In this episode, I speak to Nikki Valentini of The Growing Abundance Project. Nikki is a passionate and hard working innovator and supporter of community focused projects. Our shared Italian background led us to discuss food and its importance to family and to our heritage. We discuss how she encourages and maintains community engagement with her various projects in the Castlemaine community where she lives.

09 - Nikki Valentini - The Growing Abundance Project - The Hungry Gardener Podcast EP09

Welcome to The Hungry Gardener Podcast, where I talk to people passionate about my two favourite topics, food and gardening.
 
We touch on everything from food security, buying and growing quality produce, creating culinary masterpieces, sustainable farming, lessons, tips and a few stories along the way. 
 
Be sure to subscribe to my podcast journey through itunes and if you’d like to receive a newsletter or updates on future episodes, go to our website thehungrygardener.com.au …Thanks for listening.

Leisure

In this episode of The Hungry Gardener we speak to Morgan Koegel from 3000 acres. 
3000 acres is an organisation that has been set up to help empower communities with the skills and knowledge to grow fresh healthy food.    Essentially 3000 acres wants to see more people, grow more food, in more places.    We spoke to Morgan the general manager  in the garden at their office at the Melbourne Food hub.   They have been working on some great projects, including a community oil press.   Hope you enjoy this episode.

25 - Morgan Koegel - 3000acres - The Hungry Gardener Podcast - EP25

On this episode of The Hungry Gardener we spoke to Julie Bennett, a favourite gardener of mine, with my dream job. Julie is the kitchen gardener for Montalto Estate on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
The estate is over 50 acres, with 30 acres under vine, and 3 acres of produce gardens. It has a fabulous restaurant and an incredible amount of open space, trees, gardens and artworks spread over the beautiful property. We recorded on the fly during a slow roving tour of the grounds, so expect some wildlife interruptions, wind gusts, tractors, and gravelly footsteps throughout, hopefully it adds some spice to the ‘in the moment' energy of our warm and wide ranging conversation.

24 - Julie Bennett - Montalto Winery - The Hungry Gardener Podcast -  EP24

In this episode we interview Matt Donovan co-founder and director of Food for Change, a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to alleviate food insecurity in Australia.   According to stats on the website, 1 in 10 Australians seek food relief annually and over ¼ of these are turned away.   Food for change grows fresh food, rescues small scale food not currently catered for, and supports established local relief agencies to deliver more food to those in need.

23 - Matt Donovan - Food for Change - The Hungry Gardener Podcast -  EP23

EP 22 THE HUNGRY GARDENER

This is the second podcast we recorded on our road trip to Ballarat in Central Victoria. We met and spoke with Lou Ridsdale the founder of the FOOD IS FREE not fo profit initiative in Ballarat. We spoke to her in the laneway beside her house which is the official hub for local and community engagement.

It’s such a simple and fantastic idea...People can leave excess food for others to share, anyone can pick up seeds to use to grow food, people can drop off compost to be managed and shared. It is a really interesting idea with community at its heart.

Lou has also been instrumental in setting up further community garden initiatives as well. We discussed what motivates her and how the FOOD IS FREE idea came to be. 

For more information go to foodisfree.com.au or visit the hungrygardener.com.au 

Enjoy the conversation.

22 - Lou Ridsdale - Food is Free Inc - The Hungry Gardener Podcast - EP22

On this episode, we speak to Bec Djordjevic of Munash Organics. 

We visited the family business based in Pootilla, about 10 minutes outside of Ballarat. 
The company is on 150 acres of certified organic farmland, and specialise in rock mineral, natural fertilisers, using a holistic approach to soil health.

It was great to finally meet Bec in person and to chat about her journey.   Hope you enjoy the conversation.

09 - Nikki Valentini - The Growing Abundance Project - The Hungry Gardener Podcast EP09

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