are commonly referred to as heritage, old-fashioned or open pollinated plants.  They are the plants most likely to produce offspring - in the form of seed - that closely resemble their parents.

Most seed, such as lettuce, are dry.  To save them it's simply a case of removing them from their capsules and storing them somewhere cool and dry.  For fleshy seeds such as tomatoes, there are two ways of saving seed.   A traditional method is to soak the pulp in water overnight to allow it to ferment.  This removes the natural germination inhibitors and, after washing and straining through a sieve, the seed can be dried and stored.   Or slice tomatoes, squeeze the pulp directly onto paper towelling and let them dry.  When ready to sow, cut off a piece with four to six seeds on it and sow in a pot.

When sowing your own seed generic variations might become apparent, most plants stay true to type, but you may propagate a plant that is an improvement,

Saving seeds helps to adapt plants to your garden conditions, for example plants from cooler climates may slowly adapt to our subtropical conditions.

Jerry concluded "Seed saving has given me better adapted plants and my own personal cultivars.

From internet.

Vegetable Planting Guide by Gardening Australia for May

Beetroot, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Burdock, Cabbage, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Endive, Florence Fennel, Huauzontle, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Collards, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Malabar Greens, Mangle-Wurzel, Mitzuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Pak Choy etc, Parsley, Parsnip, Peas / Snow Peas, Radish, Rocket, Shallots, Silverbeet, Spinach, Turnips/Swedes.

Veggie Guide

Featured Vegetable

Alugbati also known as Malabar or Ceylon Spinach

Thanks to Agnes for notes and also getting the Alugbati established in our garden.

Alugbati is a common vegetable in the Philippines and is also known as Malabar and Ceylon Spinach, and although not a spinach, can be used as a substitute in salad, stir-fry or curry and other recipes.  It has a wealth of nutrients as well as other health benefits as seen online in Philippine Medicinal Plants.

It is listed as low calorie and an excellent source of calcium and iron, and a good source of vitamins A, B, C and high in fibre.

There are several types, green stem, red stem and variants of green and red, and it grows several metres in length.  It is propagated by cutting or seeds, and planted on hills with a trellis.  Plant in full sun.  It prefers warmer temperatures.

Also grown in Asia, Africa and Malaysia, and used as a dye and for folkloric, cosmetic, veterinary and pharmaceutical applications.

Recipe Corner
Fish Lasagne with Cheesy Topping

Make a tasty main meal with a 425g can of mackerel, and lasagne sheets from the pantry.
Any canned fish, or fresh or frozen could be used. 

What you need:

Lasagne sheets, regular or gluten free, heat in boiling water on stovetop, to soften, drain.

Can mackerel or other fish, drained, mashed and flavoured with half finely chopped red onion (optional).

50 grams butter, 50 grams flour (or gluten free) and 600 mls milk for the sauce

Carrot grated

2 or 3 silverbeet leaves from the garden or baby spinach, chopped.

Salt and Pepper

Grated cheese to taste, about a  cup.

To Make the sauce:

Place saucepan on a low to medium heat, melt butter and quickly stir in the flour.

Stir and cook for two minutes.

Gradually add milk and, stirring with a wooden spoon, bring to a gentle boil until it thickens to a smooth custard-like consistency.

Add half of the cheese, salt and pepper if liked.

To Assemble lasagne:

Pour a little sauce into your large oven-proof dish and spread evenly to make a thin layer. (I use a large round pyrex casserole dish).

Add lasagne sheets to cover the sauce but don't allow lasagne sheets to overlap.

Add another thin layer of sauce, then one third of the fish on top, then a thin layer of  spinach and carrots.

Add next layer of lasagne sheets and repeat until there are three layers of pasta, sauce, fish and veggies.  The lasagne should be the top layer.  Press down with hand to level.

Top with remainder of sauce and sprinkle rest of grated cheese on top.

Bake in 180C oven for 25 minutes or until lasagne is piping hot and the cheesy topping is golden brown.

Serve with garden salad or steamed veggies to taste.

I   adapted this recipe from one on the internet intended for children with several "how to" segments.    

Fish Lasagne Recipe

Worm Farm Workshop

A workshop was held at The Hive, Mid Richmond Community Garden at Evans Head.

Clayton demonstrated how to set up and maintain a worm farm, and answered questions so that everyone had a clear understanding of setting up, and feeding the worms with kitchen scraps and equal amounts of dry matter, and what to expect in the way of castings and liquid fertiliser and how to use them.  Also how to start and maintain a worm farm in broccoli boxes and an old bath.

It is another step in reducing waste to landfill, and cutting costs in the garden with the nutrient-rich fertiliser.

Everyone enjoyed Clayton's yummy muffins too, and the friendly atmosphere.

 These pics and more: Facebook page of The Hive, A Mid Richmond Community Garden

*******************

Suggestions and photos welcome, by email to Jo or

Jan - email casinogarden@gmail.com

or bring to lunch Wednesdays or the meetings.

Ask Jo about being a member of the garden - $5/ annum

Join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CasinoCommunityGarden

If you are new here, scroll down for back issues of the Newsletter.

Words and photos by Jan Brine unless otherwise stated.

_____________________

Casino Community Garden

A Project of the Casino Neighbourhood Centre

Contact: Jo Nemeth on 6662 5435  Email: coordinator.cdp@cnci.org.au

Location: Head for Entrance to Queen Elizabeth Park at South Casino

Garden on Left - corner Adam & Hartley Streets.

_____________________

NEWSLETTER APRIL 2014

CASINO COMMUNITY GARDEN

Monthly Newsletter #13 APRIL 2014

Around Casino Community Garden this Month

Gardening:  Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 8.30am

BYO Lunch:   Every Wednesday 12 noon 

Monthly Meeting: First Wednesday of month.  Lunch 12 noon.

Meeting 12.30 for about an hour

Work underway on the new solid entrance path thanks to the generous 

business people of Casino, Novaskill and a crew from Jobfind.
Pictured Clive, Peter, Tony and Bobby, just before the April meeting.

NEWS FROM THE MEETING
Wednesday 2nd April 2014

Picking Veggies

Help is needed on Tuesdays from 8.30am to 10am, to pick the veggies for Lend-A-Hand.

Replacement of Taps

The Garden was fitted with new risers and taps for our irrigation "system" thanks to the generosity of local plumber Mark Palfrey, Williams Hardware and Casino DIY Hardware.  This support is very much appreciated, following the disappearance of our taps recently.

Food Preparation Area

All the steel, nuts and bolts etc has been purchased and ready to go.  Owen and Mark will commence the construction shortly.

Power

It is looking hopeful that electricity will be connected soon.

Casino High Students

Starting 8th May, several students will be involved at the garden on Thursdays from 11am to 1.00pm

Grants

Jo has applied for a possible grant, for some extras for the Garden, and looking out for further suitable grants.

Next Event - Welcome to Winter

The date and time was set - Saturday 14th June from 1.00pm to 4.00pm.  The meeting came up with suggestions for topics including Cheesemaking, Keeping Backyard Chooks, and Drying and Storing Herbs and Spices.  The final agenda will be subject to availability of Speakers etc.

Official Opening of New Path

It is planned to have the official opening of the new path in conjunction with the Event.

Dedication for you.  Amy getting on with the painting, in the heat of the day,
before the meeting, with a helping hand from the delightful Liam.

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April Feature

Soil Improvement
Presentation by Peter Cundall 12/11/2005

We have heavy clay soil and that's the reason I'm digging some pale looking stuff in.  It's called gypsum and it helps break up the soil.  But this is only one of the many ingredients to make soil fertile.  Others include mushroom compost, blood and bone, pelletised chook manure, and even sheep manure and dolomite limestone - they all work marvellously.  But how do they work individually?

The reason why mushroom compost is so marvellous, it's the best of all the fertilisers, and this one is absolutely neutral.  It can be used round just about any plant and dug in.  Turn it upside down to find this slimy stuff.  Get rid of that. It's stinky stuff and will break down later.  Then spread it around and it can be dug in later.

Now my favourite - blood and bone and it's a fantastic fertiliser.  Do you know why it's so good?  Because the blood meal contains slow release nitrogen, and the bone meal is full of calcium and phosphorus.  But this stuff lacks potash.  That means adding sulphate of potash.  About two cups for a bucketful.  It's easy to mix and I'm not afraid to handle it.  Add a good fistful, or a bit more, for every square metre.

Another of the best organic fertilisers is a complete fertiliser.  it looks like pelletised chook manure, but it doesn't really stink.  It's not bad, in fact it's an all purpose organic fertiliser, containing seaweed concentrate, blood and bone, fish manure, as well as shook manure.  A good handful all over the place and the pellets will break down as soon as they get wet, they crumble and all those lovely nutrients go down into the soil.

The layers are building up.  There is one more that I can't resist and it's sheep manure.  But use horse manure or cow manure, they're all about roughly the same.  But this is absolutely well decayed, All you do with this stuff, look, rake it over the surface.  Just rake it in.  I contains very little nutrients but is a brilliant soil conditioner.  It does the most wonderful things, even with clay soil, and it helps to break it up and makes it lovely and friable.  In fact, I can already feel the ground throbbing happily beneath my feet.

But there is something else, and it's dolomite.  Use dolomite if you've got acidic soild and you need to sweeten it.  Dolomite is not a fertiliser, it's a soil unlocker, and it's nothing more than calcium and magnesium.  It even helps break up this clay soil as well.  The great thing about dolomite limestone s that because it is slow acting, it doesn't react against any of those old, well decayed manures.  Put it on very, very generously.  And all I have to do now in winter is dig it in.

Words and pic of Peter from ABC Gardening.  It was good to see Peter again on the 25 year show recently.

Work in hand preparing for the next growing season

Vegetable Planting Guide by Gardening Australia for April

Amaranth, Beans (climbing and bush), Beetroot, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Burdock, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chives, Endive, Florence Fennel, Huauzontle, Jerusalem Artichoke,Kale, Collards, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Malabar Greens, Mangle-Wurzel, Mustard Greens, Onion, Pak Choy etc, Parsley, Parsnip,Peas / Snow Peas, Radish, Rocket, Shallots, Silverbeet, Spinah, Sunflower, Tomatoes, Turnips/Swedes.

Moringa Tree

Thanks to Agnes for details about this "miracle Tree", also known as Drumstick Tree and Horseradish Tree.  Ask at the Garden as we have a tree there, or Google Moringa Tree in Australia for more info.  

The tree is drought tolerant and grows in arid regions through to the tropics, will tolerate some frosts, and grows from cuttings and seeds. Originating from Northern India, the leaves, flowers, pods and roots are edible, and the flowers are loved by bees.

The baby leaves can be used in any spinach recipe.  The small trees are pulled up and the taproot ground, mixed with vinegar and salt and used as horseradish.  Very young plants can be used as a tender vegetable, and after about eight months the tree begins to flower and continues year round.  The flowers can be eaten or used to make tea.  Young pods cooked taste like asparagus, and much more.

The two pics in this section from internet.

RECIPE CORNER

No Bake Energy Bites.

I cup rolled oats

2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup ground flaxseed (optional)

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup honey

1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Thoroughly mix all ingredients in medium bowl. Chill in refrigerator for half hour.

Roll into balls about 3cm in diameter.  

Makes about  20 balls.

This is a recipe that you can change around to suit your taste, or the ingredients in your cupboard.  You could include:

• chopped dried fruit (apricots, dates, raisins etc.)
• dried berries (cranberries, cherries etc)
• chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts or sunflower seeds.

Over the Veggie Rainbow

This healthy after school snack provides a golden opportunity to entice your kids to eat fresh vegetables.

To make it, fill a small bowl with dip (they used guacamole).  Slice four long strips of capsicum in various colours and arrange them as shown.  Cut two small cauliflower clouds, skewer each with a toothpick, then position one on each side of the capsicum.

Place sliced carrot coins beside the bowl for the leprechaun's pot of gold.  (Optional)

Words and pics in recipe corner from internet.

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Shared from Facebook

Congratulations to Phil Dudman for winning two National Horticultural Media Awards in the beautiful Plaza Ballroom Melbourne - one for magazine journalism and other for the Harvest Radio Series he shares with his garden2kitchen buddy, Julie Ray.

*******************

Suggestions and photos welcome, by email to Jo or

Jan - email casinogarden@gmail.com

or bring to lunch Wednesdays or the meetings.

Ask Jo about being a member of the garden - $5/ annum

Join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CasinoCommunityGarden

If you are new here, scroll down for back issues of the Newsletter.

Words and photos by Jan Brine unless otherwise stated.

_____________________

Casino Community Garden

A Project of the Casino Neighbourhood Centre

Contact: Jo Nemeth on 6662 5435  Email: coordinator.cdp@cnci.org.au

Location: Head for Entrance to Queen Elizabeth Park at South Casino

Garden on Left - corner Adam & Hartley Streets.

_____________________

NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014

CASINO COMMUNITY GARDEN

Monthly Newsletter #12 March 2014

Around Casino Community Garden this Month

Gardening:  Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 8.30am

BYO Lunch:   Every Wednesday 12 noon 

Monthly Meeting: First Wednesday of month.  Lunch 12 noon.

Meeting 12.30 for about an hour

Our beautiful bench seat built by Casino Youth Early Intervention Service, ready for 

Opening Ceremony at Welcome to Autumn event on 1st March 2014.

NEWS

Vandalism

Members are concerned about the ongoing vandalism at the garden, and several ideas were discussed at our recent meeting.

New Path

Novaskill, and a crew from Jobfind have started work on the new path. We're looking forward to having more people access the garden who currently find it difficult without a solid entrance path.

Splash of Colour

Thanks to Amy and her daughter for their ongoing efforts with the garden beds.  Plenty more to go, and we are issuing an invitation to other artists too, who would like to contribute.

Pics by Amy from FB

Garden Notes
We have had some interesting heritage watermelons grown offsite (Thank you Mark), because of the vandalism.  One French variety is light green inside and delicious.

Luffas or Loofahs are going strong.  They can be eaten small or used as a loofah scrubbing brush when allowed to mature.

Music Group

The Music Group is meeting regularly, with up to 27 attending so far, and more interested, as participants tell friends that it is an enjoyable time. The group should  remain manageable as there are always some away with other commitments.

WELCOME TO AUTUMN 2014, HELD 1ST MARCH

 Co-Ordinator of the Casino Neighbourhood Centre's Community Development Project, Jo Nemeth welcomed everyone, outlined details about the garden and thanked the great team of volunteers past and present.

First speaker was Andrew Woods who was employed by The Casino Neighbourhood Centre to kick off the garden in 2011.  Andrew's love of gardens came across as he told us how a garden s a special and sacred space and he can feel it here.  It was bare paddock to working garden in 10 months and he felt very supported in his time in Casino.

Andrew shared many anecdotes from the early days of the garden and went on to detail that the basis is building healthy dynamic soil, fostering pride in growing food and learning about healthy nutrition.  Gardening helps unlock the senses in children with Autism and Aspergers and there were many cookups involving school children in Andrew's time.

Andrew went on to say that a garden is a primal space, connecting us with nature, and a community garden knits a community together, and provides a sense of satisfaction with something to show for our day's work.  Andrew spoke about plants with high levels of antioxidants, various healthy juice combinations, mentioning many plants.

Andrew outlined the history of community gardens, which go back to the late 1700s and the allotments  in the UK, and now the fastest growing movement across the world.

 Pic - Andrew and Jo

Our second speaker was Glennys Moran on Mosaiking.

Glennys extended congratulations to the people who did the mosaicking on the Bench Seat and commented that mosaics last and it could be here in 100 years time.

Glennys said that mosaicking is an ancient art, still being practiced and we do need some knowledge to get started.  There is plenty of information available at local libraries, and through talking to other mosaickers, and on the internet.  Many sites have galleries with designs for ideas.  Tiling outlets are helpful with instructions and glues to use, and Casino Country Store has been very helpful and a good place to start.

Pic - Glennys, speaking and Jo, with Shirley preparing the delicious pizzas

There is a huge array of items that can be mosaicked, and various items to use, from purchased tiles to items picked up at op-shops, including baubles and beads for indoor use, and old china with pattern burnt into the clay that can be broken up.  If you are thinking of mosaicking, spend some time collecting beforehand, keeping in mind that some items are destroyed by sunlight and frost if for outdoor use.

Glennys talked about the tools required, most found in backyard sheds, and safety aspects and described various techniques and tips for successful mosaicking for indoor and outdoor in great detail.

Glennys had a couple of small pots for the audience to inspect, and also handed around her album with photos of many projects that she has completed, including tables, sideboards, panels on her home etc.

The third topic on the agenda, Home Cheesemaking did not happen, but we were indeed fortunate to have two such impressive and interesting speakers.

An informal opening ceremony for the bench seat constructed by Casino Youth Early Intervention Service and the bravado Program took place as planned.

Morning tea with home baking by Jean and Ric, and Jan, and pizza freshly made by Shirley, was enjoyed as participants had a good chat and also found time for a walk around the garden.  The jam made by Shirley with Rosellas grown at the garden, as well as home made pickles and other jam from Jean, sold for garden funds, were popular, as was the swap table.  A big thank you to all who brought items along, to those who bought the jams etc, and for the donations for the morning tea, pizza and swap items.  All very much appreciated as the garden works on a tight budget, which has been hard hit by the vandalism, having to replace padlocks and taps etc.

We had plenty of comments about what a great day it was, thanks to everyone involved.  A special mention to Aly for the poster and all who helped distribute it around town, to those who helped with setting up and dismantling on the day, to Fred and helpers for firing up the Cob oven just right, and of course Mark and all the gardeners for having the garden in such great shape.  

Attendance was 45.

Pics - around the garden at the event

Pic - enjoying the new bench seat

Vegetable Planting Guide by Gardening Australia for March

Amaranth, Asparagus Pea, Beans (climbing and bush), Beetroot, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Burdock, Cabbage (loose headed0. Capsicum, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Chives, Cucumber, Eggplant, Endive, Florence Fennel, Huauzontle, Kale, Collards, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Malabar Greens, Mangle-Wurzel, Mustard Greens, Onion, oregano, Pak Choy etc, Parsley, Parsnip, Radish, Rocket, Rosella, Salsify, Shallots, Silverbeet, Squash, Sunflower, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Turnips/Swedes, Zucchini.

Vegie Guide - Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is a practice designed to minimise pests diseases, reduce chemical use, aid in building and maintaining healthy soil, and manage nutrient requirements - all of which maximise yield.  The principles of crop rotation have been successfully used for thousands of years in agriculture and are still used today.  The simplicity of crop rotation allows the practice to be used in your home garden with great success.  In the Gardening Australia Vegetable Planting Guide each vegetable is listed with its family name, which will help with crop rotation.

Crop rotation means that no garden bed has the same crop in successive seasons to:

• Reduce build up of pests and diseases;
• Helps vegetables get the most out of the soil;
• Builds soil by using organic materials and turning in green manure crops.

With thanks to ABC Gardening Australia and see all the post at http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/vegieguide/crop_rotation.htm

Recipe Corner

Easy Pumpkin Soup - Jan

Lovely  pumpkins around now, and soup with crusty bread makes a hearty lunch dish.  If you usually prepare soup from a can or packet, so easy, tasty and economical to make your own.  Try other vegetable combinations too, whatever vegies you have at the end of the week, add leftover chicken, or fry bacon  with the onion.

Pumpkin peeled and cut up (3 or 4 cups)
2 potatoes
1 onion
Butter or olive oil
Pinch nutmeg, and maybe cayenne
paprika, cumin or curry powder
Salt and ground pepper to season
Water or milk and water
Cream or yoghurt to serve (optional)


Lightly fry onion in olive oil or butter, in pot that will hold all the soup.
Add pumpkin, potato and a little water to steam until just tender.
Add cup water to cool and  cream with blender stick or in food processor.
Add spices and more water, or water and milk, retaining creamy consistency.
Taste for seasoning, return to stove, stir and heat. Do not allow to boil.
Serve with blob of cream or yoghurt, topped with parsley, chives or grated cheese.

Tip if making vegetable soup and it is not creamy enough, add dessertspoon cornflour dissolved in cold water and stir in whilst heating.

Bitter Melon

Agnes has been telling us about Bitter Melon, and Andrew mentioned it's healthy properties in his talk.  It is a unique vegetable-fruit that can be used as food or medicine.  It grows on a vine and is rich in vital vitamins and minerals.  It has long been used for a range of ailments, and to help reduce blood sugar levels.

Sounds like a good vegetable to follow up on.

Pics in recipe corner from internet.

Kevin picking up smashed watermelon - see firewood door stolen also.
We are also wondering what our stolen taps are now doing in their new lives elsewhere?


*******************

Suggestions and photos welcome, by email to Jo or

Jan - email casinogarden@gmail.com

or bring to lunch Wednesdays or the meetings.

Ask Jo about being a member of the garden - $5/ annum

Join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CasinoCommunityGarden

If you are new here, scroll down for back issues of the Newsletter.

Words and photos by Jan Brine unless otherwise stated.

_____________________

Casino Community Garden

A Project of the Casino Neighbourhood Centre

Contact: Jo Nemeth on 6662 5435  Email: coordinator.cdp@cnci.org.au

Location: Head for Entrance to Queen Elizabeth Park at South Casino

Garden on Left - corner Adam & Hartley Streets.

_____________________